Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Attention Postmaster:

Time sensitive material.

Requested in home 7-3-08

A Connection

Newspaper

PRSRT STD

U.S. Postage

PAID

Martinsburg, WV

PERMIT #86

www.potomacalmanac.com

Pets, Page 5 ❖

C

alendar, Page 8 ❖

R

eal Estate, Page 12

Pho

to

by R

obbie H

am

mer/T

he A

lm

an

ac

Potomac

insideinsideinside

BurningDown

The HouseNews, page 3

A SewerToo Far?

News, page 2

Back from theDrawing Board

News, Page 2

A BulldogOn the PivotPeople, Page 6

A SewerToo Far?

News, page 2

Back from theDrawing Board

News, Page 2

BurningDown

The House

Rockville volunteer firefighterRobert James cools off in astream of water after havingspent most of his Sundayparticipating in a controlledburn exercise of a house inPotomac. Firefighters from theRockville and LaytonsvilleDistrict Volunteer FireDepartments and theMontgomery County FireDepartment participatedin the training event.

July 2-8, 2008 ❖ Volume LII, Number 27

2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsPotomac Almanac Editor Steven M. Mauren

703-917-6451 or Potomacalmanac@hotmail.com

See www.potomacalmanac.com

A Sewer Too Far?A possible sewerextension to PotomacOak Center couldbring welcomechange or troublingprecedent.

By Aaron Stern

The Almanac

When it comes to retail cen-ters in Potomac, mostpeople go to Potomac Vil-lage or Cabin John Mall.

Beyond that, people are likely to ventureinto Bethesda or Georgetown when the timecomes for shopping. GuySemmes and MichaelDenker want to changethat.

The two men own thePotomac Oak center inNorth Potomac at the inter-section of Glen andTravilah Roads. Built origi-nally in the early 1980sand formerly named theGlenvilah shopping center,the two purchased it in2003 with hopes of even-tually turning their littlecenter into a third nexus of community andretail activity in Potomac.

The unassuming string of shops split be-

tween two buildings is home to a handfulof local enterprises. Most of the customersthat the center sees are daytime laborersand contractors stopping in for lunch or asnack, or mothers dropping their childrenat karate class, Semmes said. Over the yearshe has had representatives from coffeeshops, grocery stores and restaurants ap-proach him about leasing space there, butwhen prospective tenants learn the centerdoesn’t have a sewer hookup they lose in-terest. Semmes and Denker want to changethat too.

Semmes and Denker are the two menbehind the local construction firm Hopkins& Porter and both were born and raised inPotomac. They point to a time when theintersection at Glen and Travilah Roads wasthe heart of the community of Travilah.Since then it has remained a loose centerof North Potomac, but the two envision a

shopping center roughly 30percent larger than the cur-rent space that would bringback that bygone time ofbustling community activitycomplete with a coffeeshop, small restaurants, ahigher-end grocery or con-venience store and familiarfixtures to their center likeKicks Karate and DianaNails. The only way for thatto happen, they say, is to geta dedicated sewer line ex-tended to the property.

“Our promise [is] that if we can get thesewer here, we’ll make it look like a placethat you’d want to go,” said Denker.

Last spring the two took a water/sewercategory change proposal to the Montgom-ery County Council that would have ex-tended a sewer line along Travilah Road totheir shopping center. Twice a year thecouncil hears a bevy of water/sewer cat-egory changes but with mounting concernsfrom council members, residents and localcitizen groups, Semmes and Denker re-quested that their proposal be deferred sothat they could go back to the communityand try to gain support for their proposal.Since that time Semmes and Denker havemet frequently with members of the com-munity and with representatives fromgroups like the West Montgomery County

Citizens Association and the North PotomacCitizens Association, both of which are pub-licly opposed to the idea.

THE TROUBLE with the proposal, sayopponents, is that it could open up apandora’s box of sorts. In particular, theproposal flies in the face of the PotomacSubregion Master Plan, which was estab-lished by the Montgomery County PlanningBoard and the County Council in 2002, ac-cording to George Barnes, a West Montgom-ery board member. Much of Potomac —particularly North Potomac — relies on sep-tic systems instead of sewer. That has helped

See Sewer Extension, Page 15

Back From the Drawing Board

With business partner Michael Denker to his left, Guy Semms (out-stretched arms) explains the proposal to extend sewer service to thePotomac Oak Center and the subsequent renovation of what Semmessaid is an underutilized community hub.

Pho

to

by A

aro

n Stern

/T

he A

lm

an

ac

Koh Country Innproposal is back,and neighbors arestill concerned.

“Our promise [is]that if we can getthe sewer here,we’ll make it looklike a place thatyou’d want to go.”

— Michael Denker

See Revised Plan, Page 12

By Aaron Stern

The Almanac

Five months ago Francis Koh wastold to go back to the drawingboard. His plan to build a facility

that would combine the features of a res-taurant, inn, and banquet hall acrossfrom the WSSC filtration plant on RiverRoad had drawn the ire of his would-beneighbors and the skepticism of theMontgomery County Planning Board.

With his plan facing denial he insteadrequested a deferral, which was granted.

The Planning Board’s commissioners toldhim to start over with his vision and to scaleit down.

Now he’s back, and so too is the ire of thosewho live nearest to the proposed facility. Ata meeting between Kohand his potential neigh-bors on Wednesday, June25, Koh unveiled hisscaled-down plan anddid his best to assuagefears that the restaurantwould clog River Roadwith traffic, fill the night-time air with noise, andbe an eyesore.

“We live in a very quietcommunity, we have chil-dren,” said Mo Izadi, who lives close by onLake Potomac Drive. “We just want to live inthere peacefully. This is disturbing our com-munity very badly… it doesn’t fit in there.”

GONE FROM KOH’S old proposal areplans for a banquet hall that would havebeen host to weddings and similar gather-ings. The core of the plan remains the same,however: a small, high-end restaurant with

10 to 12 rooms forguests who want to staya night or a weekend.The plan also calls foran antique store thathas long operated onthe property to continueto do so.

“To us, having … thatantique shop helpsmake our restaurantunique,” Koh said.

The Koh’s property iscurrently zoned for residential use but theKohs are seeking a change to a Country Innzoning category that would permit the pro-posed uses. When originally created, the

County Inn Zone was designed to grand-father in establishments like NormandieFarms and the Comus Inn, small restau-rants that were established before Mont-gomery County zoning ordinances werefirst established in 1958 and that wereno longer compatible with the residen-tial areas surrounding them. If approved,the Koh property would be just the sec-ond project in the county to obtain theCountry Inn zoning change for new con-struction.

Koh’s newest plan is down slightly insquare footage from his original pro-posal that was over 35,000 square feeton the 5.61 acre property that sits be-tween 12201 and 12219 River Road.

As part of any plan that Koh proceedswith, he would be required to repairenvironmental damage done to theproperty by the previous owner, who

“We all pay top dollarfor our homes andthis is going to ruin itin every way you canimagine.”

— Mo Izadi

Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

By Aaron Stern

The Almanac

Black smoke drifted through the skyabove Potomac Village on Sunday,but not a siren was heard. Thesmoke came from a home on

Norton Road that burned to the ground aspassersby and firefighters alike looked onand did nothing.

More than 30 members of the RockvilleVolunteer Fire Department station 3 and theLaytonsville Volunteer Fire Department sta-tion 30 used the home at 10111 NortonRoad on Sunday, June 29 as a venue to prac-tice their organizational and fire fightingtactics. In six separate stages, fires were litin different parts of the house, then put outby crews of firefighters on a sunny daywhere temperatures hovered around 90degrees Fahrenheit.

Fighting fires is clearly a hot job — sohot sometimes that sweat can turn to scald-ing steam, said eight-year veteran TonyRoman — but on a mid afternoon in lateJune it can be particularly so. Coolersloaded with bottles of water and Gatoradeawaited firefighters as they finished theirpractice runs, as did Sarah Whalen, an EMTwho ran the rehab center at the controlled

burn the same way she would for an actualfire, monitoring them for signs of heatstroke and heat-related fatigue and stress.

As the firefighters came out, Whalen tooktheir blood pressure and pulse and madesure they got plenty of water — anyone witha pulse over 140 took a 15-minute rest pe-riod, she said. Despite the temperature onlyone firefighter who came close to faintingneeded assistance, Whalen said.

The key to battling fires on hot days inparticular is to concentrate, said five-yearveteran Robert James.

“You’ve got to keep your composure, yourfocus,” James said.

Responding to a fire takes coordinationand the completion of specific roles for eachtruck and each member of the truck, saidRoman.

“That’s what makes it work as a team,”Roman said.

The main focus of Sunday’s drills was tohelp rising unit officers practice their coor-dination techniques. Unit chiefs are “theguys who ride in front [in the fire trucks]and make the decisions,” said Jim Vagonis,a deputy chief with the Rockville VolunteerFire Department. “That was our big objec-tive today … [was] giving these guys thechance to make decisions.”

Norton Road home used as a training exercisefor the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department.

Burn It Down

The structure fire could be seen from all around the Potomac area anddrew interested bystanders to watch the house burn. The Potomacresidence was offered to area fire departments as a way to safely trainfirefighters in fighting a structure fire.

A Rockville volunteer firefighter walks around theperimeter of a structure fire that was intentionally setafter being used as a training exercise for areavolunteer fire departments in Potomac.

Volunteer firefighters from the Rockville and Laytonsville Volunteer Fire Departmentand firefighters from the Montgomery County Fire Department honed their skillswhile participating in a controlled burn of a house on Sunday.

See Burning,

Page 10

Photos by

Robbie Hammer/

The Almanac

4 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

C&O Canal Celebrates BirthdayPresident John Quincy Adams turned the first spade of earth

for the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal on July 4, 1828. The C&O Ca-nal National Historical Park will celebrate this 180th birthday ofthe canal with special programs in the Washington D.C. area.

A special mule-pulled canal boat ride will start from the park’sGeorgetown Visitor Center and run to Fletchers Cove. The boatleaves at 11 a.m. and returns by 3:30 p.m. Bring a lunch or buyfood at the snack bar at Fletchers Cove. The cost for the canalboat trip is $5 per person, reservations are encouraged. The C&OCanal Georgetown Visitor Center is located at 1057 ThomasJefferson St. NW Washington DC. For information or to makereservations call 202-653-5190.

At Fletchers Cove, bring the family out for old fashioned gamesand speeches marking the canal’s birthday. 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.Fletchers Cove is located on the corner of Canal Road and Reser-voir Road N.W. Washington D.C. For information call 202-653-5190.

At Great Falls, take a one-hour canal boat ride, meet the mulesthat pull the boats, make a corn husk doll or play a variety ofpopular 1870s games. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Canal boats run at 11a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The cost for the canal boat ride is $5per person. The C&O Canal Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center islocated at 11710 MacArthur Blvd. Potomac, Maryland. For infor-mation call 301-767-3714

County Recycling ExpandedThe Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services is

expanding the types of items it will accept in its blue recyclingbins starting this week, Tuesday, July 1. The increase in accept-able items will help the county move closer to a goal endorsed bythe County Council of recycling 50 percent of all waste gener-ated in the county.

For more information about the County’s expanded recyclingprogram, contact the Division of Solid Waste at 240-777-6400.

New Planning Members SelectedThe Montgomery County Council has named Joseph Alfandre

and Amy Presley to seats on the Montgomery County PlanningBoard.

Alfandre, a Democrat from Potomac, was named to fill the re-mainder of the term of Eugene Lynch, who was appointed to theboard in 2007, but died on Jan. 31. Alfandre will fill the termthat expires on June 14, 2011. He will be eligible to serve twoadditional full terms.

Presley of Clarksburg was named to fill the expired term ofAllison Bryant. His term ended on June 14. Presley, a Republican,will serve a four-year term. Their appointments must be confirmedby County Executive Isiah Leggett within 30 days of receiving aresolution naming the appointments. He will receive the appoint-ments on Friday.

Presley was nominated and elected unanimously. Benjamin Rossof Potomac and Marye Wells-Harley of Silver Spring were alsonominated to fill Lynch’s term. Alfandre was elected on the sec-ond ballot.

The Planning Board has five members. No more than threemembers of the Planning Board may be from the same politicalparty, and all members must be residents and registered voters ofMontgomery County when appointed. Members serve four-yearterms and are limited to two full terms. The positions can befilled by a Democrat; a Republican; a voter who declines to affili-ate with a party; or by a member of another party officially rec-ognized by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

Advisory Board MeetingThe Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board’s

Transportation Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July8, at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805Edgemoor Lane, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Bethesda.

Michael Madden, project manager from the Maryland TransitAdministration, will be discussing the Purple Line study.

For more information, call Leslie Hamm at 240-777-8207.

By James Gische

The Almanac

On April 8, Maryland Governor MartinO’Malley approved a new tax surcharge of 6.25 percent on income inexcess of $1 million. The act, effective

July 1, will expire in 2011.The law’s sponsors, State Senators Jennie Forehand

and Verna Jones, intended to raise revenues and bal-ance Maryland’s budget, as the state’s constitutionrequires every year. The so-called “millionaires’ tax”replaced an unpopular toll on computer services thatwas passed during the General Assembly’s specialsession last year and laterrepealed.

Ten of MontgomeryCounty’s 24 delegates — allDemocrats —– and two ofits eight senators opposedthe new levy, including halfof Potomac’s eight repre-sentatives. From District15, covering about two-thirds of Potomac andmuch of the upcounty area, Delegates Craig Rice,Kathleen Dumais, and Brian Feldman voted againstthe bill while Sen. Rob Garagiola supported it. FromDistrict 16, which includes the rest of Potomac aswell as Bethesda, Delegates William Bronrott andSusan Lee and Sen. Brian Frosh backed the tax, whileDelegate William Frick opposed it.

Some Potomac representatives voted against thesurcharge because they felt it does not spread thetax burden evenly. “I thought it was not good taxpolicy to balance the state’s deficit on any particularclass of people, millionaires or otherwise,” said Rice.

Liz Rubin, the president of the Montgomery CountyFederation of Republican Women and a resident ofNorth Potomac, opposed the law for similar reasons:“I think taxes should be fair across the board.” Shestressed that many of the people that the surchargeaffects work hard for their money and described itas “anti-capitalist.”

OTHERS NOTED the law’s regional impact. “I thinkthe tax disproportionately hurts MontgomeryCounty,” said Dumais. The state’s analysis indicatesthat about 2,600, or 41 percent, of the people thatthe surcharge affects live in the county, a statisticthat Feldman said influenced his decision to opposethe tax.

Feldman also recognized that Potomac would berelatively hard hit by the tax. Potomac resident andchair of the District 15 Democratic Caucus DaphneBloomberg said she supported the MontgomeryCounty delegates and senators who opposed the newlaw.

Local representatives had other concerns about thetax, as well. Feldman fears that the surcharge “putsMontgomery County at a competitive disadvantageto Northern Virginia.” The law pushes the county’shighest-earning residents’ combined state and localtax rate to 9.45 percent, the third-highest in the na-tion and significantly greater than rates in Virginia.

Feldman sees this gap as a long-term problem be-

cause these citizens may choose to leave thecounty to escape the tax. Frosh disagreed, not-ing that the difference in tax rates on each sideof the Potomac would only pose a temporaryconcern since the state surcharge is set to ex-pire in three years.

MANY REPRESENTATIVES disliked theGeneral Assembly’s rushed passing of the law.Dumais lamented that the legislature was “anx-ious to fix the hole” in the state’s revenues thatthe repeal of the computer services levy causedand added that she would not have necessar-ily been opposed to the law had it been morecarefully studied.

Rice, a member of the Ways and Means Com-mittee, shared these concerns. “The restruc-turing of our tax policy with the wave of a brushinstead of allowing my committee to evaluatea high income earner tax bracket and its re-percussions was ill-fated and ill-conceived,” he

said. Frosh acknowl-edged that the lawwas not the best op-tion for balancing thebudget, but ratherthe most likely togarner enough votesto pass quickly.

Potomac’s legisla-tors disagreed overthe three-year

lifespan of the new tax bracket. Frosh supportsthe idea because it makes the law less burden-some. Rice, on the other hand, advocateslonger-term, expanding sources of revenuerather than temporary solutions. “The sheerfact that defenders of this proposal say it ‘onlywill last for three years’ is testimony to its prob-lems,” he said.

The effect of the law on area businesses wasalso a consideration. The repeal of the com-puter services tax was a boon to local technol-ogy enterprises. However, some small soleproprietorships and partnerships, such as lawfirms, will have to pay higher taxes.

One state analyst noted that companies maypass on the cost of the tax by raising prices orlowering employees’ wages. Frosh dismissedthese concerns, emphasizing that the new levywould “by definition” apply to individuals andnot businesses.

Area representatives have proposed alterna-tive ways to raise revenues. Dumais andFeldman support an expanded sales tax onconsumer services. Frosh suggests that a half-percent toll on businesses’ gross receipts wouldbring in $500 million for the state while notbeing too much of a burden. Both plans’ advo-cates claim their solutions would be more eq-uitable than the millionaires’ tax. But for now,Maryland’s wealthiest citizens will be footingthe bill.

Potomac representativesdivided over newmillionaires’ tax.

Lonely at the Top

What Will the Impact Be?According to the Maryland Department of

Legislative Services, the average resident whomthe new tax affects earns about $3.1 million peryear. The law raises these citizens’ average statetax burden from 5.4 percent of their totalincome to 5.9 percent, an increase of 9.1percent, or $14,200.

“I think taxes should be fairacross the board.”

— Liz Rubin,President, Montgomery County

Federation of Republican Women

This Week in Potomac

Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

11230 Grandview Ave.Wheaton, MD 20902

301.962.8888

7745 Tuckerman LaneCabin John Shopping Center

Potomac, MD

301.983.5566

“Tucked away in the back corner of Cabin John ShoppingCenter like a secret you want to keep to yourself”

Offer Expires 7/16/08

Total Bill3 - 5 pm

7 Days A Week

20% OFFEarly Bird Special

Offer Expires 7/16/08

Total BillGood Anytime

ExcludesLunch Buffet

10% OFFAll-You-Can-Eat Buffet! $8.95

Now OpenUmberto’s II

in Wheaton, MD

The Potomac Tennis and Fitness Club

Juniors Summer CampOPEN TO THE PUBLIC

• Offering 8 weeks of Camp• Morning & Afternoon Classes: 9:00 am - 12 pm, 12:30 - 3:30 pm• 4 to 6 Students Per Pro• For All Levels• Ages 8-16

The Following Session are Available:June 16th - 20th

June 23rd - 27th

June 30th - July 3rd (no class July 4th)

July 7th -11th

July 14th - 18th

July 21st - 25th

July 28th - August 1st

August 4th - 8th

August 11th - 15th

MEMBER:$256 1/2 day class per week$204 1/2 day (July 4th week)$461 full day class per week$367 full day (July 4th week)

NON-MEMBER:$323 1/2 day class per week$258 1/2 day (July 4th week)$582 full day class per week$464 full day (July 4th week)

For Information Call (301) 983-1450THE POTOMAC TENNIS CLUB

10800 Potomac Tennis Lane • Potomac, MD(located next to Normandie Farm Restaurant)

www.potomactennis.com

Now!1,000sof picturesof sports,gradua-tions,currenteventsandmore—neverpublished,but postedon theWeb. Freefor evalua-tion, avail-able forprints.

ConnectionNewspapers.com

PhotoGalleries

Pets of the Week

Ariel

Petey

Ariel is a female, 5-year-old, 70pound, spayed Aussie mix. Ariel hashad a rough patch in her life butthanks to PAW things are lookingup. She likes belly rubs, play withother dogs and adores children andadults. Ariel is now looking for agood home with no cats.

Petey is a male, 7-year-old, neu-tered, 20 pound JRT/Fox Terriermix. Petey is an active terrier dogthat loves tennis balls and walks wellon a leash. He is friendly with peoplebut wants to be an only dog. Peteyneeds a special adopter to help himwith his special needs.

Partnership for Animal Welfare(PAW) is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit group. To adopt an animal,volunteer or make a tax-deductibledonation, visit www.paw-rescue.org, call 301-572-4PAW orwrite to PAW, P.O. Box 1074,Greenbelt, MD 20768.

Have pet notes? Send an e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com orcall Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. Photos encouraged.

Come to Dogtopia, 4920 Wyaconda Road, North Bethesda, for fun, food,games and a wash for your pooch in exchange for a donation to the K9 Sup-port Charity, Sunday July 13 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. All proceeds will gotowards creating care packages for canine troops and their handlers servingoverseas. Call 240-514-0210.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 2DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support

Alliance National Capital Area)Family Support Group, will hold itsonly July meeting at 7:30 p.m., at theParish Hall of St. Raphael’s Church at1513 Dunster Road, Rockville. Themeeting is for the families andfriends of people who have beendiagnosed with depression or bipolarillness. Free. Call 301-299-4255 or301-570-9065.

THURSDAY/JULY 3Pain Connection. This chronic pain

support group will meet from 1:30-3p.m. at the Davis Library, 6400Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, foranyone with chronic pain, familymembers and interested communityresidents. Feel free to bring your ice/heat packs, pillows and mats to makeyourself comfortable. Contact: 301-309-2444.

SUNDAY/JULY 8Li-Ming Toastmaster will have

meeting from 10:20 to 11:45 a.m. atCounty Council building (2rd floorconference room 2F, behindcafeteria) at 100 Maryland Avenue,Rockville. Contact 301-765-1090.

Community Support Sale. 5%CommUnity Support Day at WholeFoods Market, 5269 River RdBethesda, for The MontgomeryCountryside Alliance. Contactlauren@ruralmontgomery.org or202-244-4408 ext. 125.

WEDNESDAY/JULY, 9Nutrition Workshop. The Wellness

Community - Greater Washington,D.C. will present a free nutrition

Civic Calendar

workshop for people with cancer andtheir loved ones, 7-8 p.m. Led bycancer nutrition specialist, LyndaMcIntyre, R.D., L.D., this workshopwill provide updates on nutritionfrom the American Institute forCancer Research. Location: TheWellness Community- GreaterWashington, D.C., 5430 GrosvenorLane, Suite 100, Bethesda. Forreservations call 301-493-5002.

MONDAY/JULY 14College Admissions Workshop.

Free one-hour workshop conductedby a staff member from Kaplan, Inc.at the Potomac Library, 10101Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 7 p.m.Topics covered include factors incollege admissions, key terms in theadmissions process and theapplication, essay and interview. Call240-777-0690.

Adoption Workshop. Internationaland domestic adoption informationat the The Barker Foundation, 7979Old Georgetown Road, 1st floor,Bethesda. 6:30-9 p.m. Ages 21 andup. Free. Call 301-664-9664.

THURSDAY/JULY 17Montgomery Hospice Workshop:

“When Bad Things Happen to GoodPeople,” discussion of ways peoplecan support themselves and the goodpeople in their lives who are facingstruggles and challenges. 2 – 3:30p.m., Montgomery Hospice, 1355Piccard Drive, Suite 100, Rockville.Free. Register at 301-921-4400.

Child Safety Seat Inspection. A freecheck of the condition and properinstallation of child safety seats,Fitzgerald’s Auto Mall, 5501Nicholson Lane, Rockville, 10 a.m. –1:30 p.m.

Children of Divorce. Throughfour interactive group sessions, chil-dren (ages 11-14) will learn thatthey are not alone in the divorceprocess. Art, role-playing, letter-writing, self-esteem exercises andverbalization of feelings provide thetools for them to remain hopefuland positive. Parents will meetseparately for two sessions to learnhow to identify distress signals andbetter help their children throughthis process. Group meets on Mon-days, July 7, 14, 21, 28; 5-6 p.m.at JSSA, 200 Wood Hill Road,Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 toregister.

Handling Angry Feelings.Anger is a normal emotion, but itcan be overwhelming for many chil-dren. In this three-sessionworkshop, children examine their“boiling points,” practice ways tokeep self-control, use “power talk”and “positive self-talk” instead ofacting out and complete an “angercontract” (with input from parents)for real-life application. Two groupswill be offered. Group meets onTuesdays, July 8-22, 4-5 p.m. andThursdays, July 10-24; 4-5 p.m. atJSSA, 200 Wood Hill Road,Rockville. Call 301-816-2633.

Family Support Group. Inthis ongoing monthly group, par-ents and family members ofchildren with disabilities share theirjoys and sorrows, hopes and fears,coping mechanisms and strategies.Group meets on Tuesdays, July 15and Aug. 19; 7:30-8:45 p.m. atJSSA, 6123 Montrose Road,Rockville. Call 301-610-8371.

Health Notes

6 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

movie you saw?The last book I read was “Into Thin Air”

by Jon Krakauer, my favorite televisionshow is “Family Guy,” and the last movie Isaw was “The Happening.”

What are you most looking for-ward to about college?

I am most looking forward to taking thenext step in my baseball career. At WakeForest I am going to be receiving a greateducation while playing in one of the bestbaseball conferences in the nation. It willbe challenging but it is something I am ex-cited for.

Where do you see yourself in fiveyears?

Hopefully playing professional baseball.

Who is a historical figure youwould like to meet?

I would like to meet Babe Ruth becausehe was one of the greatest baseball playersand he helped save the national pastime inthe wake of the Black Sox scandal.

Describe how you would mostenjoy spending a single day?

I would most enjoy spending time hang-ing out with my friends during the day andthen pitching in a game later that night.

If you could be anyone else, whowould you be and why?

I would be Roy Oswalt because he is myfavorite pitcher and player in the MLB.

Do you have a favorite quotation?“Every day is a new opportunity. You can

build on yesterday’s success or put its fail-ures behind and start over again. That’s theway life is, with a new game every day, andthat’s the way baseball is.” — Bob Feller

Why did you start playing base-ball?

I always enjoyed watching MLB gamesand playing wiffle ball as a kid, so I thoughtit would be fun to start a BCC rec team withmy friends and classmates from school.

People

By Chandos Culleen

The Almanac

Normally learning a new posi-tion would take some time.

Not for Katelyn Kumm. Af-ter learning a third position

for a third team, Katelyn has become a soft-ball jack-of-all-trades.

A four year varsity starter on the softballteam at Winston Churchill High School,Katelyn now plays fast-pitch softball forWest Liberty State, a NCAA Division II team,located in West Virginia. A shortstop in highschool and an outfielder for her select travelteam, Katelyn was recruited as an outfielderfor the Hilltoppers. However, when she ar-rived at school, her coaches quickly real-ized the talent she had and asked her toswitch positions to second base so that shecould start and get more playing time tohelp the team.

IT WORKED. Now she has taken heraward-winning skills to the next level. AtWest Liberty State, Katelyn is in the top fivein slugging percentage, runs scored, runsbatted in, doubles, triples, total bases,walks, and stolen base percentage. An im-pressive start for a freshman, but Katelyn istaking it all in stride. This past season was“a blast. The competition is pretty good, itsdefinitely more competitive than highschool or my select team,” she said.

It is not just raw talent that has carriedKatelyn to this position. She has been a se-rious athlete and hard worker since the ageof 5 when she first took up T-ball. As timewent on Katelyn played baseball and soft-ball for a series of highly competitive base-ball and softball teams.

For the last four years, in addition to play-ing softball at Churchill, she also played for

the Montgomery Village Sports Association(MVSA) Storm. Not only did she practicedaily during the spring for Churchill, butalso she had bi-weekly practices year roundfor her select team, the Storm, and week-end tournaments.

That hard work led to recognition.Katelyn earned five MVP awards in qualifi-cation tournaments for the Pony Nationalsand the USSA World Series with the Storm.She also received three team MVP awardsin her four years at Churchill.

WORKING HARD in high school and be-fore helped to prepare Katelyn for the com-petitive world of college softball. Describ-ing the year she had, Katelyn said, “In thefall we had softball practice Mondaythrough Friday around 5. When it got cold,we had 6:30 a.m. lifting practice. You liftedto 7:45 a.m. if you had a 8 a.m. class or youstayed to 8:30 to run if you did not haveclass. During the winter we had clinics toteach little girls how to hit on Sundays. Thenaround February we had batting practicein the morning instead of lifting. We hadbatting in the morning and sometimes prac-tices at night. We started our season inMarch. The games were double headers.When we did not have a game, we had prac-tice.”

Despite her devotion to softball and thesuccess of her team, Katelyn recognizes herprimary focus at West Liberty. “Educationcomes first,” she says. She has maintaineda strong grade point average at West Lib-erty, while double majoring in accountingand computers.

And she hasn’t let all of her success go toher head, remaining firmly focused on whatshe still wants to accomplish. Next year’steam goal? “Less injuries, more wins,” shesaid.

Gabe Feldman is a Cabin Johnresident and recent WaltWhitman High School gradu-ate. He is currently playing

baseball with the Bethesda Big Train base-ball team. The team plays at Povich Field,10600 Westlake Drive in Cabin John Re-gional Park, Bethesda, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are$7 adults and $3 for children. Call 301-983-1006 or visit www.bigtrain.org.

Tell us about your family.I have an older brother and older sister.

My brother Josh is 22 and graduated fromSt. Mary’s College of Maryland. My sisterDani is 23 and graduated from the Univer-sity of Texas.

Favorite school subject:My favorite school subject is math. It is

my best subject and comes the easiest tome.

What do you want to do in life?I want to play professional baseball, but

if that does not work out then I am not sure.

Awards and achievements:❖ 2007 and 2008 Under Armor Preseason

All-American❖ Was selected to the Perfect Game Na-

tional Showcase in 2006 and 2007❖ Ranked as one of the top 100 right

handed pitchers in the nation by PerfectGame

❖ Ranked the sixth-best prospect in Mary-land by Perfect Game

❖ Was named to the 2007 and 2008Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason AtlanticRegion All-High School Team

❖ 2007 Virginia Division 1 State Cham-pions at Notre Dame Academy

❖ Named All Gazette and WashingtonPost Honorable Mention All-Met in 2005

What are your hobbies?I enjoy listening to music, bowling, fish-

ing, and hanging out with my family andfriends.

Favorite place to hang out in thecommunity?

My favorite place to hang out in the com-munity is Montgomery Mall. It has every-thing you would need; a movie theater, foodcourt, and stores.

What are some ideas you have onways to improve your community?

There are countless ways to improve acommunity, but some ideas I have wouldbe to donate goods to local charities, vol-unteer with groups that work with issuesand causes important to your neighbor-hood, start using car pools or mass trans-portation, and to work with schools to helpeducate the younger members on commu-nity responsibilities.

What is the last book you read,favorite television show and last

Getting To Know …

Feldman

Gabe Feldman

Katelyn Kumm holds up her glove after getting the tag out at second base.

Pho

to

fro

m H

illto

pper A

thletics

Former Bulldog Katelyn Kumm has strongseason for West Liberty State Hilltoppers.

A Bulldog on the Pivot

Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

LET’S TALKReal Estate

byMichael Matese

For professional advice on allaspects of buying and sellingreal estate, call:

MICHAEL MATESEWashington Fine

Properties301-806-6829

Michael.Matese@wfp.com

REMODELING: COSTVS. RESALE VALUE

Data provided by RemodelingMagazine’s latest Remodeling CostVs. Value Report shows four projectsthat return the greatest profit atresale nationwide. This year, yourhome’s curb appeal is at the top ofthe most profitable remodeling pro-jects. A new wooden deck will giveyou an 81.2 percent return on yourmoney outlay. Replacing your oldsiding with fiber cement siding willprovide an 83.2 percent return,while installing new wooden win-dows throughout will get you 81.2percent back from your expenses.

This is not the year for big indoorremodeling projects. With construc-tion costs still high and home salesslowing down, it’s better to put offthat luxury bath remodel if you areplanning to sell your home this year.The one project that still holds valueis the minor kitchen remodel.Replacing cabinet doors, flooring,sink and faucet, and upgrading yourstove will bring you back 83 percentof your outlay.

In a market where property valuesare readjusting, remodeling canpotentially help your home stand outamong the crowd. To make sureyour project will be cost effective, besure to consult a real estate profes-sional about your remodeling plans.

Build YourCommunity

Support YourLocal Businesses.

www.potomacalmanac.com

News

Communication Breakdown CriticizedCounty Councilblasts failure ofcounty’s emergencynotification system.

By Aaron Stern

The Almanac

George Leventhal couldn’t believewhat he was hearing. As the At-large Councilmember listened tothe explanation of why the

county’s subscription-based emergency alertsystem failed to notify 14,000 residents abouta boil water advisory that was issued after amajor water main broke in Derwood, he vis-ibly seethed.

“This does not inspire a lot of confidence,”Leventhal told Gordon Aoyagi, the county’sHomeland Security director. Aoyagi was forth-coming during a meeting of the council’s Pub-lic Safety Committee on Thursday, June 26,taking responsibility for the department’s fail-ures and assuring Council members that themistakes that led to the breakdown would notoccur again.

The system that is designed to send emer-gency notifications via cell phone text mes-sages and email sent no notices on Monday,June 15 after the advisory was issued by theWashington Suburban Sanitary Commission inthe early morning hours because the twocounty employees who were responsible forthe system were both out of town. A thirdemployee in line to send the messages was

untrained to use the system.The county’s emergency response system

was otherwise on the mark, Aoyagi said, asvolunteer phone banks went into action andthe media helped to get the word out.

BUT COUNCIL MEMBERS criticized thebreakdown of the emergency notification sys-tem and questioned why a re-verse-911 system wasn’t used.Aoyagi said that using the re-verse-911 system is extremelyexpensive and typically re-served for more severe emer-gencies.

“Yes, we did fail at a criticaltime,” Aoyagi said. “We shouldhave trained more people. Wedidn’t, but that issue has beenaddressed. I take full responsi-bility for not having the assur-ance that people were trainedto use [the notification sys-tem].”

Leventhal said that Aoyagi’s willingness toput the blame on his shoulders would havebeen more reassuring were Aoyagi not retir-ing from his post on July 1, and the councilmembers expressed displeasure that DarleneFlynn, Aoyagi’s interim replacement, was at aMetropolitan Washington Council ofGovernment’s meeting and not theirs.

“That’s a problem,” said Nancy Floreen (D-At large).

Marc Elrich (D-At large) suggested thatsimple strategies like utilizing message boardsin front of fire departments be explored forfuture emergency notifications in addition to

a properly functioning text and email alertsystem.

“It’s very, very low-tech but I was stunnedby the number of hi-tech people that didn’tget the information from anything with elec-tricity plugged into it,” Elrich said.

THE COUNCIL’S newest member, DonPraisner (D-4), said that thebreakdown was understandableand reminded those presentthat the public has a role to playin keeping itself informed.

“Maybe we do need to wakeup in the morning and turn ourradios on, turn our televisionson,” said Praisner.

Phil Andrews (D-3), chair ofthe Public Safety committee,said that it was the county’s re-sponsibility, however, that wasnot met during the crisis.

“When we [promote] some-thing that people should sign up

for to be notified of emergencies we need todeliver,” he said. “The county did not do thatin this case.”

“This is the basic stuff. This is getting wordout to our residents, ‘Is this a big deal? Is thisnot a big deal?’” said Council President MikeKnapp (D-2). “We didn’t do it.”

Aoyagi said that with the increased trainingin his now former department, such failureswon’t happen in the future.

“Don’t presume that because we didn’t useall the tools available in this emergency that[we won’t] in future emergencies,” saidAoyagi.

“This is gettingword out to ourresidents, ‘Isthis a big deal?Is this not a bigdeal?’”

— Council PresidentMike Knapp

People Notes

Winners of American Dance Institute’s 2008 “Dance is Art in Motion” PhotographyContest are, from left, Alexandra J. Lutz, Christi Santini, Carly Jane Loman and JuliaCline.

American Dance Institute an-nounced the winners of the annual“Dance is Art in Motion” Photogra-phy Contest, which was held inhonor of National Dance Week, cel-ebrated April 25 through May 4. Thewinners are: in first place, 17-year-old Alexandra J. Lutz, a senior atMontgomery High School; 16-year-old Christi Santini, a junior at BlakeHigh School, took second place;third place went to 15-year-old CarlyJane Loman, a sophomore atBethesda Chevy Chase; and 14-year-old Julia Cline, a freshman at WaltWhitman High School won an hon-orable mention. The winning photosare on display at American Dance In-stitute and on the Web site. ADIawarded Lutz a $250 Penn Cameragift certificate for her first placephoto. Santini won a $100 for sec-ond place and Blake was rewardeda $50 gift certificate for her thirdplace win.

Potomac resident MarjiEpstein was recently invited to joinnearly 200 of her peers at a nationalconference in Santa Fe, N.M., hostedby Cultural Care Au Pair.ºEpstein, aCultural Care Au Pair local childcarecoordinator (LCC), has been withthe organization for 17 years.Epstein is currently interviewingarea parents who are interested inhosting an au pair. She can be con-tacted at 301-424-0040 or email her

with any question relating to hosting anau pair at Marji.Epstein@lcc.culturalcare.com.

The Literacy Council of Montgomery

County presented awards to students,volunteers, and community members atits 45th annual meeting on April 17.David Taylor, a Potomac resident, wasnamed “Tutor of the Year.” Taylor has

worked with a student for six years,helping him progress through all lit-eracy program levels and supportinghis efforts to attain other personalgoals.

8 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

To have community events listed free inThe Potomac Almanac, send mail to 7913Westpark Drive, McLean, Va. 22102, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991.Deadline is Thursday at noon for the fol-lowing week’s paper. Photos and artworkencouraged. Unless otherwise noted, allevents are in Potomac. If you have anyquestions, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 2Meet Yardley. Learn about the

Guiding Eye Dog program and meet adog-in-training at the PotomacLibrary, 10101 Glenolden Drive,Potomac, 7 p.m. Pre-register at 240-777-0690.

THURSDAY/JULY 3Evening Concert. Thursday Night

concerts will take place from 6-8 p.m.in Veterans Park located at the cornerof Woodmont and Norfolk Avenuesin Bethesda. This week’s performerwill be Talawa (Reggae). Call 301-215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org.

Baseball. Watch the Bethesda BigTrains take on the Redbirdsat Povich Field, 10600Westlake Drive in CabinJohn Regional Park,Bethesda, 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $7 adultsand $3 for children. Call301-983-1006 or visitwww.bigtrain.org.

FRIDAY/JULY 4Contra Dances. The Friday Night

Dancers presents Contra dancing aswell as some square dances andwaltzes in the Spanish Ballroom atGlen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. There is a Contradance lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.followed by the called dance from8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Beginners arealways welcome. This week CisHinkle calls to Hotpoint. Admission:$9. Contact Email:info@fridaynightdance.org.

5K Run/1 Mile Walk. Autism Speaks’Potomac 5K Run/1 mile walk willtake place at the Potomac Library,10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac atthe intersection of River and FallsRoad starting at 7:30 a.m.Professional and novice runners,families and children, are allwelcome to participate in this annualevent and show support for theautism community. Entry fee for 5Krun or 1 mile walk is $25 (until June15) and $30 (June 16-July 1). Onsite registration is $35 on July 3 and$40 on July 4. Fee for children ages14 and under: $15. Visitwww.autismspeaks.org/potomac5kto register.

SATURDAY/JULY 5Storytime. Kat Tales featuring Kat

Aerobics will be at Barnes and NobleBookseelers, Bethesda, 4801Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 11 a.m. Call301-986-1761.

Laugh Riot. Enjoy five local comics andhave a chance to tell jokes yourself atthe Hyatt Regency Bethesda, 7400Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 8-10 p.m.Cost $10. Call 301-657-1234.

Baseball. Watch the Bethesda BigTrains take on the A’s at Povich Field,10600 Westlake Drive in Cabin JohnRegional Park, Bethesda, 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $7 adults and $3 forchildren. Call 301-983-1006 or visitwww.bigtrain.org.

English Conversation Club. Join inpracticing and improving one’sspoken English with the help ofvolunteers leading discussions atPotomac Library, 10101 GlenoldenDrive, Potomac, 3 p.m. Call 240-777-0690.

Carousel Tours. Carousel tours startat 12 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, and givevisitors a closer look at the 1921Dentzel carousel. Find out how it was

made, how it works, and aboutthe rest of the amusement park

attractions that were builtaround it. Visitwww.nps.gov/glec.Park Tour. Glen EchoPark, 7300 MacArthurBlvd, Glen Echo, tours

begin at 2 p.m. and leadvisitors through a walking

tour of the Park to learn aboutits history and the current

programs in arts, dance andchildren’s activities. Admission isfree. Tours begin at the visitor’s deskin the Arcade Building..Visitwww.nps.gov/glec.

Nature Program. Come visit DiscoveryCreek Children’s Museum ForestTales exhibition at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Spend time with the entire familywhile participating in engagingscience and nature activities. In theformer Glen Echo Park stablebuilding, near the park entrance.Open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission isfree for members and children under2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visitwww.discoverycreek.org.

Climb Wall Weekend. Step into theharness, stretch out those limbs andget ready to climb at Discovery CreekChildren’s Museum. Put your skills tothe test as you scale the Museum’sClimb Wall at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Open 10a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ages 4–9. Membersand children under 2 are free, $5 fornonmembers. In the former GlenEcho Park stable building, near thepark entrance. Call 202-488-0627 orvisit www.discoverycreek.org.

Swing Dance. The Washington Swing

Dance Committee will present TheNighthawks at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Beginning swing lesson from 8 - 9p.m.; dancing from 9 p.m. -midnight. Admission includes thelesson. Admission: $12. ContactPhone: 301-340-9732.

SUNDAY/JULY 6Voices of the River. The Irish Inn

Mates will give a taste of Ireland,play tunes, sing some songs andanswer questions about the music,the instruments and their passion forit all at the River Center at Lockhouse8, C&O Canal National HistoricalPark, Cabin John, 2-3 p.m. Visitwww.potomac.org.

Carousel Tours. Carousel tours startat 12 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, and givevisitors a closer look at the 1921Dentzel carousel. Find out how it wasmade, how it works, and about therest of the amusement parkattractions that were built around it.Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Park Tour. Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, toursbegin at 2 p.m. and lead visitorsthrough a walking tour of the Park tolearn about its history and thecurrent programs in arts, dance andchildren’s activities. Admission isfree. Tours begin at the visitor’s deskin the Arcade Building..Visitwww.nps.gov/glec.

Nature Program. Come visit DiscoveryCreek Children’s Museum ForestTales exhibition at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Spend time with the entire familywhile participating in engagingscience and nature activities. In theformer Glen Echo Park stablebuilding, near the park entrance.Open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission isfree for members and children under2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visitwww.discoverycreek.org.

Climb Wall Weekend. Step into theharness, stretch out those limbs andget ready to climb at Discovery CreekChildren’s Museum. Put one’s skills tothe test while scaling the Museum’sClimb Wall at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Open 10a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ages 4–9. Membersand children under 2 are free, $5 fornonmembers. In the former GlenEcho Park stable building, near thepark entrance. Call 202-488-0627 orvisit www.discoverycreek.org.

Contra and Square Dance. TheFolklore Society of GreaterWashington presents traditionalAmerican dancing with a focus onNew England style contra dances,including square dances, countrymixers, waltzes and other coupledances in the Bumper Car Pavilion atGlen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. All dances are

taught, and no partner is necessary.The newcomers’ welcome lesson is at7 p.m., followed by called dancesfrom 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Admission:$12 nonmembers/$9 FSGWmembers. Contact Phone: 202-518-1299.

MONDAY/JULY 7Storytime. Monday morning storytime

at Barnes and Noble Booksellers,4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 11a.m. Call 301-986-1761.

TUESDAY/JULY 85 Percent Day. Learn about economic,

recreational and health benefits ofthe Agricultural Reserve, hosted bythe Montgomery CountrysideAlliance at Whole Foods Market,5269 River Road, Bethesda, 10 a.m. –8 p.m. Call 202-244-4408, Ext.114.

Deserts Alive. A reptile encounterwith creatures from arid climates at

the Potomac Library, 10101Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 7 p.m.Pre-register at 240-777-0690.

Book Club. Join Bethesda Reads! fortheir monthly meeting to discusscontemporary literature in theBethesda Library, 7400 ArlingtonRoad, Bethesda, 10:30 a.m. Thismonth read the “Virgin ofBennington” by Kathleen Norris.

Little Bugs Story Hours. Summerstory times on the Summer ReadingClub theme: Catch the Reading Bugat Bethesda Library, 7400 ArlingtonRoad, Bethesda, 10:30 a.m. Stories,music, and DVDs. Call 240-777-0970.

Afternoon Tea. Enjoy the sounds oflocal musicians while enjoyingafternoon tea in the Shapiro MusicRoom at the Mansion at Strathmore,10701 Rockville Pike, NorthBethesda, 1 p.m. Tea is $21. Call301-581-5108.

Calendar

The Fourth

Here is where to find the county’sfireworks displays for IndependenceDay.

Montgomery County this year willagain host two Independence Dayfireworks displays Friday, July 4.Germantown Glory will be held atthe SoccerPlex in the SouthGermantown Recreational Park,18041 Central Park Circle. A concertby Bobby and the Believers will beginat 7 p.m., with fireworks at approxi-mately 9:30 p.m. Blankets, chairsand picnics are welcome. No alcoholis permitted. Food vendors will be onsite. Call the Recreation Departmentat 240-777-6820.

Mid-County Sparkles will be

held at Albert Einstein High School,11135 Newport Road, Kensington.Pre-fireworks activities will includechildren’s games and a musical con-cert with Superfly Disco beginning at7:30 p.m. The fireworks will begin at9:15 p.m.The viewing areas will be atthe front of the school on the ballfield and at the Newport Mill MiddleSchool, 11311 Newport Mill Road.Call the events line at 240-777-8115.

Rockville’s fireworks will behosted at Montgomery College,Rockville Campus, 51 MannakeeStreet, Rockville, Maryland. Addi-tional parking will be available atRockville Town Center. Live enter-tainment begins at 7 p.m. Fireworksat 9:30 p.m.

This summer, Montgomery Col-lege will bring two musicals to thestage — “Evita” and “Disney’sBeauty and the Beast” — for itsSummer Dinner Theatre perfor-mances. “Evita” performances willtake place July 5-6. “Disney’sBeauty and the Beast” will run July18-19, 25-27 and Aug. 1-3. Tick-ets for Summer Dinner Theatre are$37 for adults and $27 for childrenages 12 and under. Prices include theperformance and a full dinner buffet.At Friday and Saturday night perfor-mances, the doors will open at 6:30p.m., with a show time of 8:15 p.m.On Sunday, the buffet will open at12:30 p.m., with a 2:15 p.m. showtime. All performances are held in

See Calendar, Page 9

Theater

the Theatre Arts Arena on the College’sRockville Campus, located at 51Mannakee Street, Rockville. To pur-chase tickets, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/sdt orcall 240-567-7676.

Once a staple in Olney’s season, thesummer mystery play makes a come-back after a 25-year hiatus with AgathaChristie’s “The Mousetrap.” Theshow plays on the New Mainstage atOlney Theater, 2001 Olney-SandySpring Road, Olney. through July 6.Tickets are $25 - $48 with discountsavailable to groups, seniors, and stu-dents. Call the Box Office at301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.orgfor tickets.

Defending the Caveman returnsto the Washington area for a limitedengagement at the Bethesda Theatre,7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, July 9-27. Tickets are $37.50 and $50 and areon sale now at the Bethesda Theatre boxoffice, all Ticketmaster outlets, online atwww.bethesdatheatre.com, and byphone at 301-657-STAR, 202-397-SEAT, 703-573-SEAT, 410-547-SEAT,and 800-551-SEAT.

A brand new version of L. FrankBaum’s “Wizard of Oz” will be pre-sented by Adventure Theatre in GlenEcho Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., GlenEcho, through July 20. PerformancesWednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at10 and 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays and

Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Rec-ommended for K - Grade 6. Tickets $8;group rates available.

Call 301-320-6668 or visitwww.thepuppetco.org.

“Big River” will be presented byOlney’s National Players on the HistoricStage at Olney Theater Center, 2001Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney,through July 27.

Tickets are $25 with discounts avail-able to groups. Call the Box Office at301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.orgfor tickets.

“Babe, the Sheep Pig” will runthrough Aug. 3 at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Per-

formances on Saturdays and Sun-days at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.Playing time is approximately 1hour. Recommended for ages 3 andup. Tickets $12. Call 301-634-2270or visit www.adventuretheatre.org.

Imagination Stage, 4908 AuburnAvenue, Bethesda, will present “TheNeverending Story” fromthrough Aug. 10. Enjoyed by ages6 and up. Performance times are Sat-urdays 12:30, 3:30 and 7 p.m. andSundays 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Singleticket prices range from $10-$20,with group rates available.

The Box Office phone is 301-280-1660 or visit www.Imagi-nationStage.org.

Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

8/30/08

Coming“Flight Fantasy” will be at The

Dennis and Philip Ratner Museum,10001 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda,July 2-30. Gallery hours are Sunday,10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Monday-Thursday,12-4:30 p.m. Reception: July 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Call 301-897-1518.

The Foundry Gallery, 1314 18th

St., N.W. Washington, DC, will presentrecent paintings and prints by its onlyhusband/wife members, Ann and PhilipBennet of Bethesda, July 2-27. Anopening reception will be July 11 from6-8 p.m. Gallery hours are Wednesday– Sunday, 12-6 p.m. Call 202-463-0203.

Self-taught artist John Yim will hosthis first show at Glen Echo Park’s YellowBarn Gallery, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.,Glen Echo Park, featuring his full rangeof “Landscapes & Figuratives,”July 4-6.

Puppetry Exhibtion. The PopcornGallery and the Puppet Co. at Glen EchoPark, 7400 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo,present an exhibition of puppets, July

Fine Arts

5-27. Saturdays and Sundays fromnoon to 6 p.m. Call 301-634-2222 orvisit www.glenechopark.org.

Waverly Street Gallery, 4600East-West Highway, Bethesda, wel-comes experimental fiber artist DebJansen from July 8 – Aug. 2. Galleryhours are Tuesday – Saturday, 12-6 p.m.An opening reception will be Friday,July 11 from 6-9 p.m. Call 301-951-

9441.

An exhibition bymembers of the Ad-vanced MasterPrinting classtaught by Frank“Tico” Herrera willbe at Glen EchoPark, 7300MacArthur Blvd.,Glen Echo, July 9-Aug. 29. Look forimages covering avariety of ap-proaches tophotography. In thePhotoworks Studio.Wednesdays and

Sundays, 1-8 p.m., and at all times dur-ing day and evening classes. Admissionis free. Call 301-229-7930 or visitwww.glenechophotoworks.org.

‘Dancing in Thin Places’ a collec-tion of painted works by BlairDavenport-Anderson will be on displayat Framer McGee’s Gallery for the July11 Bethesda Art Walk. A ‘meet the art-ist’ wine and cheese reception will befrom 6-9 p.m. at 4936 Hampden Lane,Bethesda. Call 301-656-4090.

“Tropics to Tundra,” solo show byBarbara French Pace at the Yellow BarnGallery, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., GlenEcho, July 25, 26, 27. Gallery hoursare Friday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

Reception:ºSaturday, July 26, 5-8 p.m.Visit www.yellowbarnstudio.com.

Last ChanceBethesda Painting Awards finalists

will be displayed at the Fraser Gal-lery, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E.,Bethesda through July 5. Galleryhours are Tuesday - Saturday, 11:30a.m. – 6 p.m

Waverly Street Gallery, 4600East-West Highway, Bethesda, presents“On the Road Again,” a collection ofdynamic figurative and automotive oilpaintings by Chip Cecil, through July5. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday12º–º6 p.m. Call 301-951-9441 or visitwww.waverlystreetgallery.com.

OngoingThe exhibit “Good Advice” will

survey almost 200 years of Americanadvice books, aimed at helping peopleto improve their lives from top to bot-tom. The exhibit will be on displaythrough Sept. 21, at the Beall-Dawson House, 103 W. MontgomeryAve., Rockville. Museum hours are 12-4 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday. Includedwith museum admission ($3 adults/$2seniors & students).

The exhibit “Breakfast” is a vi-gnette-style exhibit, on displaythroughout the Beall-Dawson House,103 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville, inconjunction with the exhibit “GoodAdvice.”ºThe vignettes include a familybreakfast, formal breakfast, breakfast inbed, breakfast preparation, and evenGeorge Washington’s breakfast and willbe on display through Sept. 21. In-cluded with museum admission ($3adults/$2 seniors & students). Call 301-762-1492 or www.mont-gomeryhistory.org.

From Page 8

Calendar

WEDNESDAY/JULY 9Book Group. A fiction book group

meets at Barnes and NobleBooksellers, 4801 Bethesda Ave.,Bethesda, 7:30 p.m. Call 301-986-1761.

Focus Music. Allison Downey andJohn Austin will perform along withSense of Wonder at O’Brien’s BBQ,387 East Gude Drive, Rockville at 8p.m. Tickets: $15, $12 members.Visit www.focusmusic.org.

Lunchtime Concert. Wednesdaylunchtime concerts will take placefrom 12 – 2 p.m. at the BethesdaPlace Plaza located at 7700Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Thisweek’s performer is Laura Baron(Folk and Jazz). Free. Contact 301-215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org.

Baseball. Watch the Bethesda BigTrains take on the Bombers at PovichField, 10600 Westlake Drive in CabinJohn Regional Park, Bethesda, 7:30p.m. Tickets are $7 adults and $3 forchildren. Call 301-983-1006 or visitwww.bigtrain.org.

DDR. Dance, Dance Revolution: A VideoCompetition for Teenspresented by theMontgomery CountyRecreationDepartment. Try to winthe $25 prize at thePotomacLibrary,10101GlenoldenDrive,Potomac, 1-3 p.m. Call301-765-4083.

Butterflies Flutter

By. Lynn Richard from BrooksideGarden will demonstrate ideas forcreating butterfly gardens, sharestories and butterfly crafts at theBethesda Library, 7400 ArlingtonRoad, Bethesda, 1 p.m. Call 240-777-0970.

Afternoon Tea. Enjoy the sounds oflocal musicians while enjoyingafternoon tea in the Shapiro MusicRoom at the Mansion at Strathmore,10701 Rockville Pike, NorthBethesda, 1 p.m. Tea is $21. Call301-581-5108.

THURSDAY/JULY 10Evening Concert. Thursday Night

concerts will take place from 6-8 p.m.in Veterans Park located at the cornerof Woodmont and Norfolk Avenuesin Bethesda. This week’s performerwill be The Nighthawks (Blues).Contact 301-215-6660 or visitwww.bethesda.org.

Hot Squares. Join Hot Squares in theOlde Towne Tonight for an eveningof traditional American squaredancing at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 8-10:30p.m. No dance experience, lessons, orpartner required. All dances aretaught. This week features LauraBrown, Ann Fallon, Eva Murray,Janine Smith, Susan Taylor callinghot squares to the music of theSaddlehorn String Band. Admission:$8. Call 301-651-8971 or 410-268-0231.

FRIDAY/JULY 11Bethesda Art Walk. 12 galleries and

studios open late in DowntownBethesda from 6-9 p.m. Guided tours:6:30 p.m. starting at the Bethesda

Metro Center. Call 301-215-6660.Dance Concert. Dance away Friday

nights with live bands at 3 BethesdaMetro Center, Bethesda from 6-9p.m. Free. Call 301-652-4988.

Baseball. Watch the Bethesda BigTrains take on the Orioles at PovichField, 10600 Westlake Drive in CabinJohn Regional Park, Bethesda, 7:30p.m. Tickets are $7 adults and $3 forchildren. Call 301-983-1006 or visitwww.bigtrain.org for moreinformation.

Contra Dances. The Friday NightDancers presents Contra dancing aswell as some square dances andwaltzes in the Spanish Ballroom atGlen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. There is a Contradance lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.followed by the called dance from8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Beginners arealways welcome. Admission: $9.Contact Email:info@fridaynightdance.org.

Swing Dance. The Glen Echo ParkPartnership presents a Swing Dancewith the Boilermaker Jazz Band fromPennsylvania at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Anintroductory Swing lesson withDonna Barker and Mike Marcottefrom 8 - 9 p.m. is followed bydancing until Midnight. No partnernecessary; admission includes thelesson at 8 pm. Admission: $13.Contact Email:dbarker@glenechopark.org.

SATURDAY/JULY 12Book Sale. Sponsored by the Friends of

the Library, Potomac Chapter at thePotomac Library, 10101 GlenoldenDrive, Potomac, 9 a.m. Mosthardbacks $1 and paperbacks $.50.

10 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

From Page 3

News

That decision-making process starts withassessing the type of structure and fire, thenestablishing a mode of attack and readyingbackup crews and resources if necessary.Firefighters can work their way up to therank of unit chief in four to five years, saidVagonis.

Vagonis himself was instrumental in mak-ing Sunday’s controlled burn a reality:Vagonis runs his own home improvementcompany and previously worked withDebbie Driesman on another property sheowns. Driesman bought the property onNorton Road last year with the intention ofdoing a teardown/rebuild. Vagonis told herthat by donating the structure to the firedepartment she could then use its value asa tax writeoff before building her newhome.

“I’d always considered the idea becauseit should reduce the amount that will gointo the landfill,” Driesman said as shewatched the home burn. Driesman said thatshe hopes to have her building permits filedby the end of July so that work on her sitecan begin by the end of the year.

When the last exercise was complete Sun-day afternoon, the house was lit and

BurningExercise

Volunteer firefighters participate in a controlled burn of a house. The landowner offered the house to theRockville Volunteer Fire Department to be used as a training exercise.

firefighters kicked back to watch it burn.Traffic backed up along Norton Road as carsparked on the grass to watch the spectacle.

The day was a success, Vagonis said.Firefighters got practice battling blazes, newunit chiefs got experience assessing situa-

tions and directing crews, and Driesmanpaved the way to her dream home.

“We got everything burned down,”Vagonis said. “There’s just some brick wallsleft standing.”

After completing several smaller fire trainingsin different rooms of the house, the buildingwas fully set on fire and burnt to the ground.

A Rockville volunteer firefighter walks aroundthe perimeter of a structure fire and throws intrash and debris into the fire that was inten-tionally set after being used as a trainingexercise for area volunteer fire departments inPotomac.

Volunteer firefighters from the Rockville andLaytonsville Volunteer Fire Department andfirefighters from the Montgomery County FireDepartment watch the house burning duringthe training exercise.

Pho

to

s by R

obbie H

am

mer/T

he A

lm

an

ac

Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

POTOMAC VILLAGE CAMPUSPRESCHOOL – GRADE 310033 River Rd.Potomac, MD

POSTOAK CAMPUSGRADE 4 – 128804 Postoak Rd.Potomac, MD

301-983-5200 / www.saes.org

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School announceslimited openings for the Fall. St. Andrew’sis the only Preschool through Grade 12Episcopal school in the Washington, DCarea. Your Children can grow with us.

Po

tom

acV

illag

eO

pen

Ho

use

To learn more, join usfor an Open House,Wednesday, July 16, 2008(9:00 am)

• Area Arts & Entertainment• Parks • Government • Civic

Associations • Schools & Churches

Look for the 2008 Newcomers& Community Guide!

Coming July 23

•Helpful Features and Shopping Information

703-821-5050www.potomacalmanac.com

Yourannualrefer-enceguideto:

PublishingCommunity Newspapers

Since 1784A targeted publication of

A new special monthlypublication that features

the lifestyles, homes,neighborhoods,

and people of Potomac.

Schools

To have an item listed mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLeanVA 22102, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, orfax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the fol-lowing week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Unlessotherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. Questions? CallMatthew Razak at 703-917-6457.

The Board of Education met Monday, June 23 and,among other items, gave final approval of Policy EEA, StudentTransportation, and discussed suspensions and interventions.The Board made six administrative appointments, approvedan increase in tuition rates for nonresident students and madeappointments to two advisory committees. In addition, theboard recognized college/university partners and congratu-lated the recipients of this year’s Maryland Vietnamese MutualAssociation academic awards and scholarships.

Montgomery College offers an array of new, non-creditcourses that were formerly offered by Montgomery CountyPublic Schools. These courses, offered primarily during eve-nings or weekends in public schools and other convenientcommunity locations, are in addition to hundreds of othernon-credit courses available through the College’s WorkforceDevelopment and Continuing Education unit. A completeschedule of course offerings can be found online atwww.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce. Also, printed copies ofthe fall non-credit course schedule can be found at libraries,community centers and other such locations around thecounty. For questions about continuing education courses orto request a copy call 301-279-5188, visit

www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/mcps/mcps.html.

College Notes

To have an item listed mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLeanVA 22102, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, orfax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the fol-lowing week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Unlessotherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. If you have anyquestions, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.

Anisha Crystal Jindia, a rising junior mathematics ma-jor at Dickinson College in Carlisle, has been named to thedean’s list for the spring 2008 semester. A graduate of Holton-Arms High School, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. GirishJindia of Potomac.

Graduates ListenGuest speaker Scot Anthony Robinson(actor and “Vision Warrior”www.visionwarrior.com) addressed thegraduating class at the McLean School ofMaryland on Friday, June 6. Robinson isbest known for his performances ontelevision and in films such as “MalcolmX, “ “Clockers,” “New York Undercover”and “All My Children.”

12 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

ARTISTIC GARDENSLANDSCAPING, INC.ARTISTIC GARDENSLANDSCAPING, INC.

• in-home consultations• concept sketches to schematic drawing• creative foliage, floral specifications; dependable plantings• stone, timber, (a comprehensive variety of barrier materials), masterfully configured, often accessorized and fashioned into walls, walk and patios

• water-features• nightscaping• all projects designed to thrive vigorously and appreciated for life!!!

PETER BAILEY, PRINCIPAL,IS A GRADUATE,LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTWITH 25+ YEARS OFHANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

13761 Travilah Rd., Rockville, MD www.artisticgardens.net

CALL TODAY: 301-762-1366 (MHIC #44953)

Call Specific Agents to ConfirmDates & Times.

To add your Realtor-represented Open Houseto these weekly listings, please call Kenneth Lourie

703-821-5050 or E-Mail the info toKlourie@connectionnewspapers.com

All listings due by Tues at 10 am.

OPENJULY

HOUSES 5 th & 6 th

Bethesda10212 Farnham Dr. $759,900 Sun 1-4 Mary Balow WC & AN Miller 301-320-83085826 Ipswich Rd. $689,000 Sun 1-4 Howard Lerner Long & Foster 240-497-1700

Potomac3 Big Tree Ct $785,000 Sun 1-4 Weichert Kelly Vezzi 301-765-33998131 Inverness Ridge Rd. $499,000 Sun 1-4 Art Glazer Long & Foster 301-468-06069608 Pinkney Ct. $975,000 Sun 2-5 Sylvia Bogley-Biggar WC & AN Miller 301-299-23459800 Tibron Ct. $1,675,000 Sun 1-4 Leslie Friedson Long & Foster 301-455-4506

North Potomac14004 Parsippany Pl. $734,900 Sun 1-4 Leslie Friedson Long & Foster 301-455-4506

Happy 4th of July!Happy 4th of July!

THE COMMUNITY MARKETPLACEsupport your local business

used a portion of the property as an illegal wastedump for years. The result was an unnaturally gradedslope near a stream that producedincreased runoff into the streamand was also unsuitable for con-struction because of its instabil-ity. Koh would be required to re-move that waste, and to regradeand restabilize the slope, saidCallum Murray, the Potomac teamleader for the Planning Board’sstaff. Stormwater managementwould be handled by several bio-retension areas and undergroundfiltration systems, Koh said

SOME AT LAST WEEK’Smeeting expressed concerns over the project’s finan-cial viability and worried what would become of theproperty and the proposed facilities should the en-deavor fail. When pressed for figures of how manyclients the restaurant and lodging facilities wouldrequire on a weekly basis for the business to be suc-cessful, Koh was vague, saying only that, as a small,four to five star restaurant, they would focus on qual-ity and not quantity, and added that he and his fam-ily have every intention of being successful.

From Page 2

Neighbors Review Revised PlanNews

“It’s beneficial for the community to have a thrivingbusiness there rather than one that is going down thetubes,” said Koh. This is a family operation and weplan to build it from our own resources. We don’t plan

on selling it.”Were his business venture to fail

down the road, the Country InnZoning distinction would transferto whoever bought the property,said Murray, though any new pur-chaser would have to go back tothe Planning Board for site planreview and approval before an-other business operation couldstart up.

Towards the end of the meet-ing Koh asked the audience if theywould be more supportive of the

plans if the lodging accommodations were scrapped,a question that was met with almost unanimous ap-proval.

Yet even with that possible concession on the tableresidents remained skeptical.

“We all pay top dollar for our homes and this is go-ing to ruin it in every way you can imagine,” said Izadi.

Koh has yet to resubmit his revised plan to the Plan-ning Board but indicated that he wants to do sosooner rather than later.

Gordon Harris, branch manager of Weichert, Realtors’ Potomac Village Office, announced that Mahin Ghadiri wasrecognized for achievements in May. Chairman of the Board member Ghadiri led the region in resale dollar volume.

Real Estate Notes

“It’s beneficial for thecommunity to have athriving businessthere rather than onethat is going downthe tubes”

— Francis Koh

Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 13www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Sports

More than 300 ‘A’ swimmers fromfive area clubs took to the water atRiver Falls Tennis & Swim club onSunday, June 29 during an A Carnival Relay.

River Falls Relay

Stephen Sakaris of the Potomac Falls Demons competes in the 200 MeterMedley Relay on Sunday morning during the MCSL “E” Division RelayCarnival in Potomac.

Tommy Keaneof the River

Falls Dolphinscompetes in

the 100 MeterFreestyle

Relay.

ShoshanaSwell of theRiver FallsDolphinscompetes inthe Girls OpenAge 200 MeterMedley Relay.

Stephen Sakaris of the Potomac Falls Demonscompetes in the 200 Meter Freestyle Relay.

Alana Pechold of the Potomac Falls Demonscompetes in the 200 Meter Freestyle Relay.

Ali Benjamin of the Potomac Falls Demonscompetes in the 200 Meter Medley Relay.

Photos by Robbie Hammer/

The Connection

14 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Zone 5 Ad Deadline:

Tuesday 11 a.m.

301-983-1900

Zone 5:

• PotomacEmploymentEmployment

CRIMINAL JUSTICETrain for a career in Criminal Justice at Westwood College. Call 888-792-5125

today to receive your free Career Success Kit!

www.westwood.edu/locations

HVAC TECHNICIANSEstablished Metro area HVAC Company is seeking experienced commercial tech-nicians for the Northern Virginia area w/minimum 5 years experience. Top wages, excellent benefit package, up to date training & education program. Send resumes by fax to 301-921-0265, emaildchiasson@harveyhottel.com or call Dave @ 703-876-9599.

MY EYE DOCTORis opening a new location in Germantown and seeking for an experienced General Manager. We need a success-oriented man-ager with proven sales record, excellent communication and organization skills. OPTICAL EXPERIENCE IS A MUST. Competitive salary and benefits! Please fax resume to 703-991-8526, or email careers@myeyedr.com

BUSINESS OPP

NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!

Weekdays 9-4

TELEPHONE

☎☎301-333-1900

A great opportunity toWORK AT HOME!

☎☎

BUSINESS OPP

NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!

Weekdays 9-4

TELEPHONE

☎☎301-333-1900

A great opportunity toWORK AT HOME!

☎☎

Zone 5 Ad Deadline:

Monday Noon

301-983-1900

Zone 5:

• PotomacClassifiedClassified

21 Announcements 21 Announcements

‘00 Ford Exp 78k miles $9,800 Fully loaded Eddie Bauer, Never wrecked 4WD tow package Black & Tan, well maintained, All paperwork

Call 703-313-0671

202 Domestic Auto 202 Domestic Auto

26 Antiques

We consign/pay top $ for antique/semi antique furn.

including mid century & danish modern Teak

furniture, sterling, mens watches, painting/art glass,

clocks, jewelry, costume jewelry, etc. Call Schefer

Antiques @ 703-241-0790.

29 Misc. for Sale

$250 KING Pillow Top Mattress & Box set (3pc)-Brand New, Never Used

w/warranty. (Retail $500+) Deliverable 571-926-1990

7 PC Cherry Sleigh Bedroom set - Brand new in boxes,

Worth $1200+ (Can help deliver)Asking $575

571-926-1990

QN Pillow Top Mattress & box set Brand new in plastic

w/warranty! Can deliver. (Worth $300+) MUST SELL

$150 571-926-1990

34 Pets

German Shepherd pups - 2X World Sieger Grand pups,AKC Reg.,

Import.championbloodlines Lg Head/

Bone, blk/ red, vetted/ dewormed/1st vaccine,

ready now. $1200 call 301-972-3031

29 Misc. for Sale

Home & GardenHome & GardenCONTRACTORS.compotomacalmanac.com

Zone 5 Ad Deadline:

Monday Noon

301-983-1900

Zone 5:

• Potomac

ARCHITECT ARCHITECT

CALIBER ROOFINGCALIBER ROOFING•Cedar Shakes •Shingles

•Repairs •Reroofs

•Flat Roofs

Licensed & Bonded

703-968-9871

ROOFING ROOFING

TREE SERVICE TREE SERVICE

InternshipsAvailable

Unusual opportunity to learnmany aspects of the newspa-per business. Internshipsavailable in reporting, photog-raphy, research, graphics.Opportunities for students,and for adults consideringchange of career. Unpaid. CallJohn Lovaas, 703-917-6405 oremail internship@connectionnewspapers.com

0316-5

0315-5

Marge Fernandes

Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 ❖ 15www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

From Page 2

Possible Sewer Extension: What Kind of Precedent?

Guy Semmes displays a mockup of what the future of the Potomac OakCenter could look like with sewer service. On Friday, June 27 Semmesand his business partner and brother-in-law Michael Denker held thefinal of four June meetings with residents to explain their proposal.

“Some other commercialinterest or people in

Darnestown are going tosay, ‘What do you mean?What’s the problem withdoing it for us? You did it

for them.’ That’s justalways going to be the

basic problem. Once youallow something like that

you have essentiallybroken the Master Plan.”

— George Barnes, WMCCA

maintain, at least to an extent, the rural,quiet nature of much of Potomac throughthe years and is key to continuing to do so,said Barnes, who has studied local zoningand land use issues for years.

Extending sewer service outside of whatis commonly called the sewer envelope tomake way for a larger Travilah Oak shop-ping center could set a new precedent. Ifapproved, private residents, businesses andresidential developers in Potomac, NorthPotomac, Gaithersburg and Darnestownwould need only to cite Semmes andDenker’s project as justification for whytheir requests should be approved, and thecouncil would have a hard time disagree-ing, Barnes said.

“Some other commercial interest orpeople in Darnestown are going to say,‘What do you mean? What’s the problemwith doing it for us? You did it for them,’”said Barnes. “That’s just always going to bethe basic problem. Once you allow some-thing like that you have essentially brokenthe Master Plan.”

ON FRIDAY, June 27 Semmes and Denkerstood behind a makeshift podium with aportable microphone-speaker setup beneaththe Travilah Oak, the roughly 300-year-oldtree that sits in front of their shopping cen-ter and is a source of local pride. In front ofthem sat at least 40 local residents on fold-ing chairs, who listened to Semmes andDenker as they outlined their plans andhopes for the future of the Travilah Oakshopping center.

The meeting was the fourth and final ina series of such meetings that the pair heldeach Friday in June to inform their neigh-bors of their plans and to get their feed-back. Postcards went out to all residentswithin a one-mile radius of the center, andeach Friday attendance grew a little larger,Semmes said. As Guy Semmes’ wife Danarestocked a table of hors’ doeuvre and filledplastic cups with wine — food and drink

compliments of Semmes and Denker to allin attendance — Denker explained the plan.

“I don’t want to see something sprawl-ing,” one woman told Denker as he spoke.

“Neither do we,” he said.Typically sewer lines are run parallel to

stream beds, but Semmes said that he wouldseek to have theirs run along the TravilahRoad right-of-way to minimize any environ-mental impact. They would also seek tohave their proposal approved under verynarrow conditions that would make suchextensions possible in only highly specificinstances — like small community shoppingcenters using hookups that do need to berun beside streams, for instance, saidSemmes.

The pipe as proposed would be a pres-surized commercial line that could not betapped into for residential use, would runonly to the center, and whose cost wouldbe borne completely by Semmes andDenker. They hope to present their planwith the support of the community to theCouncil again this fall.

LONGTIME POTOMAC resident RichardMoran said that he fully supports the idea.

“If they can build two nice, little build-ings, let them do it,” Moran said.

Moran has known and been involved inthe area for years: he started the PotomacPolo Club across Glen Road from the cen-ter in 1956 and six years ago raised moneyfor the lightning rod that currently protectsthe Travilah Oak.

Renovating the center into a small nexusof community activity would be a throw-back to the days when the intersection wasdefined by Herman Hinton’s General Storeand the Travilah town hall, Moran said.

“Love it. All for it,” said Glen Road resi-dent Nancy Walsh of the idea. “I’ve beenhere 15 years, this place is a dump.”

Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Frank L. Bow-man of Query Mill Road agreed, albeit a bitmore cautiously. He said he would supportthe idea “as long as there’s no encroach-ment,” on surrounding residential areas andif the pipeline were permanently and solelydedicated to the shopping center.

It is that part of the plan that BonneDale Drive resident Tom Wellingtonsaid concerns him the most.Wellington has a hard time believingthat such a pipe could be laid with-out others wanting sewer lines ex-tended to their homes or potentialbusinesses that currently lay outsideof the county’s sewer envelope.

“I think a precedent could be sethere that would be bad news county-wide,” said Wellington. It would onlybe a matter of time, Wellington said,before residents currently living onseptic — or their neighbors — are allconnected to sewer lines and payingfront foot benefit charges for hook-ups that many don’t want in the firstplace.

“Then we’ll walk over our no-longer-used septic fields to put thecheck in the mail,” Wellington said.

Health Notes

To have an item listed free in 7913Westpark Drive, McLean VA 22102, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991.Deadline is Thursday at noon for the fol-lowing week’s paper. Photos encouraged.Unless otherwise noted, all events are inPotomac. If you have any questions, callMatthew Razak at 703-917-6457.

The Wellness Community - GreaterWashington, DC is offering a new,weekly, free exercise program forpeople with cancer and their lovedones Tuesdays from 10-10:55 a.m. be-ginning July 15. Led by certifiedpersonal trainer Debbie Miller,“Wellness Workout” will focus on lowimpact aerobic exercises, gentle resis-tance training, and stretching. Location:The Wellness Community- GreaterWashington, DC, 5430 Grosvenor Lane,Suite 100, Bethesda. Call 301-493-5002or twcdc@thewellnesscommunity.org.

Teen Therapy Group. In this inter-active therapy group, adolescent boys(ages 14-17) will use didactic and pro-cess-oriented strategies to develop andenhance skills for making and keeping

friends, increasing self-esteem, improv-ing social interactions, and managingnegative feelings. Group meets on Mon-days, through Aug. 25; 4:30-5:30p.m. at JSSA, 200 Wood Hill Road,Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 to register.

Parents of Children withAsperger’s, Autism, PDD-NOS.Share coping strategies and communityresources, develop networks, and gainsupport. Two groups will be offered. Nocharge. Group meets on Mondays, July7 and Aug. 11, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.and Tuesdays, June 3, July 1 andAug. 5; 7-8:15 p.m. at JSSA, 200 WoodHill Road, Rockville (both groups). Reg-ister monthly: 301-610-8361.

Family Support Group. In thisongoing monthly group, parents andfamily members of children with dis-abilities share their joys and sorrows,hopes and fears, coping mechanismsand strategies for living for today andplanning for the future. No charge.Group meets on Tuesdays, July 15and Aug. 19; 7:30-8:45 p.m. at JSSA,6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Pre-reg-istration required: 301-610-8371.

The Wellness Community -Greater Washington, D.C. offers free,regularly scheduled support groups forpeople with cancer and their caregivers.Location: The Wellness Community-Greater Washington, D.C., 5430Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100, Bethesda.Call 301-493-5002 or twcdc@thewellnesscommunity.org.

In recognition of Home Safety Month,the Montgomery County Department ofHealth and Human Services, Aging andDisability Services is offering countyresidents free reminder cards withinformation on how to prevent falls intheir homes.

To request a free “12 Ways to PreventFalls,” call the Department of Healthand Human Services, Aging and Disabil-ity Services at 240-777-3000; TTY240-777-4575.

The Greater Chesapeake andPotomac (GC & P) Region asks alleligible whole blood donors to “Be theOne We Count On” by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a donationappointment right away. For more infor-mation, visit www.my-redcross.org.

To have an item listed free in ThePotomac Almanac, send mail to 7913Westpark Drive, McLean VA 22102, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noonfor the following week’s paper. Photosencouraged. If you have any questions,call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.

Congregation B’nai Tzedek,10621 South Glen Road, Potomacpresents a Musical Shabbat Underthe Stars, Friday, July 11, 6:30 p.m.Family, friends and prospectivemembers are invited to an informaloutdoor Shabbat service in the court-yard. Cantor Kapell will lead thegroup in an evening of specialShabbat melodies and child-friendlysongs. 301-299-0225.

Shalem Institute offers aguided mid-day Prayer PeaceCircle, on Wednesdays from noon-12:45 p.m. in the Shalem MeditationRoom & Library, 5430 GrosvenorLane, Suite 140, Bethesda. For more

information, contact 301-897-7334or visit www.shalem.org.

Rockville PresbyterianChurch, 215 West MontgomeryAvenue, is searching for volunteersto be on call to assist in the nursery.Call Charlene Janes at 301-251-6682or e-mail ckjanes@patriot.net.

Friendly Family Services meetat St. Dunstan’s Church, 5450Massachussetts Ave. at Fort SumnerDrive, Bethesda at 9:15 a.m. Sun-days, with fun songs, a children’sBible lesson, and Holy Eucharist in a40-minute service geared to smallchildren. Young families are invitedto try this “easy entry” service. Call301-229-2960 or e-mailstdunstans@verizon.net.

The Seven Locks BaptistChurch, 11845 Seven Locks Road,Potomac, holds weekly prayermeetings, Wednesday in the sanc-tuary at 6:45 p.m. Call301-279-9388.

Faith Notes

16 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ July 2-8, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com