All Lanes Open on Legion Bridge
On Wednesday, Aug. 22 at approximately 6 a.m. the right-hand, northbound lane of I-495 on the American Legion Bridge re-opened. The lane had been closed since a maintenance project closed the lane in April.
The lane closure, which caused considerable delays to commuters, ended a week before Labor Day Weekend, one of the busiest travelling weekends of the year.
The $5.6 million preventative maintenance project included cleaning, painting and priming the bridge's underpinnings.
"If you let that go too long you have to do more extensive and expensive replacements," said Chuck Gischlar, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Highway Administration. The project completed nearly three months ahead of schedule, Gischlar said, due to a combination of good weathr and efficient work by Blastech Enterprises of Baltimore, to whom the state contract was awarded.
Temporary lane closures may continue during non-peak and nighttime travel hours as worksite cleanup, guardrail replacement and touch-up painting is completed, Gischlar said.
9/11 Memorial Concert at Cabin John
Montgomery County will host a free concert marking the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 7-8:30 p.m., at the Cabin John Regional Park Amphitheater, located at 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Rockville. The concert, featuring the U.S. Navy’s Commodores Jazz Band, will pay tribute to the 11 Montgomery County residents who lost their lives that day.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to the Randolph Theater, 4010 Randolph Road, Wheaton.
For more information, call 240-777-6820.
Senate Delegation Chairs Selected
The members of the Montgomery County Senate Delegation have elected State Senator Rona Kramer (D–District 14) chair of the Senate Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly. State Senator Rich Madaleno (D-District 18) was elected vice-chair.
Kramer was first elected to the Senate in 2002. She is a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee, where she serves as chair of the Pensions Subcommittee. She is also a member of the Health and Human Services and Capital Budget subcommittees.
Madaleno served for four years as a member of the House of Delegates prior to his election to the Senate in 2006. He is a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee and serves on the Public Safety, Transportation and Environment Subcommittee.
Their terms begin immediately.
Watershed Program to Expand
The National Park Service announced last week that the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Bridging the Watershed environmental education program will be expanded throughout the Potomac Watershed as part of the National Park Service "Centennial Challenge."
Bridging the Watershed is a partnership program of the Alice Ferguson Foundation and the National Park Service for high school students and teachers that provide understanding and stewardship of natural resources and public lands focused on the ecology of the Potomac Watershed. Using the national parks as living laboratories leads high school students and teachers to become future stewards of national parks and the environment.
Bridging the Watershed was developed by Alice Ferguson Foundation and the National Park Service in 1998 through a grant from the National Park Foundation as a model education program in the District of Columbia metropolitan area for high school students, an underserved population in national parks. More than one half of the students come from low-income schools with a high proportion of at-risk youth. Their participation often marks their first nature experience and educates them about the impact they have on the environment and our natural resources.
First-Ever Rockville Wine Festival
The City of Rockville will host its first-ever wine festival on Sept. 2 in Town Square from 12-4 p.m.
Wine lovers will enjoy The Barry Gurley Quartet, a cooking demonstration by Lebanese Taverna and samples from Whole Foods while tasting the best wines from wineries across the state. Admission to the festival is $10 (people must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol), and includes a commemorative wine glass for the first 1,500 paid attendees. Maryland wineries in attendance will be: Solomans Island, Basignani, finewine.com, Boordy Vineyards, St. Michaels Winery, Elk Run, Frederick Cellars, and Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard .
Performances by The Barry Gurley Quartet are scheduled for 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, call the Department of Recreation and Parks hotline at 240-314-8620. There is no rain date for this event.
Potomac Chamber Seeks Nominations
The Potomac Chamber of Commerce needs your help in its search for nominees for the following categories: Citizen of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, and Youth of the Year. These awards are given annually by the Potomac Chamber of Commerce and the winners will be featured in the Potomac Day Parade on Oct. 20. They will also be presented with plaques at the Awards Banquet in November.
Rules for nominations are as follows: the Businessperson of the Year and his or her company must work or do business and be a member of the Potomac Chamber of Commerce. The Citizen of the Year can be a private individual or organization in the 20854 zip code that has benefited the community. The Youth of the Year must reside in the 20854 zip code area.
Please mail your entries to the Potomac Chamber of Commerce, Inc., 9812 Falls Road, Ste 114, Box 321, Potomac, MD 20854, or fax them to 301-299-4650. The deadline is Sept. 29. The committee and the Chamber’s Board of Directors will vote on the nominees on or about Oct. 1. Visit www.PotomacChamber.org or call the Chamber at 301-299-2170 for further guidelines.
Cabin John Crab Feast
Cabin John’s 38th Annual Crab & Chicken Feast is slated for Saturday, Sept. 8, from 2-6 p.m. at the Clara Barton Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Blvd. A local tradition since the late 1960s, the community feast allows the Cabin John community to celebrate its economic and social diversity in a relaxed manner. Features include delicious food and refreshments, children’s bike parade to the feast; live music, children’s entertainment, and Cabin John memorabilia and T-shirts for sale. Tickets are available for $11 at the door, and $10 if bought in advance. For info or to volunteer, call 301-221-7827 or email cjcrabfeast@aol.com. For advance tickets, call 301-320-2685.
JCCGW To Screen "The First Basket"
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington will host the Maryland premiere of the 2007 film "The First Basket." The screening will take place on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. in the JCC’s Kreeger Auditorium in Rockville. "The First Basket" traces the Jewish history of basketball from Lower East Side tenements to the creation of the NBA to its present day status as the second most popular sport in the world.
On November 1, 1946, in the opening game of the fledgling Basketball Association of America (BAA), Ossie Schectman scored the opening basket for the New York Knickerbockers in a game against the Toronto Huskies. In 1949, the BAA became the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Schectman’s shot is considered the first basket in the NBA. Those two points scored 60 years ago are the lead-in for this documentary.
Tickets for "The First Basket" are $8 and may be purchased at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, please contact Debbie Sokobin at 301-348-3760 or dsokobin@jccgw.org, or visit our website at www.jccgw.org. The JCC of Greater Washington is located at 6125 Montrose Road in Rockville, MD.
15 Vacancies on Forest Committee
County Executive Isiah Leggett is seeking applicants to fill 15 public-member vacancies on the newly established Forest Conservation Advisory Committee. The public members should include urban and stewardship foresters, arborists, landscape architects, horticulturists and representatives from the nursery industry, persons directly engaged in agriculture, persons directly involved in the building industry, members of citizen groups, members of environmental and conservation organizations, and representatives of public utilities. For more information visit www.mongtomerycountymd.gov , click on " County Executive ," then "Boards, Committees, and Commissions," then "Vacancy Notices."
Town Hall at Potomac United Methodist
Come and speak to County Executive Isiah Leggett about your concerns and ideas at a Town Hall Meeting at Potomac United Methodist Church, 9908 South Glen Road, Potomac, on Thursday, Sept. 27. Free and open to all.
BCC '71 Grads Plan Reunion Online
Alumni from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Class of 1971 are participating in a Class Reunion Website at http://classreport.org/usa/md/bethesda/bcchs/1971. There are no registration fees required to join in the fun. Each class member has full participation privileges.
This Class-Based Reunion Website features dynamic changing content daily. Stop in to view current Class News. Exchange opinions and stay up to date with the Message Board. View the Featured Alumni Biography of the day. Send a birthday greeting to a class member listed in the Upcoming Birthdays panel. Reunion Announcements, Book and Movie Reviews, Favorite Recipes and Featured Links will keep one checking in regularly to see what's new.
Class member Barbra Paul Johnson has volunteered to serve as Class Administrator. Barbra would like to invite all Class of 1971 Alumni to stop in and fill out a profile so they can be reached regarding the next Class Reunion.
Comment on Local Parks
The Montgomery County Department of Parks is asking for comments from both users and neighbors of 31 small and medium-sized park recreation buildings within the county's parks system. The recreation buildings were reviewed for current condition, level of use and maintenance requirements by staff and consultants. A listing of the recreation buildings can be found in the June 28, 2007, Planning Board briefing memo.
The department's community outreach will include using the Internet to exchange information; sponsoring a public meeting in September; and making community group presentations. To request a review of the project at a group meeting or to share your views on the status of these park properties, e-mail Mark.Wallis@mncppc.org or call 301-650-4389. For information and updates, see www.parkplanningandstewardship.org. After reviewing and including public comments on the draft proposal, the Department of Parks will present a final recommendation to the Montgomery County Planning Board in early November.
House Tour Focuses on Environment
In its 52nd year the Potomac Country House Tour not only continues to galvanize 66 co-chairs managing 25 standing committees, and 350 volunteers to run the weekend event, but Chair Carol Jarvis turned the focus of the tour toward one that is of vital importance and interest: environmentally responsible living.
In alignment with this theme, the traditional boutique has been transformed into an Artisan Shop featuring original and one-of-a-kind items from environmentally conscious crafters and artists, many working with recycled material. Among the new vendors is the Arbor House Gift shop from the U.S. National Arboretum, appearing for the first time outside of the Arboretum location.
Homes chosen feature recycled and reused materials, and energy conscious building decisions that provide model approaches for the building industry. Of particular interest is the Glen Road Solar Ranch, which was conceived in the 1950s by historic preservationist Grosvenor Chapman, orienting it to capture a southern exposure. Chapman placed fireplaces in central locations, extended roof overhangs to allow maximum winter sun, while shielding summer sun, and insulating the concrete floor crawl space acting as a return plenum for the whole house and balancing heat fluctuations. Builder Guy Semmes of Hopkins & Porter updated his home working through issues such as routing extra energy to Pepco and learning about new recycled materials available locally.
The Potomac Country House Tour is sponsored by St. Francis Episcopal Church, Potomac. The proceeds from the tour have been central to the outreach efforts of the church since 1955 benefiting charities worldwide. The tour features Potomac homes and gardens in a two-day event. Tickets will be sold for $20 in advance or $25 on tour days. The proceeds are used to benefit charitable organizations that assist the elderly, needy, hungry, ill, and homeless; or that aid women, children and the disabled.
Schedule of Events - September, 29 and 30:
11 a.m.–5 p.m. - Artisan Boutique, Luncheon and Dessert Table at St. Francis, Potomac
12–5 p.m. The Homes are open for touring.
For additional information call (301) 365-2055 or visit http://www.stfrancispotomac.org. St. Francis Episcopal Church, 10033 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854
Applicants Sought for Board of Appeals
The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for two four-year terms on the County Board of Appeals. The terms of Donna Barron (Republican) and Allison Ishihara Fultz (Democrat) expire in September 2007. Ms. Barron has served two full terms and is not eligible for reappointment. Ms. Fultz is chair of the board and has indicated that she will apply for reappointment.
Members of the Board receive $14,675 annually, with the chair receiving $21,013. Salaries are adjusted annually each December to reflect 50 percent of the change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.
Duties of the Board of Appeals are to:
* Make decisions on most applications for special exceptions as provided in the Zoning Ordinance
* Hear and decide requests for variances from development standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance
* Hear appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by County government agencies
Letters expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, should be addressed to Council President Marilyn J. Praisner, County Council Office, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Applicatons must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18.
Smoother Driving Ahead
The Montgomery County Police Department is once again participating in the "Smooth Operator" campaign, which began on Saturday, and will take place one week out of each of the summer months. The Smooth Operator Campaign targets aggressive drivers in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Aggressive driving behaviors include: speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changing, failing to yield the right-of-way, and running red lights and stop signs.
The campaign for 2007 will consist of four, one-week-long waves, including Sept. 2 -15. During these waves, Montgomery County Police will be especially committed to enforcing aggressive driving laws and traffic violations, to include a focus on the aggressive driving behaviors of teen drivers.
The Montgomery County Police Department wants to remind all motorists to be aware of their responsibility to obey all traffic laws and to always use caution when operating a motor vehicle. Montgomery County police and City of Rockville police are using automated speed enforcement cameras in some residential areas with speed limits of 35 mph or less and in some school zones. For more information about the Safe Speed program, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/police and click on the Safe Speed icon.
Wanted: Volunteers at Lockhouse 8
The Potomac Conservancy is looking for river history buffs to help maintain and staff the River Center at historic Lockhouse 8 on the C&O Canal. This year, the River Center will feature a new exhibit, Backyard to the Bay, which will educate visitors about the Potomac River, its connection to the Chesapeake Bay, and what they can do in their own backyards to protect these resources. The full docent description is available at www.potomac.org/join/volunteer.html. Volunteers who wish to help staff the River Center should contact Judy Welles at weles@potomac.org.
Volunteer at a Local Park
Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission seeks volunteers at local parks in the area. For a full listing of all the opportunities available, contact Jayne Hench at 301-495-2504 or e-mail jayne.hench@mncppc-mc.org.
Recreation Department Offers Courses
Art classes for toddlers, karate, dance and magic-trick lessons for children, fencing lessons for teens and yoga for adults are a few of the courses offered by the Montgomery County Recreation Department at Potomac Community Center. Elsewhere in the county, the Rec Department offers courses from skateboarding to yoga to cooking to youth art. Pick up the Montgomery County Recreation Department Guide a Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac, call 240-777-6840 or visit http://montgomerycountymd.gov, then click "Departments," then "Recreation," then "RECord" for course information.
Critical Blood Shortage
The National Institute of Health Blood Bank has announced an urgent need for type O blood donors. Both local and regional inventories of this blood type are dangerously low. If you are a donor with blood type O, donate today by visiting the NIH Blood Bank located on the first floor of the Clinical Center on the NIH campus in Bethesda. Hours of operation are from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Call for an appointment or directions at 301-496-1048. Convenient, free parking is available for blood donors.
If you have not donated blood before and are not sure if you are eligible, visit www.cc.nih.gov/dtm/html/donrinfo.htm to learn more about being a donor at NIH.
Info on Nursing Homes Available Online
An updated and redesigned resource to help Marylanders select a nursing home is now available on the Web. The "Maryland Nursing Home Guide" includes information on more than 200 comprehensive care nursing facilities and 34 continuing care retirement communities. Among the types of information available are quality of care assessments and results of recent inspection visits. The guide, developed by the Maryland Health Care Commission, is located by clicking on ‘Consumers’ on the commission’s Web site at www.mhcc.maryland.gov.