wellbeing potomac

Potomac Almanac ❖ January 6-12, 2016 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at potomacalmanac.com

January 6-12, 2016

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PotomacPotomacWellbeingWellbeingWellbeingPage 9

‘Peter Pan Jr.’ Flies intoRandolph Road TheatreNews, Page 3

Churchill Girls’Basketball SplitsHoliday Tournament GamesSports, Page 11

A bonfire lights up the nightduring the Conways’ annualChristmas party at theirRiver Road home.

ReminiscingThroughThe Year

Getting Around, Page 4

2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ January 6-12, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

It’s not unusual to spot Potomac’s SouthGlen Band unloading their amps,drums, keyboard and other instruments

at Old Angler’s Inn on MacArthur Boule-vard. The band of locals — a couple of at-torneys, a judge, a urologist, two investmentadvisors, an investment banker and a realestate developer — is setting up for itsmonthly gig. They play all kinds of music,but like to focus on classic rock tunes in-cluding “Stop Baby, What’s That Sound,”“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and“Kansas City” — just a few of the familiarsing-along songs that encourage the audi-ence to jump to their feet for non-stop danc-ing.

The South Glen Band, named for thePotomac road of the same name, wasfounded six years ago by Kevin Kennedy,attorney at Schulman Rogers. Kennedy hadbeen playing the guitar since college, lovedto sing — and always wanted to performwith a band.

“I was talking with my friend Mark Regeswho owns Old Angler’s Inn (OAI). He feltthat OAI needed some live music — so Idecided to see if I could pull together agroup of musicians, since performing witha band has always been on my bucket list,”Kennedy said. “I gathered some acquain-tances who were also musicians and westarted practicing in my home on SouthGlen (hence the name). We decided it wasthe most fun we had ever had — and afterlots of practicing, we were fortunate to booksome gigs. Besides playing at OAI, we alsoplay at Branded 72 in Rockville, Bar Louieand the Barking Dog in Bethesda.”

“We love having South Glen Band performat OAI, said Reges. “They are a local groupthat has its origins at the Inn about fiveyears ago. They have quickly developed afollowing and each time they perform theyalways draw a great group of our neigh-bors and friends.”

Regular members of the South Glen Bandare urologist Dr. Jay Losee, who plays bassguitar and is also a vocalist, real estate fi-nance advisor Andy Weiss who plays rhythmguitar, investment advisor Tommy Scanlanwho plays lead guitar, Judge John Moffettwho plays the drums and new home salesrepresentative Annie Devine-Sickmen whosings lead and harmony vocals. AttorneyFrank Carmel handles key boards at largergigs. Other regular subs include investmentadvisor Charlie Hudson on drums and vo-cals and Lane Hornfeck of Shulman Rogerson harmonies and lead vocals.

“It is really interesting,” said Kennedy. “Iput the word out about forming a band, andI immediately got four or five responses. Itseems that many professionals are reallyinterested in exploring their creative bent.Practicing together is a lot of fun — andwhen we perform the song and our audi-ence responds positively, it is really exhila-rating. We all love performing and it rounds

out our lives in so many ways.”He continued, “We play a lot of private

parties that were donated as silent auctionitems, and also at Montgomery County BarAssociation events. We competed in theBattle of the Barristers and came in second.We also played at the 9:30 Club in the “LawRocks” competition. We played under thename ‘The Fine Print’ and we won that con-test.”

The band performs monthly at OldAngler’s Inn in Potomac. In the winter, theyoften pack the restaurant with their regu-lar followers. “It’s wonderful to see the lifethat the band brings,” said Ken Touloumesof Potomac. “Old Angler’s Inn is an out-standing local restaurant with consistentlygreat food — but this turns a dinner into afull evening with dancing and live music.”At OAI, they sometimes play downstairsnext to the fireplace and in the summer, theyperform once a month in the area in backof OAI. “We always draw a crowd playingoutside. It’s very casual and comfortable.”said Kennedy.

Reges is pleased with customer response:“We believe having live music at the Innadds to our patron’s experience. During thewinter months, having South Glen Bandplay after dinner hours in the downstairsbar area brings a whole new experience forour neighbors. Also, on Monday nights wehave ‘Live Jazz Night’ with a fantastic duo.We are finding that Monday nights are be-coming one of our more popular nights be-cause of the live music experience. “

South Glen Band will be performing onJan. 16 at Rockville’s Branded 72 and onJan. 22 at Old Angler’s Inn. “We are veryinterested in adding new venues and gain-ing more exposure,” said Kennedy. For moreinformation about booking the band, [email protected].

Entertainment

South Glen Band Rocks at Old Anglers Inn“Many professionals are really interested in exploring their creative bent.”

The South Glen Band regulars are, in front from left, Andy Weiss, KevinKennedy and Jay Losee.

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Kevin Kennedy, founder and leadsinger for the South Glen Band.

Potomac Almanac ❖ January 6-12, 2016 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsPotomac Almanac Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

See www.potomacalmanac.com

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

Peter, Pan, Wendy, John, TinkerBell, the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily anddefinitely the notably evil Cap-tain Hook will be “flying into” the

Randolph Road Theatre on Jan. 16 and 17to entertain youngsters and their families.The story of Peter Pan, the ageless boy, andhis friends Wendy and Michael has charmedmillions of children and adults since 1904when Sir James Matthew Barrie wrote “Pe-ter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Growup.”

BRAVO Productions will be presentingPeter Pan, Jr. with a cast of 29 young stars.The performance will include puppets andother “special flying effects.” BRAVO Pro-ductions, a local theatre program for youngartists, attracts talent from thoughput theD.C. metropolitan area. The organizationwas founded by Laurie Issembert, whosefirst love is “working with the students andseeing them develop.”

This production has become a family af-fair in several ways. Issembert has enlistedthe help of her daughter to serve as assis-tant director. ““My daughter ValerieIssembert starred as Peter Pan in 2007 in ahighly-acclaimed production of the classictale when the former Musical Theater Cen-ter staged it at the Fitzgerald Theatre inRockville. She is now serving as assistantdirector and enjoying the children and pro-duction as much as I do,” she said.

Not only is the directorship a family af-fair, but altering and fitting the costumes isa labor of love for Sharon Alexander, whosedaughters will be performing in the produc-tion. Twelve-year-old Zoé is playing the roleof Peter Pan, and her eight-year-old sisterIzzy will be Michael Darling.

Besides her day job as administrativejudge, Alexander is an actress who has ap-peared in several local productions, includ-ing “The Music Man” for Rockville MusicalTheatre and “Les Miserables” at theKensington Arts Theatre. She was also inproductions as a student as well as whenshe served overseas in the U.S. Army. Herparents were in the upholstery business,and, having grown up around fabrics andsewing machines, she thoroughly enjoyshelping to fit and develop costumes for thechildren.

“Amazingly, we are using some of the cos-tumes for this production that my ownmother made for me from left-over uphol-stery fabric,” she said. “I kept them becausethey were so beautiful and well-made. I getsuch joy from passing them down and see-ing them on-stage in another production.It’s magical.”

Her daughters are enjoying performing

wrestling so they love having a chance tobe a boy. She said, “It is just a blast to watchtheater run in the family. My dream is thatone day, I will have a chance to performon-stage with my daughters in a produc-tion.”

“Peter Pan, Jr.” will hold four performancesat the Randolph Road Theater, 4010Randolph Road, Silver Spring. Performanceswill be at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on both Sat-urday and Sunday. Tickets are $19 on-lineand $22 at the door. For more information,go to www.bravoproductions.org.

‘Peter Pan Jr.’ Flies into Randolph Road TheatreBRAVO Productionspresents Jan. 16-17performances.

From left: Eli Langer (John), Izzy Alexander (Michael), Zoe Alexander(Peter Pan), Madison Sherman (Wendy), Alexa Vinner (Tinker Bell), JosieStein (Nana).

Sharon Alexander, the “Peter Pan” costumer, at work with Fairies in theshow, from left, Emily Ashman (Silvermist), Lexi Blank (Rosetta) andVidia (Rachel Reinstein).

in the production. Zoé said, “Being in ‘Pe-ter Pan’ is hard work, but it’s really fun wheneverything comes together. It’s amazing.”

Izzy said, “It’s really fun but hard work

to memorize the lines. I enjoy playingMichael, since he’s one of the main charac-ters.” Neither minds playing a male part.Their mom says they are both involved in

Five Montgomery County bud-get forums in January seek input from residents about Fis-

cal Year 2017 Operating Budget pri-orities. The first forum will begin at 7p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at the East-ern Montgomery Regional ServicesCenter, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Sil-ver Spring.

Additional forums in other areas ofthe county are scheduled throughoutJanuary:

❖ Monday, Jan. 11, Bethesda-ChevyCase Regional Services Center, 4805Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda.

❖ Wednesday, Jan. 20, Silver SpringRegional Services Center, One Veter-ans Place, Silver Spring.

❖ Thursday, Jan. 21, Mid-CountyCommunity Recreation Center, 2004Queensguard Road, Silver Spring

❖ Monday, Jan. 25, BlackRock Cen-ter for the Arts, 12901 Town Com-mons Drive, Germantown.

Sign language interpreter serviceswill be provided upon request withnotice no less than 72 hours prior tothe event. If these or other services oraids are needed to participate in thisactivity, call 240-777-6507, TTY 240-773-3556 or email a request [email protected].

The County Executive’s Recom-mended FY17 Operating Budget willbe released on March 15. The CountyCouncil approves the operating bud-get at the end of May.

To join Montgomery County’s con-versation about the FY17 OperatingBudget on social media and help raiseawareness, use #MontCoFY17budgetforum.

Residents CanHelp Set CountyBudget PrioritiesFive budgetforums scheduled.


See A Farewell, Page 5

By Cissy Finley Grant

The Almanac

Let’s wrap it up. It’s time to bid fare-well to 2015 but not before report-ing on Diana and Bill Conway’straditional Christmas party. They

start by calling the fire department alertingmembers not to worry about reports ofsmoke surrounding the Conway’s RiverRoad home.

“It’s happened before,” Diana said, refer-ring to calls from passers by reportingsmoke. She was referring to the family’sannual Christmas party, that for 20 yearshas featured “Traditional Libations, UnrulyHounds, Bonfire (7:30 p.m.), Roast Beef,Songs of the Season,” all mentioned on theinvitation. It’s the bonfire smoke that waftstoward the road near

Potomac Elementary School that grabsthe attention of motorists driving by.

The Conways greeted over 200 guests atthe Dec. 20, 5-9 p.m. party, most of whomhadn’t a clue that earlier in the day Bill hadgrilled two turkeys. six legs of lamb and fourstanding ribs of roast on the outdoor grill.“He does it every year,” Diana said. “He alsomakes Quoit Punch,” she added, referringto the rum punch served in the library.

A family friend, Carole Funger, tickled thepiano keys, as she has for years, accompa-nying those who gather for caroling,putting a traditional touch onthe annual Christmas party.

Maria and Jim Fusco had justarrived in Potomac from a CostaRican trip at 1:30 a.m. Sixteenhours later she made it to the party,sans Jim, carrying her traditionalrum cake she made that day.

The Fusco’s daughter, Kathryn,home from her freshman year at theUniversity of Denver, was also thereas were the Conway children Will, asenior at Brown, Catherine a junior atDartmouth and Alexandra who will en-ter Dartmouth’s freshman class this fall.

Others at the gathering included U.S.Rep. Chris Van Hollen; state Sen. JamieRaskin; County Councilman Marc Elrich;Curt Uhre;, George Barnes; Vernon Ricks;Holly Hand and scads more all partakingof Christmas cheer. None of the Conwaychildren will recall the first of the traditionalparties. Will, the eldest, was barely a oneyear old, but a few attending this year couldremember it well, even though they are abit long in the tooth this season.

A CHRISTMAS GALAA 15-foot, candle-lit, Christmas tree in

Rose Marie Bogley’s center hall at herUpperville, Va. home, was a welcomingsight for over a hundred guests attending,many from the Potomac area. The originalplan was a joint fox hunt with Potomac andPiedmont (Va.) hounds. However, onceagain Mother Nature ruled. Last year it wassnow, this year heavy rain.

“No horses and hounds again,” RoseMarie, dressed in a bright red coaching coat,

as opposed to hunting attire, lamented asshe greeted guests from bothhunts. The original in-v i t a t i o n

r e a d“ P i e d m o n t

Hounds-Jt. Meet withPotomac will meet in the front field

at 10 a.m. Christmas Hunt Breakfast, Dec.17, 12 noon.”

No horse trailers parked in fields orhounds and huntsmen gathered nearbywere in evidence again this year. Only lotsof cars lined up in the driveway, many withMaryland tags.

Those who made the trek to Upperville,including Sue Moran, Susan Monahan andher daughter Lisa Arrowsmith; Dr. CsabaMagassy, Leonard Proctor and Vicki and“Skip” Crawford, were among numerousguests who crossed the Potomac for thisannual event.

Replacing the fun of galloping throughwoods and jumping fences was cozying upto a beautiful and bounteous table deco-

rated with a woodland scene of greens,pines and deer figurines.

Perhaps for the 2016 Christmas, “Jt.Hunt Breakfast” Rose Marie shouldconsult with “Punxsutawney Phil,” thewell known sunshine predictor.

SING ALONGThe production of “Another Holi-

day Chiming At Fox Hill” inspiredthe epitome of Christmas spirit,not only from the talented groupperforming there but from theaudience invited to join in thegrand finale.

Fox Hill resident, NanMuntzing, known in the areafor her singing,playing (piano)and show pro-ductions, againgathered to-

gether a group of ex-ceptionally talented singers for

the occasion. They included TroyKnighton, Dawn Badrick, AnnHazard, Vin Kelly, Jeff Kelly, AlicePage Smyth, and her husbandMichael Terence Smyth at the pi-ano, all of whom joined in to en-tertain residents of Fox Hill andtheir guests for an evening of sea-sonal music.

There were very few silentvoices when the entire room fullof those attending were invited tosing along with delight from“Jingle Bells” to “Silent Night.”

RECOLLECTIONSTHROUGHOUT 2015

The year 2015 blossomed withexceptional celebrations including the birth-day party Vicki and Skip Crawford hostedin honor of Leonard Proctor’s 85th birthday

in mid-April. The weather was perfect forthe afternoon event when dozens of friendsand family members arrived for a late af-ternoon buffet and naturally, the cutting ofa huge cake, one of four Leonard was pre-sented with in as many days.

The “Ladies Equestrian Gourmet Society,”a.k.a. “LEGS,” planned the buffet party heldoutside under two huge white tents, noneof which was necessary due to an unusu-ally warm and sunny April afternoon.

Known for his expertise with horses, withbartending at many Potomac parties, andon the dance floor, a microphone was avail-able for guests to address Leonard and re-call many tales of the past. The most oftrepeated was his ability in assisting Potomachosts at their private parties, seeing andhearing all and telling nothing. Sara LeeGreenhalgh said it first. She mentionedLeonard’s wealth of many Potomac secretsand added, “he could tell many stories, butI know he never would.” Susie Monahanplead, “Leonard, please don’t write thebook!” Not that he would even think aboutdoing so, but it sure would be a best seller.

Another celebrating Leonard’s 85th wasBob Hanson who just a few days earlier hadcelebrated his 91st . As it’s been said before,there’s something unique about these horsepeople and their longevity. Grooming, pol-ishing and shoveling. It’s good for the souland old age.

GOING STRONG AT 99Horses and longevity can’t possibly be

mentioned without reference to Ambassa-dor Joseph Smoak’s party, July 8, in ChevyChase when he celebrated his 99th birthdaysurrounded by many friends and family in-cluding his daughter, Dr. Mary FrancesWalde and her husband, Bill, who hostedthe party at a private club.

Three weeks prior to Joe’s 99th birthdayparty an article inThe WashingtonPost stated thatMartin’s Tavern,Georgetown, was re-portedly where JohnF. Kennedy proposedto then JacquelineBouvier on “theevening of June 24,1953.”

For years, Martin’sTavern owners havebelieved this to beaccurate, but othershave doubted it.

Enter former Am-bassador JoeSmoak, former Chiefof Protocol, foxhunter, polo playerand a Martin’s Tav-ern occasional cus-tomer. On V.E.Day,May 2015, Joe went

to Martin’s for their special World War IIvets free meal day. It was then that he men-

Reminiscing Through the YearGetting Around

Bill Conway with son Will as the bonfire starts during the family’s an-nual Christmas party.

Ambassador JosephSmoak celebrated his99th birthday on July 8,2015. He played poloin Potomac and oftenhunted with PotomacHunt.

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These three foxes on a log were pictured on an

invitation to Rose Marie Bogley’s hunt breakfast

for a joint meet with Potomac and Piedmont

Hunts. Unfortunately, bad weather cancelled the

hunting, but was no deterrent to a lively Christ-

mas party.


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From Page 4

Getting Around

A Farewell to 2015

Lorrie and Peter Plamondon, center, are surrounded by 22 of theirchildren, grandchildren and two great-grandchildren at thecelebrtion of their 60th wedding anniversary last August.

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tioned he was there the evening Kennedyproposed to Bouvier. He said he saw them,didn’t hear the proposal, but “after she

accepted, the news ran through the res-taurant.”

It would surprise no one if Joe shows upat his100th birthday celebration astride hishorse. Another near certainty will be a rawoyster bar. Oysters are one of his favoritedelicacies.

A 60th ANNIVERSARYRecalling great occasions in 2015 include

the 60th wedding anniversary dinner partyLorrie and Peter Plamondon gave Aug. 22at Columbia Country Club. The actual wed-ding took place Aug. 20, 1955, St. Mary’sChurch, New York Mills, N.Y. Sixty yearslater, the date fell on a Thursday, “and wedidn’t want to have a party on a Thursday,”Lorrie explained.

Memories of their wedding date includeHurricane Diane. “It was one week after‘Diane’ on a perfect August day,” she said.Although it was a “perfect August day” therewere still numerous interruptions up anddown the east coast, causing one brides-maid to be rescued from a stalled train by agroomsman who just happened to be enroute by car and passing through Connecti-cut where the train sat.

Both Lorrie and Pete are Cornell gradu-ates. “We met at a bar in the DKE (DeltaKappa Episilon) house,” Pete offered. Sixtyyears later they are dedicated to Cornell andhave retained close ties with many of theirclassmates, including some who attendedthe party at Columbia.

Pete, who graduated a year before Lorrie,was in the School of Hotel Administration.Prior to retirement he establishedPlamondon Hospitality, Inc., a chain of res-taurants and hotels.

Some stories at a gathering of severalgenerations of many friends and relativesare legend. At this party there was one taleabout what the priest, a good friend ofPete’s, said to him at the wedding. He whis-pered, “If you don’t want to go ahead withthis you can leave now. If you stay, it’s for-ever.” Pete took it seriously.

A grandson at the party, BrianPlamondon, 20, was one of many who alsohad tales to tell.

Apparently it’s well known that theirgrandparents attend every extra curricularactivity the grandchildren are involved in,if at all possible. This included a baseballgame Brian was in at age 10. “Poppy wasthere with me. It was the only time I everhit a home run and he missed seeing it. Hewas off buying a hot dog,” Brian told theguests. It was one of many recollections

given and received with great humor.Scores of Potomac friends were there for

the occasion including John and TheresaCini, both Cornell classmates; Fran Biselle,Patti Marsh, Carol and Bob Plante, Jim Rill,Sue and Bill Tull, Ailcey and Bill Werber anddozens more. The Plamondon children JimPlamondon and wife, Cary; Peter, Jr., andwife, Gail; and Anne Plamondon and hus-

band Dr. Tom McNamara were in a familyportrait that also included 13 grandchildrenand two great-grandchildren.

With so many offspring, many still livingin the area, it’s a safe bet Plamondon cel-ebrations will be going on for many yearsto come. So will the anecdotes.

Happy New Year to all.


POTOMACALMANAC

www.PotomacAlmanac.com

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PUBLISHERMary Kimm

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EDITORSteven Mauren, 703-778-9415

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SPORTS EDITORJon Roetman,703-752-4013

[email protected]@jonroetman

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSusan Belford, Carole Dell,

Cissy Finley Grant, Carole Funger,Colleen Healy, Kenny Lourie,

Ken Moore

ContributingPhotographers

Harvey Levine, Deborah Stevens

Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly

Production ManagerGeovani Flores

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Opinion

Letters to the Editor

By Susanne Lee

WMCCA President

Yes, indeed. It was a very busy year.Many thanks to all the citizens whotook time in 2015 from their busyschedules and personal obligations

to take on a variety of very interesting, butchallenging and time-consuming issues criti-cal to ensuring environmental integrity and theoverall quality of life in the Potomac Subre-

gion.WMCCA members, working

with other organizations andgovernment officials, were par-

ticularly focused on these continuing issues:❖ Glen Hills sewer policy;❖ Unwarranted tree cutting by PEPCO and

the National Park Service;❖ Conditional use applications for construc-

tion in residential zones of an event venueadjacent to Old Anglers Inn and BrandywineSenior Living’s proposed senior housing facil-ity adjacent to the Falls Road Golf Course;

❖ The hazards of artificial turf playing fields;❖ Implementation of the new County Pesti-

cides Law;❖ A proposed utility scale solar facility on

the Brickyard Road school site; and,❖ Commercial uses and signage in residen-

tial zones.Individual WMCCA Board members also as-

sumed increased duties aimed at strengthen-ing the organization.

We look forward to an equally interesting,challenging, and productive 2016. As always,WMCCA’s focus will be on unbiased fact find-ing; the application of sound science; compli-ance with laws, regulations, and the PotomacSubregion Master Plan; and, effective andtransparent communications between citizensand government officials.

“Trending” areas of emphasis likely will in-clude:

❖ Implementation of the new MontgomeryCounty zoning code. How County officials in-terpret and implement the new zoning code isalready impacting the Old Angler’s Inn andBrandywine conditional use applications;

❖ Talk- yet again- of a bridge crossingthrough the Agricultural Reserve;

❖ Public transportation options to serve theTobytown community and surrounding neigh-borhoods;

❖ C & O Canal easement restrictions, e.g.,tree removal, construction of structures andpaths;

❖ Potential use of the Brickyard School siteas an educational farm;

❖ Interpretation and enforcement of Mont-gomery County forest conservation require-ments;

❖ Trails policy for environmentally sensitivepark lands, in particular the Serpentine Bar-rens Conservation Park; and

❖ Proposed subdivisions on Glen Mill Road:Justement Woods and Parcel 833 (near BoswellLane)

We welcome any and all who would like towork on these issues. Contact us via ourwebsite at www.wmcca.org or send an emailto [email protected] or call 301-956-4535.

BRANDYWINE SENIOR LIVING, LLCCONDITIONAL USE APPLICATION

By Susanne Lee

CU-16-01 – The next hearing date for thisapplication for a senior housing (assisted liv-ing) facility in an RE-2 zone adjacent to theFalls Road Golf Course is scheduled for Jan.15. At the request of the Hearing Examiner,Brandywine submitted a revised plan and theHearing Examiner requested that the Techni-cal Staff of the Planning Department submittheir comments on the revised plan by Jan. 8.WMCCA continues to oppose the applicationbecause it conflicts with the Potomac MasterPlan restrictions regarding where senior hous-ing should be located.

GLEN HILLS SEWER POLICYBy Susanne Lee

The Montgomery County Executive’s recom-mendations regarding the extension of sewerinto Glen Hills are under consideration by theMontgomery County Council’s Transportationand Environment (T&E) Committee prior totransmittal for action by the full Council. Thenext T&E Committee meeting is scheduled forJan. 21 with an additional date of Jan. 28scheduled, if needed. WMCCA supports theCounty Executive’s recommendations and,along with Glen Hills residents, is meeting withCouncil members to discuss the proposed rec-ommendations.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTBy Ginny Barnes

NPS Tree Cutting at Swain’s Lock Camp-ground - In early November, at the urging ofconcerned citizens and Councilmember RogerBerliner, C&O Canal NHP SuperintendentKevin Brandt held an on-site meeting aboutthe plan to remove a number of what arboristsconsider hazardous trees at three locations.The proposal stunned park volunteers and ad-vocates who had no previous knowledge of the

plan until chain saws started cutting at the endof October. The public attending raised theneed to engage more than arborists in such asensitive area. Swain’s Lock campground sitsright on the Potomac River and while a beau-tiful place to camp, it is in the river floodplain,subject to flooding and soil compaction aroundtrees. As a result of the meeting the NPS en-gaged a hydrologist and biologist to look atthe site. While there may be little decrease inthe number of trees ultimately trimmed or re-moved as hazardous, there will now be a re-planting plan focused on increased species di-versity and clustering plantings to protect thesoil. WMCCA helped engage an independentarborist to assess the site. We hope this experi-ence will bring greater transparency to suchproposals. The public is watching. Many localcanal based groups oversee volunteer work toaid the park and we citizens should have beenpart of the conversation at an early stage.

Old Angler’s Inn - Proposal for a Country Inn/Wedding venue - For the past year WMCCAhas been part of a coalition of local citizensand HOAs keeping track of the proposal tobuild a banquet hall/motel facility for specialevents on the hill above Old Angler’s Inn. Wed-dings, conferences, etc. with overnight guestrooms presents multiple concerns. Proximityto the congested and dangerous parking situ-ation and pedestrian traffic at the C&O CanalNHP is paramount. Noise, environmental im-pacts, and compliance with the Potomac Sub-region Master Plan are also significant con-cerns. The Country Inn request involves a hear-ing before the Office of Zoning and Adminis-trative Hearings (OZAH) as well as the Plan-ning Board. It has been rescheduled from Jan.11 to Sept. 9.

Next MeetingVictor Salazar, supervisor with Zoning and

Site Plan Enforcement (ZSPE), Department ofPermitting Services (DPS), will speak at thenext meeting of the West Montgomery CountyCitizens Association on Wednesday, Jan. 13,7:15 p.m., at the Potomac Community Center.

What kinds of businesses can residents con-duct in their homes? What kinds and sizes ofsigns and fences are permissible? Can a“granny flat” be constructed on a resident’sproperty? WMCCA Board member John Yassinhas investigated these and other similar issueson WMCCA’s behalf. He will moderate a dis-cussion with Salazar on these and any othersimilar zoning questions that the public mayhave.

If schools are closed because of inclementweather, the meeting will be cancelled.

As always, the public is most welcome toattend WMCCA’s meetings.

What’s Trending

WMCCA

See Letters, Page 8

More ConcernsOver Solar ArrayTo the Editor:

The following letter was addressed to: Dear Neighborsand Hard Working Advocates for The Common Good

Due to physical issues, I was unable to keepup with the proposed Brickyard Road solararray “investment” by MCPS. However, Mary

Kimm’s excellent article in the Almanac andthe Dec.10 Coalition newsletter have piquedmy interest and I am providing some points ofconcern below. You all have covered many ofthe local impact concerns, whereas mine aremostly dealing with technical/cost issues aswell as county procedures. There are probablysome local impacts evolving from my “inquisi-tion”:

1) What is the proposed lifetime of the ar-

ray before replacement? Cost? If over 10 years,some justification (e.g. new technology) shouldbe provided.

2) What is the “routine maintenance” pro-vided for cleaning of the array, noting ourheavy pollen dumps in fall and spring and thesalt dumps we get from our many nor’easters.Cleaning probably at night when array is in-ert.


Email community entertainment eventsto [email protected] date, time, location, descriptionand contact for event: phone, email and/or website. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least twoweeks before event.

ONGOINGChildren’s Storytime. Wednesdays

and Saturdays, 10 a.m. at Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 4801 BethesdaAve., Bethesda Listen to employeesread children’s stories. Free. Visitwww.store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/4824850-21.

Adult Single Night. Saturdays, 9 p.m.at at Benny’s Bar & Grill, 7747Tuckerman Lane, Potomac. Find aDJ, open dance floor, and othersingles. No cover charge. Visitwww.bennysbargrill.com.

“Garden of Lights.” Through Jan. 3,various times at Brookside Gardens,1800 Glenallan Ave., Silver Spring.More than a million colorful lightsare shaped into hand-crafted,original art forms of flowers, animalsand other natural elements. Strollfrom garden to garden enjoyingtwinkling tree forms, fountains,sparkling snowflakes overhead andmore. Tickets are $25-30 per vehicle.Visit www.montgomeryparks.org formore.

Gloria Montiero Rall: “ARetrospective.” Through Jan. 5,during gallery hours at Open Gallery,930 King St., Silver Spring. GloriaMonteiro Rall: “A Retrospective” is asurvey of Monteiro Rall’s work from1955-2000. Influenced by theWashington Color School, Rall’spaintings examine the interaction oflight and color. Rall is a DeanEmeritus at Montgomery College,and exhibited worldwide during her40-year exhibition career. Free. Visitwww.montgomerycollege.edu formore.

Brian Davis: “Uncoupled.” ThroughJan. 10, during gallery hours VisArtsat Rockville, 155 Gibbs St. BrianDavis’ exhibition investigates thecomplexities of togetherness andseparation with video, photography,sculpture and interactive installation.Free. Visit www.visartsatrockville.orgfor more.

Holiday Art Show & Sale. Saturday-Sunday, through Jan. 10, 11 a.m.-6p.m. at Glen Echo Park–PopcornGallery, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., GlenEcho. Browse and buy fine art. Free.Call 301-634-2222.

“A Year with Frog and Toad.”Through Jan. 10, various times atImagination Stage, 4908 AuburnAve., Bethesda. This play is based onthe children’s book by Arnold Lobelfeaturing a frog and toad with verydifferent personalities. Tickets start

at $10. Visitwww.imaginationstage.org for more.

“Reflections on Jerusalem.”Through Jan 11, during gallery hoursat Photoworks at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Photographer Chip Kahn displays hiswork. Free. Visitwww.glenechphotoworks.org formore.

“Organic Elements.” Through Jan.17, during gallery hours at TheWriter’s Center, 4508 Walsh St.,Bethesda. A group exhibitionfeaturing the abstract work of localartists Lisa Bohrer, Susan Carey,Maruka Carvajal, Lesley Clarke, KatieJoselow, and Kay Walsh. Free. Visitwww.writer.org/programsart-on-view.

“Wake Up, Brother Bear.” ThroughJan. 31, various times at ImaginationStage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda.Brother and Sister Bear explore allfour seasons in this interactivechildren’s play. Tickets start at $10.Visit www.imaginationstage.org formore.

VisArts Cocktails and CanvasClass. at VisArts in the Painting &Drawing Studio, 155 Gibbs St.,Rockville. Price $40. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/cocktails-and-canvas for more.

Thang Ta. Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m. atSutradhar Institute of Dance andRelated Arts, 1525 Forest Glen Road,Silver Spring. Learn the ancient art ofthe sword and spear. $25. Visitwww.dancesidra.org.

Weekly Blues Dance. Thursdays8:15-11:30 p.m. in the Back RoomAnnex at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd. Capital Bluespresents rotating DJs and instructorswith beginner workshop 8:15-9 p.m.,no partner necessary. $8 for all. Visitcapitalblues.org for more.

Weekly Swing Dance. Saturdays, 8p.m.-midnight. The DC LindyExchange presents a swing dancewith live music in the SpanishBallroom, Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Beginner swing dance lesson at 8p.m., followed by dancing untilmidnight. Admission $16-$18, age 17and under $12. Visitwww.glenechopark.org for more.

Argentine Tango with Lessons.Most Sundays, 6:30-11 p.m. in theBack Room Annex at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Argentine Tango lessons followed bya Milonga most Sunday evenings.Beginner lesson 6:30-7:30 p.m. andintermediate lesson 7:30-8:30 p.m.Cost is $15/lesson and includes theMilonga. For just the Milonga, cost is$10 and the open dance with DJ runs8:30-11 p.m. No partner required.Visit www.glenechopark.org or call301-634-2222 for more.

Contra and Square Dance. Fridaysand Sundays 7-10:30 p.m. in the

Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd. The eveningcan include square dances, mixers,waltzes and other couple dances. AllContra and Square dances are taught,no partner necessary. Lessons at 7p.m., followed by the called dancewith live music at 7:30. $13 fornonmembers, $10 for FSGWmembers, $5 ages 17 and under. Visitwww.glenechopark.org or call 301-634-2222 for more.

JAN. 5-FEB. 6“Wind From the East.” 12-6 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday at Waverly StreetGallery, 4600 East-West Highway,Bethesda. Painter Michiyo Mizuuchiwill display her Japanese Zen-inspired acrylic work alongside thewood-fired and soda/gas-firedceramics of Yang-ja Lee. Free. Visitwww.waverlystreetgallery.com formore.

FRIDAY/JAN. 8“Wind From the East.” Opening

Reception. 6-9 p.m. at WaverlyStreet Gallery, 4600 East-WestHighway, Bethesda. Celebrated theopening of this exhibit featuringpainter Michiyo Mizuuchi’s JapaneseZen-inspired acrylic work alongsidethe wood-fired and soda/gas-firedceramics of Yang-ja Lee. Free. Visitwww.waverlystreetgallery.com formore.

SATURDAY/JAN. 9Winter Hike. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

starting at Rockville REI, 1701Rockville Pike, Rockville. HikeCatoctin Mountain Park. Tickets are$60 for members, $80 fornonmembers. Visit www.potomac.orgfor more.

National Historical Park’s 45thBirthday. 1-3 p.m. at Great FallsTavern, 11710 MacArthur Blvd.,Potomac. Park staff, volunteers, andvisitors will observe the park’s 45thbirthday with birthday cake, music,and 19th century games. Free. Call301-767-3714.

Helping Your Older Dog StayHealthy and Happy. 2-4 p.m. atYour Dog’s Friend, 12221 ParklawnDrive, Rockville. Dr. Marci Streck,DVM, and expert trainer MichelleMange will talk about the physicaland behavioral changes experiencedby older dogs, as well as practicalways to keep your senior dogcomfortable, safe and active. Topicswill include: arthritis; feeding;incontinence; eyesight and hearingloss; dental disease; warning signs ofsystemic disease; exercise and mentalstimulation; increased anxiety;aggression; vocalizing; and othernew behaviors. Patrons are asked toleave dogs at home. Free. Visit

www.yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops.

Pianist Brian Ganz. 8 p.m. at TheMusic Center at Strathmore, 5301Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.The National Philharmonic willpresent pianist Brian Ganz for hissixth all-Chopin recital. Tickets are$29, free from children ages 7-17.Visit www.nationalphilharmonic.orgfor more.

Tribute to The Doors. 9 p.m. at theFillmore Silver Spring, 8656Colesville Road, Silver Spring. WildChild performs The Doors coversongs. Tickets are $17. Visitwww.fillmoresilverspring.com.

MONDAY/JAN. 11Summer Camp Fair. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

at Cabin John Mall Atrium, 11325Seven Locks Road, Potomac. Free.Visit www.shopcabinjohn.com.

FRIDAY/JAN. 15Potomac After Hours. 9:15-11 p.m.

at Potomac Community RecreationCenter, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac.Middle schoolers (6-8th graders) areinvited to attend “inflatable night.”Find balloon games, jousting, andmore.Admission is $5. Visitwww.activemontgomery.org and usecode #11951 to register.

SATURDAY/JAN. 16Winter Wonderland Canal Walk.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Third Parking Area,Carderock Recreation Area–C&OCanal Towpath, Cabin John. 10km

Entertainment

trail, with a 5km option, rated 1B.Free. Visit www.sugarloafers.org.

Ukulele Phil & The Hula Kids.10:30-11:15 a.m. at Cabin John MallAtrium, 11325 Seven Locks Road,Potomac. Children-friendly livemusic. Free. Visitwww.shopcabinjohn.com for more.

“If Pigs Could Fly.” 1 p.m. at DavisBranch Library, 6400 DemocracyBlvd., Bethesda. The interactiveprogram invites children in theaudience to accompany three youngpigs on their airplane voyage to othercountries and cultures. The programis recommended for children 3-11.Free. Call 240-777-0922.

Bach’s Violin Concerto No. 2. 8p.m. at the Music Center atStrathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,North Bethesda. The NationalPhilharmonic, led by Music Directorand Conductor Piotr Gajewski, willfeature concertmaster Colin Sorgi ina performance of Bach’s ViolinConcerto No. 2 in E Major. Ticketsare $29-89 and free from children 7-17. Visitwww.nationalphilharmonic.org.

SUNDAY/JAN. 17Waltz Dance. 2:45-3:30 p.m.

workshop, 3:30-6 p.m. dance at theSpanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.The Taylor Among Devils ensemblewill provide music for folk waltzesincluding the Hambo, Schottischeand more. Tickets are $10. Visitwww.waltztimedances.org for more.

Waverly Street Gallery’s 7th Annual Art Invitational willinclude the work of guest artists complemented by resi-dent artists of Waverly Street. The exhibit will run Feb. 9-March 5 at 4600 East-West Highway, Bethesda. Visitwww.waverlystreetgallery.com for more.


From Page 6

Letters

3) What are the daily average outputs foreach of the four seasons in watt hours? Werarely have perfectly clear skies, and evenin good weather (paper calls “sunny”) pass-ing puffies can really tear up a power pro-file.

4) How is it proposed to get the powerfrom the array into the power grid? Youcan’t just run a line up a pole (even a newone) and plug it in! To transmit this powerto the grid, I believe, requires conversionfrom DC to AC, and this probably requiresa conversion device on site. If so, what sortof device is this, what is the fuel source,does it make noise (obviously not at night)?

5) Insertion into the power grid may re-quire transmission over a long distance, andthen it must be integrated into the grid. Whopays for such installation and upkeep? Howis the amount of power monitored so thatcredit can be given? Would there be a needfor more power lines across Potomac? Orwould it just add to the ridicuously over-loaded power/comm lines on Falls Roadwhich are just waiting for the “PerfectStorm” to wreak havoc on our lives and ourcommuters, not to mention agonizing de-lays for first responders.

6) Is any cash paid out by the utilities toMCPS, or is it credited against MCPS elec-tric charges? The latter is a clean way to doit. To receive money is dangerous, no tell-ing what these people would do with thatbounty, and it probably would not be in thetaxpayer-controlled budget.

7) How is it that two market competitorscome along with proposals at about thesame time? Was this in response for a Re-quest for Proposal (RFP) by MCPS and wasthat RFP in the public domain? If not, whynot? If not a MCPS sponsored RFP, were thepotential contractors otherwise prodded bya person or persons, and, if so, who? Couldthis be another “sunshine case”?

8) Good point in newsletter about fire.Will there be a need to train Cabin JohnVFD and/or provide special equipment infighting fires at “Arrayville”? If so, onceagain, who pays?

9) How will this installation affect ourproperty taxes? How will this affect our

property values, particularly those withinblocks of the site?

10) Finally, I have great concern aboutMCPS getting in a “for pay” situation. Theyshould be a non-profit agent for the countytaxpayers, delivering quality education tocounty students and controlling costs withinthe mandated budget, not getting intoschemes!

Thank you for your patience. If you haveany questions about background, I willgladly respond, only more succinctly.

Mac GrantPotomac

In Support ofBrickyard Solar Farm

To the Editor:Over the past couple months I’ve been

reading in this paper about the proposedBrickyard solar farm. To my dismay, I’veseen a number of denunciations of the pro-posal from those who oppose change andwant the

organic farm back.It’s never fun to oppose a handful of

neighbors who feel passionately about anissue and are vocal. But I’m writing becauseit’s time for someone to state the obvious:the solar farm is a very good idea. We — Ifeel confident a majority of those who livenear the Brickyard farm — know this in ourhearts, because the proposal is a clear win-ner for both our neighborhood and thegreater good.

First, from the neighborhood perspective,we should be jumping for joy at the solarfarm proposal. When the soccer fields wereproposed several years ago, many of usthought that would be a far better use ofthe Brickyard farm than a new school, resi-dential development or other heavy im-provements that would entail more people,traffic, etc.

But opponents of the soccer fields madea fair point about increased traffic, and thenproceeded to kill the proposal through tech-nical legal arguments that the county hadfailed to comply with zoning and notice

obligations. The county ultimately capitu-lated, but not before a judge took the un-usual step of chastising the stereotypical“not in my backyard” attitude of entitled,affluent neighbors, and suggesting that wewould get our due when a new school isbuilt on the Brickyard site.

So when I first read about the solar farmidea, I couldn’t believe our luck. After theinitial installation of the solar panels, a so-lar farm will entail exactly: no new resi-dents; no visitors; no increase in traffic; notall buildings; and no significant noise.There is only one modest environmentalimpact, storm water runoff, which is faroutweighed by the massive new source ofcompletely clean, indefinitely renewableenergy. In short, a solar farm is about asbeneficial and low impact a use of the Brick-yard land as we could possibly hope for.

I was surprised, then, when opponents ofthe plan quickly emerged. For them, appar-ently, no use of the Brickyard site other thanthe original organic farm will be acceptable.This is unrealistic. When you do not own apiece of land, you do not get to dictate whathappens on it. Opponents claim to “applaudMCPS’s pursuit of energy efficiency” butwant the panels installed “on rooftops andparking lots” — in other words, not in mybackyard. You do not need to be a solarengineer to understand that it is far cheaper,faster and easier to install 8,000 solar pan-els in one place, with a single connectionto the energy grid,than to make 200 sepa-rate installations averaging 40 panels each,requiring 200 individual connections to theenergy grid, on rooftops that are harder toaccess than an open field.

Which brings us to the nub of the issue.The solar farm – not just this particular so-lar farm, but the two others the county isproposing, as well as dozens of othersaround the state and hundreds around thecountry – is urgently needed now. We’ve allseen the headlines and know the stakes.Every nation must make rapid, aggressiveinvestments in renewable energy sources ifwe are to stave off the worst impacts of cli-mate change. So is now really the time forus to be opposing a solar farm?

Opponents talk nostalgically about the

educational benefits of the organic farm forour kids. But our kids need us to build thema boatload of renewable energy, and quickly,far more than they need an organic farm.

So let’s be good citizens and support theBrickyard solar farm. Let’s do our part thistime, and not be that affluent “not in mybackyard” neighborhood. It makes no senseto go through another round of litigation,yard signs, endless hearings and court dates,when in reality the solar farm is a win-winfor us: low impact to the neighborhood andterrific for society. If we cooperate with thecounty this time, who knows, maybe they’llactually help us with aesthetic landscaping,setbacks from Brickyard Road and othermitigants to the visibility of the panels.

We all know that renewable energy iscritical. Let’s not let a vocal minority stopus from doing our part as a community.

Chase SandersRiver Falls

Unite CountryWith SingingTo the Editor:

The following open letter is addressed to RogerGoodell, Commissioner of the National FootballLeague.

I need your help.As a woman, wife, mother and now

grandmother (Go-Go) of five, we need tostep up and help our country.

Let’s sing the National Anthem.We already know the words, “Oh say can

you see …”Ask your teams, players and coaches

(faces on TV), stadium fans and fans athome to all sing together with the perform-ers on the field.

We have a Fantasy Football League in ourfamily so we watch all the games.

Let our voices be heard and show theworld that we are the United States ofAmerica.

“... And home of the brave.”God bless you,

See Bulletin Board, Page 11

Email announcements [email protected] date, time, location, descriptionand contact for event: phone, email and/or website. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least twoweeks before event.

THROUGH JAN. 8Deadline for Entries. The Bethesda

Arts & Entertainment District isaccepting entries from Maryland,Virginia and the District of Columbiafilmmakers for the annual BethesdaFilm Fest. Visit www.bethesda.org.

THROUGH JAN. 15Montgomery County Recreation

invites local sports and fitnessprofessionals/organizations toregister as an exhibitor in theCounty’s first HERtime2shine Expo.The event will be held on Feb. 13,2016, at Westfield MontgomeryShopping Center, 7101 Democracy

Blvd., Bethesda. Registration is freefor exhibitors. Call 240-777-6870.

THROUGH FEB. 16Afternoon Grief Support Group.

Tuesdays starting Jan. 12, 1:30-3p.m. at Faith United MethodistChurch 6810 Montrose Road,Rockville. Free. Call 301-921-4400 toregister.

THROUGH FEB. 24Loss of a Child Support Group.

Wednesdays starting Jan. 20, 6:30-8p.m. at Montgomery Hospice, 1355Piccard Drive, Rockville. Free. Call301-921-4400 to register.

THROUGH FEB. 25Evening Grief Support Group.

Thursdays, starting Jan. 21, 6:30-8p.m. at Hughes United MethodistChurch, 10700 Georgia Ave., SilverSpring. Free. Call 301-921-4400 toregister.

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 6Public Input on FY17 County

Operating Budget Forum. 7 p.m.at Eastern Montgomery RegionalServices Center, 3300 Briggs ChaneyRoad, Silver Spring. The forums areheld every year by County ExecutiveIke Leggett to get public feedback onthe upcoming County operatingbudget. The Leggett will release hisrecommended operating budget onMarch 15 for the fiscal year thatbegins July 1, 2016. Free. Call 240-777-6507.

TUESDAY/JAN. 5Drop-In Discussion About Grief

and Healing. 1-2:30 p.m. atMontgomery Hospice, 1355 PiccardDrive, Rockville. Free. Call 301-921-4400 to register.

MONDAY/JAN. 11St. Raphael School and Nursery

School Open House. 9:15-10:15

a.m. Nursery School tour, 10:45-11:45 a.m. School tour at 1513Dunster Road, Rockville. Each openhouse starts with a presentation,followed by a tour of the facilities.Both schools are enrolling for nextyear. Visitwww.straphaselschoolmd.org formore.

Public Input on FY17 CountyOperating Budget Forum. 7 p.m.at Bethesda-Chevy Chase RegionalServices Center, 4805 EdgemoorLane, Bethesda. The forums are heldevery year by County Executive IkeLeggett to get public feedback on theupcoming County operating budget.The Leggett will release hisrecommended operating budget onMarch 15 for the fiscal year thatbegins July 1, 2016. Free. Call 240-777-6507.

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 13Senior Connection Volunteer

Training. 10 a.m. at Holiday ParkSenior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive,

Silver Spring. Senior Connectionvolunteers provide a variety ofservices so that Montgomery Countyseniors can remain independent andstay in their own homes. Volunteersdrive senior clients to medical andother appointments, help withgrocery shopping and assist withmonthly bill paying. [email protected] call 301-942-1049.

TUESDAY/JAN. 19Public Hearing. 1:30 p.m. at Third

Floor Hearing Room of the CouncilOffice Building, 100 Maryland Ave.,Rockville. The Montgomery CountyCouncil will hold a public hearing onExpedited Bill 53-15 regardingtaxicab credit card transactions. Bill53-15 would limit the amount alicensee may charge a driver oraffiliate for processing a credit cardtransaction; amend the requirementsfor credit card processing systems in

Bulletin Board

Bonnie PerkinsPotomac


LET’S TALKReal Estate

For professional advice on all aspectsof buying and selling real estate, call:

MICHAEL MATESELong & Foster Realtors

[email protected]

by Michael Matese

Tips for ModernLuxury Home TrendsGo GreenLuxury home construction firmshave taken note of the market’strend towards sustainable housingthat incorporates green living intothe architecture and home’s fea-tures. Non-toxic building materials,sustainable construction, alterna-tive energies and solar paneling arejust a few of the ways modern lux-ury homes are going green.

SecuritySafety and security are primary con-cerns for all homeowners; in luxuryhomes, safety and security whencoupled with modern technology arean unbeatable combination that isattractive to the buyer, comfortingto the owner and invaluable to theseller—privacy measures, securewireless home networks, state of theart security systems and whole-house backup generators are someof the most in-demand amenities inthe current market of luxury homes.

TechnologyWhen designing or re-designing lux-ury homes, a few new considera-tions to make are to allow for agreater access to technologythroughout the whole house, notsimply relegating access to dens,offices and living room suites.Today’s luxury homeowner places agreater emphasis on telecommuting,home media rooms and whole-housewireless networks—these days,technology is both for business andfor entertainment and the modernluxury home should reflect that.

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Wellbeing

By Marilyn Campbell

The Almanac

More than half of Americans are re-solving to lose weight and get inshape this year, according to a new

Nielsen survey, but only 8 percent will achievethat goal.

“People tend to make New Year’s resolutionsto give themselves a fresh start,” said LynChang, a Bethesda-based marriage and fam-ily counselor. “They’re also a way of address-ing things about ourselves that are dissatisfy-ing and trying to make a change. The prob-lem is that most people create resolutions thatare too unrealistic.”

Small and practical targets, such as taking a10-minute walk during lunch or joining anexercise class that meets twice weekly, aremore attainable than vowing to spend two-hours a day at the gym, says Domenica M.Rubino, M.D., director, Washington Center forWeight Management and Research in Arling-ton, Va.

“You have to distinguish fantasy from real-ity and think about making sustainablechanges,” she said. “When you start settingand achieving small goals it builds your confi-dence to keep going. One change tends to be-get another change, and I think that’s particu-larly true with weight loss.”

Successful weight loss requires a multi-pronged approach, says Chang. “Break thelarger goal in to smaller steps like creatingan exercise routine or practicing healthygrocery shopping and meal planning,” shesaid. “Carefully examining and planning themicro-steps to achieving the larger goal ofweigh loss is what will increase the chanceof success.”

Whether choosing food or exercise, thekey is making it pleasurable. “If I don’t likea certain vegetable, but say that I want toeat it everyday because its healthy, I’ll onlybe able to maintain that for a short time,”said Ethan Carter, fitness director at GeorgeMason University. “The same is true for exer-cise. Fitness is more than dumb bells and barbells. If you like hiking or yard work, you

should choose that as a way of getting exer-cise.”

Rubino encourages clients to view exerciseas a gift rather than a means for burning calo-ries. “See it as mood management or a way tofeel better,” she said. “People who are chroni-cally trying to lose weight tend to resent exer-

cise and activity because it’s always connectedto their weight, so they see it as pointless. Ithelps to see it as something that can improveyour mood and your overall health and

Resolving To Lose Weight in the New YearWhat works and what doesn’t when it comes to health and fitness.

“You have to distinguishfantasy from reality and thinkabout making sustainablechanges.”

— Domenica M. Rubino, M.D., Director,Washington Center for Weight Management

and Research

wellbeing. When we’re feeling better we canmake better choices.”

Creating balance is an often-overlooked com-ponent of weight loss, but one that can sabo-tage health and fitness efforts, says CherylMirabella, a nutritionist and wellness coachwith Living Whole Health in Alexandria, Va.

“If you’re working hard and don’t have alot of balance in your life then you turn tofood for pleasure, but when you’re focusingon things that make you happy you natu-rally turn to healthier food choices and foodloses its power as a source of pleasure andreward,” she said.

Mirabella asks her clients to create whatshe calls a joy list. “They jot down a list ofthings that make them happy like spendingtime with friends, music or another hobby,”she said. “The list is broken down into im-mediate activities like sitting with a cup of

tea and a book, mid-term activities like havinglunch with a friend and long-term activities likea weekend trip. The idea is to have a source ofinspiration and something to look forward to.”

GeorgeMason

UniversityFitness

DirectorEthan

Carter sayschoose

foods andphysical

activitiesthat you

enjoy is akey to

successfulweight loss.

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By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Upon FurtherReflection

I’m not a look-in-the-mirror kind of person.Other than in the morning when I wash up,brush my teeth, shave and get ready for theday, I spend very little time reflecting on myappearance. In fact, during the early days ofmy cancer treatment when I was infused with achemotherapy cocktail for six non-stop hoursevery three weeks – I lost all my hair, as fore-warned; I have no recollection of what Ilooked like without any hair on my head.Presumably, every morning when I prepped forthe day, I would have seen what I was doingand watched how it was done; yet there is noimage, still or otherwise, in my mind of how Iappeared to others.

Seven years of continuous treatment later,when I look in the mirror now (I have a fullhead of hair and a growing stubble, like mostmen), I can’t evaluate what I see. Do I looksick? Or do I look as I should for a middle-agedman aging gracefully? Not that I need to lookgood to feel good (“and you know who youare”), any more than I need to “look mah-velous,” but the cumulative effects of chemo-therapy and the inevitable signs of aging haveblurred (no pun intended; I can see perfectlywell) my objectivity. So much so that on anygiven day, what I see is what I get and I’mhappy to have gotten it, subjectively speaking.Ergo, looking in the mirror more often than notserves no appreciable benefit – to me, since Iknow what I see, or rather, don’t know how toevaluate what it is I do see.

Then along comes the holidays, when manysocial gatherings are planned where in additionto food and drink, face-to-face interactionsoccur with may people you see regularly andsome you know but rarely see. It is the obser-vations and comments from these rarely-seenpersons, persons with whom you are familiar –and who are familiar with you and your “unde-rlying diagnosis,” as I call my cancer, that arethe genesis of this column.

I am happy and amazed, and incrediblyflattered even to say that the feedback Ireceived was uniformly positive and extremelyencouraging; and if I had to bet a nickel, I’dsay their comments were all sincere and hon-est. And since I don’t want to look for trouble(since trouble has already found me), I amgoing to take their words at face value (again,no pun intended). And in thanking them gra-ciously, reconsider yet again how fortunate Iam to be receiving such compliments, nearlyseven years in and nearly five years past, theend date (pun intended) of my original “13month to two year” prognosis, words which Ifirst heard from my oncologist at the initialTeam Lourie meeting held on February 27,2009 (Oh, yeah, you remember that date,forever).

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a cynic inme, so I still question the validity of words peo-ple sometimes say not necessarily to the wise.Moreover, I still am not convinced that lookinggood is more important than feeling good (withapologies to a Billy Crystal sketch mimickingFernando Lamas back in the day on SaturdayNight Live). Nor am I at all sure that lookinggood is an accurate description of what effectmy stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer is hav-ing on me and my mediastinum.

As much as I’d like to believe that form fol-lows function and that looking good is a clearindicator of one who is not only feeling good,but doing well (cancer-wise), I’m still wonder-ing what it is that sets me apart from manyother similarly diagnosed patients who havesuccumbed to this terrible – and mostly termi-nal – disease. I never thought it was, or wouldbe, my looks. And given that there hasn’t beenthat much with which to work, maybe notfocusing on my appearance all the time hashelped? Apparently, it hasn’t hurt.

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An expert is someone who knowssome of the

worst mistakesthat can bemade in his

subject and howto avoid them.

-WernerHeisenberg


Sports

By Jon Roetman

The Almanac

After a 6-3 finish to 2015, theChurchill girls’ basketball teamwill face some rivals to open the2016 portion of its schedule.

Churchill hosted the Bulldog Classic Dec.28-29 and split its two games, beating Sen-eca Valley and losing to Tuscarora (Va.). Theloss to Tuscarora snapped a three-game winstreak, including a 55-36 victory overSherwood on Dec. 18 and a 51-28 win overrival Wootton on Dec. 21.

“Tuscarora was a good experience for us,as we were able to work on handling pres-sure,” Churchill head coach Kate Blankenwrote in an email. “We were able to reflectand work on some weaknesses in practice

over break. … I think our team had twoexcellent games prior to the break, againstSherwood and Wootton. The winter breakis tough, as we never had a practice withour whole team present. I hope to havesome good team practices this week and getback into our pre-break rhythm and play.”

Blanken said Coco Kuchins and AlexHacopian, who were each selected to theBulldog Classic all-tournament team, haveplayed well of late.

“Coco continues to play a tremendous all-around game — scoring, assists, steals, andrebounds — and Alex has been shootingextremely well,” Blanken wrote. “It’s greatto see Alex’s offseason work paying off.”

Churchill started 2016 with a home gameagainst Walter Johnson on Tuesday, afterThe Almanac’s deadline. The Bulldogs willhost Whitman at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Jan.8 before traveling to take on Bethesda-Chevy Chase on Jan. 12.

Whitman, which has won two regionchampionships in the last three season, hasa 6-3 record, including 5-0 against Mont-gomery County opponents.

The Bulldogs “can continue to improveon transition defense,” Blanken wrote.“Hopefully, we will step up as we enter someof our favorite rivalry games in January.”

Churchill Boys’,Girls’ BasketballTo Host Whitman

The Churchill boys’ and girls’ basketballteams will host Whitman for a doubleheaderon Friday, Jan. 8.

The boys will play at 5:30. Whitmanended 2015 with a three-game losing streakand a 4-4 record. The Vikings were 4-1against Montgomery County competition.

The girls will play at 7:15.

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

With long drives, solid putts andconfident chips, the 18-holewomen of Bethesda Country

Club (BCC) won the Challenge Cup for thefirst time since the competition began eightyears ago.

Playing against Lakewood, Chevy Chase,Columbia, Woodmont and CongressionalCountry Clubs from May through October,the team was victorious in each match andthus, will bring the Cup home to BCC afterthe Challenge Cup Finale on Oct. 8.

The format of the Challenge Cup is uniquein that players compete without handicaps– or strokes; however, captains work to pitplayers with like handicaps against oneanother. Club team captains meet in thespring to agree on dates for the matches.Each club hosts three times during the sea-son and provides three teams of two play-ers (six women golfers) to compete in allmatches. The point system is used, earningone point for winning the front side, onefor the back side and one for the team withthe most holes one.

Bethesda Country Club played fivematches, earning 31 and a half points. Theirfinal match was played in rain — soakingthe players, their clubs and carts. BCC took6 and a half points over Chevy Chase. TeamCaptain Louise Melby, who led the groupto victory with her stellar play, said, “Dueto the great spirit that Julie Rose, DawnO’Neill, Pat Haskell, Mary Karen Wills, SueBelford and Debbie Toomey exhibited play-ing in this awful weather, BCC was victori-ous.

Throughout the season, all BCC memberswho played really help to contribute to thiswin, including Rita Liptz, Akemi Maegawa,

Churchill Girls’ Basketball Splits Holiday Tournament GamesBulldogs to start2016 with rivalrymatchups.

Head coach Kate Blanken, seenin this 2011 photo, and the

Churchill girls’ basketballteam went 6-3 during the 2015

portion of the schedule.

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Bridgit Fried, Cindy Taylor, IreneZuckerman and Jackie Voorthuis. This was

Bethesda Country Club Women Capture Challenge Cup

The Champion Challenge Cup Team of Bethesda Country Club: From right, front row, Mary Karen Wills,Akemi Maegawa, Pat Haskell, Louise Melby, Susan Belford, second row, Julie Rose, Jackie Voorthuis, IreneZuckerman, Rita Liptz, Debbie Toomey, Cindy Taylor, Karen Davis, and Dawn O’Neill.

the 8th season for the Challenge Cupmatches: Congressional has won the Cup 5

times, and Columbia, Chevy Chase and nowus, have each won the Cup once.”

Pho

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Bulletin Board

From Page 8

taxicabs; and generally amend County lawconcerning taxicabs. Visitwww.montgomerycountymd.gov.

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 20Public Input on FY17 County Operating

Budget Forum. 7 p.m. at Silver Spring Civic

Center, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring. Theforums are held every year by County ExecutiveIke Leggett to get public feedback on theupcoming County operating budget. The Leggettwill release his recommended operating budgeton March 15 for the fiscal year that begins July1, 2016. Free. Call 240-777-6507.

Senior Connection Volunteer Training. 7p.m. at Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950

Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring. Senior Connectionvolunteers provide a variety of services so thatMontgomery County seniors can remainindependent and stay in their own homes.Volunteers drive senior clients to medical andother appointments, help with grocery shoppingand assist with monthly bill paying. [email protected] or call 301-942-1049.

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