January 2, 2015

Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands, Lakelands, Quince Orchard Park and More
The
TOWN
Vol. 11, No. 23
Courier
www.towncourier.com
January 2, 2015
Setting the Stage for
A&E Designation
By Sharon Allen Gilder
K
entlands’ Arts Barn was the
venue on Dec. 16 for a public meeting to concentrate
attention on efforts by the Kentlands Downtown Partnership
(KDP) and the City of Gaithersburg to achieve the designation
of Arts & Entertainment (A&E)
District. Comprising approximately 100 acres in Kentlands,
the proposed A&E District would
also benefit the greater Gaithersburg area arts community. Currently, there are 22 A&E Districts
in the state of Maryland.
Pamela Dunne, program director for the Maryland State Arts
Council—the council that reviews A&E applications—highlighted several factors necessary
to set the stage for the area to
receive such designation. These
include walkability, community
engagement, and affordable livework-studio-gallery spaces.
“The arts are an economic engine for Maryland, and this really resonates with our legislature.
Maryland is fifth in the nation
in terms of per capita funding
n
A&E district Continued on page 7
Photo | Sharon Allen Gilder
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Gaithersburg, MD 20878
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Joe Pritchard, KDP president; Joe Allen, KDP board member-at-large; Ann Derryberry, KDP vice
president; and Pamela Dunne, program director for the Maryland State Arts Council, spoke at a
Dec. 16 meeting about a proposed Arts and Entertainment District for Kentlands.
Photo | Yenrue Chen
The Kentlands Community Foundation Caroling once again brightened community streets and
warmed hearts on Dec. 21.
Fast-Paced Hitchcock Spoof Group to Bring I-270
Comes to Arts Barn Stage
Corridor Up to Speed
By Ellyn Wexler
By Karen O’Keefe
he Hitchcock spoof “The
39 Steps” looks like a numbers game. In less than a
century, its path led from a 1915
novel to a 1935 classic Alfred
Hitchcock film to a 2005 stage
adaptation featuring four actors
who take on more than 150 roles.
The Sandy Spring Theatre Group
(SSTG) will perform its newest
incarnation from Jan. 9 through
25 at the Arts Barn.
Director Karen Petersen, who
has been on the community theater group’s board of directors for
more than 20 years and has directed full-length and one-act plays
with SSTG, described the show as
“a very funny, fast-paced homage
to the murder mystery-film noir
genre, with special references to
ixteen leaders from government and business in
Montgomery and Frederick
counties accepted an invitation
from Congressman John Delaney
(D-6) Dec. 18 to discuss strategies
to resolve transportation problems and improve the economic health of people living in the
I-270 corridor. The meeting was
held at the offices of the Frederick
Chamber of Commerce.
“The I-270 corridor is one of the
key economic engines for Maryland and one of the fastest growing
areas in the state. At all levels of
government, we have to make sure
that transportation and infrastructure needs are being met,” Delaney said, following the one-hour
session. “Clearly, for thousands of
T
S
Photo | Submitted
The Sandy Spring Theatre Group production
of “The 39 Steps” opens at the Arts Barn on
Jan. 9, 8 p.m.
Hitchcock’s body of work.”
She and the cast have “had tremendous fun spoofing ‘Hitch’
and working on the various levels
of the play, including the actors
portraying themselves dealing
n
39 steps Continued on page 8
Marylanders, the daily commute is
horrendous.”
The group discussed the many
problems stemming from the inability of I-270 to adequately
move traffic, as well as a variety
of transportation initiatives, including spot intersection and other
improvements, a “Bus on Shoulders” program, Virginia’s private
investment/high occupancy lanes
program and the Corridor Cities
Transitway (CCT), currently in
development to address the growing need.
Attendees, among them, State
Senator Roger Manno (D-Dist. 19
Montgomery), Sen. Ron Young
(D-Dist. 3 Frederick) and Senator-elect Michael Hough (R-Dist.
4 Frederick) also discussed funding
mechanisms, the availability of prin
transportation Continued on page 5
Page 2
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
January 2, 2015
The Town Courier
Page 3
Show Biz Heats Up for John
Anderson in New York City
By Mike Cuthbert
Y
et another former Kentlands
resident has ended up in show
business in a growing career.
John Anderson, QO Class of 2001,
attended Syracuse University with
his classmate Paul James. Following
graduation in 2005, James went to the
West Coast and has had success already in a couple of roles for TV. Anderson went to New York City and
has hit a hot streak there.
Three of Anderson’s projects are in
various states of post-production now
with the last being “Come Down
Molly,” a dark comedy about a woman whose life crashes down on her.
She finds a new life at a friend’s bachelor party and discovers what a psychedelic experience is all about.
Previous to “Come Down Molly,” Anderson’s biggest part was the
continuing role of Mike Dexter, astronaut and fantasy lover of Tina Fey
on “30 Rock.” Anderson said of that
experience, “I was too young for all of
that. I came out of ‘30 Rock’ and hit a
real dry spell.”
When he was not acting, he was
writing. Two feature-length screenplays have emerged, “the first a learn-
ing experience,” Anderson said. He’s
now re-working his second script and
starting a third.
At QO, Anderson was active in
theater. He starred as Conrad in
“Bye Bye Birdie,” and appeared in
“Lend Me a Tenor” and “Pirates of
Penzance.” Karen Garner, for years
the set designer and assistant director
at QO, called Anderson “tall and talented” and remembered him well. “A
very nice kid!” she said.
The QO drama contingent continues to grow in Hollywood, but Anderson said that while he sees several
Montgomery County colleagues in
New York, none of them are from
QO. “I stayed there because of contacts I made at Syracuse and since.”
He stays in New York City also because of a new trend in film, especially
film for TV: Pilots (first episode programs shot to entice full production)
are being filmed in New York. Once
they go into full production, they go
to Hollywood. In part, this is because
the economics of show business have
been changing. Hollywood and the
movie business in general are still taking broadsides fired by people inside
and outside the business for the way
Sony mishandled “The Interview”
fracas and the hacking that preceded
it. The Russian economic crisis has
also impacted film attendance there,
all of which impacts Hollywood.
Anderson admits he has no fallback
plan. “Especially now, with the uptick in my career, I’m just not worrying about it. Success has given me
much more flexibility.” Anderson’s
wife of three-plus years is a designer of restaurants for the Mario Batali
chain, which gives the couple more
security than many others in show
business!
“I plan to keep things going the
way they are,” said Anderson. “I do
commercials. You can’t make money doing independent films, and the
whole industry is struggling with the
problem of paying actors for streaming video jobs since there is currently no recognized structure for that.
The unions are working to solve that
problem.”
So Anderson continues shooting
on the series “Mozart in the Jungle”
for Amazon.com, and he keeps writing and working without a net. That’s
the way it is for most television actors these days as the industry sorts
out what it is going to look like in the
years ahead.
A Bouquet of Thanks Given for All
at RCES Courtyard Garden
By Pam Schipper
O
n a chilly and grey afternoon
at Rachel Carson Elementary
School in early December, the
many PTA members, funding organizations, volunteers, and school staff
and students behind the RCES courtyard reinvigoration project gathered
to celebrate what spring will bring—a
conservation garden designed by Toni
Bailey of Gracefully Green, LLC that is
planted and ready to bloom, and a vegetable and herb garden to go in when
frost danger has passed.
“One of the ongoing problems with
this courtyard is maintenance and
upkeep and how to keep it going,”
said RCES PTA parent and organizer Alex Stavitsky-Zeineddin, “so the
conservation garden concept is a really
great one because it really is using native
plants and minimizing water usage.”
Stavitsky-Zeineddin thanked the
core group of PTA parents who pushed
this project forward, especially Paula Ross who suggested creating education gardens in the then-neglected
courtyard some three years ago. She
also highlighted the commitment of
the Muddy Brach Alliance, the Gaithersburg non-profit that connected the
RCES PTA to landscape designer Toni
Bailey. Bailey was instrumental in getting RCES a $5,000 grant from the
Montgomery County Rainscapes program.
Stavitsky-Zeineddin
commended
Whole Foods’ Whole Kids Foundation for their school garden grant. “We
wrote up a grant (proposal) and received
a $2,500 grant from Whole Foods Kids
to do veggie, organic gardening, as
well as herb gardening,” she said. “So
we have the funds, and we’ll be starting
in the spring to meet with teachers to
n
AROUND TOWN
Compiled by Pam Schipper
2015 Legislative Preview Planned for Jan. 11
The District 17 Democratic Club invites all interested Democrats to a “2015 Legislative Preview” at
the Kentlands Clubhouse on Sunday, Jan. 11, 3 to
5 p.m. Senator Cheryl Kagan and Delegates Kumar
Barve, Jim Gilchrist and Andrew Platt will discuss
their goals for the 2015 Legislative Session in Annapolis. This event is free. For questions or to RSVP,
contact Elly Shaw-Belblidia at mirinor@aol.com or
301.216.9549.
shop Talk
By Pam Schipper
Losing Makes Winning Year at Fleet Feet
The numbers speak for themselves. Nearly 900
participants completed one or more of Fleet Feet’s
nine fitness programs in 2014, and lost a total of 2,000
unwanted pounds. Programs were designed to fit
many fitness levels and goals; participants chose from
a variety of offering, including the WalkFit, 5K, 10K,
10 Mile, Half Marathon and Full Marathon training
programs, and a new series of 12-week Ton of Fun
Weight Loss Challenges.
Chris Gault, who owns Fleet Feet with his wife
Robyn, said, “Through the training programs offered
we have been able to have such a huge impact on so
many lives. It’s easily the most meaningful and rewarding part of what we do. We love being a part of
the community.”
In 2015, Fleet Feet will add a Speed Development
Program to help runners continue their running journey, and the Ton of Fun Weight Loss Challenge series
will continue with a participants’ goal this year of losing more than 2,000 pounds collectively.
Residents Can Get Their Zen on in the New Year
Zengo Cycle opened at 215 Kentlands Blvd. on
Dec. 31 with two days of free rides! Group indoor
cycling classes are 50 minutes with the lights turned
low and the music pumping. This is the third location
for Zengo Cycle. Founder Marc Caputo opened his
first location on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda in 2011
and another in D.C.’s Logan Circle in January 2014.
Bits & Pieces
Lifetime Fitness recently filed a final site plan for
a 128,000-square-foot fitness club at Washingtonian
North, 10121 Washingtonian Boulevard.
RCES GARDEN Continued on page 6
PMA Powerhouse Brass Wows State House
Photo | Submitted
The PMA Powerhouse Brass performed at Governor Martin O’Malley’s Holiday Party for a third consecutive year. Pictured with Gov. O’Malley, they are (left to right)
Michael Bauer (trumpet), Justin Tritinger (horn), David Rea (tuba), Gov. Martin O’Malley, Jacob Latour (euphonium) and Michael Baniak (trumpet).
For a third consecutive year, Pritchard Music
Academy’s Powerhouse Brass Quintet was invited
to play at the Maryland State House in Annapolis.
PMA’s premier brass quintet wowed those attending
Governor Martin O’Malley’s Holiday Party on Dec.
13. According to Powerhouse Brass Director Becky
Pritchard, the sound the brass players Michael Baniak
(trumpet), Michael Bauer (trumpet), Justin Tritinger
(horn), Jacob Latour (euphonium) and David Rea
(tuba) made playing beneath the dome of the rotunda
was incredible. It was truly an honor to be asked to
perform for the Governor again this year. All of the
members of the Powerhouse Brass attend Quince Orchard High School. www.PritchardMusic.com
Page 4
The Town Courier
cityscene
POLICEBeat
Compiled by Pam Schipper
By Gina Gallucci-White
Police Are on the Lookout for Drunk Drivers
Local Foster Children Featured
Gaithersburg’s Activity Center at
Bohrer Park hosts the Heart Gallery
Presented by Adoptions Together
from Dec. 26 through Jan. 7. The
gallery features compelling portraits
of local children in foster care who are
waiting to be adopted. The moving
photos capture the spirit of these children—all of whom are hoping to find
a loving, permanent family of their
own.
Forty-seven children are featured
in the exhibit, and as a result stand a
better chance of being adopted by the
adults who see the pictures. By putting these children’s faces in the public
eye, Adoptions Together hopes to find
n
January 2, 2015
city scene Continued on page 9
W
e all love getting new jewelry
this time of year, but most people
won’t want the shiny bracelets the
police will be handing out for those who
choose to drink and drive.
The Montgomery County Holiday Impaired Driving Task Force, staffed by officers from the Alcohol Initiatives Section
and from other departments, will be on the
lookout for impaired drivers during New
Year’s celebrations. Begun in November,
the initiative runs until Jan. 10. Officers
will be patrolling areas where alcohol-related crashes have occurred and conducting random checkpoints, doing compliance checks of businesses that sell alcohol
to make sure minors are not served, and
responding to reports of underage drinking at parties.
“The holiday season is traditionally one
Start your year off right with a
568 Orchard Ridge Rd.
Quince Orchard Park - $349,000
sign with Suzanne.
Happy New Year to everyone!!
311 Winter Walk Drive
Quince Orchard Park - $479,000
of the most dangerous times of the year,”
said Montgomery County Police Capt.
Tom Didone. “We have a lot of instances
of impaired driving and underage drinking.”
Last season’s seven-week initiative led to
283 drunk driver arrests, 3,000 traffic citations issued, 265 alcohol citations issued
and 109 arrests for various offenses. Four
weeks into this holiday season’s initiative,
there have already been 206 DUI arrests.
“We are on a pace to make more arrests
than we did last year,” Didone said.
Police see many people, who normally
don’t drink a lot throughout the year, go
to holiday parties, drink too much and try
to drive home impaired, he said. “The first
thing that alcohol and drugs (do) is affect
your judgment.” Coordination and your
body’s ability to process information is affected, which results in impairment. “We
put extra officers out during holiday season
to identify and try to prevent these terrible
tragedies by proactively arresting drunk
drivers and underage drinkers.”
Gaithersburg Police Department will
have several officers participate in the task
force, helping with various checkpoints
and saturation patrols targeting impaired
drivers.
“You put your life in danger and other
people’s in danger” when you drink and
drive, said Officer Dan Lane, Gaithersburg
Police Department spokesman.
MEETING CALENDAR
1/5
1/13
Mayor and City Council Meeting, City Hall
Council Chambers, 7:30 p.m.
Exelon & Pepco Holdings Merger Hearings,
Montgomery County Council Office Building,
6 p.m.
Community Advisory Committee Meeting,
Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 6:30 p.m.
Transportation Committee Meeting, Public
Works Conference Room, 7 p.m.
Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting,
City Hall Gallery, 7 p.m.
1/7
Board of Supervisors of Elections Meeting,
City Hall Mayor & Council Office, 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting, City Hall
Council Chambers, 7:30 p.m.
1/8
Gaithersburg Book Festival Committee
Meeting, Activity Center at Bohrer Park,
7:30 p.m.
Olde Towne Advisory Subcommittee Meeting, City Hall Gallery, 7:30 p.m.
RE/MAX REALTY GROUP OF CROWN
Those who are caught face large fines,
potential jail time, points off their license
or the suspension of their license. Some
may even have to get a breathalyzer installed into their vehicle in order to start
it. “It’s not just always the consequences of
getting the fines and the charges against
you,” Lane said. “It’s also going to be your
reputation from everyone else around
you.” Family, friends and co-workers will
often remember the charges.
When it comes to celebrating, police
encourage people to have a designated sober driver or take advantage of SoberRide
(1.800.200.TAXI), which offers free taxi
rides from now until Jan. 1 for those who
have been drinking.
If you see what you believe to be an
impaired driver, call 911 and try to get a
license plate number, the direction of travel and a description of the vehicle. If you
know of a party where underage drinking
is occurring at that time, call the MCP’s
non-emergency number at 301.279.8000.
If you know of an underage party that
will be occurring in the future, call
240.773.6610 to leave an anonymous tip.
“People don’t realize that (impaired
driving) is a really big deal,” Didone said.
“It’s important to get the message out.
There are extra cops on the road looking
to take (impaired drivers) off the road to
prevent a tragedy. Unfortunately, we never
know how many lives we actually save.”
1/12
Mayor and City Council Work Session, City
Hall Council Chambers, 7:30 p.m.
1/14
Exelon & Pepco Holdings Merger Hearings,
Prince George’s Community College, 6 p.m.
Board of Appeals Meeting, City Hall Council
Chambers, 7:30 p.m.
Multicultural Affairs Committee Meeting,
Activity Center at Bohrer Park-Large Conference Room, 7:30 p.m.
For the latest information on city meetings, visit the
City of Gaithersburg website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.
309 Main Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
For Advertising: 301.279.2304
Also on the Web at www.towncourier.com.
Diane Dorney
Publisher
news@towncourier.com
Matt Danielson
President
matt@eink.net
Pam Schipper
Managing Editor
pam@towncourier.com
Debi Rosen
Advertising Manager
301.279.2304
ads@towncourier.com
Sandra Christian
Advertising Sales
240.401.1020
sandra@towncourier.com
Staff Photographers
Debbie Boderman
Arthur Cadeaux
Yenrue Chen
Phil Fabrizio
Staff Writers
Sally Alt
Nora Caplan
Jenny Chen
Mike Cuthbert
Maureen Friedman
Gina Gallucci-White
Sharon Allen Gilder
Betty Hafner
Sheilah Kaufman
Donna Marks
Karen O’Keefe
Syl Sobel
Maureen Stiles
Ellyn Wexler
Student Writer
Ethan Cadeaux
©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.
The paper is published by Courier Communications, which is responsible for the form, content and policies of the newspaper. The Town
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January 2, 2015
■ transportation
from page 1
vate capital, and the current federal, state
and local economic outlook and its impact
on government funding availability (lessened)—as well as the need to improve the
availability of private capital. They talked
about developing employment centers at
more points on the I-270 corridor, finding
ways to increase the number of people who
are able to work from home, and the critical importance of long-term strategic planning for both transportation and to protect
the environment.
At the session’s end, most participants
seemed to agree with Delaney that the exercise had resulted in a “productive conversation” on an issue of extreme importance to the region.
Delaney said that the group consensus
was also that it is important to “embrace
more innovative and creative solutions in
solving the problems—and to get a sense
of urgency behind solutions.” He added
that the time had come to stop studying the
problems and to act instead.
“The cost of doing nothing, is not nothing,” he quipped.
Delegate Aruna Miller (D-15, N. Montgomery County) said the problems with
I-270 have been studied since 1994, but
that little substantive work has happened
to change things for the better in the intervening two decades. Miller said finding solutions is critical to the development
of the planned Life Sciences Center (in
Gaithersburg/Rockville).
“Many people believe transportation is
just about road and infrastructure improvement. It isn’t. It’s about investing in our
people. It is about investing in our economy and the future economy of Maryland—
and about our environment.
“Maryland residents want to have choices, and not just about building highways.
We need highways, transit, pedestrians, bicycle facilities—we need a comprehensive
look at how we move people in the state of
Maryland.
“Of course the I-270 tech corridor is
a huge economic hub for the state. In
Montgomery County, the Life Sciences
Center (is) expected to generate 100,000
high-paying jobs, over $13 billion annually
in goods and services, and annually, over
$322 million in state taxes revenues once
it is built.
“How it is going to be built has a lot to
do with (what happens on) the I-270 technology corridor.”
Miller noted that three major transportation projects in the state competing for
transit funding have been the Red and
Purple Lines and the CCT.
“But honestly I think the CCT is going
to be the number one priority for the state
of Maryland, because it is going to generate the greatest amount of economic opportunity.”
Delaney agreed with Miller on the importance of the CCT. “Having looked at
the Purple Line and the Red Line and the
CCT—by any measure, if you are making
this decision in a ruthless, bottom-line orientation, the CCT is the best investment
the state could make in terms of impact on
long-term development.”
The Town Courier
Page 5
Delaney agreed with participants who
spoke of adding lanes to I-270. “Rarely have I seen a highway system that goes
from six, seven and almost eight lanes
down to two in as short a period of time
as I-270 does. Definitionally, it’s a huge
bottleneck.”
The group seemed to support the Bus on
(I-270) Shoulders proposal championed by
Delegate-elect Carol Krimm (D-Dist. 3A
Frederick City), who is also the co-chair,
Transportation Planning Board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Bus on Shoulders Task Force.
“I believe we should have bus commuting lanes,” said Delaney. “Every other city
I’ve visited—New York, Chicago, San
Francisco—they all have this.”
It would appear that the Dec. 18 meetup at the Frederick Chamber of Commerce offices might be just the beginning
of a multi-county push to address the 270
conundrum.
Photo | Karen O’Keefe
(Left to right) Ilaya Hopkins, vice president, Montgomery
County Chamber; Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner; Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) ; and Delegate
Aruna Miller ( Dist 15 - north Montgomery County from
Germantown to the Frederick County line) participated in a
roundtable discussion on the transportation issues of the
I-270 Corridor.
Delegate-elect Krimm ended the meeting with a suggestion that the group continue to meet during the upcoming legislative session. “There are a lot of delegates
and senators here,” she said. “We can continue to meet during the General Assembly
session … in Annapolis. We can have an
I-270 workgroup that meets regularly—
and bring as many people as we can.”
Krimm asked Delaney to send a representative from his office. The congressman
replied, “I’ll be happy to come (myself ).”
Other participants in the Dec. 18 meeting included Elizabeth Cromwell, president, Frederick Chamber of Commerce;
Marilyn
Balcombe,
president/CEO,
Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of
Commerce; Ilaya Hopkins, vice president,
Montgomery County Chamber; City of
Frederick Alderman Josh Bokee (also representing the board of both the Frederick
County Chamber of Commerce and the
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce); Jim Racheff, chairman and CEO
of DMS, Inc. and also the principal manager for the National Institute of Health
at Frederick and the Frederick National
Laboratory for Cancer Research; Frederick
County Executive Jan Gardner; Delegate
Kelly Schulz (R-Dist. 4A, Frederick and
Carroll Counties); Delegate-elect Karen
Young (D-Dist. 3A, City of Frederick);
and Delegate-elect David Vogt (R-Dist. 4,
Frederick and Carroll counties).
301-657-3332
301-299-5222
Page 6
The Town Courier
assignmenteducation
■ rces garden
January 2, 2015
from page 3
$2.4 Billion FY 2016 Operating
Budget Recommended
Photo | Pam Schipper
Landscape designer Toni Bailey (left) describes trees,
shrubs, perennials, ferns and vines selected for the
conservation garden in the Rachel Carson Elementary
School courtyard.
actually get that to be implemented into the
educational component of the curriculum.
We also have a master gardener who is the
owner of Butler’s Orchards, Laura Butler,
who will be helping the teachers and parents
to continue on with that project.”
A.I.R. Lawn, a landscaping company
committed to not using pesticides, and Potomac Gardens also helped with clean up,
mulching and planting.
“It’s been a tremendous effort on (the part
of ) parents, PTA, Epsworth Church members who came for the actual planting,” she
said, noting that the last 18 months have seen
increased and sustained effort.
RCES Principal Lawrence Chep said, “I
am really looking forward to teachers taking kids out there and being interactive.”
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, Superintendent
Joshua P. Starr recommended a $2.4 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY)
2016 to the Montgomery County Board of
Education. This includes $103.6 million in
additional spending that will allow Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
to manage its continued growth, narrow
achievement gaps, and prepare students for
the future.
Most of the $103.6 million spending
increase will be used to provide the same
level of services to a growing number of
students; fund ongoing salaries and benefits; and manage increasing operational
costs. The recommendation includes $8.2
million in strategic priority enhancements
that are focused on improving student performance while narrowing achievement
gaps. Dr. Starr’s recommendation also includes $23.3 million that will be needed
to replace the one-time revenue source
the Montgomery County Council used to
fund retiree benefits in the FY 2015 budget.
Growing enrollment and changing student demographics influenced Dr. Starr’s
request for FY 2016. Enrollment in MCPS
this school year is 153,852 students, an
increase of more than 2,500 students
compared with last year and more than
12,000 students over the past six years.
Compiled by Pam Schipper
Open Data Portal Will Launch Jan. 5
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will launch a
new open data portal in January that will allow the public to
search, sort and download a variety of information about the
district. Data will include the Superintendent’s Recommended Fiscal Year 2016 Operating Budget, as well as enrollment
data and school boundary information. In the coming months,
additional information will be added to the portal, including
data points from the “MCPS Schools at a Glance” publication. Additional information about “OpenDataMCPS” will be
released in January when it goes live.
The growth is expected to continue in the
coming years, with enrollment next school
year projected to be 156,514 students—an
increase of more than 2,600.
While overall enrollment is growing
dramatically, the number of students needing services to ensure their success—such
as free and reduced-price meals (FARMS)
and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services—is growing even
faster. Since FY 2009, overall enrollment
has grown by 10.5 percent, but during the
same time period the number of students
receiving FARMS has increased by 43.5
percent and ESOL enrollment has grown
by 32 percent.
In order to manage the projected growth
in FY 2016, Dr. Starr is recommending
$19.6 million to add more than 275 positions, including 111.4 general elementary/
secondary positions, 96.3 positions for special education services, 41.5 positions for
ESOL instruction, and 25.3 positions for
student transportation.
The Montgomery County Board of Education will hold public hearings on the
Superintendent’s FY 2016 Operating Budget recommendation on Thursday, Jan. 8,
and Thursday, Jan. 15. The board will hold
its next regular business meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. These meetings will be
live online and on MCPS TV (Comcast
Channel 34).
arts& entertainment
Compiled by Pam Schipper
Winter Market
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Main Street
Pavilion, 301 Main St.
Enjoy winter vegetables as well as produce grown in local greenhouses. Other
items may include flavored crepes, empanadas, coffees and hot chocolate. The
market will not open if weather is severe.
www.gaithersburgmd.gov
Watercolor and Kinetic
Sculpture Exhibit
Through January 25, 2014; Monday-Friday,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 1:30-5:30 p.m.,
Arts Barn Gallery
Arts on the Green presents the watercolors of Nellie Chao and Bok Kim, along
with the kinetic sculptures of Arts Entwine. Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov
Pinky & Pepe’s Live Music
Friday and Saturday nights, 7-10 p.m., Pinky
& Pepe’s Grape Escape, 223 Kentlands Blvd.
Relax with a glass of wine and some
great music. The Jeff Carmella Duo performs Friday, Jan. 2, and Crumpled Hat
appears Saturday, Jan. 3. The following
weekend brings Freddie Long on Friday,
Jan. 9, and Lauren Raymond & LaBrie on
Saturday, Jan. 10. pinkyandpepes.com
n
arts & entertainment Continued on page 15
January 2, 2015
■ A&E district
from page 1
for the arts,” said Dunne. Economic Fiscal
Impact Studies conducted by the Regional Economic Studies Institute of Towson
University for fiscal year 2013 revealed
that the total tax revenue for the state from
20 A&E Districts was $36.3 million dollars. These A&E Districts supported 5,144
jobs that brought $149.2 million in wages
and $458.2 million in state gross domestic
product (GDP).
Frederick, Maryland, was cited as an example of a very successful A&E District for
its unique cultural identity and elements of
success that included local investment and
executive support with a budget and staff;
an engaged community where the entire
community knows and understands what
the designation means; a dedicated staff to
answer phones and talk with artists; a strong
management plan to engage the community; local arts council presence; and strong
partnerships that anchor with the community and promote tourism.
Dunne said, “In Frederick, there was a
convergence of partners, the county arts
council and downtown partnership … two
very strong management groups … an intense community, and strong anchors with
the Weinberg Center for the Arts and The
Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center.
There has to be an income stream to support the district.” She added that tax-related
incentives have been designed to encourage
artists to locate in areas designated as A&E
Districts.
Joe Pritchard, KDP president and
Pritchard Music Academy on Kentlands’
Main Street co-owner, noted that each
A&E District has its own attributes. “I’ve
heard it said, once you’ve seen one A&E
District, you’ve seen ONE because they’re
all different. That’s what’s so great about
this because it gives every A&E District the
opportunity to create its own personality—
it’s not cookie-cutter. You can create it in
the image that you want your neighborhood to have.”
Under the state’s heading of “Threshold
Level of Existing or Planned Cultural Assets,” the Arts Barn is considered an anchor
arts attraction. Dunne said, “There has to
be something there … a magnet to draw
more to the area.” Other necessary components listed by the arts council are special
events; signature festivals; regular promotions; affordable space; public art; and being an incubator for nascent or emerging
arts groups. Suggested complementary
assets are destination restaurants; unique
boutiques and shops; overnight accommodations; walkability; lively streetscapes;
accessible parking; pedestrian connections;
and attractive signage. Dunne said, “You
want to make it really comfortable and be
a place that makes people feel this is a place
they want to be.”
The designation as an A&E District is
music to the ears of 23-year Kentlands resident Lisa Pickett. A member of the Music
and Arts Education branch of the Kentlands
Community Foundation, Pickett has been
an ardent supporter of the arts and founded
and works as artistic director for the Kentlands Community Chorus. She is also a
violin teacher with a music studio in her
home. “There is always a need for more art
and culture in our communities. I think the
The Town Courier
Arts and Entertainment District would be a
fantastic addition to Kentlands and the City
of Gaithersburg. There are many people
and businesses here that will support this
project and help keep the city thriving,”
said Pickett.
Heather Zindash’s sentiments are in harmony with Pickett’s. Zindash, a visual artist
and Gaithersburg resident for 15 years, has
two daughters involved with the performing arts. Her 14-year-old daughter, Bella,
dreams of being on Broadway and in the
spring will play Sister Sophia in Quince
Orchard High School’s performance of
“The Sound of Music.” Her 12-year-old
daughter, Zoe, will be Knight number one
and the understudy for Fiona in Ridgeview
Middle School’s “Shrek, Jr.” in the spring.
Zindash is interested in living near a designated A&E District. “An area designated
for Arts and Entertainment on a larger scale
would mean that we could be surrounded
by more creative people and audiences that
appreciate art and creativity. It would create
a creative community and a larger marketplace for artists to profit from their talents
and give us more opportunities to interact,
work and showcase our talents with other
local artists and performers,” said Zindash.
The first step in what Dunne referred to
as a “huge and rigorous process” is to file
an “Intent to Apply.” Following the “Intent
to Apply” are a site visit and consultation;
community forum; rigorous application
with executive endorsement; panel review;
staff recommendation; and finally, approval from the Secretary of Business and Economic Development. Community involvement, enthusiasm, and support need to be
evident. “The more partners you have, the
more legs you have on the stool to support
what you are doing,” said Dunne.
She added, “A lot of this is about revitalization. … What is going to make this a
really creative and vital place? You have to
ask, what’s the kernel you’re going to use to
create your image, your draw? It’s important to communicate to the property and
business owners, ‘What would the value
be?’ Be able to make a case.”
While work progresses on the proposed
Kentlands A&E District, Joe Allen, KDP
board member-at-large, said, “The state
A&E District designation is only one potential avenue for highlighting the diverse
and deep roots of the arts in the Kentlands
community and businesses. While the
state designation would offer a broad network of district connections, we also have
talked with the city about fostering a local
arts coalition to support the proposed district through creative place-making such
as pop-up street pianos, collaborative series
such as the Singer Songwriter series organized by O’Hair, and the Main Street Music Festival developed by the Pritchards.”
The state’s advocacy group, Maryland
Citizens for the Arts, will meet in Annapolis on Feb. 10 with state representatives. For
more information, visit www.mdarts.org.
For more information about the Maryland State Arts Council, visit www.msac.
org.
To request the A&E survey for the
proposed Kentlands A&E District,
please
contact
Joe
Pritchard
at
pre sident @ kent l a nd sdow ntow n.com
or Ann Derryberry at vice.president@
kentlandsdowntown.com.
Page 7
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Page 8
■ 39 steps
from page 1
with technical gaffes, then playing the characters dealing with the plot twists, and the
characters breaking the fourth wall.” The
fourth wall refers to the imaginary wall that
separates actors from audience.
A production in which four actors play
so many characters is unusual as well as demanding. Petersen said that last year’s SSTG
production of the radio play, “The War of
the Worlds,” gave them some experience
with multiple voices and characters. “We
concentrated on the flow and ‘sound’ of the
radio production for that one,” she recalled.
“The 39 Steps” production takes the difficulties of multiple characters to new levels in at least two ways, Petersen said. First,
it has a great deal of physical comedy, and
The Town Courier
also, “it’s practically a break-neck pace and
the actor must establish character within the
first moment. That is accomplished either by
(adding) an accent, a hat or another costume
piece, or possibly just a physical mannerism.”
The four cast members, all top-notch, she
said, “have grabbed hold of that with both
hands. They’re working on dialects like
Cockney, High British, Scottish, Canadian.
Both guys also play women, and they’re taking those characters just as seriously as the
rest. There are times when the characters
change so quickly that they’re holding three
hats in their hands just to play one scene, and
there are 32 scenes!”
Petersen said that comedic timing and ensemble performance constitute the “unique
challenge” of this production. To establish each character independently, she has
worked with the four actors individually,
January 2, 2015
as well as with the pair of John Van Eck,
as protagonist Richard Hannay, and Olivia
Haller, who plays all three of his love interests.
Van Eck’s role is probably the most difficult, Petersen said, even though he plays
only one. “John is on stage for almost the
entire show, and his character goes through
the entire range of emotions. That’s tough,
in a different way, than the rest of the roles.
He has to remain steady and in character
while reacting to all the crazy antics going
on around him.”
Van Eck was not part of the cast from the
start; about halfway through rehearsals, he
took over for an actor who withdrew for
personal reasons. He was told he had to
be “off book,” that is, all lines committed
to memory by the following week. While
that was quite an undertaking, Van Eck also
pointed to “the incredible amount of business that needs to be coordinated with these
lines. We are a minimal set, but have a lot
of props and a lot of physical blocking (precise movement and staging of actors) that is
difficult to coordinate without knowing the
script inside and out.” He noted that Petersen enlisted the help of Todd Flemming, “a
fight choreographer of the first water,” who
contributed “wonderful ideas for several
scenes and helped us through some of the
more difficult parts to block.”
Striking the right balance of spoof and
seriousness was also challenging for Van
Eck. “For the most part, my character is the
straight man, but I have points where I break
the fourth wall and others where I ham it
up a bit,” he said. “Thankfully, Karen does
a good job helping all of us coordinate the
humor.”
Stephen Swift, billed as Clown 1, plays
multiple roles in this production. He, too,
took part in the radio play with Petersen last
season, in the role of Orson Welles. Swift
said his greatest task here has been “keeping accents and voices consistent. Two of my
characters are a bit Cockney, two are higher
English, two are Scottish, and two or three
are somewhere between higher English and
Cockney. In one scene, Chris (Penick, playing Clown 2) and I are changing character
several times within about five minutes.”
Petersen had high praise for the Arts Barn,
“a great place to work. The employees, both
salaried and volunteers, are wonderful to
work with, especially Laura Andruski (City
of Gaithersburg’s theatre program coordinator) who has helped us with special permission to take publicity pictures in the train
car in downtown Gaithersburg and helping
arrange the special effects, including a fog
machine—you can’t set a play on the Scottish moors without it.”
“Despite a quite ambitious script, a shoestring budget and having lives to tend to,
we are truly having so much fun,” Petersen
said. “I will be sad when it is over, as it’s one
of those rare special shows that will provide
hilarious stories and lifelong friendships between the cast and crew.”
And for the audiences at the Arts Barn,
it’s only “39 Steps” to what promises to be a
very entertaining experience.
“The 39 Steps” is on stage at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays from
Jan. 9 to 25 at the Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square
Road. Tickets are $20. For reservations, call
301.258.6394.
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Kentlands Veterinary Hospital in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a full-service companion
animal hospital. We are committed to providing the highest quality of veterinary care
throughout the life of your pet. Our services and facilities assist with routine, preventive
care for young and healthy pets; early detection and treatment of disease, especially
as your pet ages; and complete medical and surgical care as needed during his or
her lifetime.
Vaccines
Annual Exam
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Services:
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comprehensive exam
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kentlandsvet.com
Hours: MTWF 8-7 p.m. • Thurs 8-8 p.m. • Sat 8-1 p.m.
January 2, 2015
The Town Courier
Page 9
cityscene
from page 4
them permanent homes and raise awareness of the plight of more than 500 foster
children in the region.
Over 40 renowned local photographers
volunteered their time and talent to take
artistic photographs of these children, who
seldom find themselves to be the focus of
a camera. A short biography of the child
accompanies each portrait. In addition
to this traveling exhibit, the Heart Gallery Presented by Adoptions Together has
launched a virtual Heart Gallery. Portraits
of the children can be viewed at www.
adoptionstogether.org/heartgallery.
The Activity Center at Bohrer Park is
located at 506 South Frederick Ave. For
information and directions, please call
301.258.6350 or visit the City of Gaithersburg website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.
Commission Holds Hearings on
Exelon, Pepco Holdings Merger
The Public Service Commission of
Maryland (PSC) has announced it will
hold hearings in January 2015 to receive
public comments on the proposed merger
of Exelon and Pepco Holdings, Inc. The
merger would combine Exelon’s three
top-performing utilities—BGE, PECO
and ComEd—with Pepco Holdings electric and gas utilities, namely Pepco, Delmarva Power and ACE.
A total of five hearings are taking place
in January in Montgomery and Prince
George’s counties and on the eastern shore
of Maryland. The two local hearings are
scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. at
the Montgomery County Council Office
Building in Rockville and Wednesday,
Jan. 14, 6 p.m. at Prince George’s Community College in Largo.
Original, signed written comments may
also be filed with the PSC by Tuesday,
Feb. 17, 2015, addressed to David J. Collins, Executive Secretary, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald
Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th
Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Please
reference “Case No. 9361 – Public Comment.”
The companies anticipate completion of
the merger in the second or third quarter
of 2015. Once combined, they will serve
more than 10 million customers.
African American History Month
Essay Contest Open
In celebration of African American
History Month, the City of Gaithersburg’s Multicultural Affairs Committee is
hosting an essay contest for third, fourth
and fifth grade students from Gaithersburg elementary schools. The top three
essay winners will read their essays and receive awards during a special reception on
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, from 6 to 7:30
p.m. at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park.
The public is invited to attend.
The theme for the essay contest is “What
Lessons Can We Learn from the Life of
Nelson Mandela?” Essays must be typed,
double spaced and between 100 and 300
words, and will be judged on content and
originality. Student’s name, grade and
Junior Mayor Program Essay
Contest Announced
Fourth graders in the City of
Gaithersburg are encouraged to
share what they would do if they
were mayor in a statewide essay
contest sponsored by the Maryland
Municipal League (MML) in partnership with the Maryland Mayors’
Association and the Chesapeake
Employers Insurance Company.
The theme for this year’s contest,
to be explored in 275 words or less,
is “RESPECT. If you were Mayor…”
• There is a vacant lot in “Happy Town.” Some want to build
a playground, others want to
build a skate park. In the end,
the Town Council decides on
the playground.
• How would you get both sides
to work together to build a
playground?
• What would you do to help citizens and elected officials stay
nice to each other even though
some may not like the final decision?
• What would you do, after the
decision is made, to make sure
the whole town supports the
playground?
One winning essay will be selected from each of MML’s 11 regional
districts. The City of Gaithersburg
takes the program one step further
by selecting a winner specifically
from its own community. Essays
submitted to the statewide contest
from students who are residents of
Gaithersburg will be reviewed by
members of the city’s Educational
Enrichment Committee. Finalists
will be invited to participate in a
videotaped panel interview, and one
winner will be selected as Gaithersburg junior mayor, with the opportunity to participate in programs
and special events throughout the
year. The winning Gaithersburg
essay will also be published on the
city’s website.
Deadline for entries is March 2,
2015. For submission instructions
and information, visit the city’s
website at www.gaithersburgmd.
gov or call 301.258.6395 x3.
school must be included in the essay’s heading. Entries must be submitted by e-mail
tomac@gaithersburgmd.gov, with “MAC
Essay Contest 2015” written in the subject
line. Deadline for submissions is Friday,
Jan. 16.
Sample Fitness Classes for Youth
From Jan. 5-10, the City of Gaithersburg
Parks, Recreation and Culture offers free
sample classes for kids. You can test out new
instructors and classes before registering for
the winter session. For more information,
visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/
classes-and-programs/free-sample-classes.
winter SavingS!
Page 10
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
KAUFMAN’sKITCHEN
More Holiday Delights
M
ore wonderful,
unusual, treats to
celebrate the holiday season. Enjoy!
Cook” are inventive and delicious to boot.
Hint: In a pinch, Marcy says it is OK to
use a brownie mix, but make the tollhouse
cookies from scratch.
Brownie-Stuffed
Tollhouse Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
I love Marcy’s recipes
and always look forward
By Sheilah
to her new books. When
Kaufman
she gave me this recipe, I
made it, and secretly ate all the cookies myself over a period of time.
Marcy Goldman, Julia Child-award
nominee, is a master baker and pastry chef,
food feature writer and creator of www.
Betterbaking.com. Since 1997, Betterbaking.
com has welcomed millions of bakers and
cooks who enjoy original, sumptuous,
tested recipes. Goldman is a frequent guest
on Martha Stewart Sirius and a contributor
to The New York Times, Washington Post,
Bon Appétit, Epicurious and more. Her other
best-selling cookbooks include “A Passion
for Baking,” “A Treasury of Jewish Holiday
Baking,” “The New Best of Betterbaking.
com,” and the upcoming “The Baker’s Four
Seasons.” Visit Marcy Goldman at www.
Betterbaking.com to browse over 2500 more
of her recipes or register for the free monthly
BB newsletter. Also, check out Marcy
Goldman’s new book “When Bakers Cook.”
Good bakers want their meals to be equally
memorable, and the recipes of “When Bakers
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Brownies
1 cup unsalted butter, melted and
cooled
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa power
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare for baking
brownies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Generously spray a 9-by-9-inch
or 8-by-11-inch pan with nonstick spray and
n
kaufman’s kitchen Continued on page 11
GRAND OPENING
Located in the new Downtown Crown Shopping District
WHO WE ARE:
Dr. Robert Gertz, Dr. Hediyeh Arjomandi and Optical Manager Ernie Lezcano have
provided eye care to the Montgomery County area for a combined 40+ years.
We are proud to announce the opening of our 2nd office in the new
Downtown Crown shopping district in Gaithersburg.
Free Eye Exam
for a child
Ernie Lezcano
Optical Manager
Robert Gertz OD
Optometrist
with an adult exam
Free Lenses
with purchase of frame
Basic single vision lens only.
Dr. Hediyeh Arjomandi
VeyePeyecare.com
301-874-5777
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
from page 10
line with parchment paper. Place pan on
baking sheet.
To prepare for baking cookies, stack two
baking sheets together and line the top one
with parchment paper.
To make cookies: In a mixer bowl, blend
butter with white and brown sugars until
well mixed. Add eggs and vanilla, and blend
well. Fold in flour, baking soda, and salt,
and blend well. Add chocolate chips and
mix. Wrap and fill dough while making the
brownies.
To make brownies: In a mixer bowl, blend
melted butter with the white and brown sugars and blend well. Add vanilla and eggs,
and blend well on slow speed until well combined.
In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Stop the mixer
and then fold dry ingredients into the batter
and blend well on low speed, scraping the
bottom of the mixing bowl often to ensure
that the ingredients are evenly combined.
Spoon into the prepared pan.
Place the pan on top of the baking sheet
(to protect the bottom from over-baking).
Bake until done, 30 to 35 minutes. Brownies will appear set (versus wet) and will be
slightly firm to the touch, but not dry. Cool,
then place the pan in the freezer for 1 hour
before cutting the brownies.
To cut, unmold brownies and peel off
parchment paper. Cut brownies into 1 1/2inch squares. (I cut thinner and smaller to
make smaller cookies.)
To make each cookie, break off about 3
tablespoons or more of cookie dough and
press a brownie square into the center. Bring
dough over and around the brownie, sealing
the edges whatever way you can and press
gently onto the prepared, doubled-up cookie
sheet.
Bake until cookies are done (edges will be
browned, center just set), about 16 to 18 minutes, depending on size.
Makes about 12 to 16 large cookies, or 30
smaller ones.
e
ug
H l H
Al
kaufman’skitchen
Page 11
ol Sav
id in
ay g
Ite s on
m
s!
Wild Mushroom Ragout
Wild mushroom ragout, or stew, can be
made with just one type of mushroom, or
an assortment of what is on hand. To prepare the mushrooms for cooking, simply
brush the caps with a dry towel to remove
any dirt. Do not wet or wash the mushrooms
since any dampness causes debris to stick to
the mushroom. If you’re using mushrooms
with dark colored “gills”— the thin lines
under the mushroom cap—scrape them off
with a spoon and discard. The gills won’t
hurt the flavor of the ragout, by may discolor
the cream. Remove the stems, and slice or
quarter the mushroom caps before cooking.
Serves 4
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 pounds assorted mushrooms (such
as morels, chanterelles, shitake, and
porcini)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black
pepper
n
kaufman’s kitchen Continued on page 16
Thank You
for a Successful 2014!
301.299.0487
9904 River Road, Potomac Md. 20854
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 6:00 • Sunday: 11:00 – 5:00
Page 12
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
The ParkPages
News and Current Events for Quince Orchard Park
n
Meeting Calendar
1/13 — HOA Board and Annual Meeting,
Clubhouse, 7 p.m.
E-mail your contributions to karen@towncourier.com
QOP News
Photo | Karen O’Keefe
Sunday, Dec. 21 was a warm first day of winter and about 15 youngsters and a few parents gathered
at the Quince Orchard Park basketball hoops for some fun.
Calling All Volunteers
The neighborhood and the community at large offer many opportunities
to play an active role in helping others and contributing to strengthening
the fabric of the community. In the
Quince Orchard Park community,
opportunities to get involved include
serving on the community’s Board of
Directors and a variety of committees,
including the Social Committee, the
Neighborhood Watch Committee, the
Facilities and Grounds Committee.
In addition, announcements are made
periodically in the Park Page of the
Town Courier newspaper when volunteers are needed for individual events
in Quince Orchard Park. For information about volunteer opportunities
in the neighborhood, contact Quinn
Odorizzi (QOdorizzi@tmgainc.com)
or Steve Leskowitz (SLeskowitz@
tmgainc.com) at The Management
Group Associates, Inc.
In addition, the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (www.montgomeryserves.org) connects individuals
and groups to ongoing service opportunities and one-time projects in our
community. Search the online database, which lists hundreds of volunteer opportunities, including all that
are pre-approved for Student Service
Learning (SSL) hours. Other programs
offered include the Pro Bono Consulting Volunteer Program, RSVP, Days
of Service, the Language Corps and
more!
The
Literacy
Council
of
Montgomery County is looking
for volunteers to tutor 150 learners.
Come to an information session for
volunteers interested in helping adults
learn to read, write or speak English
on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Rockville Memorial Library. Sessions
are also scheduled at the Rockville
Library on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 10:30
a.m. and at the Germantown Library
at 7:30 p.m. No foreign language
skills necessary. For complete details,
call 301.610.0030, email jennifer@
literacycouncilmcmd.org, or visit
www.literacycouncilmcmd.org.
Quince Orchard Park Resident
Starts Teen Writing Club
Hey teenagers! Do you love to
write? Are you looking for a chance to
write creatively and to work with other teens who like to write, too?
Quince Orchard Park resident Lucinda Marshall is a writer, and in January, she will begin working with interested teens at a new Teen Writing
Club, meeting monthly, at the Gaithersburg library. It is one of several
clubs in Montgomery County that
have been started by the Maryland
Writers’ Association in conjunction
with the library system.
“The club is open to teens who love
to write. We will be focusing on developing creativity and writing skills
and supporting young writers in developing their craft,” said Marshall.
The club will meet at the library on
the third Wednesday of each month,
beginning Jan. 21 from 7 p.m. to
8:30 p.m.
Marshall has been a writer her entire
life. She has worked as a journalist, an
essayist and is currently writing poetry
as well. She will facilitate the monthly
teen club with poet Alison Palmer.
Registration is suggested but not
required. For information, call the library at 240.773.9490.
january 2015
MANAGEMENT MENTIONS
and announcements from the City of
Gaithersburg and the law enforcement
community.
To sign up to receive email bulletins
via the Quince Orchard Park website, go to the website at www.quinceorchardpark.com.
Login to the private side of the site.
(Note: If you do not have login information, please submit a login request
via the website.)
Click on “My Profile” in the top
menu tab to go to your website profile.
Verify that the email address shown
in your profile is the one where you
would like the bulletins to be sent.
Click on “Subscriptions.”
Scroll down to the end of the page
and click on all subjects for email bulletins for which you would like to receive notifications.
Be sure to save all changes by clicking the box at the bottom of the page.
If you do not opt-in to receive certain types of announcements, they will
not be sent to the email address listed.
(Please note that this is an opt-in listserv available to homeowners and not
tenants.)
Snow Safety and Parking
Cooperation in QOP
Don’t forget to check on your
neighbors during snowy or extra-cold
weather in Quince Orchard Park.
Some neighbors might need a hand removing snow and ice, or help with an
errand, when the weather is difficult.
Parking spaces in Quince Orchard
Park are always at a premium—never
more so than in winter precipitation.
Please utilize off-street parking whenever possible to allow better plow access and avoid having your car plowed
in or splashed by salt or spray.
Regardless of who is responsible for
plowing the roads, adhering to parking
restrictions during snow events allows
for more efficient snow removal.
In the City of Gaithersburg, residents
are required to clear snow and ice from
public sidewalks abutting their property within 12 hours of the last snowfall
or freeze.
Trash and Recycling
Trash, which is collected on Tuesday and Friday, must
be placed in lidded trash cans. Trash should not be left
for collection in bags; these are ripped open by dogs,
birds and other pests, and trash is strewn throughout the
community. Continued use of bags may result in fines.
Consider painting your house number on your trash
cans and lids so they may be returned on windy days.
It is also helpful to label recycling bins with house
numbers—and to place bagged newspapers and magazines atop commingled materials in the bin.
Trash cans and recycle bins must be stored out of sight
on non-pickup days.
Recycling is picked up on Fridays. Containers, with
lids, are now available from the City of Gaithersburg.
Please contact the city at 301.258.6370 to have a lidded
bin delivered and the old one picked up. The new bins
will lessen the problem with trash in the neighborhood.
It is helpful to label recycling bins with house numbers.
Lids may be attached to bins by drilling small holes and
attaching with twine.
Bulk recycling pickups are the first Friday of each
month. In February, bulk pickup is on Feb. 6.
The City of Gaithersburg and Potomac Disposal
(301.294.9700) both offer collection services for bulk
items at no cost.
Dog Duty and Animal Services Information
Cleaning up after dogs is the legal responsibility of
every canine owner walking a dog in the community.
Dogs are not permitted off-leash on common property
in the City of Gaithersburg.
Contact Information for
Gaithersburg Animal Control
To report after hours/emergency animal service calls,
City of Gaithersburg residents must now contact the
Montgomery County Emergency Communication
Center (MCECC) at 301.279.8000. MCECC will
then notify and dispatch a Gaithersburg Animal Control Officer for response.
To report non-emergency animal service calls and for
information on related animal matters during regular
business hours, residents may contact the Gaithersburg
Animal Control Office directly at 301.258.6343. Regular hours of operation are Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, please visit www.
gaithersburgmd.gov/animal.
Website
Agendas for meetings, as well as many important
documents (minutes and meeting summaries) can be
found at the QOP website: www.quinceorchardpark.
com.
QOP Management Contact Information
Sign Up to Receive Emails from
Quince Orchard Park
The Quince Orchard Park website sends email with accurate, timely information regarding community
sponsored/sanctioned activities, issues
affecting safety, health and physical
welfare of QOP residents, announcements from the HOA Board of Directors including calls for volunteers,
n
Photo | Karen O’Keefe​
In late December, grass is growing in the
Vistas. Residents report the area is looking
nice now that construction debris has
been removed.
Quince Orchard Park Community Managers,
Steve Leskowitz and Quinn Odorizzi
c/o The Management Group Associates, Inc.
20440 Century Boulevard, Suite 100
Germantown, MD 20874
Phone: 301.948.6666
Fax: 301.963.3856
Email: SLeskowitz@tmgainc.com,
QOdorizzi@tmgainc.com
January 2, 2015
The Town Courier
Page 13
Page 14
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
O’KEEFE’S JOURNAL
Happy New Year
I
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t’s gratitude time once
again. Actually, every
day should be gratitude time but I have to
say, lately, I have not been
very good at taking time
each day to count my
blessings. The results of
this lack of discipline are
By Karen
not good. Studies have
O’Keefe
shown that gratitude is
a mood booster—and
I need all the mood boosting available to
me, especially in a cold, dark winter.
So thank you God, thank you friends
and thank you family. Thank you readers.
Thank you all the people out there just trying to get along and do some good at the
same time.
I have much to be grateful for as I look
back over 2014.
As I begin my gratitude meditation,
here’s what comes to mind first. Thank
you to “my” dog, Ruby, my most faithful
companion, who snoozes on her armchair
a few feet away from me as I tap the keys
of my laptop.
I am also thankful for
• My laptop, which has taken to updating itself a lot lately—maybe a sign of
aging—but which still gets it done for
me every day.
• My husband, John, who married me
11 years ago and has been my steadfast
best friend for two decades.
• My three children and their assorted
partners, including a new son-in-law,
who are always “there” for me, no
matter where life takes them.
• The lady who taught me to knit about
a year ago. She followed a long line
of unsuccessful teachers who, over 35
years or longer, couldn’t break through
my visualization of the yarn as a bowl
of spaghetti—which, I found, got in
the way of learning to knit. I hope the
15 or so somewhat random individuals
n
o’keefe’s journal Continued on page 16
reader’schoice
‘A Tale for the Time Being’
Written by Ruth Ozeki
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R
ead the reviews of
Ruth Ozeki’s third
novel, “A Tale for
the Time Being,” and
you’ll see a stream of enthusiastic reactions: “Intellectually provocative,”
“full of breakthroughs,”
“a dreamy, spiritual inBy Betty
vestigation,” to name a
Hafner
few. Yes, the novel is all
that and more, but it is structured in a most
unusual way. My own description would
be more like “a wild ride,” thrilling as long
as you are prepared for its unpredictability.
Ozeki’s tale jumps back and forth across
the Pacific to focus on two women. The
older of the two is named Ruth, a writer
living with her husband, Oliver, on a small
island off the coast of British Columbia.
(Ozeki is playing with autobiographical
fiction here since all facts are true for her,
too.) When strolling on the beach after a
storm one day, Ruth picks up a piece of
trash washed ashore that she discovers to be
the carefully-wrapped diary of a Japanese
16-year-old, Nao, who writes that she is
chronicling her last days before ending her
own life.
Nao’s voice is compelling, if not jarring
at first, since she sounds like a debauched
Valley Girl. Yet this prolific diarist is a
thinker who asks the big questions about
life. She has moved back to Japan after her
father’s sudden dismissal from his hi-tech
job in Silicon Valley where she was happy.
Her family life is now calamitous and her
school life is a nightmare. “I am reaching
through time to touch you” the lonely
teen tells whomever finds her diary.
The drama and urgency of Nao’s writing sucks Ruth in, both the uplifting and
horrific moments. It seems that these two
worlds couldn’t be more different. Ruth’s
quiet life is filled with concerns about
storms knocking out electricity, the writer’s block she’s experiencing with her
memoir and her husband, who regularly
expounds on scientific minutiae. Yet we
relish the times when we see connections
between the writer and the reader.
The strongest section of the book rests
in the chapters when Nao writes about
her great-grandmother, Jiko, a 104-yearold Buddhist nun with a youthful soul
and a refreshingly simple view of life
and ages of wisdom to offer the troubled
young girl. When Nao is describing the
summer she spent at Jiko’s temple, Ozeki
(a Buddhist nun herself ) slows the story down to emphasize the old woman’s
teachings—pay attention to your life,
your body, the natural world and your
loved ones. All we can hope is that some
of these beautiful practices help the girl
in her troubled life.
This obviously brilliant author has produced a unique and engaging book that
will educate and stimulate but is not for
the faint-hearted. Ozeki delves into the
areas of science, history, philosophy and
religion. A Booklist reviewer says, Ozeki “obviously insists on writing what she
wants to write and in the fashion she prefers.” I say kudos to Ozeki for the courage to experiment.
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
Page 15
arts& entertainment
from page 6
Teen Space
Mondays, Jan. 5, 12 and 26, 3:30 p.m. –
5:00 p.m., Quince Orchard Library
Want somewhere new to hang out
after school? Come play games, socialize,
or get some homework done! www.
mont g omer ycou nt y md .g ov/ l ibr a r y/
branches/quinceorchard.html
Kentlands Acoustic Jam
Jan. 6, 6 p.m., Kentlands Clubhouse
Bring your acoustic instrument and
voice to join in the jam session, or just listen. Free. www.reverbnation.com/kentlandsacousticjam
‘The 39 Steps’
Jan. 9-25, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays,
2 p.m. Sundays, Arts Barn
In partnership with Sandy Spring Theatre Group, Arts on the Green presents “The 39 Steps,” a comedic spy mystery
adapted by Patrick Barlow. A cast of four
portrays more than 150 characters in this
fast-paced tale of an ordinary man on an
extraordinary adventure. Tickets are $20
for adults, and $12 for children 14 and under. www.gaithersburgmd.gov
Open Mic @ the Mansion
Jan. 9, 8 p.m., Kentlands Mansion
Sing, tell a joke, recite poetry. All unplugged styles of music, poetry and performance are welcome. Tickets are $10.
www.gaithersburgmd.gov
F/1.4 – ‘Richly Black & White’
Photography
Jan. 11-27, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.9 p.m., Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville
F/1.4, an alliance of four fine art photographers—Craig Higgins, Jaree Donnelly,
Marge Wasson and Timothy Lynch—exhibits at Glenview Mansion. Meet the
artists and enjoy an opening reception on
Sunday, Jan. 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m. There is
also an afternoon concert at 2 p.m. by Billy Finch. The legendary impersonator will
celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth
of Frank Sinatra. Free. For information,
call 240.314.8682 or 240.314.8660, or visit
www.rockvillemd.gov.
Tuesday Topics—‘Differing Historical
Perspectives on Slavery in Maryland
& the District of Columbia’
Jan. 13, 7-8:30 p.m., Gaithersburg
Community Museum
Author James H. Johnston discusses
the differing perspectives on slavery that
emerge from his two books, “The Recollections of Margaret Loughborough,”
about a daughter of the Old Dominion of
Virginia, and “From Slave Ship to Harvard,” which follows six generations of
an African American family in Maryland.
Tickets are $5. www.gaithersburgmd.gov
sfz salon series – Shostakovich
Project II – Piano
Jan. 17, 8 p.m., Kentlands Mansion
Award-winning pianist Jessica Osborne
plays music of the Great War—Prokofiev
and Shostakovich. sfz curator Alex Peh
provides fascinating background information that encourages conversation. The
Shostakovich Project pays tribute to the
chamber music of Shostakovich. This concert is paired with films scored by Shostakovich. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12
for youth. www.gaithersburgmd.gov
Kentlands Film Society – ‘The Way’
(PG-13)
Jan. 18, 6:15 p.m. reception and 7 p.m. film,
Arts Barn
A father heads overseas to recover the
body of his estranged son who died while
traveling the “El Camino de Santiago,”
and decides to take the pilgrimage himself. Directed by Emilio Estevez, this film
stars Estevez, Martin Sheen and Deborah
Kara Unger. Tickets are $9. kentlands.org/
film-society
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
– ‘His Words and Ideas in Our Time’
Monday, January 19, 3 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore
The City of Gaithersburg joins Montgomery County for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.
Free admission, but tickets are required.
www.strathmore.org, 240.777.2570
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Page 16
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
o’keefe’sjournal
ty community. I have a high school
community in Atlanta. I have friends
from elementary and junior high in
Massachusetts, a recovery community, a professional/being-a-reporter
community, a political community, a
college connection, a yoga community, friends I relate to because they
have dogs, friends I relate to because
they write, a church community,
some people I relate to because they
are grandparents, the members of my
book club … it goes on.
from page 14
(some people just looked “cold” when
I happened to have a recently-completed scarf on hand), who are owners
of scarves I have knitted to date, are
grateful too.
• My car—I am fortunate to have one.
Sometimes I have little problems with
it (for example, I have to open the
window to unlock it from the inside
by holding the outside door handles
down flat while pulling the inside button up, etc.).
Maybe one day I will get another car.
I pray that when that happens, I do not
forget the lessons this car has taught
me. If you can travel 150,000 miles in
12 years in a car with no motorized
side-view mirrors and no motorized
windows, I certainly can live without
heated seats. (I tend to forget this on
cold days when a friend with heated
seats gives me a lift.)
• My community. Which one? Communities are groups of people, many
of them friends, in my life. I have a
neighborhood, a town, and a coun-
• My friends. These are people who actually like me and/or love me. I am so
lucky to have them in my life.
wouldn’t be a bad thing, but I don’t
think it’s in the DNA. Still, I appreciate the humor—and the language.
being an extra good person. Recovery
was me choosing life over death. I am
grateful and blessed.
• The Town Courier, our marvelous
readers, and my wonderful colleagues
there. I am so grateful to the people
who have supported “O’Keefe’s Journal” for the last 12 years—or even for
one day.
• Our home. We have a nice place to
eat, sleep, work and live, and we get
to come back to the same place every
day. My husband is the guy behind
this blessing. Thank you.
• My health. It’s pretty good and while
I have a lot to do to get into shape,
writing this particular column has lit a
fire in me to get back on track. Again.
• Books. Thank you Montgomery
County Public Library and all those
people who support it.
• My recovery. If it wasn’t for the resources to combat addiction that have
been showered so freely on me for
the last 23 years—12-step programs,
friends and especially other recovering
people, my psychiatrist, medications
for depression, the growing understanding in my community that addiction is a disease, and the willingness
to help of so many people—I simply
would not be alive today.
• Public television and radio. I watch so
much British television, my husband
has accused me of being British, which
I would be dead. People pat me on the
back for being sober—no praise needed. Recovery for me is not a case of
• My granddaughter, Lina—teacher,
student, friend and flowing source of
judgment-free love. I have learned so
much that I thought I already knew in
the three years since Lina came.
• Humor. I was blessed to see my old
friend Mr. Magoo the other night in
my childhood favorite cartoon TV
event, “A Christmas Carol.” Dickens’ reminder, “There is nothing in
the world so irresistibly contagious as
laughter and good humor,” is sticking
with me.
Let me pause here, for I will run out of
space in the newspaper long before I finish
this gratitude list. However, my mood is
1000 percent improved over where it was
when I first began to write this missive.
Happiness is circulating through my
veins now.
Thank you all.
Thank you for caring about yourselves
and each other and the world we live in.
And as Tiny Tim said so well, first in
1843, “God bless us, every one!”
kaufman’skitchen
from page 11
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup Marsala wine, or red table wine
1/2 cup chicken stock, or vegetable
stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
Heat the butter in large sauté pan over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, until it starts
to foam. Add all the mushrooms, then stir
in salt and pepper, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until all of the liquid
has cooked out of the mushrooms. Once the
liquid has cooked out, continue to sauté the
mushrooms for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they
have browned. Stir in the garlic and sauté for
1 minute. Add the Marsala wine and cook
for 1 minute more. Stir in the chicken stock,
cream, and chopped thyme and cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until the sauce
thickens. Salt and pepper to taste and serve
hot.
From “Field Peas to Foie Gras: Southern
Recipes with a French Accent” by Jennifer
Hill Booker, © 2014 Jennifer Hill Booker,
used by permission of the publisher, Pelican
Publishing Company, Inc.
Editor’s note: For more edible delights by Sheilah
Kaufman, go to www.cookingwithsheilah.com.
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The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
Page 17
MIKEAT THE MOVIES
Unbroken (PG-13) *****
“Everyone in town
wants you put away,” says
a cop to Louis Zamperini,
who is growing up in Torrance, California, as a delinquent, smoking, drinking, stealing and running
away from most attempts
to capture him. ZamperiBy Mike
ni’s brother warns him that
Cuthbert
he has to mend his ways.
Zamperini listens to him long enough to
become the fastest 5,000-meter runner in
the U.S., and he makes it to the Olympic
team in 1936. He knows ahead of time that
he won’t win—he’s too young and there
are world-class runners ahead of him. He is
right, but Zamperini does become the top
U.S. finisher in the games at 8th, beating
Don Lash, the favorite for the Yanks. He
has good reason to be optimistic about the
1940 games.
But then World War II breaks out, and
Zamperini enlists. On a search mission in
1943, his old, beat-up plane crashes in the
Pacific and he is one of two survivors. After 47 days of floating on a raft and losing
one fellow soldier to ennui and fatigue, he
is captured by the Japanese and interned in
POW camps before being freed at the end
of war.
During his imprisonment, Zamperini has
the misfortune to run into Watanabe, “The
Bird” (Takamasa Ishihara, a Japanese rock
star). The Bird orders Zamperini to look
him in the eye, but Zamperini can only do
this if he is ordered not to—a form of insubordination that will cost him dearly in
the years ahead.
The Bird believes that any U.S. POW
is an enemy of Japan and relentlessly punishes Zamperini for the slightest offense in
two POW camps. The turning point comes
when Zamperini holds a heavy railroad tie
over his head for just under an hour, and
The Bird can’t stand the fact that Zamperini
remained defiant for as long as he did.
The film is long, but the physical deterioration of the cast is appropriate and Zamperini remains a strong, heroic character
throughout. His stress-induced PTSD after
the war is mentioned in the closing comments, but is not shown in the film, and
much of the violence that did befall him
was left unmentioned. Any more violence
and Angelina Jolie, the director, could be
accused of pandering to the worst in her audience.
I interviewed Laura Hillenbrand, on
whose book the script was based, and was
impressed by her research and handling of
Zamperini throughout. There are few created stories that could match the unbelievable events of Zamperini’s life—he lived
long enough to run in Japan as a torch-bearer before the Nagano Games—and we
should all be grateful that we learned of his
strength through both book and film.
Jolie did not push the Christian-based
involvement of Billy Graham and much
of Zamperini’s later life and thus avoided
delivering too much of a “message.” Zamperini’s survival and recovery are inspiring
enough.
Into the Woods (PG) *****
Stephen Sondheim is a genius. If you
doubt that, see this film. His melodies soar
and amuse at the right moments, and his
lyrics are magical, funny and moving. A
cast led by Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and
Anna Kendrick sings the score perfectly,
matches the emotional twists and turns and
handles the frequent surprises and strange
turns with aplomb for a magical two hours.
The plot is a mess, composed as it is of the
plots of several classic fairy tales.
This is made necessary by the Baker and
his Wife ( James Corden and Emily Blunt)
who are commanded to get a red cape, yellow hair (the color of gold), a white cow and
a golden (not glass) slipper. They both gain
and lose each item several times as Streep’s
classic witch bedevils and trips them up at
almost every turn. Streep is given full rein
both physically and vocally and is outstanding, as usual, in both. Anna Kendrick continues to be impressive in unusual roles,
James Corden has great presence and a fine
voice, and Emily Blunt is heart-breaking as
the Baker’s Wife who wants to have a child.
There are more twists and turns in the
plot than there are branches on the trees in
the woods, and the music soars constantly. It
is also fantastically difficult to sing, and the
ability of this cast of mostly actors to negotiate the melodies is very impressive.
Though the plot is fairy tales, they take
twists and turns that the youngest and even
experienced fairy tale fans will have trouble
following. Viewers may also be confused
by the humor, especially that in Kendrick’s
“On the Steps of the Palace.” Sondheim’s
lyrics are not easy to sing. Sometimes it
takes very careful listening to understand
the references and puns in them, but they
are some of the most literate and perfect lyrics in theatre.
That this is not your normal fairy tale
material is cued by my favorite single line
from the show. The Prince (Chris Pine) arrogantly reminds all who care that “I was
raised to be charming, not sincere!” Fortunately, the show is both.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five
Armies (PG-13) *****
This is NOT for folks who like subtle
plots and lots of talking, nor is it a film for
folks who like their pace slow and even.
This is, from opening dragon attack on
a village to last death of a dwarf, an action-packed epic, complex on one level and
simple on another that ends the Hobbit series triumphantly. All your old favorites are
back: Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins,
the Hobbit; Ian McKellen as Gandalf, the
wizard; Lee Pace as Thranduil, one of the
kings; Cate Blanchett as an underpowered
wizard with just enough strength in her batteries to fight off one of the many invasions
in this film; Benedict Cumberbatch, who
will go unrecognized as the main villain; a
dragon named Smaug; and a Necromancer.
I will be the first to admit that I counted the armies, and when I reached five, I
stopped counting. Don’t ask me to tell you
which was the good one. As far as I was concerned, it was the dwarf good guys against
CGI’s millions of clones, and we all know
who gets favored in a human-CGI fight.
One of the least favorite things I ever do
is compare a movie to its source—in this
case, J.R.R. Tolkien’s series—so I won’t
do that. To do so would ruin the fun for
you and not help, as the film and the novel
are vastly different. The movie stands on its
own. The scenery, costumes, makeup, and
most of all, the constant action should be
enough to hold almost any audience old
enough to figure out more or less who is
fighting whom. Even that is hardly necessary. As usual, Bilbo has the laugh lines in
a film that is in short supply of them, Howard Shore contributes a fine score, marked
by extended periods for tubas in octaves
which, when amplified, is a most spooky
sound, and there is no sex.
Films like this usually make me impatient as they are all technique and not much
substance, but in this case the technique is
so overwhelmingly stunning that you just
have to stand up and applaud. One particu-
lar scene, in which one of the good guys is
trying to save himself from disaster by running up a stairway of rocks floating in the
air after being destroyed, is truly incredible.
Yeah, I know it was computer-generated,
but it’s still remarkable. The youngest kids
might get scared by some of the bad guys,
and there is a lot of fire and dismemberment
(most without much blood spattering), but
all-in-all the violence is comic-book level
for them. And the good guys win, though
they certainly all don’t reach the end of the
series intact. Exciting holiday fun.
Enjoy more of Mike’s reviews at www.
towncourier.com
Page 18
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015
Sports
Quince Orchard Gets Revenge on Northwest on the Court
By Ethan Cadeaux
A
fter suffering a heartbreaking loss on
the gridiron about a month ago to
rival Northwest, Quince Orchard
was able to get revenge against the Jaguars,
but this time on the basketball court. The
Cougars’ boys team demolished the Jaguars 85-49, followed by the Lady Cougars’
blowout of the Lady Jags, 47-26.
The Cougars were led by junior Johnny Fierstein, who posted a double-double
with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the rout.
Sophomore guard Matt Kelly was a perfect
4 for 4 from three-point range, and had a
total of 18 points. Senior guard Jamar Wilson led the Jaguars with 14 points.
“Matt Kelly has played beyond his years,”
said Cougar head coach Paul Foringer of
his sophomore guard. “He listens, and he
learns quickly.”
Although the final score indicated a
blow out, Northwest kept the game close.
At half time, the Cougars were only up by
eight, 35-27. But the Cougars went on
a strong run coming out of the half, and
doubled their lead to 16 by the 4-minute
mark in the third. Their lead stretched to
as much as 24 by the end of the third quarter.
Barely any of the starters played in the final quarter, but the Cougars still outscored
the Jaguars 23-11 in the fourth, capping off
their 36-point victory.
Coach Foringer attributes much of his
team’s success to guards Damon Daniel and
Jack Ropelewski, who are “both juniors
(that) are playing under control and settling down in their roles.”
Since the Cougars’ victory over the Jaguars on Dec. 19, the Quince Orchard Boys
have won two more games, improving
their record to 7-0.
“(Senior center) Sam Ling and (senior
guard/forward) Eli Maynard are playing well,” said Coach Foringer. “The five
starters are playing well together, enjoying
each other’s talents. Fun to watch.”
For Northwest, the Jaguars are hoping to
improve from a rather poor 2013-2014 season, where they only totaled four wins. In
six games before the New Year, they have
already won three. Led by new coach Robert Smith, along with junior center Tim
Biakapia and junior guards Reagan Zemena and Wilson, the Jags’ season should be
Photo | Sugarloaf Photography
Coached by Chris Campbell, the Quince Orchard Lady Cougars’ sophomore class is Amanda Bishop, Giulia Sanmartin,
Sienna Sanmartin, Danni Lehner, and Alexa Sanmartin.
more successful than last.
“It will be a tough year, because the
competition is always good in (Montgomery County),” said Coach Smith. “We
have to do the little things to be successful.”
The Lady Cougars picked up right
where the boys had left off on Dec. 19,
and opened up a 27-7 halftime lead over
the Lady Jags. The Jaguars came storming
back in the second half, cutting the Lady
Cougar lead to just 10. But Quince Orchard would get back to the first half success they had, and closed the game out on
a 16-7 run to seal the win, 46-27.
The freshman stars led the Lady Cougars to victory, behind forward Taylor Addison’s 15 points and Jordan Odom’s 12.
Combined, the two scored as much as the
whole Northwest team did.
The Lady Cougars are off to a strong
start, as they have won four of their first
five games. Addison’s 16.6 points per
game lead the team, and Odom’s 9.9 average is second highest on the team.
The Lady Jags are leaning on junior Celine Jordan to lead the team, who currently averages just over 12 points per contest.
The Lady Jags are still in search of their
first win of the season.
Upcoming Cougar Home Games
Saturday, Jan. 3
Boys JV Basketball
Quince Orchard vs. Clarksburg, 10:15 a.m.
Boys Varsity Basketball
Quince Orchard vs. Clarksburg, 12 p.m.
Varsity Wrestling
Quince Orchard vs. Seneca Valley, 1 p.m.
JV Wrestling
Quince Orchard vs. Seneca Valley, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Boys Varsity Basketball
Quince Orchard vs. Wootton, 5:15 p.m.
Girls Varsity Basketball
Quince Orchard vs. Wootton, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 9
Girls JV Basketball
Quince Orchard vs. Gaithersburg, 5:15 p.m.
Girls Varsity Basketball
Quince Orchard vs. Gaithersburg, 7 p.m.
For a detailed schedule of all games, visit www.qocougars.org.
January 2, 2015
The Town Courier
Page 19
Page 20
The Town Courier
January 2, 2015