Combining Health and Mental Health
Community Services Board provides emergency services, prevention and treatment.
One teenager who attempted suicide revealed that if anyone had asked him beforehand whether he was thinking of hurting himself, he would have said yes.
Pinball Kevin, Pinball Wizard
McLean man hosts state pinball championships.
Kevin Stone took out a loan to buy the 15 pinball machines in his McLean basement, the site of this year's Virginia state pinball championship. Virginia was one of 33 states to take part in the simultaneous championships on Saturday, Feb. 7. Stone's Harlem Globetrotters machine was built in 1979, others from Stern Pinball and Jersey Jack Pinball are contemporaries.
Culling the Safety Zone
Council permits archery hunting within 100 yards of homes, down from 150 yards, in an effort to reduce the number of deer.
George Leventhal testified last year about his Beltway drive home from work on Nov. 5, 2007.
Churchill Turf Field Booted Ahead
Private money to pay for field in exchange for “priority access;” Montgomery Soccer challenges the decision.
Winston Churchill’s future artificial turf stadium field has a green light, despite ongoing challenge and controversy. On Monday, July 28, the County Council’s Education Committee recommended approval of $1.3 million for installation of the field, expected to be completed by spring of 2015. The money will come from a private sports club and Churchill boosters. The private funds allow for the construction of the new field without waiting for the county construction process.
Spring's Must Do List
Mark the calendar for fun things this spring.
Curtain Call
Potomac Theater Company will perform its final show in March.
The Potomac Theatre Company’s 25th Silver Anniversary Season will also be its last. “We’re going to have to close our doors,” said board member Carole Dell. “It’s really quite sad.”
Rescued Owl Released
Great Horned Owl takes flight back into her territory after rescue.
A group of curious well-wishers looked on as a Great Horned Owl spread her formidable wings and lifted off from the arms of her rescuer back into the Potomac forest. It was a happy ending to a brief saga that could have ended much differently.
Don’t Take Safe Drinking Water for Granted
In the wake of the chemical spill in West Virginia, weighing the threats to local drinking water.
Most of the 5 million residents in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area have no idea that their drinking water comes from the Potomac River, said Hedrick Belin, president of the Potomac Conservancy. “Until last week, the same could have probably been said for 300,000 residents in Charleston, W. Va.,” Belin added.
By the Numbers
The Montgomery County Council will hold full-day worksessions on Jan. 14, 15, 16 and 21, starting at 9:30 a.m. on the first proposed major changes in the County Zoning Ordinance since 1978
Zoning In On Deer?
Archery hunters to use bow and arrows 50 yards from homes?
Bill MC 5-14 is just one of the hundreds of Bills that Maryland’s Delegates and Senators will debate when the 434th session of Maryland’s General Assembly convenes at noon on Jan. 8, 2014 in Annapolis.
Potomac Youth of the Year, 2013
Marissa Michaels of Holton Arms and Matthew Schick of Landon named Potomac’s Youth of the Year.
Marissa Michaels of Holton Arms and Matthew Schick of Landon named Potomac’s Youth of the Year.
Before the Lights Went Out
Event celebrates 75th anniversary of first installment on C&O Canal National Historical Park.
About 50 hours before the entire 185-mile length of the C&O Canal National Historical closed because of the shutdown of the federal government, more than 300 people gathered at Great Falls Tavern to celebrate its beginnings 75 years earlier.
Shutdown: Towpath, Glen Echo Closed
Federal shutdown closes area National Parks.
The federal government’s shutdown has closed C&O Canal National Historical Park, Glen Echo Park, as well as use of the towpath from Washington D.C. through Potomac and to Cumberland.
You Matter
Hoops tournament and fun day held in memory of Evan Rosenstock to raise awareness of teenage depression.
Churchill and Bullis have joined together to host a basketball tournament and fun day this Sunday, Sept. 15 in honor and memory of Churchill varsity athlete Evan Rosenstock.
Week in Numbers, Wednesday/Sept. 11
4 People have died in the Potomac River since June 26. On Thursday, Sept. 5, rescuers discovered the body of Mark Moore, 22 of Odenton, at 5:45 p.m., three days after river rescue teams were first dispatched to the river on Labor Day, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m.
Trees Get More Protection
Council passes two bills aiming to protect and expand tree canopy.
Dr. Seuss’s Lorax finally appeared more than two hours into Montgomery County Council’s debate on tree canopy. “Who will speak for the trees?” said Councilmember Valerie Ervin. “Today, all of us are speaking for the trees, and in the end, I think the trees are going to win in Montgomery County,” she said.
Encouraging Educational Gardens
More schools are developing edible gardens.
Despite a small budget, edible gardens have plotted a rise in the Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum. "You know this committee has had interest in this for several years. As you know, good things are happening," said County Councilmember Valerie Ervin at the council's Education Subcommittee on Monday, July 22.
Drivers and Pedestrians Must Be Vigilant
Investigation of June Potomac pedestrian fatality continues, one of 11 so far this year in the county.
Pedestrian Shirley Stearman, 81 of Potomac, died after being hit by a car at approximately 1:50 p.m. in the Cabin John Shopping Center parking lot at 7919 Tuckerman Lane Sunday, June 2. Last week, Montgomery County Police detectives from the Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated the fatal pedestrian collision in the Potomac shopping center.
Deadly River Claims Victim Number Two
In less than one week, two people have drowned in the Potomac River. On Saturday, a 21-year-old drowned near Bear Island. Three of his friends attempted to save him, but were unsuccessful.
River-related incidents quickly turn fatal
A 19-year-old drowned in the Potomac River Monday. Rescue personnel were still searching for his body at the time of the Almanac's Tuesday press time.
Seeking To Preserve Local Agricultural Heritage
Fundraiser supports Brickyard Educational Farm.
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s words greeted supporters at the Brickyard Educational Farm event at Glenview Mansion in Rockville on Friday, June 14.
Pepco Rate Hike Opposed
Montgomery County officials think local residents already pay enough for electricity. The county filed its intervention against Pepco’s rate increase request last week.
Two Potomac Residents Reflect on Decades
Ellen Breen turned 95 on May 5, 2013. Her granddaughter plans to be married in September. “If I am alive, I am going,” Breen said. Her grandchildren call her Rah Rah. “I love it. It’s one of my favorite sounds. When they say it it really means something.” Dennis Lewis is 75.
Resident Killed in Parking Lot
Accident under police investigation.
Pedestrian Shirley Stearman, 81, of Potomac, died after being hit by a car in the Cabin John parking lot at 7919 Tuckerman Lane Sunday, June 2.
Family Takes Up Paddleboarding, Goes into Business
Paddle on the Potomac, standing up.
Michael Katz took his first stand-up paddle board lesson last August with Potomac Paddlesports. Now his entire family is hooked, even creating a business around the sport.
Eating Fresh and Local
Potomac Farmers Market, every Thursday, for vegetables.
Corey McCleaf will bring 33 varieties of fruit to the Potomac Farmer’s Market this summer. Emily Starck will sell 53 varieties of heirloom tomatoes during the farmer’s market season, which runs Thursday afternoons from May through October at Potomac United Methodist Church. Keisha and Scotty Sherman, of Simply Delicious Desserts, work with 50 pounds of rhubarb every morning, and make breads, cakes, ginger strawberry tea, scones, cookies and cupcakes. They also brought their “goodies” to the Strawberry Festival last weekend.
Modernizing Potomac Elementary
Plans underway for new school building, last to be modernized in Churchill cluster.
Potomac Elementary School will have a new building by January 2018, without delay.
Potomac Outfitters Opens
“Ambassadors for the Potomac.”
Pitcher, founder of Potomac Paddlesports, opened Potomac Outfitters last Thursday, May 2, in the Potomac Promenade, in the mall next to Potomac Pizza.
County’s Black Eye
MCPS has no plans to allow organic farm to continue; judge denies legal fees but scolds county, school board.
Circuit Court Judge Robert A. Greenberg’s ruling went far beyond the bottom line. Greenberg denied the request by the Brickyard Coalition and organic farmer Nick Maravell to be reimbursed for legal fees spent in battling the county over the use of 20 acres of farmland on a future school site on Brickyard Road.
Cleaning Up the River
Hundreds turn out to collect trash, recover recyclables.
Volunteers on Saturday, April 6 removed trash at 600 sites throughout the Potomac watershed during the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 2013 Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. The Potomac Conservancy organized volunteer efforts at the River Center at Lock 8, Fletcher's Boathouse and Theodore Roosevelt Island.
News
This Week In Potomac
2.61 Mile Bike Path Improvements The county will soon begin construction of an eight-foot wide, 2.61-mile bike path along MacArthur Boulevard between I-495 and Oberlin Avenue. The county’s Department of Transportation estimates that the project will be completed in one year.
Promise Delivered: Scotland’s New Center
The Potomac Master Plan, approved and adopted in 2002, promised the Scotland community a needed expansion of its community center. Scotland is a historically African American community off Seven Locks Road in Potomac.
Neighbor Saves Two Teenagers from Fire
Family displaced; house fire causes $600,000 in damage.
A neighbor’s efforts saved the lives of two teeangers on Willow Green Court, Monday afternoon, Feb. 25, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue reports. “The teens inside narrowly escaped the blaze,” according to Assistant Chief Scott Graham.
This Week in Potomac
This Week in Potomac Mandatory Water Restrictions Could Last a Week When a 54-inch water main in Chevy Chase at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Chevy Chase Lake Drive ruptured Monday evening, March 18, the result was a geyser shooting approximately 30 feet high and the immediate loss of 60 million gallons of water. To ensure continued water supply for all WSSC customers and for fire protection and hospital/medical uses, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) General Manager Jerry N. Johnson Tuesday morning called for mandatory water restrictions for all WSSC customers.
Callers Create Sense of Urgency in Scam
Local residents victimized after being told loved ones have been injured.
The scammers create a sense of urgency. They convince victims to wire money to various locations.
This Land Is Our Land
Next steps not certain in ongoing Brickyard controversy, but Board of Education makes clear the land belongs to the school system.
With a resolution Monday night, Feb. 25, the Montgomery County Board of Education made clear what it already thought it had made clear.
Council Takes Steps To Protect Trees
New rules would protect individual trees and trees on small lots during redevelopment.
Next Monday, Feb. 25, the County Council’s subcommittee on Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment is scheduled to address two bills that focus on the protection of trees.
Board of Education Locks Out Organic Farmer
Board of Education tells organic farmer to leave Brickyard site before court ruling, without notice.
While coffee brewed in the Maravell’s kitchen, school board security officers prepared to lock the gates to Nick Maravell’s Organic Farm and his daughter’s Brickyard Education Farm on Brickyard Road.
County Urges Congress to Avoid Sequester
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett urged Congress to avoid the sequester, deep automatic budget cuts, that could be implemented March 1 if Congress fails to act.
Environmental Concerns Prompt Dissenting Vote
County Council approves spending for artificial turf at Wootton.
Councilmember Marc Elrich took an authentic stand against artificial turf. “I continue to be concerned with the health and environmental impacts,” he said. “I’ve talked with toxicologists and in the space of five minutes I get information that is reassuring and then I get information that is disconcerting. It’s hard to know where to come out.”
Fate of Brickyard Road Nears Conclusion?
Circuit Court judge’s decision on fate of organic farm on Brickyard expected by next week.
The fate of a 20-acre farm on Brickyard Road and its 30 years of organic soil are now in the hands of Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Robert A. Greenberg. Judge Greenberg is expected to make a ruling by next week on the legality of the Board of Education’s lease of the land to the county for use as soccer fields.
Artificial Trend Offers Benefits
Council action paves way for artificial turf field to be installed at Wootton by August.
Montgomery County Council approved a $1.1 million appropriation to the Capital Improvements Program Tuesday, Feb. 5, for the building of an artificial turf field at Wootton High School.
Things To Do In Winter
Things to do in the winter time.
Many Local Implications in Zoning Rewrite
Four-year project moves from Planning Board to County Council.
Earlier this month when Callum Murray, the county’s chief planner for Potomac, spoke to the West Montgomery County Citizens Association, he told the group that the rewrite of the zoning code was about to move from planning to County Council.
Save the Soil or Plow Ahead?
Pivotal year ahead in Potomac.
Days before the county was scheduled to take possession of 20 acres of farmland on Brickyard Road to develop the into soccer fields, Gov. Martin O’Malley got involved.
Fireworks In February?
Court of Special Appeals rejects county on Brickyard; legality of school board lease to be argued early next year.
Chief Judge Peter B. Krauser and the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland on Dec. 7, 2012 rejected Montgomery County’s motion that would have allowed moving forward with development of soccer fields on Brickyard Road.
Potomac River Needs Help
Pollutants identified, solutions mandated for Potomac River with ‘barely passing’ grade.
The Potomac Conservancy released its sixth annual State of the Nation’s River on Nov. 15, handing the Potomac River’s health a “D” or “barely passing grade.”
Time To Wait?
New lawsuit, new proposals, new policies emerge from Brickyard controversy.
After nearly two years of controversy concerning a 20-acre “future school” site on Brickyard Road, some new ideas emerged as Montgomery County Council held a town meeting on Nov. 7 at the Potomac Community Center.
Traffic Lights Evolve
New traffic light at MacArthur and Clara Barton Parkway equipped with small computer.
The new traffic light installed at MacArthur Blvd. and Clara Barton Parkway earlier this month is a smart light.