Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands...

Titans Clash With QO Win, Hopes for Rematch

By Mac Kennedy

A nytime Northwest makes the short trip to Quince Orchard on a Friday night

during the fall, you can count on a few things: The track will be filled with onlookers as the stands reach full capacity, it will be much, much louder than usu-al, and the players on the field will put on quite a show. This past meeting on Oct. 27 was no different as the Jaguars and Cou-gars faced off for a top seed in the playoffs.

This rivalry is without a doubt one of the best in the county as the two schools love to not only play each other but beat each other. This meeting kicked the rivalry up a notch or two as the winner would come out with a #1 seed in the playoffs and home field ad-vantage. The intensity was in the air early as both schools filled their student sections completely before the gates were even open to the public. The scene was set for an-other epic clash of the titans.

Northwest started the game just as they drew it up, as senior quar-terback Chris Craddock threw an 80-yard touchdown pass over the middle on the very first play from scrimmage. Halfway through the second quarter, the Jaguars had a

17-7 lead and were rolling on both offense and defense, until a couple of QO defenders turned the tide dramatically. Junior Aaron Green blocked a punt that was recovered on the one-yard line, which led to a short touchdown run by senior quarterback Doc Bonner. Soon af-ter, sophomore cornerback Ron-nell Dennis, Jr. made a jump on a swing pass out of the backfield and intercepted the ball down to the two-yard line, which led to anoth-er short touchdown run, this time by junior running back Marquez Cooper. Just like that, QO had a 31-17 lead at halftime.

The second half was a battle between Northwest gunning to tie or take the lead and QO try-ing to dominate possession on the ground. Craddock and NW’s talented passing game, which had plenty of success in the first half, had a much harder time in the third and fourth quarter. QO’s secondary led by senior Aaron Derwin seemed to have caught on to Craddock. Derwin had two huge interceptions in the second half that helped seal the deal. Der-win was also part of an explosive running game for the Cougars

Vol. 14, No. 21 November 3, 2017www.towncourier.com

COURIERTHETOWN

Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands, Lakelands, Quince Orchard Park and MoreTh

e T

ow

n C

ou

rie

r3

09

Mai

n S

tree

tG

aith

ersb

urg,

MD

20

878

PRSR

T-ST

D U.

S. P

OSTA

GE P

AID

GAIT

HERS

BURG

, MD

Perm

it #1

722

n ‘MIRACLE’ Continued on page 8

Veteran Troupe and Actor Reprise Classic Holiday ‘Miracle’ at Arts BarnBy Ellyn Wexler

A genuine Broadway veteran will play the lead role of Kris Kringle, the de-partment store Santa Claus, in the

Sandy Spring Theatre Group’s production of the holiday classic, “Miracle on 34th Street,” Nov. 9 to 11 at the Arts Barn. During his 30-year career, Gaithersburg actor Harley Ven-ton added numerous professional stage, film and television credits to his resume—and has worked with many well-known stars of stage and screen.

Venton set his sights on becoming an actor when as an eighth-grader he landed the lead role at his first audition. “What else could a boy do after that?” he recalled. “I did every play, talent show and speech contest I could through high school.” He studied theater at the University of North Dakota, earning a bachelor of fine arts, and won a Bush Fel-

lowship to pay for a master of fine arts at the University of Minnesota that included an ap-prenticeship season at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.

And as many aspiring actors do after their studies, Venton went to New York City where he found an agent and “with all my classical theater training, promptly and unexpectedly landed a two-year contract as Derek Colby on the (soap opera) ‘Guiding Light’” (1980-82). He also snagged two Broadway parts, includ-ing a stage role as Tony in “The Circle” with Sir Rex Harrison, Glynis Johns and Stewart Granger.

Making “my first foray into nighttime tele-vision, playing Susan St. James’ ex-husband on two episodes of (1980s sitcom) ‘Kate & Allie,’” he said, “led to more and more night-time television work and a move to Los An-geles” in 1989.

During his nine years in California, Ven-ton landed his favorite role—so far: “the lead in a two-hour pilot for Fox Television called

Photo | Ed Silverstein

“Miracle on 34th Street,” starring Harley Venton (Kris Kringle), John D. Van Eck (Fred Gailey), ML George (Doris Walker) and Leah Packer (Susan Walker), plays Nov. 9 to 11 on the Arts Barn stage.

n QO FOOTBALL Continued on page 16

Photo | Mac Kennedy

Senior Aaron Derwin did a little bit of everything for the Cougars last Friday. He had two inter-ceptions on defense, returned kicks and punts, and had some big runs out of the backfield. NW Marching Band

Wins State TitleBy Jennifer Beekman

A n elaborate—and dra-mat ic—per for mance of its show called

“The Marching Dead” led the Northwest High School Marching Band to a state title Oct. 21. The Jaguars finished first out of nine teams in Group II A at the USBands Maryland State Championship hosted by Towson University. Northwest

technically won states in 2009, but since it won by default as the only team in its division, this year’s victory is considered the Jaguars’ first legitimate championship, band director Emily Carpenter said.

“This win was huge for our program; it was one of the goals we set at the beginning of the season when we saw the

n NW BAND Continued on page 18

Photo | Submitted

Northwest High School Marching Band performs "The Marching Dead" on Oct. 21.

THE TOWN COURIER November 3, 2017

November 3, 2017 THE TOWN COURIER

Next Steps: Making the Transition From Dentist to Tennis Pro

By Syl Sobel

O ther than spending lots of time on your feet, dentistry and teaching tennis would seem to

have very little in common.But that’s not stopping longtime

Kentlands resident and dentist Dr. Karl Lee from putting down his den-tal instruments after 30-plus years in practice and picking up a racquet to teach the game he loves to anyone who wants to learn.

“We work all our lives because we have to, to finally be able to do what we want to do,” Lee said simply in ex-plaining why he’s making this tran-sition.

Lee, 59, turned over his dental practice to Dr. Ernest Ponraj on Oct. 1 after 17 years in his Kentlands office.

“It has been an amazing and fulfill-ing journey throughout my career of dentistry,” Lee told patients in a letter announcing his retirement, but with his son starting college, “I realize that it has come time to make a change.”

And while he said in a recent in-terview at the Kentlands Clubhouse that “I do miss the relationships and

camaraderie with my friends who are patients,” he’s not going to miss the practice of dentistry, “not a bit!”

“You’re trying to be perfect and practice perfection in a moist, dark cave,” he said of dentistry, “and you can’t waver. That’s stressful enough.” In addition he cited “battling in-surance companies to get paid,” the threat of malpractice and “practicing defensively,” and practice manage-ment issues—including protecting

prescription pads from theft—as rea-sons why he was ready to leave dental practice.

A Kentlands resident since 1990, Lee has been a fixture on the Kent-lands tennis courts since they opened. Indeed, as one of the first 20 resi-dents of the community, he can recall watching the clubhouse being built. He was instrumental in connecting Kentlands with its first and current tennis pro, Marna Katzel, and has been an assistant tennis instructor for almost 10 years.

Lee’s love of tennis began in ele-mentary school. He took lessons as a youngster, but did not play compet-itively in high school or college. As an adult he continued self-teaching by watching instructional videos.

Lee became interested in teaching tennis when his son, Bear, took an interest in the sport, and he got his USPTA coaching certification 13 years ago so he could teach his son. Lee must have been a good instruc-tor because Bear, now 19, became a standout local tennis player and is

Compiled by Pam Schipper

Remember to Vote in the Kentlands ElectionOn Friday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Kentlands res-

idents can vote in person at the Kentlands Clubhouse for three new trustees. Candidates are Greg Cohen, Yamil Hernandez, Karen Norris, and Aysa Smith. To learn more about the candidates, visit www.kentland-stowncrier.com.

City Holds Election Nov. 7Remember to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The terms

of office for Mayor Jud Ashman (www.votejud.com) and Councilmembers Michael Sesma (www.vote-sesma.com) and Yvette Monroe (yvettemonroe.org) expire this month, and they are running for re-elec-tion. The mayor and councilmembers elected in 2017 will each serve a four-year term. New candidates for City Council are Laurie-Anne Sayles (www.lauriean-nesayles.com) and Jim McNulty (www.jimmcnulty.org). Mayor Jud Ashman is running unopposed. You can learn how candidates think about environmen-tal issues here: www.muddybranch.org/updates/city-gaithersburg-candidates-respond-environmen-tal-questions. For candidate statements, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/government/elections.

Lakelands Plans Annual Meeting and ElectionFour residents are running for three open positions

on the Lakelands Board—incumbents Michael Goozh and David Stillwell, and challengers Michael Passas and Jeff Studley. The Lakelands Community Asso-ciation will hold its annual meeting and election on Thursday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. Arrive early at 6:30 p.m. to reconnect with neighbors and enjoy refreshments from Sin & Grin, Zoe’s Kitchen and SPAGnVOLA.

Volunteer and Learn With Muddy Branch Alliance

Muddy Branch Alliance plans two activities in Lakelands. On Nov. 12, noon to 2 p.m., the non-prof-it will hold a tree planting day. Volunteers are needed to plant 20 trees donated by the City of Gaithersburg at the Muddy Branch Trail near Route 28 and Still Creek Lane. Volunteers are asked to assemble on the asphalt path near 874 Still Creek Lane. Then on Nov. 15, 7 p.m. at the Lakelands Clubhouse, the Muddy Branch Alliance will hold its monthly meeting featur-ing Janet Millenson, who will speak about bird books from the early 1500s to 1800s. Visit www.muddy-branch.org for more information.

Quince Orchard Library to Reopen by Mid-December

According to Montgomery County Public Librar-ies, the Quince Orchard branch should reopen early to mid-December. The branch closed for a refresh mid-April.

The exterior building, parking lot and grounds have been refurbished, and a new bike rack has been added. Inside, height-adjustable circulation and infor-mation desks have been installed, in addition to many other improvements.

Partial funding for the Quince Orchard Library refresh project was provided by the County Library Capital Grant Program, Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Library Development and Services.

AROUND TOWN

n DR. LEE Continued on page 9

Photo | Submitted

Dr. Karl Lee teaches veterans tennis through his Wounded Warrior Tennis clinic.

Photo | City of Gaithersburg

Despite the rainy weather, hundreds—human and canine—enjoyed Boo! at the Barn on Oct. 29. Dr. David Handel, Kentlands Veterinary Hospital, and Corporal Chad Eastman, City of Gaithersburg K-9 officer, were judges in the K9 Halloween Costume Contest. Winners enjoyed prizes provided by Bark!

Photos | Mac Kennedy

The young and young at heart enjoyed the Kentlands/Lakelands Halloween celebration on Oct. 21 at the Kentlands Clubhouse.


309 Main StreetGaithersburg, MD 20878

For Advertising: 301.455.5721Also on the Web at www.towncourier.com.

©2017 Courier CommunicationsThe Town Courier is an independent newspa-

per published twice a month that provides news and information for the communities of Kentlands, Lakelands and Quince Orchard Park in Gaithersburg, Md. The paper is published by Courier Communica-tions, which is responsible for the form, content and policies of the newspaper. The Town Courier does not espouse any political belief or endorse any product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed and may be edited for length or content. The Town Courier is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. Let-ters to the Editor and Commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, management or advertis-ers of The Town Courier.

Pam Schipper Managing Editor

[email protected]

Debi Rosen Advertising Manager

301.455.5721 [email protected]

Leslie KennedyAdvertising Sales 301.330.0132

[email protected]

Staff Photographers Arthur Cadeaux

Staff WritersJennifer Beekman

Nora Caplan

Molly Cohen Mike Cuthbert

Gina Gallucci-WhiteSharon Allen Gilder

Betty HafnerSheilah Kaufman

Kira SansoneSyl Sobel

Bethany StarinMaureen StilesEllyn Wexler

Social Media Consultant

Mac Kennedy

Diane Dorney Publisher

[email protected]

Matt Danielson President

[email protected]

n CITY SCENE Continued on page 11

FlowerBar Workshop Series

Deck your Doors: Create Your own Wreath for the Holiday Season!

What: A holiday-inspired wreath you’ll make from scratch

with one of our expert designers! The perfect addition to hang on your door, or to gift!

When: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at our shop: 364 Main Street in the Kentlands.

Fee: $125.00 (includes instruction, all supplies, and light refreshments). Fees are non-refundable, but can be applied toward a future workshop.

Registration: Space is limited to 10 participants and is on a first come, first serve basis. No floral experience necessary. Don’t delay - sign up online or by phone today!

http://www.kentlandsflowersandbows.com Tel: 301.330.7720

Follow us on Facebook and our website for all workshop updates!

City Welcomes Comments on Proposed Kentlands Square Infill Sites

By Pam Schipper

R esidents are asked to comment on Saul Holding’s proposal to construct three buildings, totaling up to 16,000 square

feet of commercial space, in the current Lowe’s parking lot space between the Mat-tress Firm and Chipotle/Cold Stone Cream-ery buildings. The Planning Commission’s public record will be held open until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, and the Mayor and City Council’s public record will be held open until 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. Resi-dents can review the Kentlands Square Infill Sites SDP-7712-2017 on the city’s projects page at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/govern-ment/city-projects.

Saul sees this as “interim redevelopment” that is consistent with the Kentlands Bou-levard Commercial District Master Plan, and representatives described the schematic development plan (SDP) before the Mayor and City Council and Planning Commis-sion Oct. 16 as a re-submittal of a prior SDP that was approved by the Mayor and City Council in 2003. The prior SDP allowed for four buildings and up to 20,000 square feet of commercial space; only the Chipotle/Cold Stone Creamery building was built be-fore the 2008 recession dramatically slowed building and retail.

The newly proposed buildings would cre-

ate a pedestrian link between Kentlands Boulevard (at the four-way stop) and Chipot-le, and would leave adequate parking for existing and new commercial, Saul representa-tives stated. The new build-ing behind Mattress Firm has a drive-through option.

During discussion with the mayor and city councilmem-bers, Saul representatives defined the lifespan of this interim use as plus or minus 15 years. Saul Holdings plans a mixed-use community for the 12-acre former Kmart and parking lot space (up to 1450 multifamily units and up to 784,080 square feet of commercial), before moving on to redeveloping the Giant area of the shopping center, and then finally the Lowe’s area.

Concerns raised included the drive-through option, with Councilmember Mike Sesma commenting that this is not compat-ible with the Kentlands concept of a walk-able community, changing traffic patterns and increased pedestrian activity at the al-ready dangerous four-way stop on Kentlands Boulevard, and adding commercial space to

a downtown that overall currently has a sur-plus.

While the records remain open, comments may be emailed to [email protected], submitted in person at City Hall, or mailed to City of Gaithersburg Planning Department, 31 South Summit Ave., Gaith-ersburg, MD 20877. The Planning Commis-sion anticipates issuing a recommendation on Dec. 6. The Mayor and City Council plans a policy discussion on Jan. 16, 2018.

Need for Performing Arts Venue Under Consideration

The Cultural Arts Advisory Committee is looking into the feasibility of a large per-forming arts venue for the City of Gaith-ersburg. At the Mayor and City Council’s Oct. 23 meeting, Jim Hoehn, committee member and visual artist, explained that the committee is collecting and analyzing data to determine need for such a venue, as well as appropriate size, or the possibility of partnering with existing area venues. The committee plans to submit recommenda-tions in 2018.

Olde Towne Draws New Residents, Restaurants and More

Lenny Levy, chair of the city’s Olde Towne Advisory Committee, reported to the Mayor and City Council Oct. 23 that Olde Towne is making progress in its re-vitalization goals. Notably, Archstone, Hidden Creek and other apartment com-munities are more than 90 percent leased, the new Gaithersburg Police Department (GPD) headquarters at 16 S. Summit Ave. is in design, Olde Towne Park Plaza at the corner of Summit and Diamond avenues is

CITYSCENE Compiled by Pam Schipper

Photo | Submitted

The SDP proposes three commercial infill buildings (dark gray) in the Lowe’s parking lot area.

n SHOP TALK Continued on page 7

SHOPTALK Compiled by Pam Schipper

Vasili’s Recognized With Planning Award

The City of Gaithersburg Planning Commission awarded 2017 Gaithersburg Planning Awards to seven recipients Nov. 1. Awards were given to Vasili’s Kitchen, Lakeforest Animal Hospital, Quince Or-chard Plaza Redevelopment, Crown HOA Clubhouse, La Casita Restaurant, Majestic – Spectrum at Watkins Mill, and Crown Neighborhood Two – Wormald Homes.

At a Sept. 19 Planning Commission meeting, Chair John Bauer said that in considering 14 projects for the award, he looked for those that “upped the ante on urban development in the city or resonated

out past the boundaries of the project itself and did something that will really improve (its surroundings).”

Vice Chair Lloyd Kaufman said, “I think we’re very fortunate to have this many can-didates to look at … if you look at the top (projects), they’re all previously owned, previously run businesses that have been basically changed completely and I think that’s a wonderful re-use and they’re actu-ally acting as, if you will, locomotives to pull the train and economic development in these particular areas.”


Rockville Civic Center Park603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, Md.

Tickets online: www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre • Box Office: 240-314-8690

Rockville Musical Theatre presents WHITE CHRISTMAS 8 performances | Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 27, 28, Nov. 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, Nov. 5 & 12 at 2 p.m.Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. Book by David Ives and Paul Blake. Directed and choreographed by Duane Monahan. Musical Direction by Marci Shegogue. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. Their Christmas show is booked at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by their former army commander.TICKETS: $22; $20 SENIOR (62+)/STUDENT

Heart of Maryland presentsLET FREEDOM RING!Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.We salute the heroes of our country on Veterans Day. The Sweet Adelines women’s chorus sings four-part a cappella harmony in barbershop style. They will be joined by Misfire, a men’s Barbershop Harmony Society quartet, the Fugitive Brass Quintet, Gottaswing dancers and more!TICKETS: $15

Washington Balalaika Society presentsGYPSY SPIRITSaturday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.Enjoy Russian folk instruments: balalaikas, domras, gusli, bayan and more.TICKETS: $25; $20 SENIORS; $15 STUDENTS; CHILDREN (12 AND YOUNGER), FREE

Rockville Concert Band presents BACH, BEETHOVEN AND THE BOYS! Sunday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. A classic pops concert conducted by Music Director John A. Saint Amour. www.rockvilleconcertband.orgNO TICKETS REQUIRED; $5 SUGGESTED DONATION.

Hope Garden Ballet Theatre presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL 2 performances | Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. HGCBT’s eighth annual production of “A Christmas Carol” has become a local family tradition and was named in DC Metro Theater Arts’ Best of 2015 – Best Children’s/Family Productions. TICKETS: $22; $19 SENIOR/STUDENT/CHILD/MILITARY/VETERAN

TheatreAT ROCKV I L L E C I V I C C ENTER PARK

F. Scott Fitzgerald

‘Great Performances in the Neighborhood’


Compiled by Pam Schipper

Outdoor Classroom Taking ShapeMike Angles with McFall and Berry

Landscape Management is working on the Rachel Carson Elementary School (RCES) courtyard, preparing it for use as an outdoor classroom. The company is donating its time and resources, and the City of Gaithersburg has donated seats made from tree stumps. RCES PTA President Chad Older said that the vision for this outdoor classroom came from Principal M. Deneise Hammond, and work should be completed soon.

New CIP Looks at Changes to Gaithersburg, QO Clusters

Superintendent Jack R. Smith released his recommended FY 2019 Capital Budget and the FY 2019–2024 Capital Improvements Program (CIP), and this was discussed at the Oct. 23 Board of Education meeting. Sever-al projects seek to alleviate overcrowding at Gaithersburg area schools.

Of particular note is the proposal for con-struction of a new high school at Crown Farm. The 30-acre site in the Crown com-munity was set aside per the City of Gaith-ersburg’s annexation agreement.

The CIP continues to recommend a re-vitalization/expansion project for Dufief El-ementary School to alleviate overutilization of Rachel Carson. The requested completion date of September 2021 may not happen, however. The draft 2019-2024 CIP states, “the adopted FY 2017-2022 CIP reflects a one year delay for elementary school re-vitalization/expansion projects beginning with schools that have planning funds in FY 2019 and beyond. Therefore, the approved completion date for this project is Septem-ber 2022.” In addition, the school system is reviewing its approach to its Revitalization/Expansion program. “Possible changes to this program will be considered as part of the development of the FY 2019–2024 Capi-tal Improvements Program,” the draft 2019-2024 CIP concludes.

Finally, the school system is studying a site for a new elementary school on the east side of Gaithersburg. The draft 2019-2024 CIP states, “On August 31, 2017, the Board of Education authorized that a site selection committee be formed to evaluate potential school sites in the Gaithersburg Cluster. This potential school site could address the over-utilization at the elementary schools in the cluster. The site selection process will oc-cur in fall 2017 with Board of Education in March 2018.”

Superintendent Smith’s proposed budget and CIP will be discussed Nov. 2 at a Board of Education work session. Public hearings will be held on Nov. 6 and 8. Following an-other work session on Nov. 14, the Board is expected to vote on Nov. 27.

RCES Plans First Annual Race for Education

Rachel Carson Elementary School (RCES) will hold its first Race for Educa-tion on Tuesday, Nov. 14 to raise $12,000 for schools in Houston affected by Hurricane Harvey and another $12,000 for RCES class-room supplies. Students will ask for dona-tions in any amount and will be rewarded for number of donations collected, not amount

of money raised. On Nov. 14 they will run or walk around the school’s upper field for 45 minutes.

RCES President Chad Older explained that the fundraiser was Principal M. Deneise Hammond’s idea. Mrs. Hammond, he said, wanted students to understand that they’re part of a bigger community. Asking for do-nations builds civic responsibility, and the race ties into the school’s Common Good curriculum that explores active citizenship, responsible leadership, an entrepreneurial mindset and confidence.

Older explained that Mrs. Hammond was careful to structure fundraiser incentives around the number of donations a student receives. Prizes for participating include a treat for all Race for Education participants, a “Choose Your Seat at Lunch” card, a movie and popcorn party for the class that receives an average of three sponsor donations per student, and an opportunity to be principal for the day for the student with the highest number of donations.

“We want all students to be involved,” Older said. “We would rather have students make a lot of requests and learn from it. … The goal is to learn from it and grow from this experience, to have students reach out to a bunch of different people.”

As a special treat for reaching the Race for Education goal of $24,000, Mrs. Hammond will express her gratitude for the RCES community’s generosity by dressing as a tur-key for the day. Sponsorship donations are tied to individual students and can be sub-mitted here: www.race4ed.com/rces.

Address School StressThe Montgomery County School Psychol-

ogists Association will hold its first School Psychologist Mental Health Fair on Monday, Nov. 13, 5 to 7 p.m. at Carver Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville. Come and meet Montgomery County Public School psychologists and learn about mindfulness, yoga, study skills, stress relief, social skills and more. Parents and students are welcome. Contact [email protected] with questions.

ASSIGNMENTEDUCATION

KENTLANDSMarket Square — 718 Center Point Way

301-990-0398

Bethesda • 301-657-33324942 St. Elmo Avenue

Potomac • 301-299-522210130 River Road

Rockville • 301-881-74221776 E. Jefferson Street

Photo | Submitted

On the new RCES Twitter feed, Principal M. Deneise Hammond posted “Mr. Older and I are ecstatic about a partnership with Mr. Angles of McFall and Berry Landscape Management.”


ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT

n ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Continued on page 10

Legal Fees Too High?How about $299 for a simple will?

Not valid with any other discount program. Valid through Jan. 31, 2018. Please present this certificate when you meet your attorney.

JEREMIAH ELIASON, ESQ.177 KENTLANDS BOULEVARD, SUITE 200

GAITHERSBURG, MD 20878

301-590-9300

Compiled by Kira Sansone

Digital Wonders Art ExhibitThrough Nov. 27: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 1:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Arts Barn

Work from digital artists Allen Hirsh, Lisa Sheirer and John Wise will be on dis-play all month with a free reception on Nov. 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Main Street Farmers MarketNov. 4, 11 & 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Main Street Pavilion

Weekly market offering fresh produce, plants, baked treats and more. Craft ven-dors selling jewelry, health and beauty products, clothing and a variety of other goods.

“Shel” We DanceNov. 4, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Arts Barn

The Metropolitan Ballet Ensemble tells Shel Silverstein poems through dance. Tickets are $12.

Stand Up Comedy by Dan RouhierNov. 4, 8-10 p.m., Arts Barn

Comedian Dan Rouhier brings his char-acters and humor to Kentlands for ages 15 and older. $20 tickets, $18 for students (age 15-22) with student ID.

Kentlands Film Society: ‘A War’Nov. 5, 7 p.m., Arts Barn

This Danish film won a 2016 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Claus Peder-sen, commander of Danish troops in Af-ghanistan, works with his men to gain the trust of local Afghans. When he is ordered home, he is shocked to face trial, charged

for wrongful civilian deaths during a Tal-iban attack. Tickets are $9 each and can be purchased the night of the movie, starting at 6:15 p.m., or reserved by calling 301.529. 9951 or contacting [email protected].

Kentlands Acoustic JamNov. 7, 6-9 p.m., Carriage House, 321 Kent Square Road.

Bring an instrument and your voice to join in, or just come to listen. Free.

Half-Day HooplaNov. 9, 12:55-5:30 p.m., Gaithersburg Aquatic Center

A day full of fun and water for students in grades first through fifth grade. Depar-ture is from the Activity Center at Bohrer Park. Registration is limited to the first 60 participants. $13 for residents of Gaithers-burg; $20 for non-residents.

Art After Dark: Relax & WreathNov. 9, 6-8 p.m., Kentlands Mansion

Get in the holiday spirit with wreath makers from Butler’s Orchard. Admission is $30 for residents of Gaithersburg, $35 for non-residents. There is an additional $35 supply fee due at the workshop.

‘Miracle on 34th Street’Nov. 9, 10 & 11, 8 p.m.; Nov. 10, 1 p.m.; Nov. 11, 2 p.m., Arts Barn

The classic holiday play is retold in the tradition of a live 1940s-era radio broad-cast. Tickets are $20 and $12 for youth 14 and under.

Photo | Mac Kennedy

Run, if you dare! Fleet Feet Sports held a Halloween Fun Run/Walk on Thursday, Oct. 26.

Kentlands Veterinary Hospital Celebrates 20 Years

Dr. David Handel and staff celebrate Kentlands Veterinary Hospital’s 20th anni-versary on Saturday, Nov. 4 with an open house, 2 to 4 p.m. Drop by to see adoptable dogs and enter a raffle to benefit Rescue Dogs Rock, enjoy giveaways and more. Kentlands Veterinary Hospital is located at 117 Booth St.

My Big Finds Hosts Jewelry Workshop

Make them as a gift or accessory for your favorite holiday outfit. My Big Finds, 215 Market St. West, hosts a Mixed Met-als Earrings Workshop on Thursday, Nov. 16, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Arrive early for light re-freshments. The class fee is $65 and covers materials, including sterling earwires. To register, call 301.704.4091.

Edible Arrangements Plans Grand Opening

Edible Arrangements of Gaithersburg, located next to Bonefish Grill at 76 Market St., plans its grand opening for Saturday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can sam-ple the eatery’s edible to-go menu—fresh

fruit smoothies, chocolate-dipped fruit, and froyo fruit blends—and enjoy activi-ties for the whole family. You’ll find face painting, balloon animals, raffles, priz-es and a smoothie tasting contest. Call 301.444.4443 for more information.

City Looks at Lakeforest MallThe City of Gaithersburg Economic De-

velopment staff have prepared a draft re-port on development hurdles, opportuni-ties and local strategy for Lakeforest Mall. On Aug. 22, a substitute trustee’s sale of four parcels at Lakeforest Mall occurred, triggering much discussion on potential future uses and the role of local govern-ment in redevelopment.

The draft report examines the following:• properties and ownership that comprise

Lakeforest Mall;• legal constraints affecting development

and re-use;• Advantages and disadvantages of the

collective properties;• Interviews with property owners and

other commercial real estate profes-sionals;

• frequently asked questions;• an economic development strategy; and • partnership opportunities.To read the report, visit https://t.co/

cJKyiICfpZ.

n SHOP TALK from page 4


‘Blood Ties,’ as a good guy vampire. It was produced just before the vampire film craze of the 1990s, and the executives thought it was a little too daring.”

“Ironically,” he recalled, “they aired it on a Memorial Day weekend with lit-tle fanfare, but dedicated fans of the genre sniffed it out and it dominated its timeslot.”

Venton came close to getting Bruce Willis’ role “opposite Cybill Shepherd on the hit series, ‘Moonlighting.’” The small consolation was that a decade after the show’s debut, “they released a commem-orative DVD with both Bruce’s and my screen tests for the role with commentary.” Successes included parts in “Seinfeld,” “El-len” and “Cybill.”

Family concerns brought Venton and his ex-wife and their twins (now age 21) back to Maryland, where he “stepped out of the entertainment business and became a stay-at-home dad.” He was close enough to New York “to do a terrific guest-starring role on ‘Law & Order’ (2000) as a crazed hockey dad who, in a fit of ‘sports rage,’ murders his son’s coach.”

And he is pleased to “have managed to keep my foot in and my skills up along the way.” Those stints included filling in for an NPR host to read “A Child’s Christ-mas in Wales” with the Annapolis Sym-phony Orchestra, readings with several playwrighting workshops and two plays in the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage New Play Festival. Venton is collaborating with his friend, Gaithersburg playwright John Sowalsky, on directing and producing one of those Millennium Stage plays, “A The-ist,” at next year’s D.C. Fringe Festival. He also produced an Oct. 28 Halloween event at St. James Episcopal Church in Potomac.

While coveting roles in plays like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Richard

III” and “The Man Who Came to Din-ner”—as well as “any good guest-starring roles opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus … or on ‘House of Cards’ with a chum from my New York Days, Kevin Spacey,” he is ex-cited about playing the lead in the talented Sandy Spring Theatre Group cast. “Mir-acle on 34th Street,” he said, “is a classic as a film, and the radio version from the famous Lux Radio Series is likely to appeal to those of my generation who actually ex-perienced them as kids, but additionally, the radio format will be a delightful sur-prise to younger audiences.”

In partnership with Sandy Spring The-atre Group, Arts on the Green presents “Miracle on 34th Street” at 8 p.m. Nov. 9, 1 and 8 p.m. Nov. 10, and 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. Admission is $20, $12 for ages 14 and younger. This show is recommend-ed for ages 7 and older. Call 301.258.6394 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

n ‘MIRACLE’ from page 1

www.CESrockville.org • 301-424-6550 22 W. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20850

Photo | Ed Silverstein

Rowan Titus plays three different roles in Sandy Spring Theatre Group’s production of “Miracle on 34th Street.”

Photo | Submitted

Pritchard Music Academy’s Powerhouse Brass Quintet “trick-or-tooted” their way through the neighborhood on Halloween night. The honors brass group, comprised of Arjun Guthal, Kristen Gottlieb, Chris Hunter, Amanda Day, and Jason McFadden, set out from Kentlands Clubhouse and entertained passersby with a program of spooky selections.


now on the tennis team at Whitman Col-lege in Walla Walla, Washington.

“As much as I like playing (tennis), I love teaching it more,” said Lee. “And the rea-son I love teaching it more is because I like bringing people to realize their potential.”

He finds especially satisfying his clinic for wounded service members, which is called Wounded Warriors Tennis.

“Seeing these veterans out here, they have such a passion for competition. And it gives them a place where they can feel safe and where they can feel like ‘this is my area, I can own this, I can do this.’”

Teaching tennis has also been an outlet for him to relieve the stresses of maintain-ing a dental practice.

“You step on the court, all of it melts. All I have to worry about is how to commu-nicate with my players, and how can they get better. … In tennis we miss half the time, we learn, we move on. In dentistry you can’t do that. You have to be perfect in an imperfect world, and that is hard!”

Lee, whose other outlets include writing short stories, poetry and art, has a cerebral, almost spiritual relationship with tennis. As he explains in an excerpt from one of his writings: “Tennis, the metaphor of life, exposes the fallacy of living life seeking

only results of our efforts, rather than ap-preciating the effort and gains of walking the path of life. If our wins are handed to us on a plate, no matter how many trophies we gain, it is still an empty victory, with-out the realization that you did the work that mattered. In the end there are no ten-nis ‘losers’ only those who chose not to en-joy the journey.”

Lee clearly enjoys his journey and the thrill of embarking down new roads. The transition from doc to teaching pro is his way of answering the question that many people approaching retirement age ask themselves and never answer: What next?

“You see so many of my contemporaries being pushed out the door by their young-er associates,” he said. “I’m going to do this on my own terms.”

“It’s not retirement,” he said, “it’s a tran-sition. … You have to develop yourself on many, many different levels. I could never be a bored retired person.”

“Time is the one thing you can’t hang on to and you always spend,” added Lee, who wants to spend his time sharing what he’s learned not only in tennis, but also in life, with the next generation. “As we transition to different stages we gain bet-ter perspective and can disseminate more. It adds value to our lives and hopefully to our health.”

Lead� ship with visi� .

PAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY FRIENDS OF LAURIE-ANNE SAYLES, STEPHEN SCHIAVONE, TREASURER

www.laurieannesayles.com

“I am running to bring leadership with vision to the Gaithersburg City Council. I will be your champion for: a vibrant economy, environmental safeguards, eff ective schools, safe communities, and an open, responsive government.”

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Early Voting is available on October 28 and October 29.

n DR. LEE from page 3

Rockville Insurance

Call (301) 277-2535 or stop by today!

AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • FINANCIAL SERVICES

Phone: (301) 277-2535Fax: (240) 477-6009

60 Market Street - Suite 203 Gaithersburg, MD 20878

www.rockvilleins.com

Personal Lines

• Auto

• Homeowners

• Personal Umbrella

• Schedule Jewelry & Furs

• Motorcycle & Boat

Commercial Lines

• Business Owners

• General Liability

• Workers Compensation

• Business Auto

• 24/7 Certi� cates of Insurance

Financial Services

• Life - Term & Permanent

• Long Term Care

• Retirement Plan

• IRA

• Wealth Transfer

Founded in 1989, Rockville Insurance serves over 2,000 families and 400 businesses in Montgomery County. Rockville Insurance represents multiple A+

rated insurance carriers including The Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide Insurance and The Guard.

Please ask us for a quote today!

Social media milestone! We just topped 1,000 Twitter followers @TownCourier.


Veterans Day ObservanceNov. 11, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Concert Pavilion, 31 S. Summit Ave.

Guest speakers and members of the mil-itary gather with community members to honor those serving, past and present.

Museum After Hours: Geospatial WWINov. 15, 7 p.m., Gaithersburg Community Museum

Chief Historian at the National Geospa-tial-Intelligence Agency Dr. Gary Weir speaks about military and civilian map use during WWI. For information and to reserve a spot, contact the Gaithersburg Community Museum at 301.258.6160.

Nadim Khan Memorial Homeless Resource DayNov. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., The Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue

This is an all-inclusive event with re-sources meant to improve the quality of life for homeless individuals and families. More information at www.montgomery-countymd.gov/HHS-Program/SNHS/HomelessResourceDay/index.html.

Holiday Sugarloaf Crafts FestivalNov. 17-19, 10 a.m.-6 pm. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Montgomery County Fairgrounds

Browse work by more than 450 regional and national artists. $10 for general admis-sion; free for kids 12 and under.

S’more LightsNov. 17, 6-10 p.m., Seneca Creek State Park

Enjoy the Winter Lights Festival by taking open-air trolley and wagon rides, roasting marshmallows, having your pho-to taken with Santa, and warming up in a heated tent with a hot beverage. Dinner is available for purchase. Tickets are $14 (free for children under 2).

Art Night Out: Wine & ImprovNov. 17, 7-9 p.m., Arts Barn

This is an improv workshop led by a the-ater professional with some wine to help

sharpen your skills. Must be 21 or older. Tickets are $35 for residents of Gaithers-burg and $40 for non-residents.

Community Shredding EventNov. 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Activity Center at Bohrer Park

Shred paper for free. For more informa-tion, contact Environmental Services at 301.258.6370.

American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month Social PowwowNov. 18, 2-9 p.m., Activity Center at Bohrer Park

Celebrate Native culture with vendors, traditional food, performances and more. For more information, or if you are inter-ested in being a vendor or sponsor, contact Mary Beardsley, chairperson, [email protected].

Washington Capitals TripNov. 18, 5 p.m.

Watch the Capitals face off with the Minnesota Wild. The bus leaves from the Activity Center at Bohrer Park. $99 regis-tration fee includes transportation and an all-you-can-eat buffet and drinks in the Beck’s Lounge.

Wine Under the LightsNov. 19, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Seneca Creek State Park

Take an open-air trolley ride through the Winter Lights Festival and then enjoy wine tastings, food, live music and more. Tickets are $28 for wine tasting, and $18 for designated driver (free for children ages four and under).

Nearly 20 years of Real Estate experience, working in the Kentlands, Lakelands, and

surrounding Maryland & DC areas.

Contact me today to discuss your Real Estate buying and selling needs.

www.AmyDePreta.com 240-472-1719

FORSALE

www.15215seneca.com

9711WashingtonianBlvd.,Suite160NorthPotomac,MD20878.(301)921-4500

Nearly 20 years of Real Estate experience, working in the Kentlands, Lakelands, and

surrounding Maryland & DC areas.

Contact me today to discuss your Real Estate buying and selling needs.

www.AmyDePreta.com 240-472-1719

FORSALE

www.15215seneca.com

9711WashingtonianBlvd.,Suite160NorthPotomac,MD20878.(301)921-4500

Sales Manager/RealtorLicensed in MD & DC9711 Washingtonian Blvd. Suite 160North Potomac, MD 20878 - (301) 921-4500

350+ ARTISTSOUR

BIGGEST SHOW!

•Exciting Demos•Tasty Treats

•Shopping Fun•Kids’ Entertainment

SugarloafCrafts.comSUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN WORKS, INC. • 800-210-9900

DISCOUNT TICKETS, show info, exhibitor lists, directions and more at:

NOV 17, 18, 19, 2017Montgomery Co. FairgroundsGAITHERSBURG, MD • EXIT 11 OFF I-270Admission: $8 online; $10 at the doorAdmission good all 3 daysChildren under 12 & parking are FREE Fri. & Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5

HANDMADE HOLIDAYSBy

Jam

es P

erry

Photo | Submitted

David Terrar’s “Jimmie Cone” is part of the Olney Art Association Annual Juried Exhibition at the Kentlands Mansion.

Olney Art Association Annual Juried Exhibition Through Dec. 8, Kentlands Mansion

Collection of work by members of the Olney Art Association. Meet the artists and juror Bruno Baran during a free Artists Reception on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Photo | Submitted

Charlie Faye and the Fayettes perform at the Arts Barn Nov. 18.

Singer-Songwriter Concert Series: Charlie Faye and the FayettesNov. 18, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Arts Barn

Get transported back to the ‘60s with this nostalgic girl group. Ad-ditional workshops with the artists about songwriting and performing. $25 for the concert, $45 for the work-shop and concert.

from page 7

ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT


SUMMER SAVINGS!FALL SAVINGS!

jgllaw.com

Matthew J. [email protected] 240-553-1223

No one fights harder for your rights...Trial attorney Matthew Focht spent years on the other side – learning exactly how defense lawyers and insurance companies work to defeat claims. If you or someone you know has been injured at work or has suffered an accident, injury or death due to someone else’s negligence, you want Matthew Focht on your side.

Automobile Accidents | Medical Malpractice Workers’ Compensation | Wrongful Death

Personally...I Take Personal Injury

JGL_10793 Matthew Focht Ad_5wx3h.indd 1 10/18/17 12:04 PM

under construction with an anticipated com-pletion date in November, new restaurants including Rincon Peruano, Green Growlers and La Casita have opened, and the mixed-use project for 315 East Diamond Ave. (the Fishman site) has received concept plan ap-proval.

His committee would like to see increased traffic to the Olde Towne area, drawing peo-ple and new business from around the city and beyond, and leasing of the Archstone Apartments ground floor retail space. Levy also explained that based upon GPD reports, crime in Olde Towne is no higher than in other areas of the city; the perception of higher crime in Olde Towne, though, is a problem.

GBF Short Story Contest UnderwayFor the second year in a row, the Gaith-

ersburg Book Festival (GBF) is giving high school students the freedom to explore their writing creativity, with no opening lines or artwork to serve as inspiration, for its short story contest. “Last year’s decision to remove all limits and constraints on topic paid off,” said Jud Ashman, festival chair and mayor of the City of Gaithersburg. “The breadth of submissions and quality of work was impres-sive.”

The festival is also giving winners more money. Prizes for first- and second-place winners will increase to $250 and $100, re-spectively, for the 2018 contest. Third-place and fan favorite prizes remain $50 and $25, respectively.

To participate in the short story contest, students must be enrolled in grades 9-12 at a public or private school, or be in a homes-chool program, for the 2017-18 school year. Additionally, entrants must reside in Mary-land, Virginia or the District of Columbia. Complete rules and regulations can be found online at gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs.

The next Gaithersburg Book Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2018 at City Hall. Last year’s festival drew more than 100 authors and 22,000 attendees.

Gaithersburg Police Deploy Body-Worn Cameras

The Gaithersburg Police Department (GPD) deployed Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) the fourth week in October with selected offi-

cers. The deployment with the selected offi-cers is intended to test the body-worn camera system before a department-wide rollout that will be conducted in three phases in Novem-ber, December and January. All uniformed GPD officers are expected to be deployed with and carrying body-worn cameras by the end of January 2018.

Holiday Family Portraits Offered at Mansion

Kentlands Mansion invites families to par-ticipate in mini holiday photo sessions with Heartwing Photography. The 15-minute sessions run from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26. Reservations are required.

The cost per session is $95 and includes an individual edited collection of photos, an online gallery, and 15 high-resolution downloads of your choice. A one-week turnaround provides for plenty of time to order holiday cards.

You can learn more about Heartwing Photography at heartwingphotography.com. For reservations and information, call 301.258.6425 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

City Observes Veterans DayThe entire community is invited to join

the City of Gaithersburg for its annual Vet-erans Day Observance on Saturday, Nov. 11, honoring and recognizing all U.S. military personnel who play an important role in safe-guarding our nation and our future. The ob-servance takes place at 11 a.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion, 31 South Summit Ave.

City officials and members of local veterans groups will be on hand to honor those who have served in all branches of the military. Of-ficials, veterans and community organizations will also participate in a solemn wreath-lay-ing ceremony, followed by a reception inside City Hall. Joining the observance will be spe-cial guest speaker Major Anne Barlieb, com-bat helicopter pilot and wounded warrior.

To support homeless veterans in Montgom-ery County, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) John M. Carter Post #9862 has partnered with the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH), which provides emergency shelter to an average of 75 veterans annually. Donations, including food, toilet-ries and cleaning supplies, are being collected to assist veterans; a complete list is available at www.gaithersburgmd.gov, search “Veter-ans Day.” Monetary donations are also being accepted.

from page 4

CITYSCENE


News and Current Events for Quince Orchard Park n E-mail your contributions to [email protected] n NOVEMBER 2017

The ParkPages Meeting CalendarNov. 14—Board of Directors Meeting, QOP Clubhouse, 7 p.m.

QOP NEWS MANAGEMENT MENTIONS

Trash and Recycling

Trash is collected on Tuesday and

Friday and must be placed in lidded

trash cans. If left for collection in

bags only, trash is ripped open by

animals and strewn throughout the

community. Continued use of bags

may result in fines.

Recycling is picked up on Fri-

days. Containers with lids are now

available from the City of Gaith-

ersburg. Please contact the city at

301.258.6370 to have a lidded bin

delivered and the old one picked up.

Please remember that trash cans

and recycle bins must be stored out

of sight on non-pickup days.

The City of Gaithersburg offers

bulk trash pickup (furniture, ap-

pliances, mattresses, etc.) on the

first recycling day of the month.

The next bulk trash pickup is Fri-

day, Nov. 3. The City of Gaith-

ersburg and Potomac Disposal

(301.294.9700) both offer collection

services for bulk items at no cost.

Dog Duty

Cleaning up after dogs is the legal

responsibility of every canine own-

er walking a dog in the communi-

ty. Dogs are not permitted off-leash

on common property in the City of

Gaithersburg.

QOP Management Contact

Info

Quince Orchard Park

Community

Manager Ruchita Patel

Co-Manager

Alex Deering

c/o The Management Group

Associates, Inc.

20440 Century Boulevard, Suite

100 Germantown, MD 20874

Phone: 301.948.6666

QOP Halloween Party a SmashAll manner of monsters, witches, ghosts,

superheroes, literary characters and even trolls came out for QOP’s annual Hallow-een party on Saturday, Oct. 28. The cel-ebration was sponsored by Francesca Gi-anaris and Charles Wilson of RE/MAX Metropolitan Realty in the Kentlands, and featured pizza, cake, drinks and good-ie bags for the kids. Great costumes made judging the costume competition chal-lenging, and three winners were selected. The grand prize was four tickets to Para-gon Kentlands Stadium 10.

Lara Adhami Joins QOP BoardA QOP resident since 2010, Lara Adha-

mi became Board secretary on Oct. 25. She enjoys spending time in the neighborhood with her children, and uses most of QOP’s facilities and common areas. She especially values the friendliness and family-oriented nature of the community.

Adhami said that she has been interested in HOA initiatives and activities for years. She was inspired to serve on the Board af-ter she worked with the Board and man-agement company to resolve a common grounds’ issue near her home. The prob-lem was resolved quickly, and this positive

interaction inspired her to become more involved in the community in an official capacity.

New Community Website LaunchedQOP’s new website launched Oct. 25.

The website is more modern in design and ease of use. You can locate more documents and interact with the management com-pany anytime, day or night. Login to pay your assessment, check the status of your account, download or review the commu-nity’s rules and legal documents, book the clubhouse for private social events, down-load forms like the architectural change re-quest, sign up for community events such as classes on how to use the fitness equip-ment, submit a service request or question for the property manager or assistant, re-view Board meeting minutes, get news and announcements about the community, and more.

You will need to register for the new website, even if you have registered with the old QOP website. Setting up a sign-in name and password is easy and will allow you access to secured areas of the site.

Additional Board Member NeededWould you like to be more involved in

the QOP community? A great way to do this is to volunteer for the QOP Board.

Board members improve the commu-nity by caring for the physical aspects of Quince Orchard Park, supporting social events, and resolving issues as they arise. The Board needs to fill one vacancy. If you would like to volunteer, please con-tact Community Manager Ruchita Patel at [email protected].

Holiday Home Decorating Contest Announced

The popular Holiday Home Decorating Contest returns, but with a twist! This year residents will have additional time to dec-orate and will be asked to vote for their favorite from a Board-selected slate of five homes.

Just decorate your home by Dec. 18 to be considered for the contest, and then go to the QOP website to vote by Jan. 3 for one of the five homes selected. Recognized homes will receive $100 (first place), $75 (second place), and $50 (third place) Lowe’s gift cards.

Board to Vote on Budget Nov. 14

Please review the 2018 Draft Budget that you received in the mail, and provide comments to the management company. You can send these to Ruchita Patel or Alex Deering, community managers, by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]. The Board will discuss and vote on the 2018 budget at its Nov. 14 meeting.

No Pickup for Loose Leaves

Please put your leaves into paper bags and put these out with the recycling. There is no curbside pickup for loose leaves. Also, please remember that raking or blowing your leaves onto the common areas is not permitted.

Traffic Safety Real ConcernPlease watch your vehicle speed on

QOP streets and be sure to slow and stop at intersections, especially when schoolchildren are boarding the bus in the morning or arriving home. The Board is concerned about safety at several intersections, including Elmi-ra Lane and Highland Ridge Avenue, and the management company has asked the city to install a speed-mon-itoring device.

Photos | Pam Schipper

The QOP Halloween Party spilled outdoors on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Costumes are not just for kids, as new QOP Board member Lara Adhami (R) and her family demonstrate.


www.parcelplusgaithersburg.com

Celebrating 25 years!

$5 offyour purchase of $10 or more

(excluding stamps & first-class mail)Expires February 28, 2018

$10 offyour shipment of $20 or more

Expires February 28, 2018

Kentlands Square Shopping Center 267 Kentlands Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD 301-990-1070 [email protected]

MIKEAT THE MOVIES

By Mike Cuthbert

Only the Brave (PG-13) ****A bear on fire is the symbol of the forest

fire that haunts Superintendent Eric Marsh ( Josh Brolin). It appears twice in the movie, once as a prelude to terror and another time as the symbol of the end of a cri-sis. The movie is remark-able in its ability to cap-ture the fury and quixotic nature of big forest fires and of the aftermath of tragedy. The story is that of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots, all but one of whom perished in a single fire on June 30, 2013. What makes the story particularly moving is the fact that the Prescott Hot Shots were the first community-organized band of Hot Shots given that designation by the firefighting community.

Marsh and rookie Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller) are the focuses for the story. Brendan is seen as a stoner who wants to reform when he discovers that he is a par-ent. Marsh is in the last years of his service. Little space is spent discussing other mem-bers of the Hot Shots except for Christo-pher (Mac) MacKenzie, a sex-mad friend of Brendan who meets a nurse and sudden-ly reforms. More time is spent with horse trainer Amanda Marsh ( Jennifer Connelly) and Eric Marsh who have problems in their marriage and their lives that are fleshed out late in the film.

Never in a long line of fire-fighting films has fire seemed more daunting and unbeat-able. Modern sound adds to the impact. The film has several tear-inducing mo-

ments, especially Brendan’s return to the high school gym at a time when his sole presence tells the assembled townspeople all they need to know about who survived and who didn’t.

Part of the emotional impact of the film is in the realization that the Hot Shots were put together and worked together as a team without military supervision or a very tight organizational plan. They were all there voluntarily and died in a small cir-cle underneath survival blankets that didn’t work. The movie works.

The Foreigner (R) ****Jackie Chan as Quan, a former Vietnam-

ese military special fighter trained by the US, suffers the death of his daughter, killed by a bomb he believes was set off by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The setting is contemporary so, if true, the emergence of a newly militant and dangerous IRA is a big deal. Fighting the push to the old war-ring days is Liam Hennessy (Pierce Bros-nan), former IRA member but now a min-ister trying to maintain the peace. Or is he?

As so often happens with IRA-British Bureaucracy films, the plot becomes hope-lessly entangled. Identities are murky at best and switch as well, making it difficult to see who’s on whose side.

Quan doesn’t care who’s fighting whom. He just wants to deal with the fellows who killed his only remaining relative. He does it as only Jackie Chan can. Hennessy and his family are eventually forced to retire for safety to a family farm where Hennessy is told they’ll be safe. Hennessy wryly com-ments, “I wouldn’t count on it.”

He is right as Quan uses every available bit of cover to wreak havoc on Hennessy and we try to figure out who is old-fash-ioned IRA, who is “Authoritarian IRA,” who is loyal to Hennessy and who is not, and which of his women—his wife or his mistress—is guilty of betrayal. In such a film as this, they could both be guilty!

As Quan weaves his relentless way through the morass of guilty and innocent, he keeps the audience on edge. You might enjoy watching the puzzle unfold, then fold up again.

The Snowman (R) ***Disclosure: Jo Nesbø is one of my fa-

vorite Nordic noir writers and this is his biggest seller. I was, however, somewhat disappointed at the treatment it received on film. First, Michael Fassbender is far too handsome and young to play Harry Hole, Oslo detective. Second, the pace of Hole novels is relentless and steady. The film version plodded along and not until the last reel or so did it come up to speed. On the other hand, this is still a wit-twist-ing thriller, set up by snowmen that appear randomly at first, then whenever there is going to be another killing.

Extensive time is spent proving that Har-ry is a drunk and addict. Rebecca Fergu-son, a bilingual Swedish actress, is effective as the Oslo detective Katrine Bratt who accompanies Hole and warns him of any romantic moves. He has no problems with that, preferring to reignite his relationship with Rakel (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her son, Oleg. Other interesting players are Val Kilmer as a drunk Rafto, one of only

two males targeted by the Snowman, and Chloë Sevigny as one of the victims.

The musical score consistently threatens more than it delivers, and the beginning moves so slowly you begin to think the film is intentionally slow to match the cold weather. Hole is still a fascinating charac-ter, and I hope a director with more respect for the character will take another shot at him.

Suburbicon (R) ***George Clooney directed this piece,

written by Clooney and the Coen broth-ers with Grant Heslov getting a credit as well. It stars Matt Damon as Gardner and Julianne Moore as Rose and Margaret, twin sisters. Gardner is married to Rose but the whole mystery begins with her ap-parent murder at the hands of two thugs: Alex Hassell as Louis and Glenn Fleshler as Sloan. Their role in the whole mess be-comes clear late in the film when Oscar Isaac as insurance investigator Bud Cooper enters and tosses a wrench into the plans of Gardner and Margaret.

Meantime, neighbors gather in increas-ing numbers to harass and assault the only black members of Suburbicon, the Mayers. The demonstrations around the Mayers’ house have been done before and have the same mindless rationale that racism always has, but is that the core of the movie, or is it Gardner’s problems with the thugs or something else? Since the film doesn’t ever clarify its purpose, I’m not sure audiences have to decide.

Others I have talked with liked this film more than I did. I hope you’re one of them.


‘Little Fires Everywhere’Written by Celeste Ng

I f you pick up this new arrival to the world of fiction, you had better

clear your schedule for the next day or two; it is one compelling story! Celeste Ng’s (pronounced “ing”) first book, “Everything I Never Told You,” was a surprising bestseller, but she has topped it with her sizzling second novel, “Little Fires Everywhere.”

The setting is Shaker Heights, Ohio, in the 1990s, the upper-middle class town where Ng grew up during those years. She tells interviewers she loved the planned community and wanted to use it as a set-

ting—the dream of a suburban utopia, its rules and regulations, the concern about aesthetics and order, yet also, its openness to diversity. She reports she wanted to imagine a family that was heavily invested in the values of the community and “throw a flame” into their lives to see how people who have the best intentions may not be aware of their blind spots or prejudices.

The book begins and ends on the same day—the morning a massive fire destroys the home of the Richardson family. They watch in shock from the street—Mr. and Mrs. Richardson and their children, Lex-ie (a high school senior, who’s hopefully Ivy League bound), Trip (a junior, who’s a good-looking athlete), and Moody (a shy

sophomore with a crush on Pearl, a new-comer to town). The only family member not present at the destruction of their house is Izzy (a petulant, independent freshman), who, everyone knows, has started the conflagration. Through the smoke, they see Mia, their artsy renter, drive up and slip her keys to their rental property into the mailbox, before driving away with a packed car and her daughter, Pearl.

The storylines that flesh out the histo-ry of these neighbors are complex and spellbinding. Despite their different per-sonalities, the teenagers have become the kind of friends who gravitate toward each other and automatically head to the emp-ty Richardson house each day after school

to watch “Jerry Springer” and trade barbs. Pearl, the bright but quiet newcomer to town, is thrilled to be welcomed into this privileged group after coming from an im-poverished and nomadic childhood with her struggling-artist mother.

Everyone in town takes sides when two other mothers—a Chinese immigrant who works with Pearl’s mother Mia and a wealthy, lifelong resident who’s a close friend of Mrs. Richardson—are pitted against one another in a court battle over custody of a little girl. That is where the orderly life in Shaker Heights becomes un-done, and it’s every reader’s guess at how the story will end. Don’t miss this great new work.

Government Girl (Conclusion)A s my sojourn in

Washington, D.C., progressed and I

began to feel like a real resident, I discovered new pleasures like the Watergate Inn. It stood where the Kennedy Cen-ter is now. It became one of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests. The inn’s mouthwatering popovers were its main appeal for me, but the setting was so appealing, too, facing the Potomac River as it did. The present-day office buildings and condominiums on the opposite side of the river front didn’t exist then, of course.

The National Gallery of Art became one of my favorite haunts; its collection of French Impressionists was especially ap-pealing. A decade or so later my husband and I occasionally took our children there and discovered that each of them devel-oped her/his favorite paintings. Both were intrigued by Manet’s “The Dead Tore-ador.” A guard had told us how by viewing

it from certain places in the room, the sub-ject seemed to change his prone position in the arena. The gallery had concerts once in a while in a palm-surrounded courtyard. All these cultural riches were free to the public.

Near the National Gallery’s main build-ing is the Freer Gallery of Art. In it I came across the amazing original dining room the artist James Whistler had decorated for a wealthy client. The work was to have been done while the gentleman was away from his home. I suppose that Whistler had been given a free hand to use his own ideas, or at least he had received that impression. When the man returned, he was so offend-ed by Whistler’s murals that he never used the room again. Paintings of gold, glitter-ing coins, symbols of wealth were painted on all the walls.

One day when I was in the vicinity of Farragut Square, I happened to look up at the second story of a building across the street and was arrested by a painting, or rather, a reproduction of Rouault’s St. Jeanne d’Arc in a window of the Washing-ton Bookshop. I was so intrigued by the

bold and vivid style of the artist that I had to have a closer look. The post-WWII era in Washington had darkened to the be-ginning of the years of the McCarthy Red Scare. I was politically naive and knew nothing about the bookstore’s pro-Soviet leanings. As I entered it, I did begin to no-tice the Russian-language newspapers and other curious (to me), unfamiliar wares. The clerk who answered my inquiry about the painting seemed unfriendly and dis-interested in me as a potential customer. I had an almost instant feeling of unease … that I didn’t belong there somehow. I left shortly afterward. Sometime later, some-one I knew who worked for the CIA told me that I had probably been noted and identified by the FBI when I had entered the Washington Bookshop.

Shortly after I was married, I received notification that I was accepted as an edi-torial assistant in the Legislative Reference Service (LRS) of the Library of Congress. I had taken a test for the position and had passed. It was quite a change from my job with Veterans Affairs—the workplaces were so different and so were my fellow

employees. To take public transporta-tion to the library, I took a streetcar from Mount Pleasant to Capitol Hill, passing Union Station and the majestic Supreme Court building. I got off the streetcar at the next stop. Directly opposite the Library of Congress Jefferson Building was Capitol Plaza.

The lovely, tree-shaded Capitol Plaza in those days had a welcoming atmosphere. There were no physical barriers at strategic locations, no visible protective devices like today. The plaza was an ideal place to walk on lunch breaks. I might even get a glimpse of a congressman hurrying from either the House or the Senate office buildings to the Capitol. I remember how in awe of and impressed I was then of representatives and senators. Some of them were legendary, and still are.

My work in the Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress was mainly editing and typing on matts reports by nationally known specialists or infor-mation specialists within LRS on timely

n NORA’S CORNER Continued on page 15

Schaeffer’s Piano Co., Inc.Est 1901

NEW • USEDRENTALS TOO!Tuning • Repair

Refinishing

105 N Stone Street Ave.Rockville, Md 20850

301.424.1144www.schaefferspiano.com

We’ve Moved!Visit us at our new location!

Professional Service DirectoryDavid W. KushnerPresident/AgentRockville Insurance • Nationwide Insurance

60 Market Street Suite 203Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Tel 301-277-2535 x105Tel [email protected]

READER’SCHOICE

By Betty Hafner

NORA’SCORNER

By Nora Caplan


Foods for FootballO f course you have to

eat while the game is going on—and

probably afterwards—so here are some exciting and delicious recipes to help you keep rooting for your favorite team.

Ozark PuddingThis is a very simple, traditional recipe,

just the thing when you want to whip up something quick, easy and comforting. It’s an odd dessert that seems to be made up of parts from other desserts. The filling is gooey, like pecan pie with bits of apple. The outer edge is bubbly and chewy, like pra-lines. The top forms a thin, crisp crust that is like a sticky meringue or macaroon. In other words, this is not pudding-cup pudding but pudding in the English sense of the word, meaning dessert in general.

There is a strong similarity between Ozark pudding and the Huguenot tortes made around Charleston. There are all sorts of stories about the provenance of this des-sert. One account says that Bess Truman invented it to cheer up homesick Harry in the White House. Another tale reports that French Huguenots fleeing persecution brought this recipe over. Another story is that a Charleston cook tasted Ozark pud-ding on a trip to the Midwest, brought the recipe home, and prepared it to serve in the Huguenot tavern where she worked. No matter which version you believe, it’s obvi-ous that good recipes get around.

1/4 cup all-purpose flour2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder2 large eggs1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tart cooking apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)1 cup pecan pieces1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractLightly sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter a 9-inch square baking dish. Whisk togeth-er the flour and baking powder in a small bowl. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and salt until blended and frothy. While whisk-ing vigorously, slowly add the sugar to the eggs and whisk until thick. Stir in the ap-ples, pecans and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture, stirring well to incorporate the dry ingredients. Scrape the batter into the prepared dish and smooth the top. Bake until the top crust is browned and the fill-ing is bubbly around the edges, about 40 minutes. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving hot or at room temperature with the whipped cream.

From “The New Southern Gar-den Cookbook: Enjoying the Best from Homegrown Gardens, Farmers’ Markets, Roadside Stands, and CSA Farm Boxes,” copyright 2011 by Sheri Castle. Used by permission of the University of North Car-olina Press (www.uncpress.org).

Garlic DipYou’ve never tasted anything like this.

This dip will make a garlic lover out of anyone. This is one of the two most popu-lar and requested dips from my repertoire and from my book “Simply Irresistible: Easy, Elegant, Fearless, Fussless Cook-ing.” Serve it with veggies, chips, crackers or spread it on bread as a sandwich base. This dip can be prepared a few days ahead of time. Keeps for about 5 days in the re-

frigerator, just stir it every day. Sometimes I spread this on grilled fish or chicken, or a potato and pop it into the broiler until the dip gets bubbly. Serves 8 or more.

4 large cloves peeled garlicwhole bunch of fresh parsley, with long thick stems removed6-ounce can smoked almonds2 cups regular or low-fat mayonnaise

In a food processor, carefully chop the gar-lic, parsley and almonds until finely chopped into tiny pieces. Do not let the garlic turn to liquid!

Place in a bowl and fold in the mayon-naise. Blend well.

Cover and refrigerate. Stir well before serving.

Hint: When fresh garlic and fresh parsley are chopped together, a chemical reaction takes place and the eater will not get garlic breath, or garlic upset.

Meliga CookiesThis recipe is from “Home Cooked: Es-

sential Recipes for a New Way to Cook” (10 Speed Press), with over 100 whole-some and rustic recipes inspired by Anya Fernald. Anya tries to show all level cooks how to prepare satisfying foods.

Cookies for breakfast is one of the awe-some aspects of life in Italy and is a custom that should take hold here, especially since they are probably more healthful than most breakfast cereals! Of course, they can just

be used for dessert. This is a type of Italian sugar cookie. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

1 cup plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature1 cup sugar2 egg yolks2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting1 1/2 cups polenta (or medium ground yellow cornmeal)1 teaspoon vanillazest of 1 lemon

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle at-tachment, beat the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. Decrease the speed to low, add the egg yolks, and mix just to combine, then add the flour, polenta, va-nilla, and lemon zest and mix until a dough forms.

Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375°F and line 2 bak-ing sheets with parchment paper.

Dust a work surface with flour and roll the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Cut the dough into rounds with a 1 1/2 -inch round cutter and transfer to the baking sheets. Bake until just golden, 8 to 10 minutes, then trans-fer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Editor’s Note: Find more of Sheilah’s culinary treats at www.cookingwithsheilah.com.

KAUFMAN’SKITCHEN

By Sheilah Kaufman

from page 14

NORA’SCORNER

issues. The matts could produce multiple copies for members of Congress and the general public. Sometimes the reports were re-edited for the Government Print-ing Office. The LRS quarters were directly next to the Congressional Reading Room, where the poet Joyce Kilmer’s son was in charge.

For the first time, I had my own cubi-cle for work space. It was just outside the library’s G-H fiction stacks. Although we employees weren’t supposed to, I constant-ly sneaked home novels without checking them out. I read all of John Galsworthy’s “The Forsyte Saga” and Thomas Hardy. “Jude the Obscure” was much more mem-orable than “Tess of the D’Urbervilles,” which I had read in high school.

It could be exciting sometimes to work in a place that attracted so many world-re-nowned people. I could look over the rail-ing of the grand staircase that led from the ground floor to the second story and see celebrities like the movie star and later

UNESCO representative Myrna Loy enter the main entrance or then-General Eisen-hower with his ruddy cheeks and engaging grin coming to give a speech to Congress in the library’s Coolidge Auditorium.

I was truly sorry when LRS had to make cuts in its personnel. I was one of its newest employees; hence, I received a reduction in force notice. Fortunately, I was able to find another job with a higher GS rating. It was with the National Production Au-thority (NPA), which was one of those temporary government agencies that were activated with the start of the war in Ko-rea. I only stayed for a year or so at the NPA because I became pregnant with my first child. The office gave me a lovely sur-prise shower at my supervisor’s home, and I continued working until my ninth month when upper management got very nervous about my burgeoning condition and en-couraged me to go on leave. When I gave birth, I knew I couldn’t leave my child and return to work. That decision ended my government career. I’ve never had any re-grets about it.

TRAIN WITH US

WHAT YOU GET TRAINING WITH THE

AREA’S PREMIER TRAINING PROGRAMS:• Complete Training Plan• Quali� ed, Motivational & Experienced Coaches• Weekly Group Training• Educational Guest Speakers & Fun Prizes/Giveaways!• Exclusive Tech Tee• Finisher’s Medal• Fun Group Atmosphere

www.� eetfeetgaithersburg.comfacebook.com/� eetfeetsportsgaithersburg

NO BOUNDARIES 5K Run or Run/WalkMondays 6:30 pm

BEYOND BOUNDARIES 10KRun or Run/WalkTuesdays 6:30 pm

BREAKING BOUNDARIES 10 MILE AND HALF MARATHONRun or Run/WalkWednesdays 630pm & Saturday AM

FULL MARATHONRun or Run/WalkWednesdays 630pm & Saturday AM

INTRO TO TRAIL RUNNINGProgram begins Sunday AMNovember 5th

PROGRAMS BEGIN IN JANUARY


SPORTSNorthwest Can Learn From Quince Orchard Loss

By Jennifer Beekman

O nly one year has passed since North-west High School senior Chris Craddock stepped into his role as

starting quarterback for the Jaguars foot-ball team. But he’s evolved so much as a player, and a person, “he’s like a completely different kid,” Coach Mike Neubeiser said.

“Last year he didn’t have the confidence, but this year it’s all clicked,” Northwest’s coach continued. “He’s so confident in what he’s doing. He prepared a lot hard-er for this season; he understands you can’t just step onto the field and play, so he’s put in a lot of time and effort.”

Craddock is just the type of quarterback a team needs to survive—and contend—in arguably Maryland’s most competitive classification: 4A. He can run, he can pass, he knows the playbook in and out, he’s got good instincts and, perhaps most impor-tantly, he believes in his ability. He’s even stepped out of his comfort zone to take on a more prominent leadership role.

“It’s not really his character to be (a vocal leader); last year he was kind of a kid who came to practice and did what he was sup-posed to do and didn’t talk a lot,” Neubeis-er said. “This year he’s gone out of his way to make sure everyone else is doing what they need to do.”

And that will become increasingly im-portant as Northwest prepares for playoffs. The Jaguars hit a bit of a snag in their 38-29 loss to traditional rival Quince Orchard on Oct. 27, their first defeat to a Montgom-ery County Public Schools opponent this fall, but are still on pace for a rematch in the Class 4A West Region final—though Neubeiser said he’s not looking past Fri-day’s season finale against Bethesda-Chevy Chase (3-6).

“As hard as it is, sometimes you benefit more from a loss,” Neubeiser said. “Go-ing in, I think our kids felt confident and it’s good to know we’re similar caliber to

Quince Orchard, and I think it kind of puts the spotlight on some things we need to fix prior to playoffs. This forces us to focus on some things, which is good.”

Northwest gained some early momen-tum against Quince Orchard—includ-ing AJ Woods’ 80-yard touchdown re-ception from Craddock—to take a 17-7, second-quarter lead. But the Jaguars had a difficult time stopping the Cougars’ ground game throughout the contest. Un-less Quince Orchard had a penalty or an early setback in a series, Northwest strug-gled to get the Cougars off the field, Neu-beiser said. That coupled with a blocked punt near the end zone and an interception returned for a touchdown, and the cards were stacked quite high against Northwest.

The Jaguars also struggled to match up with Quince Orchard’s size on the line. But the next few weeks, until a potential rematch, will serve as a sort of halftime, Neubeiser said. Northwest will have time to make adjustments and add some new wrinkles. Plus, senior running back Ju-won Farri, whose status due to a sprained ankle was uncertain prior to Friday’s con-test, will hopefully be back at full strength. Through eight games, he rushed for nearly 1,000 and 12 touchdowns.

Craddock has a smorgasbord of athletic receivers to choose from. Led by Norval Black (362 yards in eight games), six play-ers—Alphonso Foray (249), Isiah Williams (170), AJ Woods (149), Juwon Farri (144) and Andrew Howard (120)—have caught for more than 100 yards.

“It’s crazy how important the quarter-back is in high school football,” Neubeiser said. “You can’t go in with a kid who’s not confident and who’s struggling. You have to have a kid like (Craddock). … I think we and Quince Orchard match up pretty well against each other, as far as talent. I think it will be a great matchup if we meet them again.”

Photo | Arthur Cadeaux

NW quarterback Chris Craddock tries to evade QO defenders in last Friday’s game at the Cougardome.

Photo | Arthur Cadeaux

Northwest fans create a whiteout in the Cougardome as the Jaguars take on the Cougars Oct. 27

that featured five different running backs alongside their dual threat quarterback. Northwest Coach Mike Neubeiser and his team had a tough time stopping the run, and described QO as having “a tremendous rushing attack.” Neubeiser said, “They are very big and physical up front and have tal-ented running backs and a multi-threat QB. They are a very difficult team to defend. We put a lot of guys near the line of scrimmage and still were unable to stop the run.”

Cooper, who leads the talented QO back-field, attributed their success rushing the ball to the game plan the coaches drew up. He added, “The fact that we know most of the guys on the other team and the history

of the rivalry fueled us to win even more.”Each team has one more game in the

regular season before entering the play-offs. QO will host their first-round oppo-nent and will have home games up through the regional final if they succeed in getting that far. QO Coach John Kelley knows the advantage that comes with playing on the home field. “Playing at home in front of our fans and community is a huge home field advantage,” he said. “The atmosphere at our home games during the playoffs is second to none. The ability to have our players keep their routines intact is also great.” If all goes accordingly, these two teams will face off again for a trip to the state semifinals. If you are a fan of high school football, you are certainly hopeful this matchup will happen again.

n QO FOOTBALL from page 1

Photo | Arthur Cadeaux.

Doc Bonner’s touchdown gives Quince Orchard its first lead, 21-17, over Northwest in Friday’s game.


JON M. SHERMAN, DPM, FACFASBoard Certified in Foot Surgery Diplomate

American College of Podiatric Surgery

We care about your feetProviding foot and ankle care for all ages.

Surgical/Non Surgical Treatments• Bunions / Hammertoes• Plantar Fascitis• Heel Spurs / Arch Pain• Non-Surgical Treatment for Neuromas• Diabetic Foot Care / Including Infections

and Ulcerations• Plantar Warts / Skin Conditions• Ingrown toenail / Nail Fungus

We utilize the latest Advanced Technologies, including: Digital Xray • Diagnostic Ultrasound • Pain Laser Therapy

Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus • Shockwave Therapy (ESWT/EPAT)

We Participate with all major insurance plans. Our office is located in the Kentlands, above Red Door Spa.Call to schedule an appointment or request an appointment

through our website.

301-330-566660 Market Street, Suite 202 • Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Bestfootcare.com

Northwest Girls Volleyball Eyes Three-peat

By Jennifer Beekman

P rior to reaching the state final in 2014, few top Montgomery County girls’ volleyball teams

gave much thought to Northwest High School. The Jaguars were solid—and had finished the previous few years above .500—but they were not really on the same level as the county’s traditional powers. Three years later, Northwest is the two-time defending state champion and has only lost one game in two-plus years. It’s hard to remember a time when Northwest wasn’t the team to beat.

While the Jaguars (5-0 in 2017) ad-mittedly have their sights set on winning an unprecedented third consecutive sea-son-ending title this fall, they have rel-egated the thought to the back of their minds to prevent getting ahead of them-selves.

“Obviously we want to win and we want to three-peat—that’s our ultimate goal—but we don’t want to talk to about it too much,” Jaguars coach Stephanie Blake said. “We’re just focusing on who we are playing next and what we need to work on.”

Winning back-to-back championships is an impressive enough feat on its own. Winning another title this year will be even harder, considering the huge target on Northwest’s back.

“Even in the regular season when we

go to play people, we get everyone’s best game,” Blake said. “Teams get amped to play us.”

But the Jaguars seem to feed off the challenge. They enjoy the competition, Blake added.

After graduating only one senior—albeit an NCAA Division I talent—not only did Northwest return essentially its entire state champion squad, featur-ing setter Janiece Jefferies, Dasha Ku-rochkina, Rachel Bennett and Janaisya Moore, but bolstered it with the addition of freshman Michelle Bennett and senior transfer Talyah Huss. Michelle Bennett is Rachel’s younger sister and was already considered an honorary team member, Blake said. A much-improved Natailya Chepurnova provides even more depth.

As in recent years, Northwest con-tinues to be propelled by a strong, fast-paced offense. But Michelle Bennett has done a lot to strengthen the Jaguars typ-ically weaker defense. Huss’ comfort and ability as a setter has allowed Jefferies—who moved from hitter to setter out of necessity—to become more involved in the attack.

“When we went to the state final that first year, the senior class this year were freshmen,” Blake said. “This whole thing, winning the division, winning region and state titles, is new. But every-one coming in now thinks it’s normal.”

Photo |Submitted

Northwest girls volleyball, led by Coach Stephanie Blake, is 14-0 for the season.

for neighborhood news, including sports updates, arts openings, Kentlands Downtown commercial developments and business updates, and city news that affects you. We are closing in on 2,000 “likes” and need your help to reach this milestone.

www.facebook.com/towncourier


students we had,” Carpenter said. “We were hopeful but you never know how the judges will react and how the stu-dents will handle the pressure of such a big event.”

The win validates hours of hard work not only from students and staff—Car-penter works collaboratively with assis-tant director Dave Eason and color guard instructor Jasmin Parks—but the parents. Between 20 to 30 parents are needed to help move props and percussion at every show, Carpenter said.

Most people underestimate the phys-icality—and endurance—required to march and play an instrument.

“Imagine going on a 10-minute run and only being able to take a breath every 20 seconds,” Carpenter said. “And when you’re not breathing, you are blowing out air instead.”

The planning for this show began in February. The band met several times over the summer and then endured an eight-day band camp prior to the start of

school, that went from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Jaguars also have rehearsal for three hours every Monday and Wednesday evening.

This year’s results have finally begun to make an impact on how the band is treat-ed—people who never paid attention be-fore are now eager to see this show and realize the hard work the students put in. Northwest has competed with this per-formance four times this year and has not yet been topped; the Jaguars are hoping to continue their win streak at USBands A Class Nationals scheduled for Saturday in Pennsylvania.

“This show is special,” Carpenter said. “The theme just works and draws every-one in. It has comedy, it has theatrics and it has great music. Beyond that, the stu-dents have bought in. They love the show and it shows when they perform it.”

Drum major Asa DeVries played a vital role in this year’s success. A talented mu-sician and leader, he is well respected by his peers and set the tone for this fall’s re-sults, Carpenter said. His passion trickles down into the seniors and section leaders and throughout the group.

“The Marching Dead” was a con-cept suggested by Eason. He envisioned a show where music heals zombies over the course of the show. During the pre-show the band is attacked by zombies (the color guard) and starts the show as zom-bies, with masks and wigs. There is also a sub plot of a mother and daughter—the mother gets turned into a zombie to save her daughter. The daughter then be-comes the driving force to help turn ev-

eryone back into people to save her mom, Carpenter said.

“By the fourth movement, we have figured out that music is what heals the zombies and the band enter the field in full uniform for the first time, not as zombies, but as people,” Carpenter said. “It is a true marching band moment and close to the show. At the very end, you see the mother and daughter reunited.”

Quince Orchard Places Second at Statesby Jennifer Beekman

L ed by drum major Christy Pahk, the Cougars finished runners-up to Thomas S. Wootton in the III A di-

vision at Towson. Quince Orchard did, however, win the “Visual” caption, which

judges how well the group moves together and maintains technique.

“The performance was one of the stu-dents’ best this season,” first-year director Eric Fiero said. “We had spent the week building up to it, reinforcing good habits

and also building confidence in the show. The difference between us and Wootton was the way the show was received by the ‘Effect’ judge, who judges how the music and visuals work together to tell a story.”

As with any change in management, the band underwent a transition this year, though Fiero said he made an effort to em-brace most longstanding traditions while introducing methods that have been suc-cessful during his band directing tenure. Plus, working alongside assistant band director Robyn Kleiner-Vilgos, who has been at Quince Orchard for several years, was tremendously helpful, Fiero added.

Success is important in building a com-petitive program and finishing second at states should certainly help the Cougars, who already have a reputation for high standards and commitment from members, continue moving forward. But Fiero said he most values the familial and community aspect of the group.

“Doing an activity like this is a huge commitment; it’s time-consuming and physically and emotionally draining,” Fi-ero said. “People talk about the time. The rehearsals. The band camps. But they don’t talk about the social growth it spurs and the community it creates.”

DonHoffacker’s

Air Conditioning& Heating, Inc.

“We have been given top ratings for both price & quality by a local, prominent consumer group.”

SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATIONSHEAT PUMPS

HUMIDIFIERS AND FURNACES19703 Waters RoadGermantown, MD 20874 301-972-0017

check us out on angieslist.com

Photo | Cara O’Connor

The Quince Orchard Marching High School Band placed second at states and first in the “Visual” caption.

Photo | Cara O’Connor

The Quince Orchard High School Marching Band takes the field at the USBands Maryland State Championship Oct. 21.

n NW BAND from page 1

Photo | Emily Carpenter

The Northwest High School Marching Band won first place in the state championship with its show “The Marching Dead.”


JUST LISTED!

KATYTHOMSTEAM.COM C: 240.988.1094 O: 301.424.0900

please check out more reviews www.zillow.com/profile/katythoms8

INTEREST RATES ARE LOW, IT’S A GREAT

TIME TO BUY OR SELL A HOME!

Contact us for a free market analysis & market ready tips to get Your home sold quickly & for top dollar!

NOW ACCEPTING LISTINGS FOR 2018!!

SOLD@99% OF LIST!

713 KENT OAKS WAY 124 AUTUMN VIEW DR 213 KENT OAKS WAY 857 LAKE VARUNA DR KENTLANDS QUINCE ORCHARD PARK KENTLANDS LAKELANDS

SOLD@99% OF LIST!

SOLD@99% OF LIST!

$625,000 Picture Perfect!

HIGHEST sale on street since 2014!

WHEN:

TIME:

WHERE:

••

••

PLEASE JOIN US WITH YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY FOR THE EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS® OF

G R A N DOpening!GAITHERSBURG, MD

November 18, 2017

Join us at Edible's newestlocation in Maryland for

an afternoon offun & fruit!

11 AM - 2 PM

Edible ArrangementsGaithersburgKentlands76 Market St.Gaithersburg, MD 20878(Next to Bone Fish Grill)

Sample our fresh fruit smoothies, Chocolate Dipped Fruit™, Froyo Fruit Blends™ & more!

Smoothie Tasting Contest

Raffles & Prizes Balloon Animals

Face Painting

Give us a call! (301) 444-4443


THE MIKE AUBREY GROUPof Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. is pleased to announce the pre-release of the

FINAL PARKLANDS PHASE

PARKLANDS

OF LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE, INC.GROUP

THE

NEW HOMES

KENTLANDS OFFICE(301) 975-9500189 Kentlands BoulevardNorth Potomac, MD 20878

MIKEAUBREY.COM(301) [email protected]

Gaithersburg, MD

TOWNHOMES FROM THE MID $500sFOR MORE INFORMAT ION V IS IT

m ikeaubrey .com/cra f tmark/

BETTER HOMES . BETTER L IV ING

LIMITED LOTSAVAILABLE FOR 2017 DELIVERY

PARKLANDS-

Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands...

Documents

Transcript of Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands...