Reel Success at Kentlands Stadium 10

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The
TOWN
Vol. 11, No. 1
Courier
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January 3, 2014
The Magic Behind the Dancing Lights
Reel Success at
Kentlands Stadium 10
By Pam Schipper
I
By Mike Cuthbert
P
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aul Huang, vice president
of operations at Kentlands
Stadium 10, said it was
a fair year at the complex. He’s
talking about overall attendance.
A few blockbusters hung on over
the change of year—“Les Miserables,” “Gatsby,” “Skyfall” and
“Despicable Me 2,” as well as the
surprise of the year, “Silver Linings Playbook.”
The word is still out on a series
of big movies that opened near
the end of the year. Huang’s theater, sandwiched by AMC Loews
Rio Cinemas 18 and Regal Germantown Stadium 14, doesn’t
always get the big features first
run, but Huang has made an art
of picking great pictures on late
release—“Silver Linings Playbook” was one and “Blue Jasmine” another, while “The Best
Exotic Marigold Hotel” was another surprise.
In general, Huang hopes for
big hits to develop early. The
more screens they are on, the
more encouraged the producers
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
The big movie season is in full swing now
at Kentlands Stadium 10.
are to make more prints for wider distribution. “It’s still tough
to get the bookings you really
want,” Huang said resignedly.
Two subjects important to the
future of the complex he can’t
talk about yet. Plans for additional digital screens, with and
without 3D capability are in
n
kentlands 10 Continued on page 5
f you stopped by Mikel and
Linda Draghici’s house at 202
Little Quarry Road this December, you were no doubt mesmerized by 10,000-plus lights
dancing to hip Christmas tunes
like “Christmas Eve in Sarajevo”
by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra,
“Last Christmas” the Glee version, or “A Marshmallow World”
sung by Dean Martin. Every evening between 8 and 9 p.m., starting Dec. 1, the Draghicis’ house
syncopated with Christmas joy.
Did you wonder what went into
creating this magic, behind the
scenes?
It’s telling that Mikel Draghici
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
includes “The Big Bang Theory”
theme song in his hour of mu- Mikel and Linda Draghici gifted the Kentlands community with their synchronized light show.
sic-lights sync sets on 89.9 FM.
After all, this winter wonderland was created by geek- everyone buys different sizes. When I started doing
this, I basically soldered my own. I wanted to spend as
ing out – in a most creative and cool way.
Draghici was inspired by Christmas trips to Disney little money as possible in case I didn’t do it right, so I
World when his children were younger, intimidated bought the 24 channel.” He learned a lot from www.
by the complexity of creating his own dancing light doityourselfchristmas.com, including how to use the
show, and determined to bring it to life here as a gift free software program called Vixen to both design and
to the community. “It’s great to see the faces of the run his light and music show on an old Dell PC.
Countless hours at the computer go into composing
children,” he said.
Blessed with the creative techie mind that has pow- the light show. “You listen to the song, and you’d
ered his career as a software engineer, Draghici was better really love the song,” he smiled. “And you choup to the challenge of creating a DIY dancing lights reograph, you hook into something. I was a drummer,
show. His first show in December 2012 was the result so I try to hook into the beats, and then it depends
on what I want to do. … It’s just over and over again,
of a full year of research and work.
“It works on control boards,” he explained, “and
n dancing lights Continued on page 7
‘Blame It on Beckett’ Opens at Arts Barn
Montgomery Playhouse called ‘Gianni Schicchi.’”
lame it on Beckett” does
Dossey considers “Blame it on
for playwrights and draBeckett” to be “one of the most inmaturges what “A Chotelligently written plays I have seen
rus Line” did for actors and dancers.
in a long time. This is what it’s like
With heart, comedy and acerbic wit,
in the theatre world.”
not to mention great doses of anxThe run-through reveals a play
iety, it reveals a play’s harrowing
that juxtaposes idealism, professionjourney to the stage and the difficult
al ambition and the business side of
path chosen by the people who work
the theatre. No character emerges
to get it there. Playwright John Mounchanged. “When Nick says, ‘Our
rogiello’s dialogue vibrates, so finely
purpose is not to survive, it’s to enstrung that its delivery by the play’s
dure,’” Dossey said of a line in the
four characters is almost music, the
play, “it’s so true.”
sort that is knocked out in staccato
He should know. Dossey has apPhoto | Phil Fabrizio
beats.
peared on Broadway, and he has
At a recent run-through for the Dramaturgy intern Heidi Bishop, played by Emily Sucher, pleads her case for a script by a
worked with Julie Taymore, Mark
Montgomery Playhouse production, little-known playwright to jaded dramaturge Jim Foley, played by Nick Sampson.
Rylance, Al Pacino and Kevin Spacwhich opens Jan. 10 at the Arts Barn, actors son as the seasoned dramaturge, and Sucher as ey, among others.
Linda Hirsch, Chris Hawkins, Nick Sampson the idealistic intern in the literary department.
Still, the director, who today lives in Leisure
and Emily Sucher brought intensity and nuDirector David Dossey has known Morogiel- World, can’t say enough about community theance to the rhythm of Morogiello’s lines. Each lo, who lives in Montgomery Village, for years. atre.
inhabited characters fleshed out with almost “What makes it fun is the playwright and I are
“These people are doing it for nothing — the
Dickensian detail—Hirsh as the star playwright friends from way back. He and I were in a play pure, deep joy of it,” he said, emphasizing that
at a New England theatre, Hawkins as the lad- out of Olney Theatre. Then I was in a play that
der-climbing theatre general manager, Samp- he wrote, and then I directed that same play at
n ‘Blame it on beckett’ Continued on page 9
By Pam Schipper
“B
Page 2
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014 thehot spot With Pam Schipper & Phil Fabrizio
Page 3
AROUND TOWN
With the new year upon us, it seems that everyone is pausing to reassess and dream for the future. Hot Spot took this
opportunity to ask folks at Kentlands Starbucks about their hopes for 2014. Here’s what they told us.
“I hope for health and happiness
and peace for my family … no more
fighting for my kids.”
Avrah Mendelsohn
Lakelands
“I am hoping to get a new job.”
Dima Ruzmetov
(pictured here with
daughter Allison)
Gaithersburg
“I look forward to spending
more time with my daughter and
family and leading a more balanced lifestyle. I would like to give
back more to those in need. I try
to focus my efforts on South Africa
and women entrepreneurs, giving
through Kiva.org.”
Omid Jahanbin
Gaithersburg
“I would definitely like a Congress that gets along and actually
does something. A personal goal is
to get back to the gym and go to
church more. I would really like the
Redskins to get their act together—
their owner and coach—so they can
really do something.”
Kimberly O’Sullivan
Gaithersburg
Montgomery County Council: Past,
Present and Future
By Karen O’Keefe
E
very year, the nine-member
Montgomery County Council
reinvents itself by naming a new
president and vice president. On Dec.
5, 2013, Councilmember Craig Rice
(District 2, upcounty including Germantown and Clarksburg) was unanimously elected council president by
his colleagues. He succeeds Councilmember Nancy Navarro (District 4, eastern Montgomery County including Glenmont/Aspen Hill/
Wheaton). Councilmember George
Leventhal (at large) was elected council vice president.
For 2014, Rice is committed to
an aggressive business agenda that
includes efforts to aid the growth of
small businesses. His other priorities
include seeking additional state funding for school construction, strengthening county agriculture and restoring cuts to vital county services like
libraries, parks, recreation, social services, health care and police and fire
services.
School construction is an especially pressing concern. “Montgomery
County finds itself in a unique position where we face unprecedented
and unequaled overcrowding,” Rice
said. “Our school system has accounted for 17 percent of the state’s enrollment, but only received 11 percent of
the school construction dollars. We
have some aging infrastructure, but
even more importantly, our capacity
issues are exponential when compared
to other jurisdictions throughout the
state.”
Councilmember Valerie Ervin
(District 5, including the communities of Silver Spring, Takoma Park,
White Oak and others) announced
Dec. 10, 2013, that she will resign
from the council, effective Jan. 4,
2014. She leaves to become executive
director at the New York City-based
Council for Working Families. Ervin served on the County Council
for nearly a decade. Council President
Rice announced the council will appoint a replacement by Jan. 31, 2014,
n
county council Continued on page 5
No Bah Humbugs for ‘Scrooge! The Musical’
By Gina Gallucci-White
T
hroughout most of the classic tale “A Christmas Carol,”
many people did not want to be
around Ebenezer Scrooge. Apparently, those people aren’t from Gaithersburg.
“Scrooge! The Musical,” put on
by the Sandy Spring Theatre Group
and Gaithersburg Arts Barn, sold out
all nine performances held from Dec.
6 to 22 before the first weekend run
ended.
“We were definitely the hottest
ticket in town this holiday season,”
said Ken Kemp, musical director.
“Scrooge!” now has the distinction
of being one of the record holders for
most sellout performances at the Arts
Barn and selling out the fastest.
“Our goal with The Arts Barn
Theatre Series is to offer a wide range
of entertaining and engaging shows,”
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
Jim Eustice played the Ghost of Christmas Present
and Bob Schwartz appeared as Scrooge in the Sandy Spring Theatre Group’s sell-out run of “Scrooge!
The Musical” at the Arts Barn.
said Jeff Westlake, theater program
coordinator. “We’re especially pleased
to offer shows that the whole family
can enjoy like ‘Scrooge!’”
The cast and crew received a
Christmas card from a lady who said
she was, “‘A Christmas Carol’ junkie.” Traveling across the area to see
the different productions over the
years, including one at Ford’s Theatre, she said she enjoyed this one the
most. “You can’t ask for a better review than that,” Kemp said.
Kemp found it very rewarding
sitting in the audience each performance and watching how people of
all ages enjoyed the show. He said this
was one of the most talented casts he’s
ever worked with, and they had an
amazing time creating the production
together.
“So many people worked very hard
to make this show a success, and it was
wonderful to see that effort recognized by so many people,” Kemp said.
“For those of us in the cast and crew,
the show became our holiday gift to
the people who came to see it. So it
really was about giving and the spirit
of Christmas.”
Compiled by Pam Schipper
Photo | Submitted
Sandy Lamparello, Mary Willett and many Fleet Feet runners and walkers
serenaded diners during the Christmas Carol Fun Run and Walk, Dec. 19.
Christmas on the Run
Fleet Feet Sports held its annual Christmas Carol Fun Run and Walk on Thursday, Dec. 19. More
than 70 participants ran from restaurant to restaurant
throughout Kentlands, stopping to sing a carol to diners at each location. This merry group, decked out
in holiday hats and apparel, visited Vasilis, Coal Fire,
Chick-fil-A, Pinky’s, Not Your Average Joe’s, Bonefish, Buca di Beppo and Wine Harvest. Chick-fil-A
was a sponsor of the event, providing post-run chicken sandwiches and the Chick-fil-A Santa cow. Brittany Jackett, marketing director for Fleet Feet Sports,
said that the event was a blast and more than 45 toys
were collected for Toys for Tots.
You can start the new year off right with Fleet
Feet’s Resolution Run/Walk on Thursday, Jan. 2 at
6:30 p.m. After the resolutions and exercise, there is,
of course, a champagne toast.
Congressional Honors for Northwest
Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-06) honored
the Northwest High School Jaguars and Coach Mike
Neubeiser for winning the Maryland 4A State Football Championship. The following statement appears
in the Congressional Record:
“With a 33-16 victory over Suitland High School,
the Northwest Jaguars capped off a 12-2 season. This
is Northwest’s first state football championship since
2004 and the first state championship for a Montgomery County high school since 2008.
“Even though Coach Neubeiser’s team started the
season with two losses in their first eight games, the
Jaguars turned their season around to win the state
title. This improbable turnaround proves that even
when faced with adversity, Coach Neubeiser and his
staff can inspire these young adults to accomplish
great things. Thanks to his leadership, Northwest
student-athletes have exceled both on the field and in
the classroom. I wish the Northwest Jaguars the best
of luck next season as they defend their title.”
Coach Neubeiser and the team will receive a copy
of the Congressional Record and a certificate of commendation.
Correction
The Dec. 20, 2013 article “Pepco Requests Rate
Hike for 2014” misquoted Kevin McGowan, vice president of regulatory affairs of Pepco Holdings, Inc.
Pepco has invested $250 million in the distribution
system in both 2013 and 2014, not $2.5 million as
reported.
Page 4
The Town Courier
MEETING CALENDAR
1/6
Mayor and City Council Meeting,
7:30 p.m., City Hall
1/8
Board of Supervisors of Elections Meeting, 6:30 p.m., City Hall
Planning Commission Meeting,
7:30 p.m., City Hall
1/9
Multicultural Affairs Committee Meeting,
7 p.m., Activity Center at Bohrer Park
1/13
Mayor and City Council Work Session,
7:30 p.m., City Hall
1/15
Board of Appeals Meeting, 7:30 p.m.,
City Hall
For the latest information on city meetings,
visit the city of Gaithersburg website at www.
gaithersburgmd.gov.
POLICEBeat By Gina Gallucci-White
Officer Helps Catch Suspected Serial Burglar
W
hen dusting for finger prints at a
home burglary scene, a majority of
the prints recovered will be from
the residents or people who visit often. But
sometimes one fingerprint can lead to stopping a suspected serial burglar.
While on patrol recently, Gaithersburg
Police Officer Chris Leach was sent to a
crime scene where property had been taken.
Duties at a burglary site can include searching the area, interviewing residents and
finding out who has permission to be in the
home. At this burglary scene, Leach dusted
for fingerprints in the hope of finding a clue.
During his search, he found a good print
that was turned over to detectives. After
analyzing the print, detectives were able to
develop a suspect, which led to the arrest of
a man wanted in a series of 16 burglaries in
the Muddy Branch Road, Quince Orchard
Boulevard and Clopper Road area.
“I was blown away,” Leach said when a
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New Year - Wishing you a prosperous and healthy 2014! Happy New Year - Wishing you
sperous and healthy 2014! Happy New Year - Wishing you a prosperous and healthy 2014!
Happy New Year - Wishing you a prosperous and healthy 2014! Happy
a prosperous and healthy 2014! Happy New Year - Wishing you a pro
Diane Dorney
Publisher
301.330.0132
news@towncourier.com
309 Main Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
For Advertising: 301.279.2304
Also on the Web at www.towncourier.com.
January 3, 2014
Matt Danielson
President
301.330.0132
matt@eink.net
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Managing Editor
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pam@towncourier.com
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Advertising Manager
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Advertising Sales
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detective informed him of the print findings.
For his efforts, the 28-year-old was named
the department’s November Officer of the
Month. This is the first time in his career he
has received the honor.
“The actions of Officer Leach exemplify
how thorough follow-through is critical to
good police work,” said Gaithersburg Police
Chief Mark P. Sroka.
The honor is bestowed upon an officer
for their overall performance. While many
nominations are submitted, Sroka and the
department’s command staff consider numerous factors in the decision, such as investigative work, nomination letter, case
closures and statistical performance.
“To be on the road for less than a year and
already be given that kind of accolade — I
didn’t expect it at all,” Leach said. “I just did
what I was supposed to do.”
Leach grew up in Gaithersburg and is a
graduate of Gaithersburg High School. He
earned a bachelor’s degree in history from
Salisbury University.
When it came time to pick a career, Leach
knew he “didn’t want to sit at a desk.” While
attending a job fair, he spoke with a few
police agencies and decided to apply. His
cityscene Gaithersburg Library
Grand Reopening
On Jan. 4 at 9:30 a.m., the Gaithersburg
Library at the corner of Montgomery Village
Avenue and Lost Knife Road holds its grand
reopening ceremony. Explore the library and
enjoy special programming throughout the
day, provided with support from the Friends
of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc.
and the Gaithersburg Friends of the Library
Chapter. The $25.6 million renovation added almost 30,000 square feet to the building
that now includes interesting features like
clerestory windows to let in natural light and
two areas of green roof. For more information, visit gaithersburglibrarymcpl.blogspot.
com
City Council Opposes State Subsidy
for Crossing at Olde Towne
Responding to a Maryland Department
of Housing and Community Development
request for input on the developer’s application for funding through the federal low
income tax credit program, the Gaithersburg
City Council voted 3-2 to resolve that such
funding not go forward. RST Development
proposed to designate 105 of its total 199
proposed units at 200 Olde Towne Ave. as
Staff Photographer
Phil Fabrizio
Staff Writers
Nora Caplan
Jenny Chen
Mike Cuthbert
Nora Fitzpatrick
Maureen Friedman
Gina Gallucci-White
Sean Gossard
Betty Hafner
Sheilah Kaufman
Vanessa Mallory Kotz
Donna Marks
Karen O’Keefe
Matthew Ratz
Syl Sobel
Maureen Stiles
Student Writer
Christina Xu
Photo | City of Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg Police Officer Chris Leach was named the
department’s November Officer of the Month.
great-grandfather is the only previous police
officer in his family.
Leach worked as an officer at a prison in
California for three years before moving
back to the DC region. While beginning the
work day at 8 p.m. and staying up all night
may be unappealing to some, Leach volunteered to work the midnight shift because
there is more opportunity to be proactive.
“I enjoy serving the community I grew up
in,” he said. “I love my town.”
Compiled by Pam Schipper
affordable housing.
When the city sold the property in July
2012, it was with the understanding that
the developer would create an upscale rental property that would draw business to the
city. With an additional 105 restricted-income rental units, the Olde Towne area of
Gaithersburg would reach 27 percent below
market rental housing, according to Councilwoman Cathy Drzyzgula. Drzyzgula suggested this would increase economic segregation east of I-270.
Gaithersburg resident Eddie Searles also
articulated this concern, saying that she supports affordable housing but she would not
want to create “another side of the railroad
tracks” situation in Gaithersburg. “Everyone
should be mixed in and enjoying one another,” she said.
Parkland Conveyed to City
MedImmune has conveyed a 6.5-acre parcel of land in The Meadows to the city of
Gaithersburg for use as parkland. MedImmune has also contributed $200,000 toward
the park improvements. The dedication of
this parkland and payment were one of the
conditions imposed by the Sixth Amendment to Annexation Agreement approved
earlier this year.
©2014 Courier Communications
The Town Courier is an independent newspaper published twice a
month that provides news and information for the communities of
Kentlands, Lakelands and Quince Orchard Park in Gaithersburg, Md.
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The Town Courier
January 3, 2014 ■ County council
from page 3
to complete Ervin’s unexpired term (ending
Dec. 1, 2014). The appointment will go to
a person who will not seek election to the
council seat “to assure a level playing field
for all persons interested in seeking election
to the next full term from District 5,” Rice
said.
Closer to home, Councilmember Phil
Andrews (District 3, including Gaithersburg, Rockville and other communities) is
seeking election to the office of Montgomery County Executive and will not seek reelection to District 3, a seat he has held for
four consecutive four-year terms since 1998.
To date, Gaithersburg City Councilmember
Ryan Spiegel has announced his candidacy
for the seat. Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz
is considering running for the District 3 seat
as well, and says he will announce his decision in January.
The council made progress on a number of
important issues in 2013, and it continues to
consider others. Here’s a rundown of recent
developments.
Raises Abound
The Montgomery County Council ended
the year by leading a Maryland-D.C. metropolitan area drive to increase the hourly
minimum wage from $7.25 (the current state
and federal minimum) to $11.50 over four
years. The Nov. 26, 2013, vote was 8 to 1,
with Phil Andrews casting the dissenting
vote. Montgomery County Executive Ike
Leggett signed the measure into law on Dec.
5, 2013.
Following Montgomery County’s leadership, on Nov. 27, 2013, the Prince George’s
County Council voted to do the same thing.
On Dec. 3, 2013, the D.C. Council also approved increasing the minimum wage to
$11.50. That body will not vote on the measure’s final passage until January, but all 13
members of the council have said they will
vote for passage.
In other wage and salary-related action this
year, on Oct. 22, the Montgomery County
Council approved a raise for councilmembers, to begin in 2014. The 17.5 percent increase will be phased in over four years. Phil
Andrews cast the dissenting vote. The council also approved a 3 percent salary increase
for the county executive.
Transit Development
On Nov. 26, the Montgomery County
Council unanimously approved the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master
Plan, which establishes the routes and possible station locations of the proposed countywide Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
■ kentlands 10
from page 1
discussion, as are other improvements to the
theater. “There’s still a debate going on all
over the country about 3D,” he admitted.
“The glasses are expensive to rent, don’t do
much for the picture quality and the process
is an asset to a film only in rare cases like
‘Gravity’ and ‘Avatar.’”
Asked about the remarkable longevity of
his staff, Huang said his policy has been the
BRT is a plan for specially designed buses
to travel over 82 miles of mostly dedicated
lines throughout the county. The plan approved by the council is intended to enhance
currently available transit options (Ride On,
Metrobus, Metrorail and MARC commuter
rail), as well as the future Purple Line and
Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT).
In other transit-related news, in July the
council voted unanimously to make the
Purple Line’s Functional Master Plan part
of Montgomery County’s Master Plan. The
plan for this 16-mile light rail line between
Bethesda in Montgomery County and New
Carrollton in Prince George’s County awaits
approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which would enable the project to
compete for federal transportation dollars.
Holding the Bag Fee
The county’s 5-cent bag fee on each paper or plastic carryout bag provided by retail establishments, in effect since January
2012, remains unchanged after a proposal to
limit the fee to grocery stores, liquor stores
and some other retailers with grocery sections was tabled. Although the measure to
eliminate the bag fee for department stores
and food take-out establishments passed in
committee, consideration by the full council
was deferred because County Executive Ike
Leggett requested more time to assess the effectiveness of the current policy.
Bag fee revenues are deposited into the
County’s Water Quality Protection Charge
(WQPC) fund. The original intent of the fee
was to shift litter clean-up costs from taxpayers to consumers. According to an estimate cited by supporters of the fee rollback,
the charge generated more than twice the
projected revenue in the first year it was in
effect.
In agreeing to wait for more information
on the fee’s impact, Councilmember Roger
Berliner (District 1, including Bethesda, Potomac and Cabin John), chair of the council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy,
& Environment Committee, suggested to
Leggett that “any future survey and analysis
should explore the effectiveness of the tax in
changing behavior as it relates to department
stores, clothing stores, hair salons, and other
retail establishments. …”
Zoning
The council is in the process of rewriting
the county’s zoning ordinance, the first comprehensive overhaul in more than three decades that should clarify and perhaps amend
present code. A revision to the zoning ordinance has now moved from the council
committee on Planning Housing and Economic Development (PHED) to the full
council, which will hold the first of several
scheduled sessions on the measure Jan. 14.
same since the theaters opened, a factor that
is seconded by Theatre Manager Carol Alyiez. “We have a very flexible policy here.
Kids start in high school, and they constantly
come back for summers and even vacations.”
Huang added that their flexible vacation policy is an attraction.
This is one of the most aggressive periods
of the Stadium’s history. As many as 12 features have been playing the 10 spaces available, by alternating screens, throughout the
holiday season.
Page 5
Page 6
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014
shoptalk By Jenny Chen
Goodarzi Specializes in
Hair Replacement
In Iran, Nasrin
Goodarzi studied
art and painting.
Many years later,
Goodarzi is applying her artistry
to real live people
at Goodarzi Hair
Salon in Market
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
Square. Like any Goodarzi Hair Salon staff and
great artist, she is owner include (top row back)
versatile, taking a Tone Jackson, Deanna Moore,
creative approach (bottom row) Paulina, Nasrin
Goodarzi and Vivian.
to each client.
She is proud of the international makeup
of her staff that enables her hair salon to best
work with different hair needs. “We have
Dominican, Hispanic, Asian,” Nasrin said.
“We can work with a variety of different
hair types.”
And she specializes in thinning hair, creating the most pleasing look for clients through
hair extensions and hair replacement.
Before opening Goodarzi Hair Salon,
Goodarzi ran Who Cut Your Hair? in Gaithersburg. She decided to relocate to Kentlands
two years ago because of the community
here. “It’s really family oriented, ... and I
love how the shop fronts face the street,” she
said. “It reminds me of home.”
Prior to opening her salon, Goodarzi
worked for 25 years at a company that made
hair pieces for patients with cancer, alopecia,
etc. Because of this experience, Goodarzi
Hair Salon is now the only salon in the Kentlands area to offer hair replacement services.
The salon sends specifications of a customer’s
hair color, texture, shape of head and more
to a hair lab in the United States, which then
sends the hair piece to Goodarzi. Goodarzi’s
staff then attaches the hair to the head using a
variety of non-surgical methods. The hair is
real human hair and non-chemically treated.
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
Husband and wife team Thierry and Jazmen Axaopoulos
focus on artistry and client comfort at Alozio Hair.
Alozio Takes Personal Approach
Walk into Alozio Hair at 375 Main St. and
you will feel like you have been transported
away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Stylists in the bright and airy salon
whisk you away to the color bar where you
can watch them mix your hair colors right
in front of you. There are iPads you can use
to check your email or play games while you
wait. The entire experience is wonderfully
personal. Even the reception area where you
pay and book for your next appointment is
curtained off in a private area.
Alozio just opened in October, but Thierry Axaopoulos and his wife Jazmen have
been working in the hair business for many
years. Prior to Alozio, the husband-wife
team ran a salon in Rockville called Virtu.
The lease was up for renewal and the Axa-
opoulos were ready to try something new, so
they relocated to Kentlands.
The secret to Alozio’s raving reviews on
Yelp! and Facebook?
“We’re trying to take the greed out of our
industry,” Thierry said. “So many salons are
only interested in making more money that
we lose focus on what really matters.” What
really matters to the Alozio team, Thierry
said, is building strong client relationships
and maintaining the integrity of the work
they do.
Because of this commitment to work,
Alozio is not a full-service salon. “We only
focus on hair,” Thierry said. Most customers
come in for a whole array of hair services
that include cut, color and design.
What’s the inspiration behind the name
“Alozio”?
“Our daughter’s name is Alandra and her
nickname is Alo, and our son’s name is Ziovanni and we call him Zio for short,” Thierry explained. “The name reminds us every
day that the people we really work for are
our kids.”
Ton of Fun Kicks Off at Fleet Feet
Fleet Feet Sports partners with Whole
Foods Market to launch an inspirational weight loss program, Ton of Fun. Don’t
miss the kick-off party at 255 Kentlands
Blvd. on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz will cut
the official measuring tape and announce the
official challenge to the city. Whole Foods
Market-Kentlands will offer smoothies for
sampling, and a variety of community fitness
and nutrition companies will offer advice
and encouragement to program participants.
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off get
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January 3, 2014 The Town Courier
Page 7
assignmenteducation
Compiled by Maureen Stiles
and Pam Schipper
The Conversation on Cybercivility
When winter weather arrived in early
December and Montgomery County Public
Schools went through its evaluation procedure for school delays and closings, Superintendent Joshua Starr began receiving messages on Twitter. “Some of these ‘tweets’
were clever, funny, and respectful, pleading
for me to cancel school so they could sleep
in or have more time to do their homework,” he wrote in an open letter to parents. “Many of these tweets, however, were
offensive and disturbing. Some were threatening to me and others. A few referenced
my family. There was rampant use of racial
epithets and curse words.” Due to their disturbing nature, some of these tweets were
reported to school principals and the MCPS
security team.
Dr. Starr is a proponent of social emotional learning, or what he describes as “giving
our students the skills they need to navigate
their lives in a healthy, positive way.” This
recent Twitter activity opened up a teaching and learning moment. “This activity
on social media caused me to reflect on my
responsibilities as a parent of three children
and the superintendent for 151,000 children,
and what our role is in ensuring that our
children are using technology appropriately.
This is especially important as we increase
the use of technology in our schools, including full wireless access and bring-yourown-device possibilities for our students,”
he wrote.
MCPS staff is working to develop more
materials to help children use technology
■ dancing lights
from page 1
just going back the same 30 seconds and adding more and more layers of complexity to
the lights. Do the lights over there turn on?
Does that turn on? You phase in and out.”
“I play on the words. I play on who sings
it. Is there a chorus?” After he programs 10
or 20 segments, he tells the computer to run
it and a house comes up on screen with lights
dancing to the song segments.
In 2012, 24 channels powered some 6,000
white lights. Draghici expanded for this
year’s show. He got a 72-channel control
board, but utilized only 48 of those channels
because at about 10,000 lights he didn’t have
enough for the entire board.
This led to a rewiring project. “My first
year, in 2012, I laid down the infrastructure,
all the wires … all that kind of stuff. This
year, I took it all out and started all over
again because what I did was wrong,” he
said, adding that he was able to reuse a lot of
the materials.
Songs had to be resynced, too, to accommodate more lights. It’s kind of like going
from a chamber to full orchestra. Draghici
was composing for more parts.
His light symphony will be even larger
in a positive and productive manner. These
material also help children and parents with
the problem of cyberbullying. For more information on MCPS resources, visit www.
montgomeryschoolsmd.org.
School Bell Time Community Forum
Montgomery County Public Schools will
offer the community multiple opportunities over the next several months to provide
feedback on proposed changes to school
starting and ending times, also known as
bell times. This will include four community forums, focus groups, surveys, and
self-guided discussions called Neighbor to
Neighbor Conversations. The next community forum will be held on Jan. 6, 7 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m. at Seneca Valley High School,
19401 Crystal Rock Dr., Germantown. Free
child care (ages 4 and older) and interpretation services will be provided.
Focus on Bullying at RCES PTA/
Principal’s Tea
What is bullying, and what is the difference between teasing and bullying? How
do parents and teachers address bullying
and teasing concerns? This is the focus of
the Rachel Carson Elementary School Principal’s Tea on Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m. The PTA
meeting follows at 7 p.m.
LPMS 2013 Winter Festival
of the Arts
The Lakelands Park Middle School 2013
Winter Festival of the Arts, originally
scheduled for Dec. 11, 2013, is rescheduled
for Jan. 15. Don’t miss the winter concert
and art show.
next year, when he plans to use as many as
72 channels and 20,000 to 24,000 lights.
But don’t be alarmed. You won’t be confronted by a house dripping in wires. That’s
another cool thing about the Draghicis’
Christmas.
“My goal is to hide it,” Draghici said, explaining how he wraps lights in greenery
and devised a conceal for his windows out
of PVC pipe. “One of the best comments I
had is from someone walking by who said,
‘Oh, look, this is that house with the lights!’
because you can walk by and have no idea,
and that’s what I want.”
In 2012, Draghici started hanging lights
on Thanksgiving. This year, it was Halloween. With more channels and lights and an
expanded, two-hour music and light show
next year, hours 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., he may
have to pull his start time back even further.
As to other dreams dancing in his head,
Draghici hopes to one year build a 25-foot
wire mega tree, but he is puzzling over how
to disguise it. “I want one and I know how
to design one and build it, but I have to balance how it looks during the daytime versus
the nighttime.”
Now that’s magic. Remember to tune in
to www.kentlandschristmas.com for information about next year’s light show.
www.towncourier.com
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Page 8
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014
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The Town Courier
January 3, 2014 ■ ‘blame it on beckett’
from page 1
the actors are all volunteers. “The fun thing
about this bunch, and one of the reasons I like
working in community theatre, is that these
people hold down 9 to 5 jobs. They come up
here and they rehearse and they learn lines.
It’s really a love of theatre that sometimes goes
unappreciated.”
Dossey appreciates them all for different
reasons. “This is an interesting cast,” he said.
Nick Sampson, who plays the seasoned dra-
maturge Jim Foley, thrums with nervous energy and delivers an intense and emotionally
rich performance. Sampson is from England,
Dossey explained, and has been working with
the Montgomery Playhouse for some time.
“He is very, very good,” Dossey said.
Chris Hawkins, who plays the theatre general manager Mike Braschi, has not been in
a play since high school but is confident and
centered in his role. “He had been in the
Navy for 20 years and decided to give this a
shot,” Dossey said. “He’s probably the most
enthusiastic, hard-working person.”
Emily Sucher, who plays the literary de-
Page 9
partment intern Heidi Bishop with doe-eyed
aplomb, is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Dossey explained. “She’s also a singer.”
Linda Hirsch, who plays the famous playwright Tina Fike with that head in the clouds,
heart on the sleeve air that is peculiar to writers, “appeared in her last play 20 or 25 years
ago,” Dossey said. Hirsch was an English major in college, and she embodies the literary
sort’s quirks and mannerisms well.
Dossey said he looks forward to performing
“Blame it on Beckett” before a full audience.
“The fun thing about live theatre is the vis-
ceral reaction of the audience,” he observed,
“like when there’s a heavy, dramatic scene
and a silence descends that’s so loud and so
intense you can feel it.”
Come to “Blame it on Beckett” prepared
for at least a few of those loud silences. The
truth of the theatre world presented here is
funny, sad and always intense.
This show contains adult language and is
appropriate for those 17 and older, with parental guidance suggested. The show runs
at the Arts Barn Jan. 10 through 26, with
performances on Fridays and Saturdays at
8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
arts& entertainment Kentlands Acoustic Jam
Jan. 7 and 28, 6 p.m., Kentlands Clubhouse
Bring a dish, dessert or drink to share
and your love of music! Jam sessions
include folk/Americana, rock, country
and bluegrass. www.reverbnation.com/
kentlandsacousticjam‎
Forma Reliquias
Exhibiting Jan. 8-Feb. 1; Artist’s reception
Jan. 11, 3-5 p.m., BlackRock Center for the
Arts, Main Gallery
In an installation format, Missouri artist
Tamryn McDermott asks the viewer to step
into and navigate history. BlackRock’s
Main Gallery is transformed into a Roman
peristyle garden, modeled on a typical city
house plan from the first century A.D.
www.blackrockcenter.org
Caroline Thornington Exhibition
Exhibiting Jan. 8-Feb. 28; Artist’s reception
Jan. 11, 3-5 p.m., BlackRock Center for the
Arts, Terrace Gallery
Printmaker/painter Caroline Thornington
exhibits
her
lithography.
www.blackrockcenter.org
‘Blame it on Beckett’
Jan. 10-26, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.,
Sundays at 2 p.m., The Arts Barn
In partnership with Montgomery Playhouse, the Arts Barn presents “Blame it
on Beckett,” a comedy by local playwright
John Morogiello. Director David Dossey
leads actors Chris Hawkins, Linda Hirsch,
Nick Sampson and Emily Sucher in this deliciously cutting comedy about the theatre
world and what it takes to take a play from
conception to stage. Admission is $16, or
$14 for city of Gaithersburg residents. This
show contains adult language and is appropriate for those 17 and older, with parental
guidance suggested. For more information
and tickets, call 301.258.6394 or visit online at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/theater
Origami Art: A Makerspace Program
Jan. 18, 2-4 p.m., Quince Orchard Library
Create art with a sheet of paper! This
free Makerspace activity is sponsored by
Friends of the Library, Quince Orchard
Chapter. Call 240.777.0200 for more information.
The 9 Songwriters Series
Jan. 18, 8 p.m., BlackRock Center for the Arts
Nine songwriters present Americana, folk
jazz, pop, R&B and more. Tickets are
$22. For more information, visit www.
blackrockcenter.org
Singer Songwriter Concert Series
Featuring Bonnie Whitmore
Jan. 23, 3 p.m. workshop and 7:30 p.m. concert, Kentlands Mansion and the Arts Barn
Compiled by Pam Schipper
Country singer songwriter Bonnie
Whitmore released her debut album
“Embers to Ashes” to wide acclaim.
She appears with Dede Wyland and Ira
Gitlin. Admission for the concert only
is $25, or $23 for city of Gaithersburg
residents. Admission for the concert and
workshop combined is $45, or $43 for city
of Gaithersburg residents. For tickets and
information, call 301.258.6394 or visit
www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn.
Jazz Concert With the
Schrodinger’s Jazz Cats
Jan. 25, 3-4 p.m., Quince Orchard Library
Schrodinger’s Jazz Cats present an afternoon of jazz and other 20th-century music for piano, flute and saxophone by performers Jules and Jonathan Metcalf-Burton
and friends. This concert is free. Call
240.777.0200 for more information.
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Page 10
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014
O’KEEFE’S JOURNAL
By Karen O’Keefe
A cup of coffee and a second opinion
Honoring the Undeniable Past
When the markets turn as volatile and confusing as they
have over the past few years, even the most educated
and patient investors may come to question the wisdom
of their financial plan and the investment strategy that
they've been following.
o the extent that I
was grown up by age
14, I “grew up” in a
little town in Massachusetts.
And, I thought, that was
the end of it.
When my father’s employer moved him to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1968,
By Karen
we went to live there (an
O’Keefe
idea I warmed to at first,
Grade 3, Age 8
because I thought Atlanta was on the Atlantic
Ocean). I went to high school in Atlanta, and
over the next few years, I started thinking of
Atlanta as home.
Or, I tried.
I believed becoming someone “from Atlanta” was the right thing to do. It was the
loyal-to-my-family thing to do. It was the
good-example-for-my-younger-siblings
thing to do.
Three years after our move to Atlanta, my
father died of a heart attack. He was 44. It
was even more important to adjust then. A
brave front was important.
Several years after college in Washington,
D.C., I returned to Atlanta and lived there
for 12 years. Important things happened in
Atlanta. I worked there. I got married there.
My first two children were born there. I go
back there regularly to see family and to attend high school reunions.
I’m sort of “from” Atlanta.
Then I came here to Gaithersburg, Maryland. I’ve been here 23 years. I have a life
here.
Important life things transpired here. I got
into recovery here. I divorced and remarried
here. My third child came into my life here,
and I became a grandmother here. I’ve been a
writer here for more than 20 years.
I’m sort of “from” here — I really am.
Yet, despite my best efforts to block what I
viewed as disloyal thoughts, I wondered from
time to time about what had happened to
those kids I knew in elementary and middle
school.
That old gang of mine.
I’d wonder for a few minutes and then
push the thoughts aside. That little town is
ancient history, I’d think.
There were other thoughts, too, squirming around even deeper in my psyche. Whispers about the propriety of certain thoughts,
a faint, disappointed voice tsk-tsking about
feelings I should not have. After all, there
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T
was nothing special about that town. It could
have been any town — or at least, any town
in New England.
The other day, I stumbled across a reference
to my old hometown on someone’s Facebook
page. I felt shocked to see the town’s name
in print. I had no contacts there, having lost
touch with my old school friends shortly after
moving to Atlanta. I have no relatives in the
town now. I’ve only been back there once in
the last 40-plus years. Yet, I was compelled
to look further. The group on that Facebook page was a “memorial” group — one
in which people chat and post photos about
friends from the town who have died.
I skimmed through dozens of photos and
read innumerable comments about departed
strangers.
I found the high school graduation picture
of a kid who had been in many of my classes
in grades one through eight. His name was
Robert, and he was dead. I don’t know how
he died. I don’t know when he died. I felt sad.
As I looked at the picture of that 18-yearold man, I saw that, as a 12th grader, he
looked exactly as he had in the first grade. (I
still have the class picture, although I swear it
has been years since I last looked at it.) The
picture of Robert was of a young, clean-cut
man — a sort of “any yearbook senior.”
In fact, he looked like someone who could
have been in my Atlanta high school yearbook.
Just an ordinary boy.
Robert and I hadn’t been friends, although
I knew him from school and church. He was
a classmate. I might have sat next to him in
the “Robins” reading group in second grade.
He was just a kid a couple seats away from
me through first, second, third grades and
beyond.
Nevertheless, as I gazed at the picture of
Robert, I found a lump rise in my throat and
hot tears blossom in my eyes.
I read on and encountered several other acquaintances, living people who wrote in to
remember folks who died.
They are still there, I thought. Those people in that town are still there. That place is
still there.
Deeper in the Facebook maze, I found a
site with pictures of a recent reunion of the
high school class of 1972. I would have been
among them if I had not moved to Atlanta.
I realized, through a teary haze that —
should or shouldn’t aside — I had never really left that little town behind. Instead, I
n
o’keefe’s journal Continued on page 13
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The Town Courier
January 3, 2014 Page 11
Onthe go
By Eileen O’Donnell Schlichting
A Taste of ‘Downton Abbey’
“D
ownton Abbey.” When the
clock strikes 9 p.m. on Jan. 5,
I’ll be glued to my television
set, waiting with both dread and anticipation to discover just what has happened
to the aristocratic Crawley family and the
bevy of servants who make their privileged
existence possible. In Season 3’s cliff hanger finale, birth, death, backstairs intrigues,
an unhappy marriage, thwarted love, and
the customs of the hunt played out against
the stunning backdrop of Duneagle, a
Scottish hunting estate.
Unlike its predecessor “Upstairs, Downstairs,” in “Downton Abbey” the house
and its grounds are as integral to the storytelling as the actors themselves. Ordinary
folks are unlikely to receive an invitation
to stay at Highclere Castle, the home of
the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon where
“Downton Abbey” is filmed, but fortunately the United Kingdom has an array of
historic estates where you can feel that you
are a houseguest of the Crawleys, or Lord
of your own private castle.
Just 20 minutes from London’s Heathrow Airport, Cliveden House feels a world
away. Originally built by George Villiers,
the second duke of Buckingham, the house
was the scene of state dinners, political intrigues and elite parties for 300 years. In
the early 1890s, Cliveden was purchased
by William Waldorf Astor. When his son
Waldorf married Nancy Langhorne from
Virginia, Cliveden was a wedding gift
from William Astor to his son and daughter-in-law. In turn, Waldorf gave Nancy a tiara containing the 55-carat Sancy
diamond, now on display at the Louvre
Museum in Paris. Today a Relais et Chateaux hotel, guests can roam the 376 acres
of grounds and gardens, have a pint in the
former stables, drink champagne in the
elegant French dining room, or sleep in
Nancy’s Astor’s former bedroom suite. For
a touch of scandal, take a dip in the pool
where in 1961 John Profumo met 19-yearold Christine Keeler, igniting an affair that
culminated in Profumo’s resignation from
the British cabinet and a Cold War-era spy
tale.
To really feel like an aristocrat, nothing
tops a week-long stay in a Scottish castle
with your own house party of friends and
family. Aldourie Castle Estate features
the turrets, antiques, family portraits and
lavish plumbing of a royal home – with
a top-notch staff and superb cook at your
disposal. Originally a hunting lodge, it
was meticulously restored in 2007, so modern luxuries happily coexist with period
rooms. Located on the banks of Loch Ness
near Inverness, Aldourie is a grand spot for
fishing, hunting, walking, golf, falconry,
whisky tasting or a highland revel. The
footman will lay a fire each morning in
Photo | Submitted
Aldourie Castle Estate sits on the banks of Loch Ness near Inverness, Scotland. Famous for the legend of Loch Ness, the
lake contains more water than all of the lakes of England and Wales combined.
the library, and afternoon tea is served in
the drawing room. With eight sumptuous
bedrooms, and seven simpler bedrooms
suited for children or a nanny, Aldourie is a
glorious setting for a celebratory birthday,
anniversary or small wedding.
Rates at Cliveden House vary greatly
depending on the season, but they start
around 400 gbp per night, per room for
two people. Aldourie Castle is rented for
exclusive use, for two to seven nights. The
rate for two nights begin at 12,000 gbp,
while a week’s stay is 28,000 gbp. VAT
is extra, and meals run about 100 gbp per
person, per day.
Photo | Courtesy of ©Carnival Film and Television Limited 2013 for MASTERPIECE
Starting Sunday, Jan. 5, Season 4 of the international hit
“Downton Abbey” finds aristocrats and servants coping
with last season’s shocking finale.
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Page 12
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014 Page 13
reader’schoice
‘The Aviator’s Wife’
Written by Melanie Benjamin
M
elanie Benjamin
tells readers she
was
compelled
to write “The Aviator’s
Wife” (2013) to help people become familiar with
“the truly operatic scale
of Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s life and marriage.” Yet
By Betty
readers will have to accept
Hafner
a blurred line between fact
and fiction because Benjamin says she writes for readers of historical
fiction who foremost expect a compelling
story. “I don’t let facts get in the way of my
imagination and my exploration of the subject’s emotions and relationships,” she said.
Anne Morrow’s story began as a fairy tale.
In 1927, the shy young woman, still in college, met Charles Lindbergh, the tall, handsome hero who had just flown across the
Atlantic alone in a single engine plane. He
was four years older, sure of what he wanted
from life and courted by kings and presidents.
Anne was swept away by his attention to her
and the exciting life he offered, so they married two years later and become the couple
that enchanted the world.
The Lindbergh marriage, though, had
some dark periods, and through exhaustive
research, Benjamin elaborates on them in a
compelling way. Most striking is the tragic
story of the kidnapping and death of their
20-month-old son Charles Jr. The couple’s
anguish and the intrusive media frenzy it ignited are portrayed in horrifying detail.
Benjamin also clarifies for readers another low point for the couple in the late 1930s
when Charles fell from grace because of his
appearance as a Nazi sympathizer, making
controversial statements and urging President
Roosevelt to stay out of the war. He used
Anne’s ability as a writer to promote his ideas
under her name, so she too was the target of
hateful words and acts.
But the liveliest fodder for book club discussions may come from the story of Anne’s
personal journey as a talented woman in her
own right, and her roles as wife and mother
over the course of the 20th century—from
the early years when Anne discovered that
she and her distant husband had completely
different expectations for her in their marriage to the final years of their marriage
when she learned of Charles’ other relationships and the children from them.
While Anne remained at home caring for
their five children, Charles was gone for long
periods of time. Her musings from those
years, which she wrote up in her book “Gift
from the Sea,” have been inspirational for
generations of women and are considered a
seminal feminist work. She is the Lindbergh
you will want to learn more about.
o’keefe’sjournal
from page 10
had piled stuff on the place. I had buried it
in my head with shovels of Atlanta and D.C.
and Gaithersburg.
That little town from long ago was still
alive — a muted heartbeat underneath everything — just waiting, inevitably, to be
uncovered.
Again, I felt disapproval at the strength of
my feelings. Those early places, times, people should diminish and grow small until the
memory is like the view from the wrong end
of binoculars.
Guess I’m not as “mature” as I thought.
Yesterday, for my work, I visited an elementary school in Gaithersburg. Predictably,
my own elementary school years came to the
surface yet again. I never realized what little
people we were back then.
As I walked through that Gaithersburg
school, I felt honored to be allowed to visit
those solemn children in their busy school
day. I felt awed by the short conversations
I had with a few of the kids, blessed by the
children who waved at me as I passed by.
The kids in this Gaithersburg elementary school, I suddenly realized, are right now
laying the very stones on which they will
build their lives.
The teachers in this building, the principal, the secretaries in the front office, the social workers, counselors, teaching assistants
and janitors are tending to the tenderest and
most precious of young shoots. What they
do here today will be with those children
forever.
At last — and just in time for a new year
— I discovered a shining bit of my source,
and I learned that it can never, should never,
be discounted.
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Page 14
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014
MIKEAT THE MOVIES
“Saving Mr. Banks” (PG-13) *****
In an outstanding holiday season of new films,
this is certainly one of the
top choices. It relates how
Walt Disney worked for
20 years to get the rights
to make the movie “Mary
Poppins” from its creator,
P.L. Travers.
By Mike
Emma Thompson is
Cuthbert
magnificent as the shockingly unsympathetic P.L.
Travers, who had a difficult childhood. She
worshiped her father, Travers Goff (Colin
Farrell), an alcoholic who died of TB. Far
from affluent, the Goffs settled in the outback of Australia. Travers’ real-life model
for Mary Poppins was Aunt Ellie, played by
Rachel Griffiths. Aunt Ellie is not the focus
of the film, however. That remains Goff and
the effect he had on his daughter.
A bisexual, Travers adopted one son. Her
lifestyle was extremely Bohemian, as she
was an actress and poet as well as novelist.
All this backstory is pushed into the back-
ground in order to let her relationship with
Disney and the writers and composers of the
film develop.
Initially dead-set against any music and
even more determined not to have animated
characters in the movie, Travers made other
demands of the studio as well. In fact, it is
amazing the film ever got made. “Let’s Go
Fly a Kite” sparks her transition from impossible to reasonable.
Hanks is urgent but never objectionable as
Disney. Disney’s experience in his youth and
Travers’ paralleled each other and allowed
Travers to relent and sign the rights.
The scene at the end of the film in which
Travers watches the premiere in L.A. (to
which she was not originally invited) is an
emotional broadside. With a strong cast, the
vast scenery of Australia and Travers’ prickly
character, the movie never lets up its hold on
an audience’s emotions.
“Anchorman 2: The Legend
Continues” (PG-13) *****
This is one of the most fatiguing movies I
have ever seen. That is because you can only
laugh so long and so hard at continuous non
sequiturs, obscure references and absolute
madness in front of your eyes.
Since all of the leads are characters who
have various and different screws loose, it
shouldn’t surprise you when the response
to a reference to Julius Caesar is “Who is
Julius Caesar? You know, I don’t follow the
NBA,” or that our first meeting with Steve
Carell as Brick Tamland, a weatherman who
knows nothing about weather or anything
else, is as a eulogizer at his own funeral, or
that Kristen Wiig as the receptionist (Chani)
cannot answer the phone and is described as
“the dumbest person I have ever met.” Wiig
and Carell wiped me out in every scene
they played together as their comedic styles
fit perfectly. Will Farrell as Ron Burgundy
reprises his role as the perfect modern anchor—his primary concern is the hair salon.
That is one of the subtler jabs at the modern
news business in a network, GNN, where
they all ascribe to the motto that Burgundy
offers them: “Why don’t we tell them what
they want to hear?” After switching from
the news to car chases, cute animals and
spectacular stories, GNN’s ratings take off
and Burgundy ends up as the prime network
anchor, replacing the unctuous and arrogant
Jack Lime ( James Marsden) who, losing a
bet because he lost the ratings lead, is forced
to change his on-air name to Jack Lame.
There are so many sight gags, weird references, takeoffs on popular personalities and,
in the last reel, an explosion of well-known
actors playing bit parts in a hysterical battle
scene that the mind overloads into a massive boggle. When I was not laughing out
loud, I found myself giggling. By the end of
this incredibly fast-paced exercise, I merely
collapsed in my seat, unable to write a readable sentence. This may not be your idea of
humor—it is both subtle and farcical at the
same time—but it is inspired lunacy with
each character getting a chance to shine. As
Burgundy admonishes nightly, “Don’t have
a great night. Have an AMERICAN night.”
Watching this exercise in insane film, it
won’t be hard to enjoy either way.
Enjoy more of Mike’s reviews at www.
towncourier.com
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January 3, 2014 The Town Courier
Page 15
Sports
Unhappy Holiday Tournaments for QO Basketball
By Syl Sobel
T
he holidays were not kind to the
Quince Orchard boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. Both teams played in
holiday tournaments, but neither was able to
win a game.
The boys, playing at home in the Montgomery County Public Schools vs. Frederick
County Public Schools Holiday Tournament,
lost 52-45 to Frederick in their opener, then
dropped a tight 45-43 contest to St. John’s
Catholic Prep on the next night. Meanwhile, the girls, on the road at the Winston
Churchill Holiday Classic, lost a close one to
the host Churchill team, 51-49, then fell to
Gwynedd-Mercy of Philadelphia, Pa., 51-23.
Playing against Frederick without leading
scorer Jake Seiniger, who was sick, the boys
started hot and opened a 17-11 first quarter
lead behind 7 points from Daryl Lewis. They
stayed ahead for most of the game, but in the
fourth quarter Frederick’s speed, height and
aggressiveness took over and they outscored
the Cougars 21-10 to win 52-45.
“We couldn’t score,” said QO Coach Paul
Foringer, whose team only had 16 points in
the second half, which he blamed on “bad
decisions” and “wild shots.”
Lewis, Damon Daniel and Andrew Fink
led QO in scoring with 7 points each.
Seiniger returned the next night against
St. John’s, but his 16 points weren’t enough
to save the Cougars from the two-point loss.
Free throw shooting made a difference, as
even though QO had more field goals than
St. John’s, they hit only 4 of 11 shots from the
charity stripe while St. John’s made 14-15.
“We played great defense in this tournament, but we are challenged on offense,” Foringer said. “Really need more consistency
in our roster. Too many interruptions. When
that settles down, we can get the right people in the right situations to help us become
more successful.” The boys are now 3-4 going into the new year.
The girls, too, were close but not quite in
their tournament game against Churchill.
Down by 13 at the half, the Lady Cougars
fought back in the second half, but came up
just short in the 51-49 heartbreaker. Their
usual scoring duo of Brittany Beckwith and
Babette Sanmartin led QO, with Beckwith
scoring 19 and Sanmartin 13, including a
three-pointer.
Against Gwynedd-Mercy on the second
night, QO fell behind 30-8 at halftime and
never threatened the Philadelphia squad.
Emily Baumgartner scored 8 points to lead
QO.
The losses leave the Lady Cougars with a
1-6 record.
In their last league games before the winter break, the QO and Northwest basketball
teams faced off at the Cougar Den for a Friday night doubleheader, with the Northwest
girls and the QO boys victorious.
The QO girls took advantage of their
height advantage early and opened a 12-point
lead midway through the third period. But
Northwest turned up its defensive pressure
and capitalized on its quickness and ball
movement to harass QO and chip away, and
won 53-52 on a free throw by sophomore
Daija Black with 9.3 seconds left. Black and
fellow guard Kendra Meredith led Northwest, while Dominique Anderson hit some
key three-pointers.
“Disappointing,” said QO Assistant Coach
Steve Baumgartner after the game. “We
thought we had it, and unfortunately their
press and Kendra specifically, her athleticism
bothered us.” Beckwith scored 21 points inside for QO and Sanmartin had 19 points,
mostly off strong drives that ended in layups,
free throws or dish-offs to Beckwith.
The QO boys parlayed a balanced attack,
aggressive defense and strong rebounding to
cruise to a 65-49 win over the Jaguars. Seiniger and Sam Ling paced the Cougars with
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
Cougar Colin Jones has the ball at the MCPS versus FCPS
Holiday Tournament at Quince Orchard.
10 each, with all of Seiniger’s coming in the
second half. Closely behind were Daniel with
9, Perry Konecke with 8, and Fink and Colin
Jones with 6 apiece as 10 Cougars cracked the
scoring column.
“I was pleased that even after guys missed
shots, they kept shooting,” Foringer said.
He also praised Ling for his rebounding.
Konecke was all over the floor, literally,
chasing rebounds and loose balls and taking
charges.
Reagan Zamena scored 12 for Northwest
and Rodney Snider had 11. Jordan Fairfax
and Donnie Gaines each had 10.
Earlier in the week, the boys defeated Paint
Branch 58-56 in overtime, as freshman Johnny Fierstein hit the game-winning shot.
Page 16
The Town Courier
January 3, 2014