January-February 2008 Lakelands Leader

L
WWW.LAKELANDS.ORG
The
L AKELANDS
eader
January/February 2008
what’snews?
Children’s
Community
Chorus Sing Their
Hearts Out
Lakelands neighbors Ashley and
Megan
MacDanald and
Katie Palmiere
sang their hearts out during the holiday
sing-a-long. Story on page 15.
These are the People In Your Neighborhood
Turn to page 23 to meet Lakelands neighbor
Dr. Jon Sherman and learn more about his
business, Kentlands Foot & Ankle.
Volume 10 Issue 1
County Proposes Public Safety
Campus at GE Tech Park
By Andrea Escher
R
epresentatives from Montgomery
County made a presentation to the
City of Gaithersburg’s Mayor and
Council on January 7. The presentation
briefly touched on the proposal first
announced by County Executive Isiah
Leggett in December to relocate and
upgrade several county operations to the
96-acre GE Tech Park adjacent to
Lakelands off Main Street and Route 28.
Leggett’s proposed plan includes the creation of a multi-use public safety headquarters
in a six-story office building at the GE site.
Included in the plan is the relocation of the
County police headquarters, currently located
on Research Boulevard in Rockville, the creation of a new 1st District police station, office
space for the County’s Homeland Security
division and Board of Elections, as well as
classrooms and a gym for the Public Safety
Lakelands Congratulates Holiday House
Decorating Contest Winners
How Did Lakelands Fare in 2007?
Be sure to turn to page 16 to find out how
Lakelands home sales fared in 2007. The
results may surprise you!
By Andrea Escher
Training Academy. It has also been proposed
that a firing range will be housed in the basement of the facility and a helipad will be constructed on the site, even though the County
does not currently own a helicopter.
The proposal references converting the
240,000 square foot warehouse occupied
by Peapod by Giant delivery service for use
by the County’s Department of Liquor
Control. A new structure would also be
See GE TECH PARK continued on page 3
Skate Components
Committee
Recommends
Lakelands Park for
Skate Plaza
74% of Neighbors
Surveyed Say We Don’t
Want a Skate Spot
Liam Wins Big!
Congratulations to Liam Walsh of
Lakelands, the co-champion of Rachel
Carson
Elementary’s
first annual
Spelling Bee!
Check out
page 17 for
all the
details.
By Andrea Escher
A
Return Address:
The Lakelands Leader
960 Main Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
S
even years ago a tradition began in Lakelands, the community Holiday House
Decorating Contest! Every December wreaths hang from front doors and windows,
candle lights illuminate, fences are dawned in garland and trees and bushes sparkle with
lights. Those who celebrate Hanukkah even find simple ways to spread the holiday spirit with window menorahs, lights and more.
This year’s Holiday House Contest took on a different twist. Residents were asked to nominate the homes based upon three categories. Armed with the nomination forms in hand, the
judges drove around the community during the day and night touring the competition.
Judging was primarily based on the number of nominations each home received. The judges
paid special attention to the homes that received several nomination forms.
Congratulations are extended to the winners of the 2007
Holiday House Decorating Contest:
Best Nighttime
Display
707 Gatestone
Street
The Coulson Family
Best Daytime
Display
818 Gatestone
Street
The Burns Family
Best Townhouse
448 Lynette Street
The Nicholas Family
Best Street
Gatestone Street
PRSRT-STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit #2666
Gaithersburg,
MD
Each of these top three award-winning homes will be receiving gift certificates courtesy of the Lakelands Community Association.
We congratulate all the winners and all the residents who decorated. It seems as if
more homes then ever found the time to add holiday touches and decorations this season. We hope everyone had a happy holiday and a Happy New Year. L
fter reviewing seven locations for
the construction of a skate plaza,
the Ad Hoc Committee for Skate
Components made a recommendation
to the Mayor and City Council during
a December 10 worksession to approve
a 1,500 to 2,000 square foot skate spot
to be located at Lakelands Park.
Currently $40,000 has been budgeted
for the skate spot.
Committee members Mary Moore
and Clark Wagner, a Lakelands resident, spoke on behalf of the fifteen
member Committee. “We need a place
for kids to skate,” said Moore.
“Skateboarding targets children ages 12
to 14 years of age and there has been a
growth of urban street skating. These
kids want curbs, ledges, rails and steps
to skate, they need a place that is more
accessible than the Skate Park at
Bohrer Park to do their sport.”
After researching criteria from the
seven sites under consideration, including safety/security issues, social concerns and amenity access, Moore said
Lakelands Park scored the highest with
Diamond Farms coming in second
place and Kelly Park in third place.
“Lakelands Park is easily accessible
to the middle school and both the
Kentlands and Lakelands communities, which is where the majority of
See SKATE COMPONENTS continued on page 8
2
The Lakelands Leader
January/February 2008
JANUARY/FEBRUARY calendarofevents
JAN. 23 Facilities
Committee, 7:15 p.m. 2nd floor
FEB. 19 Budget
and Finance Committee Meeting,
of Lakelands Clubhouse, contact Scott
7:00 p.m. 2nd floor of the Lakelands
Fischthal at fischthal1@comcast.net or
301-963-2308 for more information.
JAN. 24
FEB. 4
FEB. 11
FEB. 12
FEB. 13
Clubhouse. Contact Peter Frey at
pff2006@verizon.net for more
information.
Board of Directors Meeting, 7:00 p.m. 2nd
floor of the Lakelands Clubhouse.
Contact board@lakelands.org for more
information.
FEB. 20
Design Review Committee Meeting, 7:15
p.m. 2nd floor of the Lakelands
Clubhouse. Contact Eric Kessler at
emkessler@comcast.net for more
information.
FEB. 21
Communications Committee Meeting,
6:30 p.m. 2nd floor of the Lakelands
Clubhouse. Contact Joe Mills for more
information at jmills549@comcast.net for
more information.
Community Relations Committee
Meeting, 7:00 p.m. 2nd floor of the
Lakelands Clubhouse.
Social Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m. 2nd
floor of the Lakelands Clubhouse.
Contact Kelli Knight at
Kelli@MikeAubrey.com or Kelly Scheer at
KelScheer@comcast.net.
Environmental Management &
Beautification Committee, 7:00 p.m. Red
Room (1st floor) of the Lakelands Clubhouse.
History & Political Discussion Group,
7:30 p.m. Green Room (1st floor) of the
Lakelands Clubhouse. Contact Mickey
Stevens at silvrfoxx1@aol.com
January/February 2008
FEB. 25
FEB. 27
FEB. 28
Deadline for the March Lakelands Leader
edition. Please contact Andrea at
leader@lakelands.org for more
information.
Swim Team Committee Meeting, 7:00
p.m. Green Room of the Lakelands
Clubhouse.
Book Club, 7:30 p.m. in the Red Room
(1st floor) of the Lakelands Clubhouse.
Contact Mickey at silvrfoxx1@aol.com.
Deadline for Design Review Applications
for the March DRC meeting. Please contact the on-site management office at 240631-8338 for an application.
Facilities Committee, 7:15 p.m. 2nd floor
of Lakelands Clubhouse, contact Scott
Fischthal at fischthal1@comcast.net or
301-963-2308 for more information.
Heathwalk Condominium Meeting, 7:00
p.m. in the Green Room of the Lakelands
Clubhouse.
Board of Directors Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
2nd floor of the Lakelands Clubhouse.
Contact board@lakelands.org for more
information.
GE TECH PARK Continued from page 1
build to house Montgomery County Public School’s
food warehouse.
The County would have to purchase the property
from Avalon Bay Communities, Inc. and the warehouse
space from Finmarc.
“The GE Tech Park is the ‘‘preferred site” for Leggett’s
plan but presents a ‘‘once-in-a-half-century opportunity”
to upgrade and expand a number of aging county facilities, said assistant Chief Administrative Officer Diane
Schwartz Jones. ‘‘This plan is really in its infancy at this
point. We’ve done the legwork to see if it makes sense,
and clearly it does make sense,” said Jones.
Since the plan was announced both the City and residents of Kentlands and Lakelands have expressed concern
with the possibly of increased noise and traffic if the plan
was to be approved.
‘‘There has been no communication with the
Lakelands Board of Directors or the community about
this,” said Mike Aubrey, a Board of Directors member.
Aubrey said he, along with his fellow Board members, are
interested to learn more about the plans and expects the
City and County to allow Lakelands to be a part of the discussions. “We as a community need to be involved in the
process, so we can learn how this will impact our residents,” said Aubrey.
Since the GE Tech Park sits adjacent to
Lakelands and with warehouses backing up to
homes in Lane in the Woods, the Board as well as
residents feel the City and County need to keep the
community abreast of all plans for the site.
The GE Tech Park was annexed into the City of
Gaithersburg in 1989, therefore as a courtesy, the
County will more than likely be required by the City
to go through the proper approval process with the
Planning Commission and Mayor and Council before
any changes to the site will be made. Jones said the
County is open to discussions with the City.
Before plans can move forward with the City, the
Montgomery County Council will have to approve the
relocation plans. Jones said she is confident that in
the coming months the County and City will jointly
host a series of public meetings for the communities
to learn more about the project. L
The Lakelands Leader
3
L
lakelandsinnbrieef
The
L AKELANDS
eader
The Official Newspaper of Lakelands
LCA
Board of Directors
Beverly Frey
bev@lakelands.org
Patrick McCalley
pat@lakelands.org
Linda Wiesman
By Andrea Escher
Holiday Tree Recycling Continues Through
January
The City of Gaithersburg would like to
remind residents of the annual holiday tree
recycling program. Lakelands residents
should place their trees out with their regular
recyclables. Tree collection will take place
every Thursday in Lakelands through
January 24. We ask that you remove all ornaments, lights and tree stands from your tree.
Should you have any questions please contact the City of Gaithersburg's Public Works
Department at 301-258-6370.
Holiday Decoration Reminder
The holidays are over! But there are still
a few homes in the community sporting
their holiday décor. We ask all homeowners to take a moment and remove your
Halloween pumpkins, Christmas wreaths,
lights, garland, etc. We thank you for your
cooperation!
linda@lakelands.org
Mike Aubrey
mike@lakelands.org
Mickey Stevens
Phone Directory Is On the Way
At press time, the Lakelands Leader has
learned the 2008 Lakelands Community
Phone Directory will be delivered to residents sometime in early March. The
Communications Committee is currently
deciding if the Directory will be mailed to
all homeowners or hand delivered to each
house. So please watch for your 2008
Directory coming soon!
Change Your Light Bulbs
We know it's the middle of winter and you
are really not in the mood to change your outside light bulbs, but please change them! By
turning your lights on and keeping your front
residences and alleys will lit, this will help to
deter any possible crime in the community.
Also by lighting up the alleys during this
snowy season, it enables the snow crews to
plow your alleyway during the evening hours.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Are You New to Lakelands?
Welcome! Please take a moment to
stop by the Lakelands clubhouse on
Main Street to pick up your copy of the
Lakelands Leader, phone directory,
Clubhouse access card, and any additional information you may need to help
you easily transition to your new home
in Lakelands. Just a quick FYI: trash is
removed on Monday and Thursday, and
recycling is collected on Thursday. To
obtain a recycling bin, please contact
the City of Gaithersburg at 301-2586370. For more information about life
The Crows Are Feasting On Your Trash!
mickey@lakelands.org
MANAGEMENT
CMI
240-631-8338
EDITOR & ADVERTISING
MANAGER
Andrea Escher
301-519-1678
leader@lakelands.org
The Lakelands Leader is the monthly,
published means of communicating
information of interest to Lakelands
residents. It does not espouse any
political belief or endorse any product or service. Articles and letters
submitted for publication must be
signed and may be edited for length
and content. CMI and the LCA do
not endorse the products or services
advertised herein, nor are they
responsible for any claims made by
advertisers. The Leader is published
by the Association, which is responsible for form, content and policies.
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Cristina Strigel
703-777-7676
4
The Lakelands Leader
L
akelands neighbors have been placing their trash bags out in the alleyways without
containers and the crows are having a great time spreading your trash all over the
street. Please take the time to place all bagged trash into a sealed container with a lid.
Not only will your trash be protected, it will help keep the food, papers and magazines
from blowing around the community should the crows tear open the bags. We thank you
for your continued cooperation. L
in Lakelands, please contact the on-site
management team at 240-631-8338.
January & February Board of Directors
Meeting
The Lakelands Community Association
Board of Directors will resume their
monthly Board meeting schedule on
Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
The Board will host their February meeting on Thursday, February, 28, 2008. L
Public Invited to
Comment on Kentlands
Commercial District
Special Study Area
As Part of Master
Plan Amendment
I
n the fall of 2007 the City of
Gaithersburg and its partner, HOK
Planning Group, hosted a planning
charrette that brought together City
officials and staff, key stakeholders,
the regional community and the design
team in a transparent process of discovery and problem-solving. A draft
plan was developed, which serves as a
proposed vision for the study area,
encompassing the retail centers and
commercial uses along Kentlands
Boulevard from Quince Orchard Road
to Great Seneca Highway.
The next stage of the process involves
a joint public hearing to amend the 2003
Land Use Element of the Gaithersburg
Master Plan to incorporate the Kentlands
Commercial District Special Study Area.
Public comment is invited at the joint
public hearing, which has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2008
at 7:30 p.m. in the Gaithersburg City
Hall Council Chambers, 31 South
Summit Avenue.
For additional information please call
301-258-6330. Details on the charrette
process and outcomes can also be found
at www.kentlandsboulevard.com. L
BUILDING GOOD DENTAL HEALTH ONE TOOTH AT A TIME
January/February 2008
January/February 2008
The Lakelands Leader
5
Foundation Extends Thanks to Supporters
Of the Annual “Tree of Warmth”
Clothing & Shoe Drive
By Bridget Ryder
O
Photo Courtesy: Bridget Ryder
n behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and our partners at the City of
Gaithersburg, we want to thank everyone who participated in the “Tree of
Warmth” winter clothing drive and the “Shoe Santa” shoe drive this year. Times
are very tough this year, so we asked you to help us collect more clothing and shoes than
in the past. To see the Tree covered on every limb with hats, scarves, and mittens, and
the base of the Tree surrounded by new jackets and 40 wrapped boxes of shoes and boots
is a sight that would warm any heart. Because of your generosity, there will be many local
children who will stay warmer this winter. Thank you! L
Bridget Ryder, Kentlands
Foundation Manager and Andrew
Moneyheffer of DPZ, along with 39
others, proudly sponsored the
“Shoe Santa” program
in Kentlands this holiday season.
What conditions
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Lower back pain
Sciatica
Headaches
Neck pain
Whiplash
Sports Injuries
Arthritis
Fatigue
Chronic pain
Numbness and
tingling of the
extremities
Poor Posture
Dr. Gregory
Swistak
& Family
Dr. Gregory Swistak
Palmer Graduate
60 Market Street, Suite 215
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
(301) 963-8333
www.swistakchiro.com
Now offering acupuncture and
massage therapy services.
“Chiropractic treatment relieved my pain, allowed me to continue my training and ultimately complete
the Marine Corp. Marathon in 4 hrs.” — Kent S.
“After just my first treatment the numbness was reduced significantly. I no longer had numbness along
the outer edge of my foot. After almost four weeks me feet are almost numbness free.” — Nancy K.
Not receiving the monthly e-flyer? Then register
your e-mail address on www.lakelands.org and
don’t miss any of the immediate news and
events announcements as they happen.
6
The Lakelands Leader
“I had terrible posture and a pronounced forward head posture and its greatly improved. I have almost
no lower back pain now thanks to Dr. Swistak!” — Heather P.
Call to sign up for the FREE one-hour trigger point workshop!
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The Lakelands Leader
7
SKATE COMPONENTS Continued from page 1
skaters are asking for the spot,” said
Moore.
“We have chosen three locations at
Lakelands Park as possible sites for the
skate spot,” said Moore. Site A is located
150 feet from the closest home on Main
Street and is situated between Billy’s
Playground and the pavilion. Site B is
located between the baseball and soccer
fields and Site C, the furthest away, is closer to the ball fields near GE Tech Park.
The Committee is proceeding with design
plans and requesting the Mayor and
Council approve Site A for the skate spot.
According to Tim “Smitty” Smith of
the City of Gaithersburg Parks,
Recreation and Culture Department,
the components being proposed for the
skate spot will be less than two feet in
size. “For insurance purposes and
because we do not want to attract older
children, we are recommending the
smaller skate spot,” said Smith. “We
anticipate an average of four to eight
children skating at one time.”
Smith also told the Mayor and
Council that he would like to see several of these smaller skate spots constructed around the City.
More than 70 citizens attended the
worksession and more than 40
addressed the Mayor and Council.
“We need a place to skate and not get
kicked out,” said Kentlands youngster
John Messer. “We would respect the
skate spot and not trash it up.”
Lakelands Community Association
Board of Directors Member Mike
Aubrey spoke on behalf of the LCA
Board stating that 74% of Lakelands residents surveyed online via www.lakelands.org were opposed to the skate
plaza at Lakelands Park.
“We have more Lakelands residents
speaking out on this issue then the GE
Tech Park proposal for additional homes,”
said Aubrey. “Residents who live in prox-
8
The Lakelands Leader
imity to the Park will be unofficial supervisors of the unsupervised skate plaza and
that is not fair to them. The LCA Board
has asked the City to relocate the skate
plaza to the Aquatic Center and if that is
not possible, then locate the plaza near the
GE Tech Park side of the field, the farthest
from the homes.”
When asked why the City did not
consider construction a skate plaza at
the future Aquatic Center adjacent to
Kentlands and Lakelands on Route 28,
Smith said, “There is a limitation with
space and while it would score well in
some senses, it would be a very bad
design due to the traffic.” Smith also
said that the biggest strike against moving the skate plaza to the Center would
be the lack of use. “Placing the skate
plaza at the Center would make it
removed from homes and the school, so
children will have a harder time accessing the location.”
Lakelands
neighbor
Annabelle
Gerendasy, whose husband Dan is on the
Skate Components Committee, said she is
just looking for a safe place for her children to skate. “The trend is skating and I
don’t want my children skating in the
street because they do not have a safe, alternative place to skate,” said Gerendasy.
Main Street neighbor Ian Kessler,
who lives a few blocks down from the
The Ad Hoc Skate Component
Committee has recommended Site A
at Lakelands Park
for the skate plaza spot.
proposed site, said, “Skatboarding will
happen, it doesn’t matter where you put
them but Lakelands Park is too close to
too many homes.”
“I am already concerned about the quality
of life in my home for myself as well as my
children,” said Kersten Street neighbor
Nicole Beane. Beane, who already has a toddler and is expecting a newborn this month,
said her home is overwhelmed with noise
from the synagogue and Billy’s Playground.
“My husband and I have called the non-emergency police line numerous times due to the
loitering and noise at the playground at
night,” said Beane. “I am just concerned with
the skate spot being located at the Park and
steps from my home that it is going to add
more noise and chaos to an already problematic location.”
Joanne Shimke, President of the
West Riding Homeowners Association,
told the Council she would be in favor
of having the City construct a pilot skate
spot in the West Riding community first
before components are designed for
Lakelands Park.
City Councilmember Mike Sesma
said he understands there are concerns
of the people opposed to the plan and
the Council will take them into consideration. “An idea like the skate spot
keeps children off the streets and provides a place where the kids can skate
safely,” said Sesma. “It gets them out of
the alleys, streets and shopping centers
and the plan presented is a good template to start with.”
According to City of Gaithersburg Parks,
Recreation and Culture Director Michele
McGleish, utilities at Lakelands Park will be
marked at all three possible sites in the Park.
“We need to know what is where before we
start digging,” said McGleish. Once the utilities at the site have been evaluated, McGleish
says staff will be meeting with Planning and
Code as well as the police department. “We
fully intend to make a final report to the
Mayor and Council in the next month
regarding the site.” L
Skate Park
Survey
The City of Gaithersburg is considering building an unsupervised skate
park. One of the seven locations under
consideration is Lakelands Park.
At this time, the plans are only conceptual with no exact plan being approved.
Also no exact location within Lakelands
Park has been chosen, but most discussions have been about having the skate
park on the 'front side' of Lakelands Park,
near Main Street.
Are you in favor or opposed to a skate
park being located in Lakelands Park?
Total Community Surveys Received: 87
"Opposed" 62 votes
71%
"In Favor" 25 votes
29%
January/February 2008
January/February 2008
The Lakelands Leader
9
from the
desiggn
revieew
committtee
At the regularly scheduled December 3, 2007
meeting of the Lakelands Design Review
Committee, the following five (5)
applications were reviewed.
Yelena Korepanova
713 B Main Street
Install Storm Door – Approved
Claudette Bernstein
409 Placid Mews
Install picket fence with gate Declined: Per inspection by DRC
member pickets applied for do not
match fence that was recently
installed.
Robin Schuldenfrei
413 Placid Mews
Replace two garage light fixtures that
face the alley – Approved
Groff Minkin
930 Rockborn Street
Install front & side storm door –
Approved
Install basketball hoop – Approved
Hossein Akbari
401 Stonemason Drive
Basketball board on back of house on
left side of garage - Declined:
Application incomplete need plat and
location of pole & picture of new
backboard
10
The Lakelands Leader
Gaithersburg Announces
Results of Citizen Survey
I
n an independent survey conducted by
the National Research Center, 75% of
respondents gave the overall quality of
life in Gaithersburg a rating of “good” or
“excellent,” while services provided by City
government were rated as “good” or “excellent” by 76% of respondents. The findings
of the survey will be presented to the
Gaithersburg Mayor and Council as part of
the 2008 strategic planning process on
Monday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Council Chambers at City Hall. The full
results of the survey are available online at
www.gaithersburgmd.gov.
“This survey is an important tool for all of
us who are involved in the delivery of service
to Gaithersburg residents,” said Mayor Sidney
Katz. “We’re delighted that the City rated well
in overall quality of life, and we look forward
to addressing those areas where our citizens
expressed concern. This gives us a good road
map as we begin the FY 09 budget process and
set our priorities for the coming year.”
In the fall of 2007, 1,200 City of
Gaithersburg residents were randomly
selected to participate in a mail-in survey to
evaluate City services, programs and policies. The data is intended to help elected
officials and City staff prioritize strategic initiatives and direct resources.
Twenty one percent of the residents
returned the 33-question survey, which is
within the average response rate experienced
by the National Research Center. Results
were tabulated and categorized under the
broad headings of Community Life and
Local Government.
Community Life covered such topics as
overall quality of life, access to educational
and recreational opportunities, sense of
community, job opportunities, access to
affordable housing, ease of travel within the
community, public safety, and community
participation.
Seventy five percent of the respondents
rated the overall quality of life in
Gaithersburg as “good” or “excellent.” The
highest rated characteristics were shopping
and recreational opportunities and overall
appearance. When asked about the potential problems in Gaithersburg, the three concerns rated by the highest proportion of
respondents were traffic congestion, drugs
and too much growth. Also, seventy percent
of the respondents rated the population
growth in Gaithersburg as “too fast.”
Topics within the Local Government
category included perceptions of value for
taxes paid, openness to citizen involvement, quality of public safety, transportation, leisure, utility, planning and code
enforcement, and special population services, and experiences of interaction with
City of Gaithersburg employees.
When asked about their impressions of
City staff, those who had been in contact
with a City of Gaithersburg employee within
the past 12 months rated their overall
impression particularly high, putting the
City in the 85th percentile or above nationwide for knowledge, responsiveness and
courtesy. When asked if they were pleased
with the overall direction taken by the City,
residents gave an average rating of 68 on a
100-point scale, putting Gaithersburg in the
90th percentile nationwide.
In normative comparisons to communities throughout the country, Gaithersburg
was at or above the norm for most categories. The City was rated below the norm
as a place to retire, for access to affordable
quality housing, for both violent and property crime, for safety in its downtown area
and parks, and for safety within neighborhoods after dark.
As assessed by the survey, about 10% of
Gaithersburg residents have lived in the
community for more than 20 years, and
66% are over the age of 34. Another 13%
are over the age of 64. Eighty four percent
are currently employed; 52% rent, 48% own
and 19% live in detached single family
homes. Over 86% of Gaithersburg residents have at least some college and 66%
have annual household incomes above
$50,000. Fourteen percent of Gaithersburg
residents reported that they are Spanish,
Hispanic or Latino and 56% said they are
White or Caucasian.
The National Citizen Survey™ is sponsored by the International City/County
Management Association in cooperation
with the National Research Center, Inc.
The survey was designed based on the experience of hundreds of local governments of
all sizes. Scientific sampling and weighting
of the responses in each city ensured accurate and reliable results.
For more information please contact
the Office of the City Manager at 301-2586310 or cityhall@gaithersburgmd.gov. L
January/February 2008
January/February 2008
The Lakelands Leader
11
assignmenteducation
By Gina Dropik
Photo Courtesy: John Gresh
Winter Break Is Over and It’s
Back to School for
RCES Students
The cast of Pirate School hopes to see you in the audience on
February 8 or February 9.
O
n January 2 students returned to
Rachel Carson Elementary School
(RCES) after a 10-day winter
break. Many fun activities filled days
prior to the break.
On Monday evening, December 17 the
Rachel Carson chorus and advanced band
presented their annual Winter Concert at
Quince Orchard High School.
The first annual RCES Spelling Bee was
held on December 19. Principal Larry
Chep said it was very successful. In
November classroom spelling bees were
held in all third, fourth and fifth grade
classes. The top two spellers in each class
advanced to the school-wide Spelling Bee,
which was held in the evening and was
open to the public. “I believe we had over
100 people in the audience,” Chep said.
12
The Lakelands Leader
The event ended in a tie between 4th grader Liam Walsh and 5th grader Zoe Smith.
Principal Larry Chep is currently working on a special project at the MCPS central office while Principal Intern Yolanda
Sanislaus assumes the role of Acting
Principal. Kathy Bainbridge has joined the
staff as Acting Assistant Principal until
Chep returns in the spring.
Kindergarten Open Houses will be held
on January 14, February 4 and March 3,
beginning at 9:15 a.m. This is a chance for
parents who are considering sending their
children to kindergarten at RCES next fall.
Acting Principal Yolanda Stanislaus will
meet with the parents to discuss the program and answer questions. Parents will
also have the opportunity to visit the
Continued on facing page
January/February 2008
Continued from previous page
kindergarten classes. All children who are five years old by September 1, 2008 are eligible
for kindergarten in the fall. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents who are new to the
school to see what Rachel Carson has to offer their children. Open Houses are for parents
only. Children are invited to join their parents at Kindergarten Orientation on April 24
and 25.
All Montgomery County schools are closed on Monday, January 21 in observance of
Martin Luther King Day and Tuesday, January 22 for a staff professional day. The
Montgomery County Board of Education approved the calendar for the 2008-2009
school year, which will begin on Monday, August 29, 2008 and end on Tuesday, June 16,
2009. The entire calendar is available on the MCPS website at www.mcps.k12.md.us.
With the winter weather upon us parents are reminded that information about weather-related school closings is announced on area radio and television stations; on the internet at www.mcps.k12.md.us or Schoolsout.com; and on a taped telephone message service at 301-279-3673. If schools are closed or delayed, the announcement will be made no
later than 6:00 a.m. If schools are closing early, the announcements are made by 11:00
a.m.
Please remember to look for this article each month to find out about all of the happenings at Rachel Carson throughout the school year.
Lakelands Park Middle School News
The Lakelands Park Middle School (LPMS) Drama Club will be presenting the debut
of a new play titled Pirate School on February 8 and 9 at the school. Pirate School was
written by Kristen Ehrenspeck, sponsor of the club. Ehrenspeck teaches eighth grade
English and seventh grade Journalism at LPMS. This is her second year with the school
and her second year sponsoring the Drama Club. She says the students inspired her to
write the play.
“Last year the students said they wanted to do a pirate play, so I purchased every script
I could find, but none of them seemed to fit,” she said. “I just kept thinking each one
would have been so much better if only this or that were different. I love to write, so I
figured I’d just write it myself.” Ehrenspeck said the inspiration came to her one day during the summer. “I sat down and wrote from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. It just flowed out
of me. I’ve never had that kind of experience before,” she said.
Auditions were held in October and rehearsals began in November with a cast of 40
students. “These kids are so dedicated. We have a full cast, plus understudies,” said
Ehrenspeck. “So many students auditioned. When I saw how talented they were I decided I had to create more speaking parts. That’s the great part about doing my own play. I
can make whatever changes I want as we go along.”
Seventh grader Kathy Naneyshvili is an actor in the play. “I enjoy that all of the kids
really seem to interact with one other and you get to have fun and work at the same
time,” said Naneyshvili. “It’s a very interesting club to be in. Who knows… someone
could see you performing and you can get discovered by a talent scout!”
Ehrenspeck said that when writing Pirate School she tried to appeal to both kids and
adults. She describes it as a comedy with the main theme being the common struggle
between kids and parents agreeing on what is best for them. It is the story of John Silver
who wants to impress Stella Darrington. He goes to Pirate School to try to win her hand,
January/February 2008
but it isn’t what anyone expected, especially since it is taught by Captain Hook. “The
story is about John and his friends, Stella and her parents, and the class at Pirate School.
At some point all of the character’s lives cross, and there’s a twist at the end that I think
the audience will like,” said Ehrenspeck.
“The staff and parents have all been so supportive and I really appreciate the help of
the PTSA,” said Ehrenspeck. She credits John Gresh, a Kentlands neighbor and father
of actor Steven Gresh for helping build the set. “I couldn’t do it without him,” she said.
In addition, several students make up the stage crew. Seventh grader Jack Waffle said, “I
like to work with my hands and have something that was practically nothing, turn into
something amazing. Without stage crew, there really wouldn’t be a production because
you need them for all the costumes, lights, and sound effects. It is amazing what kids can
do. To build and operate lights is fun!”
Ehrenspeck said, “I feel so fortunate to be able to do this at LPMS.” She is a graduate
of Paint Branch High School in Montgomery County. She received a degree in English
and Speech Education from the University of Maryland and has been teaching for five
years. She hopes to one day publish Pirate School and says she will dedicate it to the students at LPMS.
Tickets for the show are available at the school for $5.00 prior to the show or $6.00
at the door on the night of the performances. “However, if you bring a canned good or
come dressed as a pirate you will get the $5 admission,” said Ehrenspeck. “It is very family friendly.” The production will be presented in two acts with an intermission. Baked
goods, beverages and other snacks will be available for sale as well as pirate souvenirs. In
the event of snow the show will be presented on February 15 and 16. All funds raised
will go directly to the Drama Club. L
The Lakelands Leader
13
who’snews
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
H
appy birthday
to Bobby
Faraone! Bobby will
be celebrating his
4th birthday on
February 12 with a
party full of his family and friends. We
hope you have a
super birthday and be sure to enjoy that
cake and ice cream.
H
appy belated
birthday to
Annie Faraone!
Annie was busy celebrating her 2nd
birthday on January
8. Annie had a special party with her
family and friends
and her mom says she received lots of great
presents.
H
appy birthday
to Andrew
Miles Shea!
Andrew will be
busy celebrating
his 1st birthday on
January 17.
Andrew’s family
says he is a happy
baby who loves to
smile and giggle and will celebrating
this big birthday with his family and
friends. We hope you have a super 1st
birthday!
H
appy birthday to
Hailey Rubin!
Hailey celebrated her
6th birthday on January
12 with a birthday party
with her friends at
Chuck E. Cheese. We
hope you had a great
birthday and received
lots of presents.
H
appy belated
birthday to
Darren Rubin!
Darren celebrated his
6th birthday on
December 22 with a
fun-filled football
party at the Kidz
Club at Rio Sport
and Health. We hope you had a great birthday!
H
appy birthday to Emma and Bella
Neal! The twins will be celebrating
their 4th birthday on February 10 with a
special Barbie gymnastics party. We hope
you both have a wonderful birthday and
be sure to enjoy that cake and ice cream.
Got Lakelands news or photos? Share it with your friends
and neighbors in Lakelands! Contact the LEADER
today at leader@lakelands.org
14
The Lakelands Leader
January/February 2008
Community Children’s
Chorus Gives Debut
Performance
By Bridget Ryder, Foundation Manager
O
January/February 2008
Photos Courtesy: Nancy Williams
n December 16 the Kentlands Mansion was
filled with the sound of music when the
Kentlands/Lakelands Children’s Chorus performed in its debut holiday concert. The group of
thirty-three children ages 4-13 practiced all Fall to
prepare for the concert, and didn’t disappoint as
they sang their hearts out.
The Chorus, led by Chorus Director Polly
Edmonds, a University of Maryland Master’s graduate of Vocal Performance and Instruction, sang a full
20-minute program of holiday songs and finished the
performance with “Let There be Peace on Earth.”
Edmonds then awed the packed Mansion with a
solo of “O Holy Night.” All the children received
Certificates of Achievement and enjoyed holiday
goodies after their performance.
Following the concert, the Foundation hosted its
annual Holiday Sing-Along, led by pianist and
Kentlands resident Elie Canetti. Raffle prizes were
awarded for correct answers to trivia questions, jingle bells rang out, and the carolers even got a surprise visit from Santa Claus!
The spring semester of the Community Children’s Chorus began on Monday
January 14. All children ages 4-18 are welcome, no matter where they live. There
will be a spring concert in May (date TBA). Registration forms are available on
the Foundation’s website at www.kentlands.org. L
The Lakelands Leader
15
lakelandslistings
Compiled by the Prigal Brothers, Re/Max Realty
FOR SALE
How Did
Lakelands
Home Sales
Fare in
2007?
Address
Housing Type
Model
Builder
List Price
DOM
538 Bright Meadow Drive
Townhouse
Jefferson
Michael Harris
$569,900
81
352 Chestertown Street
Townhouse
Georgetown
Miller & Smith
$619,900
77
316B Cross Green Street
Condo-Town
Mt. Vernon
Ryland
$449,900
65
330A Cross Green Street
Condo-Town
Georgetown
Ryland
$399,900
52
210B Heathwalk Street
Condo-Town
Mt. Vernon
Ryland
$424,000
41
660 Heathwalk Mews
Cottage
Main Street
$439,900
265
613 Lake Varuna Drive
Single Family
Abernathy
NV Homes
$949,900
104
801 Linslade Street
Single Family
Michener
Ryan Homes
$859,999
110
By Andrea Escher
453 Lynette Street
Single Family
$789,000
19
407 Main Street
Townhouse
Parkwood
$664,000
234
626A Main Street
Condo-Town
Ryland
$434,900
33
ith reports of the real estate market being the slowest on record in
the past four years, a New Year
prompts residents to wonder if the slow
market had any affect on home sales in
Lakelands in 2007.
In 2007, Lakelands saw 95 homes sold
Georgetown
965 Main Street
Townhouse
Tarquin
Ryan Homes
$679,900
237
1123 Main Street
Townhouse
Tarquin
Ryan Homes
$550,000
123
1131 Main Street
Single Family
$525,000
33
1231 Main Street
Single Family
Bartholomew
NV Homes
$900,000
203
1421 Main Street
Single Family
NV Homes
$849,900
184
254B Market Street East
Condo-Town
Ryland
$439,900
159
441 Placid Street
Cottage
Main Street
$579,900
124
869 Still Creek Lane
Single Family
Dartmouth
NV Homes
$1,195,000
103
Address
Housing Type
Model
Builder
List Price
DOM
726 Turtle Pond Lane
Single Family
NV Homes
$989,000
14
Mt. Vernon
UNDER CONTRACT
SOLD
Address
Housing Type
Model
Builder
List Price
Sold Price
DOM
461 Clayhall Street
Townhouse
Fairgate
Ryan Homes
$515,000
$478,000
145
315B Cross Green Street
Condo-Town
Mt. Vernon
Ryland
$435,000
$417,500
6
902 Featherstone Street
Townhouse
Michael Harris
$608,000
$585,000
33
422 Kersten Street
Townhouse
Vanderbilt
NV Homes
$554,875
$532,500
129
484 Lynette Street
Townhouse
Fairgate
Ryan Homes
$529,999
$529,999
8
706A Main Street
Condo-Town
Georgetown Ryland
$414,000
$403,000
44
563 Market Street East
Townhouse
Turnberry
Classic
$529,000
$519,000
139
481 Phelps Street
Townhouse
Tarquin
Ryan Homes
$659,956
$645,000
66
Address
Housing Type
Model
Builder
Rent Rate
DOM
625 Chestnut Hill Mews
Townhouse
Fairgate
Ryan Homes
$2,500
37
711B Main Street
Condo-Townhouse Mt. Vernon
Ryland
$1,920
7
720 Market Street East
ownhouse
Classic
$2,400
39
FOR RENT
W
with an average 84 days on the market
compared to 2006, when Lakelands saw 91
homes sold with an average of 58 days on
the market.
A quick comparison showed that
Lakelands came in second place in 2007
home sales with the neighboring
Rockville planned community of King
Farm seeing the highest number of sold
signs with 104 sales followed by
Lakelands with 95 home sales and
Kentlands selling 77 homes in 2007.
Fallsgrove, another nearby Rockville
community, sold only 39 homes in 2007.
While only four more homes sold in
Lakelands in 2007 compared to 2006,
the community did see a significant
increase in the number of condominiumtownhouse units sold. While the average
list price fell lower in 2007 than 2006,
the days homes sat on the market also
slightly increased.
Based upon these statistics, it is safe
to say that Lakelands did not feel the
burden of a slow real estate market during 2007, and that’s good news to
Lakelands homeowners. L
2006 Solds
2007 Solds
Townhouses
43 sold
$592,442 average
sold price
57 days on
the market
Townhouses
45 sold
$571,206 average
sold price
58 days on
the market
Single Family
32 sold
$886,444 average
sold price
59 days on
the market
Single Family
24 sold
$812,094 average
sold price
108 days on
the market
A Unit Condominiums
8 sold
$416,638 average
sold price
69 days on
the market
A Unit Condominiums
14 sold
$412,643 average
sold price
45 days on
the market
B Unit Condominiums
8 sold
$461,337 average
sold price
53 days on
the market
B Unit Condominiums
14 sold
$431,014 average
sold price
54 days on
the market
Listings as of 1/08/08
The information above was obtained from MRIS. Information is believed to be accurate, but should not be relied
upon without verification. These were not listing/sold exclusively by Prigal Brothers/Re/Max Realty.
Summer Sports
Camp
June 16 – August 18
Call for Details
16
The Lakelands Leader
Interested in a
Lakelands Playgroup?
L
akelands neighbor Kerri Donnelly, the
mother of a 17-month old son, is looking to organize a playgroup for Lakelands
children ages 12 to 24 months to meet
once a week. The exact day and time will
be determined based upon resident interest. If you are interested in joining a
Lakelands Playgroup, please call Kerri
Donnelly at 301-947-4332 or e-mail kerridonnely@hotmail.com. L
January/February 2008
Lakelands Own Walsh Is RCES
Spelling Bee Co-Champion!
Photo Courtesy: Larry Chep
Walsh, a forth grader, and
Zoe Smith, a fifth grader,
were the last two remaining
contestants.
Walsh and
Smith dueled through several
more rounds, but by this
time, the words were too challenging, even for these two.
At last, RCES Principal
Larry Chep and the four
judges declared a draw, naming Walsh and Smith CoChampions of this first-ever
event at RCES. Walsh’s comments leaving the RCES auditorium were, “Now this is
Congratulations to Liam Walsh and Zoe Smith, the what I call exciting!”
Needless to say, Liam’s
winners of the first annual Rachel Carson
Spelling Bee.
parents, Greg and Pauline,
and younger brother Sean
he Lakelands neighbor Liam Walsh par- were thrilled and proud for Liam. Greg
ticipated in the first annual Rachel acknowledged, “He get’s it from his
Carson Elementary School Spelling Bee mother.”
on Wednesday, December 19 and won!
Other known Lakelands contestants
Twenty-six finalists who competed in included Hannah Pearlstein (3rd grade)
the Spelling Bee that evening were the and Megan McDanald (4th grade).
first and second-place finishers in their Many proud parents and friends were in
respective classrooms, from the 3rd 4th attendance.
and 5th grades.
“It was apparent that these twenty-six
After many rounds of spelling words children were very good spokespeople for
that continued to grow in difficulty, all that Rachel Carson Elementary School
is,” said Greg Walsh. “They demonstrated
the impact that RCES has had on them,
not just in terms of their ability to spell,
but the professional and respectful manner
in which they presented themselves in
what obviously can be seen as a very difficult circumstance ... individually competing on stage in the presence of a watchful
audience. It is hard to believe that these
kids are only in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.
They should all be proud that they earned
hen the Lakelands Facilities
their opportunity to be on that stage to
Committee would like to hear
represent their respective classrooms and
from you! Lakelands neighbors are
grades, regardless of the outcome. They
being asked to attend the Wednesday,
are all champions for being there.”
January 23, 2008 Facilities Committee
meeting to openly discuss their opinions and comments on the last summer’s pool experience. Before the
Facilities Committee makes a decision
regarding the pool management con-
Walsh says his son Liam is a naturally
a good speller, but he also was very diligent in preparing for the competition.
“He is self-motivated in the sense that he
wanted us to continue quizzing him during the couple of weeks that preceded the
event,” said Walsh. “When he finished
his regular homework each night, if time
allowed, he would focus his ‘cross hairs’
on studying for the Spelling Bee. By the
night of the competition, he felt good
about what he had studied and was ready
to take a whack at it.”
The Lakelands wishes to extend their
congratulations to Liam Walsh upon his
Spelling Bee success! L
We’re Ahead of Our Time
T
Got Comments
on the Pool
Management
Company?
T
Mission Statement
“My associates and I are sincerely committed to providing you with
the most advanced dental techniques and pain-free treatments, in a
friendly and comfortable environment.”
Robert J. Kelly D.D.S. and Associates, P.A.
301-948-0058
832 Quince Orchard Blvd., Gaithersburg
301-949-2280
10335 Kensington Pkwy., Kensington
301-519-3232
220 Main Street, Kentlands, Gaithersburg
www.kellydds.com
Lakelands neighbors are being
asked to openly discuss their
opinions and comments on the
last summer’s pool experience.
tract for summer 2008, the Committee
is interested in hearing residents’
thoughts on the pool management
operations and any changes they would
like to see considered for the summer.
The meeting will be held on
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 7:15
p.m. at the Lakelands Clubhouse. If
you will not be able to attend the meeting, but would like to share your
thoughts and comments on the pool
management operations, please e-mail
Committee Chairman Scott Fischthal
at fischthal1@comcast.net. L
January/February 2008
The Lakelands Leader
17
Main Street Café
Now Open
M
ain Street Café, is now open at
317 Main Street in the site previously known as Ruby’s Café.
Owners Nick and Noosh Nikakhtar are
very excited about the opening. They have
both worked in the restaurant industry for
many years, but this is the first time they
will own their own place. “I feel like this is
my home,” said Noosh “and I feel like all
of my customers are my guests.”
The Nikakhtars have enlisted the help
of Memar Sadeghi, of Memar and
Company in the opening of the restaurant.
Sadeghi has operated a number of Times
Square restaurants, Hyatt restaurants and
several country clubs and feels that the
Café will be a success.
The European-style café features a full
menu including homemade soups, salads,
appetizers, sandwiches, wraps, quiches,
and more. “The menu is simple and yet
committed to quality and freshness,” said
Sageghi. He added they use only the freshest and most natural ingredients.
Noosh’s passion is cooking and baking.
She has completed classes at L’Academie
de Cuisine in pastry techniques and cake
decorating. The Café features a variety of
her homemade desserts.
In addition The Main Street Café offers
a selection of international beers, a variety
of wines, fruit smoothies, organic teas
Photo Courtesy: Nancy Williams
By Gina Dropik
Nick and Noosh Nikakhtar
are excited to meet their
Lakelands neighbors at the
new Main Street Cafe!
from California, and ILLY Coffee from
Italy. Memar said, “Guests will love the
prices as much as the charming room and
the great foods and wines.”
Both Nick and Noosh plan to be at the
Café fulltime. “We are giving the restaurant
our full attention,” said Nick. They did not
make many changes to the interior of the
space. “From the first time we saw it we loved
it,” he said. One addition is a hand-painted
mural of a woman presenting a beautiful,
fresh pie. A slideshow of scenic pictures of
Europe runs on the television to give the Café
a relaxing atmosphere.
18
The Lakelands Leader
A variety of items are available for sale
including European chocolates and candy,
and homemade croutons. “We want to fill
the space with food,” said Nick. The
Nikakhtars are Gaithersburg residents and
the parents of two daughters, ages 11 and
15, who are also very excited about the
family’s business.
Main Street Café is open for breakfast
lunch and dinner. Hours are Monday
through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00
p.m., Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.;
Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.,
and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. L
January/February 2008
Movie Event of the
Year May Not Arrive
In Market Square
Kentlands Stadium 10 Not Sure if
Hannah Montana Will Hit
The Big Screen
By Andrea Escher
annah Montana fans everywhere will have a chance to see their favorite singer,
songwriter and actress, Miley Cyrus, perform her sold-out “Hannah Montana Miley
Cyrus - Best of Both Worlds Concert” on the big screen for one-week only with a special Disney Digital 3D presentation exclusively to movie theaters during the week of
February 1-7, 2008.
With concert tickets selling out nationwide, ticket sales for the Best of Both
Worlds 3-D movie began selling the first week of December online through
www.disney.com and online ticket retailers such as Fandango. Many of the time
slots and dates have already sold-out.
H
Currently the only theaters in the local area slated
to premiere the tour include Loews Rio Cinemas and
Regal Rockville Cinema in the new Town Center.
Currently the only theaters in the local area slated to premiere the tour include Loews
Rio Cinemas and Regal Rockville Cinema in the new Town Center.
The Lakelands Leader contacted Kentlands Stadium 10 to find out if the Best of Both
Worlds concert will be arriving in Market Square. According to the Stadium 8 spokesperson, it is unknown at press time whether the theater will be receiving the film. Residents
of Kentlands and Lakelands will have to wait till the end of January to find out if tickets
will become available for the Kentlands theater. L
January/February 2008
What Are They Reading?
T
he Lakelands Book Club has chosen “Suite Francaise” by Irene Nemirovsky
for their upcoming Thursday, February 22, 2008 Book Club selection. The
Club will meet at 7:30 p.m.
The Book Club is already planning ahead for March! They have chosen the
reading selection “Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer for their March meeting.
The Lakelands Book Club is open to all Lakelands residents! New faces are
always welcome and encouraged to attend. Suggestions for future Book Club
readings would be appreciated. For questions or more information about the
Lakelands Book Club please contact Mickey at silvrfoxx1@aol.com.
History and Political Discussion Group
The History and Political Discussion Group will be meeting on February 13,
2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lakelands Clubhouse. The Group will be discussing how
the Presidential candidates stand on the issue of healthcare. For questions or
more information about the History and Political Discussion Group, please contact Mickey at silvrfoxx1@aol.com. L
Attention, Lakelands...
New Avon Representative!
You now have an
Avon Representative/E-Representative
in your community!
Shop online for fast and easy service.
To shop and email questions please visit
my official Avon Store at
www.youravon.com/jgarcia2682
- Jessica Garcia Independent Sales/E-Representative/Beauty Advisor
The Lakelands Leader
19
news&events
City Summer Camp Registration
Begins January 23
The City of Gaithersburg is dedicated to
providing your child with the best summer
camp experience. To accomplish that, the City
has three components to the summer camp
program. The first component is the Specialty
Camp Programs which include clinics such as
basketball and tennis. Also included in the
specialty camps are the School of Skate and
the School of Basketball. The second component is the Youth Activity Programs. These
YAP sites offer a day camp experience except
in a shorter day, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Finally,
the All Day Camp Programs offer campers a
full range of activities from games and sports
to swimming and field trips.
Dates to Remember:
• Mid January: Summer Camp Guide
available
• January 23: Resident registration begins
• March 3: Non-Resident registration
begins
• Camps are scheduled to begin
June 16, 2008
The City looks forward to making this
summer a safe, fun and educational experience for Gaithersburg families. For questions
and more information please contact the
main Recreation office at 301-258-6350 or
parksrec@gaithersburgmd.gov.
Juggling Funny Stories, Slapstick Science
and Black History in Harmony
Gaithersburg’s “Schools Out for Arts,” a
program that provides an opportunity for
learning when Montgomery County Public
Schools are closed, announces an exciting
winter and spring 2008 lineup with performances by storyteller Chris Fascione, Slapstick
Science with Dr. Albert Erg, and a journey
through African-American history with the
band Reverb. All three shows will be held
from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Arts Barn,
311 Kent Square Road in Kentlands.
Chris Fascione’s “Juggling Funny Stories”
combines storytelling, mime, juggling and
comedy to create colorful characters from literature, who tell their stories as laughter
abounds. He will perform on Tuesday,
January 22, 2008.
“Slapstick Science -- The Notion of
Motion with Dr. Albert Erg” is guaranteed to
excite your child’s curiosities and inspire their
enthusiasm for science. His performance
takes place on Wednesday, March 26, 2008.
The five male singers of Reverb take audiences on an a cappella musical journey
through African-American history, focusing
on the social issues of 1619, 1886 and 1960
and today. The show is appropriate for families of all ages. Reverb performs on Monday,
April 7, 2008.
Tickets for each show are $5.00 for residents and $6.00 for non-residents. They
may be purchased online at may be purchased
online
at
www.gaithersburgmd.gov/RecXpress or by
calling 301-258-6394.
City Sponsors Bus Trip to
American Girl Place New York
The City of Gaithersburg invites you to
spend a day you’ll never forget at American
Girl Place New York. Situated in the heart of
the Big Apple’s most prestigious shopping,
cultural, and business neighborhood,
American Girl Place New York is more than
a store, it’s a place for magical experiences and
memories.
A deluxe motor coach will depart from
the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S.
Frederick Avenue, at 6:30 a.m. on
Saturday, April 5. It is scheduled to arrive
at American Girl Place New York at
approximately 11:30 a.m.
The day includes lunch at the American
Girl Café at Noon, followed by admission to
the “Circle of Friends: An American Girl
Musical” at 1:40 p.m. Participants are then
on their own to shop and enjoy the American
Girl Place until the bus departs for
Gaithersburg at 5:00 p.m. Return to the
Activity Center is anticipated by 10:00 p.m.
The fee of $110.00 for City residents and
$140.00 for nonresidents includes deluxe
motor coach transportation, lunch, and the
musical show. Children must be at least 6years-old and in the company of an adult.
For more information and to register
please call 301-258-6350 purchase tickets
online using RecXpress at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/RecXpress.
Gaithersburg Area Newcomers
Club
New in town? Not only is moving a lot of
work, but it can be lonely and frustrating as
you adjust to a new community. You wonder
where to shop, how to get involved in activities
or simply how to meet other people and build
new friendships. Or perhaps you’ve lived in
the area for a while, but because of work, life
style changes or other commitments, you have
never had the opportunity to meet you neighbors. You’re not alone. Your neighbors were
once new to the area and took advantage of
the Gaithersburg Area Newcomer’s Club to
become part of the community. Come join us.
Through monthly meetings and various special interest groups, GANC offers a variety of
activities that are helpful, fun, and entertaining. Our goal is to have newcomers and old
comers meet and establish friendships!
For more information about the
Gaithersburg Area Newcomers Club, please
contact Bev at 301.330.6197 or visit
www.GEOcities.com/gancmd
20
The Lakelands Leader
January/February 2008
Kentlands Considering
Creating a Skate Spot
Adjacent to
Basketball Court
By Andrea Escher
T
he Kentlands Citizens Assembly met
with the City of Gaithersburg and
members of the Ad Hoc Skate
Components Committee to see if an area
adjacent to their basketball court and tennis courts could serve as a site for a future
skate spot in Kentlands.
“We got the impression nothing was going
to happen with the skate spot plan at
Lakelands Park since the Lakelands community was objecting to it,” said Kentlands
President Neil Harris. “We looked at our own
site to see if we could make this happen and
we are currently in the exploratory phase.”
The site Kentlands is considering as a
good location for a skate spot is currently a
small concrete area set up as a shuffleboard court. The court sits inside the
secured, fenced-in basketball court along
Tschiffely Square Road.
“A few members of the Skate Components
Committee, as well as Neil and myself looked
at the area to see if a skate spot would be feasible,” said Michele McGleish, Director of
Parks, Recreation and Culture for the City of
Gaithersburg. “Unfortunately we want the
area to be accessible by all children and the
fencing surrounding the site limits the use of
the area to only children of Kentlands.”
McGleish said if the City were to fund a
skate spot in Kentlands, the area would have
to be open and accessible for use by non-residents. In addition, McGleish said since the
City has already budgeted $40,000 for a skate
spot at Lakelands Park, the City would not
provide funds for an additional site since the
two communities are adjacent. “We have to
January/February 2008
spread our funding around all areas of the
City, not just one particular area or location,”
said McGleish.
The City currently owns three parcels of
land within Kentlands; the Mansion lawn,
the Village Green near Firehouse Lane and
Little Quarry Park. When asked why these
areas were not considered as a space for a
skate spot, McGleish said the City was
opposed to using these sites for skating use.
“The Mansion lawn is out of the question
since the area is used for weddings and upscale functions,” said McGleish. “The Village
Green is used for Oktoberfest, City concerts
and recreation by residents, so we can’t utilize
that space. Little Quarry Park is encompassed
by trees and we are a tree friendly City and do
not want to cut down trees for a small spot.”
Mary Moore, a Kentlands resident and
member of the Ad Hoc Skate Components
Committee, said the Committee was receptive
to Kentlands invitation to find a useable space
for a skate spot. “We think the Kentlands is a
great location for a second spot,” said Moore.
“But we don’t want to lose momentum for
our original recommendation which is for the
approval of a skate spot at Lakelands Park.”
Kentlands neighbor John McCutcheon
encouraged the Kentlands Board of Trustees
to consider constructing a skate spot at the
site regardless of the City’s funding assistance.
“It’s only $40,000 and I’m sure we can find
money in our budget to construct a private
resident only skate spot,” said McCutcheon.
“It’s obvious there is a need for this and I
think it’s a great idea for the Kentlands to
build its own for the residents.”
McGleish said she commends both Harris
and the Committee for taking an exploratory
look at the site in Kentlands “Other municipalities are looking for us to lead the way
when it comes to these skate spots,” said
McGleish. “They want to see how we do it,
how we set it up and how well it works. There
is a need for our skaters to have a safe haven
and we hope that we can eventually put skate
spots all around the City.” L
The Lakelands Leader
21
Get your business noticed in 2008! Contact us today at leader@lakelands.org
to reserve your ad space with a low cost advertisement in the
Lakelands Leader.
301-984-4092
22
The Lakelands Leader
January/February 2008
these are thepeopleinnyourneigghborhood
Dr. Jon Sherman, Kentlands Foot & Ankle
By Gina Dropik
W
hen Dr. Jon Sherman moved to the Lakelands in
2001 he had recently graduated from medical
school and was working as a podiatrist for a private practice. Sherman decided he wanted to start his
own practice and knew that he wanted to open it in the
Kentlands. “I felt there was a need for it here and I really
like the people in the neighborhood,” he said.
Sherman opened Kentlands Foot and Ankle on
Main Street in 2003 and shared the space with another doctor. He enjoyed immediate success and after a
couple of years decided to expand and move into the
new building that was being built in the Kentlands
Square Shopping Center, where he has a rotating of
staff of three in addition to himself. “We get busier
every quarter,” he said. He added that a majority of his
patients come from within Kentlands and Lakelands.
“Working and living in the same neighborhood
decreases a lot of stress in my life,” he said. “I occasionally even walk or ride my bike to work.”
Sherman, who was recently board certified in foot surgery,
specializes in sports medicine and non-surgical treatment of
athletic injuries. He provides medical treatments for all ages
from babies to geriatric patients, including bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, arch pain, plantar warts and more. He is
in his office four days a week and normally performs surgeries one day a week as well. “Most of my procedures are done
at Suburban Hospital,” he said “although minor procedures
are done in the office.”
One of his major focuses is relieving chronic heel
pain, such as plantar fasciitis, in his patients.
Sherman offers a new therapy called Extracorporeal
Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) which uses therapeutic
pressure waves to relieve the pain.
A native of Montgomery County, Sherman graduated
from the Bullis School. He says he became interested in
podiatry when as a child he visited a podiatrist for ingrown toenails. He received his undergraduate degree
from The University of Wisconsin-Madison where he met
is wife Justine. He then went on to graduate with honors
from Temple School of Podiatric Medicine in
Philadelphia, and subsequently did a three-year podiatric
medicine and surgical residency at Tenet-Elkins Park
Hospital, in Philadelphia. Sherman is a Fellow of the
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a
Diplomat of The American Board of Podiatric Surgeons.
He has served as a consultant for the Penn Relays and
Marine Corps Marathon.
Jon and Justine have two children, Madison (3
½) and Sienna (15 months). “When we lived in
Philadelphia we could walk to the market, restaurants and movies, so when we moved back here, that
was important to us,” said Jon. They often walk to
Midtown from their Main Street townhome. “We love
the convenience of the parks and we support all of the
neighborhood restaurants.” In addition he always has a
booth at the Oktoberfest and is an annual sponsor of the
Kentlands /Lakelands 5K.
In his spare time Sherman enjoys golf, tennis and bike rid-
ing. Once an avid runner, he had
to give that up due to a knee
injury. He recently returned
from a ski trip in Utah.
Justine works full time as a
Meeting Planner for the
Association of Financial
Professionals in Bethesda.
The couple will celebrate
their tenth wedding
anniversary in May.
Kentlands Foot and
Ankle Center is located at 60
Market Street, Suite #202. The
office can be reached at 301-330-5666. His website
www.kentlandsfootdoctor.com provides information on
all of the services he provides as well information on medical conditions associated with the foot and ankle. L
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January/February 2008
The Lakelands Leader
23
communityclassifieds
FOR SALE
Nordic Track: exercise (ski) machine,
model BC-5061, excellent condition. $50
OBO & Abdominal exercise frame, Legacy
Fitness $20 OBO, call 301-947-6768 &
leave message if no answer.
For Sale: Beautiful 60" breakfast table,
plus leaf, white base with pine top, 4
matching chairs and sideboard. $250.
Call Betty in the Kentlands, 301-947-9303.
For Sale: Queen size sleep sofa in excellent
condition. $150 obo. Solid wood dining
table, seats 6 $75 obo. Green couch & Love
Seat $175 obo. E-mail Annisez43@aol.com or
Call 301-908-2780.
For Sale in Lakelands: Beautiful 6’-8” tall
x 3’-8” wide Hooker Entertainment
Armoire with TV and shelf space above
and components shelving below with builtin CD racks. Excellent condition. Perfect
for a signature Great Room piece or Lower
Level entertainment center. $449. Sony
Trinitron 32” Flat Screen TV currently in
Armoire for $399. Sold together at $799.
Call 301-977-2159 or e-mail us at
wormald@comcast.net. Will e-mail pics.
Armoire - Ashley "Winslow" Model: $700.
Beautiful 2 piece Armoire made by Ashley
Furniture Company "Winslow Group"
Less than one year old. Paid $1000.00 will
take $700.00. 240-426-2973
Queen Mattress/Box Spring & Frame:
$200. Symbol Pedic - "Ortho Edge
Support" 20 yr warranty - Excellent
Condition - Firm! Great for a spare room.
Original price $1150. 240-426-2973
Full Pillowtop Mattress/Box Spring & Frame:
$250. Spring Air "Avalon" Back Supporter Excellent Condition - 240-426-2973
Baldwin Acrosonic Series Spinnet Piano:
w/bench, 1978 made in USA, almond color
in good condition. Great price, $850.00. Call
301-258-7660 and leave message.
For Sale: Light Colored wood wall unit, 4
matching pieces, glass doors, glass shelves,
electric lights. Compartments below for
storage of CD’s, DVD’s & VCR’s & a TV
compartment with sliding doors.
32”
color TV included in price. All in excellent condition. $1,350. Call 240-631-6611.
Bike for sale: 2005 Trek 1000 road bike. 43
cm aluminum white, orange, and blue
frame. Carbon fiber fork and Shimano
parts. Less than 200 miles. $550 or best
offer. E-mail iggysfan@hotmail.com or call
240-477-7775.
nanny as current nanny share family is
moving away. Currently the nanny watches our 20 month old daughter full days MTh (Fridays negotiable) and is a legal resident, speaks English fluently, has a clean
driver's license and a post-graduate education. If interested please contact Amy at
arw76@aol.com or 301-947-1142.
Nanny available: Responsible, loving,
experienced nanny seeks F/T, L/O position. Great references. I am a U.S. citizen
and have my own transportation. Contact
lianakoconnor@gmail.com
FOR RENT:
Office Space Sublease – Beautiful office
suite on Main Street has one office available to rent for $850/month. Rent
includes use of conference room, internet,
phone, utilities, filtered water, cleaning
and more. Computer/fax/copier/printer
available for additional fee. Plenty of parking. Small signs okay. 301-431-0000 x101
or JLavine@capitolbenefits.com
For Rent: Beautiful above-garage
400sq.f.office with AC and heating, powder room and kitchenette. $760 a month
including utilities and basic cable TV connection. Located in Kentlands. Call 301527-1757 (Please no calls for apartment, it
is an Art Studio/Office)
Sell It, Find It, Share It in
Lakelands Classifieds!
Community classifieds are free to all
Lakelands residents ($10 fee applied to
non-residents). To place your classified,
e-mail us at leader@lakelands.org.
Deadline for the March 2008 edition is
February 20, 2008.
SERVICES NEEDED:
Nanny Share Needed: If you live in
Kentlands or Lakelands and have a nanny
coming to your home and wouldn't mind if
occasionally (once to twice a week max) I
could drop my 9-month old daughter off for
your nanny to watch, it could ease the financial burden as I would pay the nanny for my
time and you could hopefully pay her less
during that time period. Additionally if you
have a baby it could be great socialization and
playtime! If this is a possibility please e-mail
me at megankenah@yahoo.com so we can
discuss details.
Nanny Share: Lakelands family in search of
another family to share our wonderful
Looking for Family Footcare?
We’re now in your neighborhood!
Montgomery Foot and Ankle Associates, LLC
Adam K. Spector, DPM
Herman R. Zarate, DPM
Sharon T. Siebold, DPM
Specialists in the Medical and Surgical
Treatment of the Foot and Ankle
SILVER SPRING
NORTH POTOMAC
WHEATON
1111 Spring Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-589-8886
11906-G Darnestown Road
N. Potomac, MD 20878
Phone: 301-987-7450
3909 Ferrara Drive
Wheaton, MD 20906
Phone: 301-949-8833
24
The Lakelands Leader
January/February 2008
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January/February 2008
The Lakelands Leader
25
Professional Directory
To advertise in The Lakelands Leader, please call
301-519-1678 or e-mail leader@lakelands.org
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26
The Lakelands Leader
January/February 2008
January/February 2008
The Lakelands Leader
27
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The Lakelands Leader
January/February 2008