Fourth of July
The Almanac went to press on Monday, July 1 before the 4th of July celebrations. Coverage of Independence Day events will appear in next week's issue.
Cure Autism Now 5K
Cure Autism Now sponsors a 5-kilometer road race and 1-mile fun walk at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 4, at the intersection of River and Falls Roads. The course proceeds through residential neighborhoods in Potomac and features a long downhill finish. Participants may register for a $25 fee June 3 at the Potomac Promenade or July 4 at the Potomac Library.
Non-running and non-walking volunteers are also wanted.
Visit www.cureautismnow.org or call 301-419-8198.
Caught on Camera
According to police reports:
On Wednesday, May 29, at 1:30 a.m., suspects entered a residence in the 12500 block of Palantine Court in Potomac. The suspects entered an unlocked vehicle in front of the residence, used a garage door opener to enter the garage, then entered the residence through an unlocked door from the garage into a wash room. Once inside, the suspects stole a cell phone and a wallet with cash and credit cards.
Within hours after the burglary, one of the stolen credit cards was used at a nearby gas station.
Police have released two photos of men suspected of burglarizing the home.
One of the suspects is described to be a 20-year-old male, of Hispanic descent, approximately 5-foot-7 and weighing 140-155 pounds. He was wearing a white tank top shirt, baggy blue jeans and dark tennis shoes.
The other suspect is described to be a black male, 18-20 years old, 5-foot-ten tall, weighing 140-155 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue Nike baseball cap, blue jeans, a blue sports jersey with white stripes on the length of the sleeves and dark tennis shoes with a white vertical stripe on the rear of the shoes.
Anyone with information about this burglary or the identity of the men in the photos is asked to call investigators at the 1st District at 301-279-1602 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-800-673-2777. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspects responsible for the felony.
Missing Person Found Dead
Paul Michael Freeman, 50, was found dead on June 8 at Union Station in Washington D.C. by Metropolitan Police.
On June 26, Montgomery County's 2nd Police District made a public announcement that Freeman, of the 2600 block of Linden Lane in Bethesda, was a missing person. He was last seen at 5 p.m. on June 7 leaving work on the 2300 block of Kansas Avenue in Silver Spring. Freeman has a history of depression, police said.
The cause of Freeman's death will be determined by the results of an autopsy by the D.C. Medical Examiner's Office.
Potomac Burglaries
According to police reports:
Cash was stolen from East Gate Swim Club, 10200 Gainsborough Road, in Potomac, between 8 p.m. on June 18 and 1:40 p.m. on June 19. Suspects entered through the office door.
* Burglars entered the rear window of a residence on the 14200 block of Secluded Lane in Potomac, between 11 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. on June 22. Nothing was taken.
* Jewelry and silver service were stolen after burglars broke out the rear door of a house on the 8600 block of Fenway Road between noon and 1:45 p.m. on June 19.
* Cash was taken from a residence on the 7500 block of Bradley Blvd. in Bethesda between 10:40 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on June 19. Suspects broke through a sliding glass door.
* Jewelry and coins were taken after suspects broke through the basement door of a residence on the 5500 block of Bradley Blvd. in Bethesda between noon and 4 p.m. on June 21.
11,687 Police Citations
During April and May, Montgomery County Police issued 11,687 citations for seat belt violations (10,185 citations and 1,264 warnings) and child safety seat violations (196 citations and 42 warnings).
During last year’s campaign, police issued 8,956 citations and warnings for violations of Maryland’s mandatory use of seat belts and child safety seats.
Charity Golf Tournament
The Montgomery County Master's is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, July 15 at the Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville. The charity golf tournament will support the Special Olympics Montgomery Sports Program for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The tournament will feature local celebrities, pros and friends of Special Olympics Montgomery County. The golf outing will conclude with a silent auction and cocktail hour as well as a dinner and awards ceremony, according to Pam Yerg, a Potomac resident and area director of Special Olympics Montgomery County.
Call 301-424-3083 for registration information.
Council Vacancy
The vacancy on the Montgomery County Council following the June 12 resignation of Councilmember Derick Berlage (D-5) is expected to be filled on Tuesday, July 9, 2002. Any person interested in being considered for the appointment to serve the rest of his term should submit a letter and resume to the Council by Monday, July 1. County Council will appoint Berlage’s replacement.
An appointee to fill the vacancy must be a Democrat and reside in District 5.
The names and letters of all applicants will be available for public review.
Send letters to Council president Steven A. Silverman, Council Office, Stella B. Werner Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Md. 20850.
23 County Awards
Montgomery County received 23 awards for outstanding programs from the National Association of Counties including:
* Environmental Protection: Radon Survey program, Groundwater Protection Strategy; and Solar Roofs Program
* Fire and Rescue Service: Bioterrorism hotline; ALS First Responder; Sandy Spring VFD Public/Private Partnership
* Health and Human Services: Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Board; Substance Abuse Intervention in Child Welfare Services
* Housing & Community Affairs: Code Enforcement iPaq Application; Disclosure of Merchant Complaint Records Online Application
* Human Resources: The Leadership Institute
* Information Systems & Telecommunications: Apartment Rental Guide Online Application and Website; Streetlight Maintenance Reporting Map Service; Wide Area Network Consolidation; Interim Mobile Data NCIC/MILES Project; Remote Server Backup/Recover Services; Job Access Project
* Public Works and Transportation: Minimizing Variance Between Project Budget and Prevailing Bid Market; Computer Simulation Aided Design of Ventilation Airflow at Strathmore Concert Hall; Integrated Pest Management; Electricity Cost Savings During Deregulation and Beyond
* Recreation: Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity
* Volunteer Center: Mosquito aNILEator Program
Call 240-777-2500 for information about these programs.
Keep Out the Deer
County council member Nancy Dacek introduced legislation on Tuesday, June 25, that would allow plastic fences up to eight feet high designed to protect property from deer. The fences would be exempt from building and yard line requirements.
Current law allows deer fences up to six-and-a-half feet high. A public hearing will take place on July 30. (See Civic Calendar, page 5)
Potomac resident and Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder recently applied for a special exception to build a 10-foot-high deer fence; the Board of Appeals denied the request.
<sh>Civic Calendar
Tuesday, July 9, time TBA
County Council Worksession, on Transportation Policy Report. Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. 240-777-7900. Information to be used by the Council during the worksession is available online at www.co.mo.md.us/council
Tuesday, July 16, TBA
County Council Worksession, on Transportation Policy Report. Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. 240-777-7900. This worksession is to review suggested transportation demand management measures, review the TPR Task Force's recommendations for restructuring and enhancing the County's bus service.
Tuesday, July 23, 1:30 p.m.
County Council Public Hearing on four zoning text amendments relating to the Potomac Master Plan including Potomac quarries, the development of Hanson Farm, Fortune Parc and the village of Darnestown. County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. To testify, call 240-777-7931.
Tuesday, July 23, TBA
County Council Voting Session, on Transportation Policy Report. Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. 240-777-7900. The Council is scheduled to vote on the issues discussed on July 9 and 16.
Tuesday, July 30, 7:30 p.m.
County Council Public Hearing on Potomac Sectional Map Amendment. County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Call 240-777-7931 to testify.
Tuesday, July 30, 1:30 p.m.
County Council Public Hearing on zoning text amendment, which would allow plastic deer fences to be built up to eight feet high. County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Call 240-777-7931 to testify.
August 2002
Park and Planning is scheduled to publish the staff draft of the Blockhouse Point Master Plan. To send comments about the park master plan in writing, or to get on the mailing list to receive information about the Blockhouse Point Master Plan, address letters to: Blockhouse Point Master Plan, 1109 Spring Street, Suite 800, Silver Spring, Md. 20910.
September 2002
Park and Planning has tentatively scheduled a public meeting, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, to solicit comment and input on the staff draft of the Blockhouse Point Master Plan. Visit http:mc-mncppc.org/environment/blockhouse_mp/blockhouse_mp.htm