Living Nativityconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2017/121317/Potomac.pdfpromo codes will be posted at 2:00...

Artist: From PotomacTo Miami Beach’s Art BaselNews, Page 3

Spreading Holiday Cheer News, Page 4

Living NativityNews, Page 4

Home for the Holidays

Page 6

Holiday Entertainment

Page 5

Members of the St. James Episcopal Church Youth Group presented a Living Nativity on the

front lawn of the church on Sunday, Dec. 10. The pageant attracted about 100 spectators.

December 13-19, 2017

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2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 13-19, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Potomac Almanac ❖ December 13-19, 2017 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsPotomac Almanac Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

See www.potomacalmanac.com

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

Art Basel-Miami Beach is one thepremier art shows held annuallyin the U.S. It is an extension ofthe world-famous Art Basel in

Switzerland that has morphed into a glo-bal show in cities around the world. In theAmerican show, “leading galleries fromNorth America, Latin America, Europe, Asiaand Africa show significant work from themasters of Modern and contemporary art,as well the new generation of emergingstars. Paintings, sculptures, installations,photographs, films, and editioned works ofthe highest quality are on display in themain exhibition hall. Ambitious large-scaleartworks, films and performances becomepart of the city’s outdoor landscape atnearby Collins Park and SoundScape Park.Ó

Potomac’s Max Mueller has been askedto display his talents in this prestigiousshow.

Mueller, the son of Janice and MichaelMueller, grew up in Potomac , attendedSeven Locks Elementary, Cabin John Middleand graduated in 2011 from WinstonChurchill High School.

“I’ve drawn, painted and created thingswith my hands ever since I can remember,”

’Tis the SeasonSanta rides through PotomacFalls with the help of the CabinJohn Park Volunteer Fire De-partment. Santa’s schedulednightly run through the area is6-9 p.m. through Dec. 20. He isalso accepting presents forchildren that CJPVFD memberswill donate to the NationalCenter for Children and Fami-lies and the United StatesMarine Corps Toys for Totsprogram. New toys may bebrought out to Santa as hepasses by on the fire truck ordropped off at either CabinJohn Park Fire Station 10, 8001River Road or Station 30, 9404Falls Road. See www.cjpvfd.org.

Photo by Deborah Stevens/

The Almanac

he said. “I really owe it to my parents fornurturing my creativity and exposing meto so many kinds of art and cultures fromsuch a young age. I always loved art andusing my imagination.”

At Winston Churchill High School, hechose Honors and AP Art classes and, in hisjunior year, had the opportunity to displayhis art in juried art competitions such asthe John Hopkins’ VisArts competitionwhere he received an honorable mention.In his senior year, he won the Gold KeyAward from Scholastic Art and Writing andwas accepted into the Parsons School of

Design in New York City to study industrialand product design. He graduated in 2015and makes Brooklyn his home.

“Winston Churchill High School is whereI really started my journey to becoming anartist,” he said. “I had the most amazingteacher, Alexandra Michaels, who taught meso much. The first art show I was ever apart of was at Behnke’s Nursery in April of2009. This is where I fell in love with show-casing my work. I also apprenticed andstudied painting at Yellow Barn Studios atGlen Echo Park where I did a lot of still lifeand nude figure studies. I built the founda-

tion, but knew that my art would al-ways be influenced more by the cul-tures of skateboarding, cartoons, folkart, pop art, low-brow, DIY and streetart.”

Although his day job is in appareldesign “to be able to afford his cre-ativity,” his real love is working in hisstudio and displaying his art in showsand galleries.

“I have been so fortunate that I havemet success through following mypassions. I have been a skateboardersince I was 7 and when I moved toNew York, skateboarding was mymain form of transportation. I becameacquainted with the skateboardingcommunity and through the people Imet, I became hooked up with Adidas— who really put me on the map. Idid shirts, shoes and then was fea-tured on the back cover of the Au-gust issue of Juxtapoz Art and Cul-ture Magazine. I have also done de-

signs for Vans, Mountain Dew, Mike Vallely,Arizona Ice Tea, NYSkateboarding, Barnesand Noble and many more.”

This year, Adidas will be featuring 14 art-ists from around the world — and Muelleris one of four from the U.S. chosen to par-ticipate. “I would not be at Art Basel – Mi-ami Beach if it weren’t for Adidas,” he said.“My goal is to be able to pursue my art as afull-time job; right now, I am just excitedand pleased that companies are seeking meout for my designs.”

To view more of Mueller’s art go to:www.muellerstudios.net.

Displaying His Art at Miami Beach’s Art BaselMax Mueller creditsparents and WinstonChurchill High School.

Photo by Juliana Tan

Maximilian Mueller is an AmericanContemporary artist fromPotomac, currently based in Brook-lyn, N.Y.

Photos by Chris Miller

Max Mueller has done designs for Vans,Mountain Dew, Mike Vallely, Arizona IceTea, NYSkateboarding, Barnes andNoble and others.


News

POTOMACALMANAC

www.PotomacAlmanac.com

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The Montgomery County Council unani-mously passed a resolution Tuesday, Dec. 12calling on national leaders to extend Tem-

porary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible recipientsfrom all nations currently covered, and to create alegal framework that would create a path to perma-nent residency for TPS holders, as well as beneficia-ries of and people eligible for the Deferred Actionfor Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Ambassador of El Salvador Claudia Ivette Canjurade Centeno, General Consul Ena Peña, and Mary-land Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez attended the council ses-sion to voice their support for the resolution, whichwas introduced by Councilmember George Leventhaland Council President Nancy Navarro, was co-spon-sored by all other councilmembers.

“Countless TPS holders and DACA recipients callMontgomery County home. They are our neighbors,our co-workers, our colleagues and our friends.” saidLeventhal, who serves as chair of the council’s Healthand Human Services Committee. “To kick them outof the country, without regard to how it would affectour economy or our schools is short-sighted, thought-less and cruel.”

The current administration has announced that itwill no longer renew TPS for nationals from Nicara-gua, Haiti, and other nations, breaking with decadesof precedent. The Department of Homeland Secu-rity is currently reviewing possible termination of allother TPS programs, including TPS benefits for250,000 Salvadorans and 57,000 Hondurans, two

nationalities which comprise the majority ofMaryland’s TPS holders. The status of all 800,000DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers, will like-wise expire in March 2018 if they are not providedwith a path to legalize their status.

Maryland is home to the second largest popula-tion of TPS holders nationally, with 19,800 from ElSalvador, as well as more than 9,700 Dreamers. Thetermination of TPS status and the DACA programwould result in annual economic losses of approxi-mately $1.6 billion to Maryland, as well as puttingindividuals and families in perilous conditions andseparating parents from their U.S.-born children,according to the council statement.

“For more than 20 years we have welcomed refu-gees from all over the world, allowing them to builda life in our community,” said Councilmember Elrich,who serves as chair of the council’s Public SafetyCommittee. “They have obtained jobs legally andworked hard, started businesses, paid taxes, pur-chased homes, had children, and built rich lives forthemselves in their new home. They are valued mem-bers of our community, yet this new policy threatensto tear families apart — to separate children fromparents, breadwinners from their families, spousesfrom one another. It is the antithesis of family val-ues, and will leave a hole in the fabric of our com-munity and our country of immigrants. I join mycolleagues in urging the federal government to finda legislative solution to the crisis created by the ter-mination of TPS status and the DACA program.”

County Council calls on federal government to ensurelegal status of beneficiaries of Temporary ProtectedStatus and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Protect TPS and DACA Recipients

Submit civic/community announce-ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least twoweeks before event.

SOBER-RIDE FOR WINTER HOLIDAYSFree Sober Rides. The annual Holiday

SoberRider program will operate 8p.m.-4 a.m. each night from Friday,Dec. 15, 2017-Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.area residents age 21 and oldercelebrating with alcohol maydownload Lyft to their phones, thenenter the code in the app’s “Promo”section to receive their no cost (up to$15) safe transportation home.WRAP’s weekly Holiday SoberRidepromo codes will be posted at 2:00pm on Dec. 15, Dec. 23 and Dec. 31on www.SoberRide.com.

See Bulletin, Page 8

Bulletin Board

Living NativityMembers of the St. James Episcopal Church Youth Group, students in grades 6-12,presented a Living Nativity on the front lawn of the church, 11815 Seven LocksRoad on Sunday, Dec. 10. The Nativity featured traditional Christmas carols andlive animals including a donkey, some sheep and some goats, borrowed from DavidD Farms in Frederick County.

Photo Contributed

A local charity is workingto make sure all fami-lies in MontgomeryCounty have a joyous

holiday season. Interfaith Works,local non-profit, social service or-ganization, is collecting gift cardsfor those in need.

The organization’s officials areasking the public to donate $25gift cards to stores such as Giant,Aldi, Kmart, Kohls, and Target.“Many families struggle to paybasic expenses throughout theyear,” said Charlotte Garvey of In-terfaith Works. “When the holidaysroll around, they have nothingextra for the kind of holidays thatmost of us remember and cherish.The gift cards will provide amemorable holiday meal and al-low parents to give their childrenthat special gift they really want.”

Gift cards can be delivered to theInterfaith Works offices, located at114 West Montgomery Ave.,Rockville by Dec. 15.

— Marilyn Campbell

Local non-profitcollecting giftcards forthe needy.

SpreadingHolidayCheer

Holiday GivingInterfaith WorksDeliver Gift Cards by Dec. 15114 West Montgomery Ave.Rockville, MD 20850Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Holiday Entertainment

Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.

ONGOINGFriends of the Yellow Barn.

Through Dec. 23, The Yellow BarnStudio gives annual members show.Visit www.glenechopark.org orwww.yellowbarnstudio.com. Call301-634-2222.

Winter Lights Festival. Through Dec.31, Sunday-Thursday, 6-9 p.m.;Friday-Saturday, 6-10 p.m. at SenecaCreek Park, 11950 Clopper Road,Gaithersburg. Winter Lights is a 3.5-mile drive through a holiday lightshow at Seneca Creek Park with morethan 360 illuminated displays.Additional events include WineUnder the Lights, Run Under theLights, Leashes ’n’ Lights, and, S’MoreLights & Trolley Rides. Visitwww.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/special-events/winter-lights-festival.

Silver and Gold Exhibit. Varioustimes through Jan. 6 at The WaverlyStreet Gallery, 4600 East WestHighway, Bethesda. Call 301-951-9441 for more.

Potomac Games Group.Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. at PotomacCommunity Recreation Center,11315 Falls Road, Potomac. Theworld is in the midst of a Golden Ageof new board and card games forplayers of all ages. Free. Contactevent host Randy Hoffman at 412-983-5411 [email protected].

DECEMBER 2017Christmas Tree Sale. Cabin John

Park Volunteer Fire Department,Station 10, 8001 River Road. Call301-365-2255 or visitwww.cjpvfd.org.

Santa on Fire Engines ToyCollection. A procession of fireengines run by the Cabin John ParkVolunteer Fire Department, carrySanta on a tour of Potomacneighborhoods over the course ofseveral evenings in December,collecting unwrapped new toys forneedy children. Call 301-365-2255 orvisit www.cjpvfd.org.

THURSDAY/DEC. 14Holiday Party. 1-3 p.m. at Damascus

Senior Center, 9701 Main St.,Damascus. Celebrate the holidayseason and the New Year with lightrefreshments and a toast to the NewYear. Free. Call 240-777-6995 formore.

FRIDAY/DEC. 15Take a Cancer Survivor to

Breakfast Day. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at theOriginal Pancake House, 7703Woodmont Ave, Bethesda. 15 percentof all receipt totals will be donated tothe National Coalition for CancerSurvivorship, courtesy of the BulmanFamily, owners of the restaurant.Visitwww.originalpancakehouse.com/ formore.

Winter Wonderland on Ice. 5–9p.m. at Plum Gar CommunityRecreation Center, 19561 SceneryDrive, Germantown. Skating on ice,karaoke, baking, and lightrefreshments. Call 240-777-4919 formore.

PCR’s Annual Holiday Party. 7-9p.m. at The Connelly School of theHoly Child Gym, 9029 Bradley Blvd.,Potomac. Party for PotomacCommunity Rescources members andvolunteers featuring a DJ, dancingand light fare. Visit pcr-inc.org, [email protected] or call 301-365-0561.

Pre Teen Winter Party. 9:15-11 p.m.at Potomac Community Recreation

Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac.Join other middle schoolers forgames and snacks, featuring DJ Eli.$5. Call 240-777-6956 for more.

SATURDAY/DEC. 16Winter Wonderland Breakfast. 9–

11 a.m. at the East CountyCommunity Recreation Center, 3310Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring.Breakfast with Santa and friends,face painting and more. Have yourpicture taken with Santa. Call 240-777-8090 for more.

Holiday Fair and Puppet Show. 11a.m.-2 p.m. at Gwendolyn CoffieldCommunity Recreation Center, 2450Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring.Family festivity featuring “Santa’sWorkshop” presented by Blue SkyPuppet Theater. Free. VisitActiveMONTGOMERY.org or call240-777-4900 for more.

Mountain Dulcimers of NorthernVirginia. 1:30-3:30 p.m. at GreatFalls Tavern, 11710 MacArthur Blvd.Visitors may try their hand at playinga mountain dulcimer, percussioninstrument, or simply sing along. Call301-767-3714 for more.

Artist Demonstration. 3-5 p.m. at atGallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., SuiteE, Bethesda, Loriann Signoridemonstrates her techniques forlandscape paintings. Call 301-215-7990 for more.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 16-17Handel’s “Messiah.” Saturday, 8

p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. at theStrathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,North Bethesda. Led by ArtisticDirector Stan Engebretson, theconcert will feature thePhilharmonic’s nearly 200 voice all-volunteer Chorale, as well as soloistsEsther Heideman (soprano); Yvette

Smith (mezzo-soprano); NormanShankle (tenor); and TrevorScheunemann (baritone). $28-$88.Visit www.nationalphilharmonic.orgor call 301-581-5100.

SUNDAY/DEC. 17An Afternoon with Santa. noon-2

p.m. at the Praisner CommunityRecreation Center, 14906 OldColumbia Pike, Burtonsville. Kid-friendly spaghetti lunch; pictureswith Santa (bring camera); arts andcrafts; cookie decorating; moonbounce and more. $5. Ages 12 andunder. Call 240-777-4970 for more.

MONDAY/DEC. 18Encore Chorale Holiday Concert.

1–3 p.m. at the MargaretSchweinhaut Senior Center, 1000Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring.Encore Chorale led by Jeanne Kelly,founder and director, as they performholiday music. Call 240-777-8085.

TUESDAY/DEC. 19Jingle Bells That Rock. 1:30-3 p.m.

at the North Potomac Senior Center,13860 Travilah Road, Rockville.Holiday tunes led by the NorthPotomac Amazing Senior Singers.Free. Call 240-773-4805 for more.

THURSDAY/DEC. 21Holiday Caroling and Concert. 1-2

p.m. at the White Oak Senior Center,1700 April Lane, Silver Spring.Eggnog and hot cider while singingholiday tunes with the NorthPotomac Amazing Senior Singers.Call 240-777-6944 for more.

FRIDAY/DEC. 22Holiday Party with DJ Tyzer. noon-

2 p.m. at the Margaret SchweinhautSenior Center, 1000 Forest GlenRoad, Silver Spring. Nutritionprogram will provide lunch followedby moving and shaking on the dancefloor. Call 240-777-8085 for more.

SATURDAY/DEC. 30Family Painting Fun. 2-5 p.m. at

VisArts, 155 Gibbs St., Suite 300,Rockville. Blank 16-inch-by-20-inch

canvas, acrylic paint, brushes, easel,and aprons provided. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/ for more.

New Year’s Party. 6-10 p.m. at theHoliday Park Senior Center, 3950Ferrara Drive, Wheaton. Ring in theNew Year a night early with partyhats, streamers, and plenty ofdancing. For ages 15 and up withdisabilities. $10. Call 240-777-4999for more.

SATURDAY/JAN. 6Art Retreat. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the

Buchanan Room, VisArts, 155 GibbsSt., Rockville. $50. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/ for more.

An Evening of Russian Jewels. 8p.m. at the WestmorelandCongregational UCC Church, 1Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda.Pianist Alexander Paley,internationally acclaimed concertsoloist and soloist with orchestrasthroughout the US, Europe, Chinaand South America, returns for hisonly annual concert in the DC area.Visit www.westmorelanducc.org.

Breakfast Fundraiser“Take a Cancer Survivor to Breakfast Day,” onFriday, Dec. 15, from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at theOriginal Pancake House, 7703 WoodmontAve, Bethesda. 15 percent of all receipt totalswill be donated to the National Coalition forCancer Survivorship, courtesy of the BulmanFamily, owners of the restaurant, in partner-ship with former NCCS CEO, Ellen Stovall.Visit www.originalpancakehouse.com.


OUR LADY OF MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH

Rev. William D. Byrne, Pastor9200 Kentsdale Drive

Potomac, Maryland 20854301-365-1415 www.olom.org

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH US

ADDITIONAL MASS INFORMATION

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

9:00 am no 7:00 am or 8:30 am Mass

Monday, January 1, 2018

New Year’s Day, Mary, Mother of God

9:00 am

no 7:00 am or 8:30 am Mass

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24Prelude music begins one half-hour before each Mass

4:00 pm Cherub & Children’s Choir/Flute (Church)

4:00 pm Piano/Cantor (McAuley Hall)

6:00 pm Cantor/Hand Bells

8:00 pm Choir/Strings/Trumpet/Flute

10:00 pm Schola/Strings/Trumpet/Flute

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25

9:00 am Choir

11:00 am Vocal Quartet

5:00 pm

Kentucky’s Moonshune, Mountains & Music, May 7-10. ...................................$799Includes Motorcoach from Vienna, McLean Metro & Rockville, 3 nights hotel with daily breakfast, 2 lunches & e dinners, Sightseeing & evening entertainment.

Puglia, Italy, April 14-22. .....................................................................................$2795Includes air from Dulles, 7-nights at one hotel with day.y breakfast, 2 lunches & 3 dinners,Sightseeing. Call for detailed itinerary.

Bermuda Cruise from Baltimore on RCCL, May 19-24. ................. $464 plus taxesIncludes 5-nights cruising on the Grandeur of the Seas with all meals & transfers Transfers from Vienna will be available.

703.242-2204 1-800-556-8646100 East Street SE, Suite 202 • Vienna, Virginia 22180

Please visit our Web site at: www.shillelaghtravelclub.comfor a listing of all our upcoming trips and socials.

SHILLELAGHS TRAVEL CLUB

Those still looking for inspiration for holidaydécor are in luck thanks to some of the area’stop tastemakers. The lights and shapes of

Christmas trees, holiday mantels, a menorah andother décor, designed by some of Washington’s topinterior designers, are on display.

The designers donated their time to create festivedisplays for an event called “Light Up the Season” tobenefit for Children’s National Health System. Thedesigns were unveiled earlier this month at a festiveevent that included activities such as holiday cookiedecorating, ornament making, a visit from Santa andChildren’s National Dr. Bear mascot, musical perfor-mances and youth entertainers, silent auction.

Each original piece is a collaboration between pa-tients of Children’s National and area designers andbusinesses. The Creative & Therapeutic Arts Servicesat Children’s National worked with the Children’sHealth Board to pair designers with patients for in-spiration

The holiday decor will be on display and availablefor purchase at the Four Season Hotel in Georgetownthrough Dec. 20.

— Marilyn Campbell

Top designers create lavish holiday designs for charity.Holiday Décor on Display

Light Up the SeasonThrough Dec. 20 at Four Seasons in Georgetown,

2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.

Photos by Jessica Yurinko

Designer Kelly Proxmire of Bethesdacreated this holiday mantel.

Designer Camille Saum of Bethesda cre-ated this tree for “Light Up the Season.”

Arlington-based designers Alex Hubbardand Allie Mann put finishing touches onthe tree they created for “Light Up theSeason.”

Home for the Holidays


One coupon per customer. Validwith coupon only. Not valid with any

other offer. Expires 12/31/17.

Any UPS or FedEx ship-ment of 10 lbs. or more or$1.00 OFF if under 10 lbs.





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News

Montgomery County ExecutiveIke Leggett and Department of En-vironmental Protection’s (DEP)Acting Director Patty Bubarlaunched the county’s “Gift Out-side the Box” holiday campaignlast month.

The DEP public awareness cam-paign aims to help residents makesustainable choices to reducewaste, support local businessesand encourage volunteerism dur-ing the holiday season.

The Gift Outside the Box cam-paign has five main themes:

❖ Give to Reduce, Reuseand Recycle: Reduce waste bybuying gifts made from recycledor reused materials, and minimiz-ing wrapping.

❖ Gift Greener: Help the en-vironment by greening how youbuy and what you buy.

❖ Give Back: Instead of a tra-ditional gift, donate to charity orvolunteer with others.

❖ Gift Experiences: Fromtheater tickets to MontgomeryParks classes, give your loved ones’activities and experiences, insteadof more stuff.

❖ Buy Local: Support Countybusinesses and purchase locallymade products.

“According to the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency, house-hold waste increases an averageof 25 percent between Thanksgiv-ing and New Year’s,” said Bubar.“Wrapping paper, decorations,packaging, and in many cases, thegifts we buy, can end up in thewaste stream. We hope the ‘GiftOutside the Box’ campaign in-spires residents to rethink some oftheir gift choices, as well as, howthey shop. The easiest first step isto bring your reusable bag whenshopping for holiday gifts or sup-plies.”

The five “Gift Outside the Box”themes are displayed on RideOnbuses and in county buildings andfeatured on county social mediaand at events through the end ofDecember. DEP has launched aGift Outside of the Box webpage,www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep/gift-greener.html, which pro-vides a wide range of informationand resources for residents look-ing to “green” the holidays.

The County Council unani-mously approved on Tuesday,Dec. 12 a resolution directingthe Council Administrator todesignate appropriate membersof the council staff to form aWork Group on Meeting theNeeds of Residents with Devel-opmental Differences.

“The goal of this work groupis to provide a blueprint to ad-dress many of the important is-sues facing, not only individu-als with developmental differ-ences, but their family membersand caregivers,” saidCouncilmember GeorgeLeventhal, who chairs theHealth and Human ServicesCommittee. “Members of thework group will provide an in-depth examination of how in-dividuals with developmentaldifferences and their loved onesnavigate services for things likehousing assistance, transporta-tion, job training and educationand help us to identify areasthat need improvement.”

The goal of the work groupis to advance the equitabletreatment of county residentswith developmental differ-

ences (also called developmen-tal disabilities). The group willinclude representatives frommajor county departments –Health and Human Services,Transportation, Housing andCommunity Affairs, Recre-ation, Montgomery CountyPublic Schools (MCPS), andMontgomery College – as wellas the Maryland Developmen-tal Differences Administration,community organizations, andthe public at large.

While there is no exact esti-mate of the number of countyresidents with developmentaldifferences, the 2016 AmericanCommunity Survey reports that29,614 people identify as hav-ing a cognitive disability; withabout 70 percent of those be-ing less than 65 years of age.MCPS reported that for 2016,there were 2,386 special edu-cation students with autism;3,387 with a developmentaldelay; and 653 with an intellec-tual disability. Other nationalmodels estimate that the countyhas about 15,000 to 16,000people with developmental dis-abilities.

Looking for a ‘GiftOutside the Box’

Focusing on ResidentsWith Developmental Differences


From Page 4

News

WINTER GUIDE AVAILABLEThe 2017-2018 winter issue of the

Montgomery County Guide forRecreation and Parks programs is nowavailable to the public. The Winter Guidefeatures a wide variety of classes and programsdesigned to help participants stay active andhave fun. Residents may register for classes andprograms beginning Monday, November 13,2017. To view the Winter Guide online, visitwww.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/Resources/Files/publications/WinterGuide2017-2018.pdf.

THURSDAY/DEC. 14Legislative Breakfast. 7-10 a.m. at Bethesda

North Marriott Conference Center, 5701Marinelli Road, Rockville. Maryland’s candidatesfor governor will dine and then digest many ofthe controversial issues of the day with a one-hour panel discussion with moderator JoshKurtz, founder and editor of Maryland Matters.Visit www.committeeformontgomery.org/ formore.

SATURDAY/DEC. 16Rotary Club Tech Clinic. 10 a.m.-noon at

Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive,Potomac. One-on-One help with computer,tablet, or smart phone for seniors. Sponsored byRotary Club of Potomac(www.potomacrotary.org). Register for a 30-minute appointment at the information desk orat 240-777-0690.

Bulletin Board

Safe Passage CenterFor FamiliesIn Conflict

The county’s new Safe Passage Center isa family-friendly and safe access site forfamilies with a Montgomery County CourtOrder for shared custody and child visita-tion. The center’s goal is to enable childrento remain close to both parents regardlessof the family situation or parental conflict.The center is staffed by trained visit moni-tors and security guards who remain neu-tral in family disputes. It features separateparking lots, entrances and waiting roomsso that parents do not meet on site.

Situations that may necessitate a referralfrom the Court include domestic violence,mental health concerns, substance abuseissues, child neglect and/or abuse, and fam-ily conflict. Services available at the centerare supervised visitation, which allows par-ents in high conflict or high-risk situationsto maintain their bond with their childrenand have access to their children in a safeand supervised environment and monitoredexchange where staff will supervise thetransfer of a child from the residential tothe visiting parent at the start of the par-ent/child contact and back to the residen-tial parent at the end of the contact.

Referrals to the center are from the Dis-trict and Circuit Courts. Services are offeredfree of charge to county residents. Eveningand weekend hours are available to accom-modate the needs of families. Services areby appointment only.

The Safe Passage Center is funded by thecounty’s Department of Health and HumanServices and operated by Family Services, Inc.

For more information call the center at301-417-8939 or [email protected].

Clearing SidewalksOf Snow and Ice

Clearing sidewalks within 24 hours afterthe end of a snowstorm is a civic responsi-bility that keeps communities and neigh-bors safe — and it’s the law. Property own-ers are required to clear sidewalks in frontof, and alongside, their properties. Makesure to clear walks wide enough to accom-modate wheelchairs and walkers. If a neigh-bor is elderly or disabled, consider clearing

their sidewalks and checking on them dur-ing storms.

Montgomery County Department of Trans-portation will clearing ice and snow from 60miles of county-owned sidewalks (see mapat http://www7.montgomerycountymd.gov/dotsidewalk/) and more than three miles ofmajor trails, including along the BethesdaTrolley Trail, Martin Luther King Jr Recre-ation Park Trail and Rock Creek Trail. MCDOTwill also be clearing bus shelters and stopsthat serve the most daily passengers.

Residents who wish to report anunshoveled sidewalk can do so online atwww3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/SolutionView.aspx?SolutionId=1-LVLDE, orby calling 311 (240-777-0311 outside thecounty). Reports must include an exact ad-dress.

Volunteer To HelpVictims ofSexual Assault

Volunteers are needed to assist sexualassault victims and their families throughthe Victim Assistance and Sexual AssaultProgram (VASAP) of the MontgomeryCounty Department of Health and HumanServices. Interviews are currently beingconducted for a January 2018 training ses-sion. VASAP outreach volunteers donatedmore than 10,000 hours in 2016 servingvictims of sexual assault and domestic vio-lence in Montgomery County.

Volunteers provide 24-hour crisis coun-seling and companion services at Montgom-ery County hospitals and police stations forvictims of rape, sexual assault, and domes-tic violence. Bilingual volunteers are en-couraged to apply.

All potential volunteers must attend atraining program, which covers crisis inter-vention skills and the specialized knowledgeof the emotional, medical and legal issuesthat victims face. Volunteers must committo serve for one year, in an on-call capacity,for one 12-hour shift or two six-hour shiftsper week. All volunteers must be at least21 years of age, Montgomery County resi-dents, have a valid driver’s license and im-mediate access to transportation.

For more information or to arrange aninterview, call the Montgomery CountyVictim Assistance and Sexual Assault Pro-gram at 240-777-1355 or go towww.montgomerycountymd.gov/vasap.

Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Five weeks of blissful ignorance. (Speak foryourself. I am.) No 24-hour urine collection.No pre-chemotherapy lab work. No chemo-therapy infusion. No CT scan. No follow-upappointment with my oncologist – or anyother doctor for that matter. No brain MRI. Nofasting. No emailing. No prescription-drugrefilling. No vitals. No weight check. Notaste/eating side effects. No anything. Otherthan pretending and presuming that all is notwrong in my “whirled” (my underlying diagno-sis), life is for the living, and I’m living proof,random though it may be, that an incrediblygrim/surreal prognosis: “13 months to twoyears,” was not all it was cracked up to be.

Forgive me if I unleash my pent-up innerdemons. As a cancer patient, there’s just somuch to worry about; daily, weekly, monthlyand always, that when you get a break/brakein the action, it becomes a moment in time tocelebrate and cherish.

Good things may come in small packages,but great things come in five-week intervals.And though the minor deficits I have as aresult of nearly nine years of chemotherapyhave not dissipated; in the scheme of things, inthe midst of two-fortnights-and-a-half of “une-ncumbrances,” to quote my late father, I am“untethered,” to once again quote my father.This time however, quoting the late, great SidCaesar for a skit he performed (involving “anelephant,” my father always said) on “TheShow of Shows” back in the early 50s.

And so for the next month and change, Iam almost normal (or a reasonable facsimilethereof); other than following my daily anti-cancer, non-Western routine which I have longago assimilated into my dos and don’ts, that is.A routine which, though it can always beenhanced, is a direct result of the advice I’vereceived from my certified Holistic HealthCoach. And despite the fact that I may notexactly be on the straight and narrow – morelike the squiggly and wiggly, I certainly am noton the path I was when my cancer cells acti-vated after I slid into my first PET scan back inearly February 2009, and “lit it up like aChristmas tree,” according to my thoracic sur-geon. An indication/confirmation which led toa surgical biopsy a week or so later which thenled to the last nine years of my life.

Still, it’s been a life worth living and one forwhich I have few regrets. I have lived so farbeyond my original prognosis, it’s not evenfunny; it’s ridiculous. Sure, I’m doing more ofthe right things than I ever did, but hardly am Ithe poster boy for “see what happens whenyou ... .” If I’m the poster boy for anything, it’smore likely “how to maintain and evenincrease your weight while being treated forstage IV, non-small cell lung cancer.”

Not that I won’t savor the moments ahead,but I am mindful, which led to the substanceof this column, of what happens after thissemi-party is over: Jan. 2, 2018 – 24-hoururine collection; Jan. 3, 2018 – pre-chemo-therapy lab work; Jan. 5, 2018 – chemother-apy infusion; Jan. 17, 2018 – CT scan; andfinally, Jan. 26. 2018 – follow-up appointmentwith my oncologist to discuss the results of myscan, and then maybe another emotional hon-eymoon or, God forbid, a nightmare that diag-nosis to date has rarely raised its ugly head.

That possibility roams my head, constantly;compartmentalized – yes; “in the vault” – yes,but unfortunately, “the cancer,” (as “Forrest,Forrest Gump” said) still in my body and,medically speaking, not yet something one canflush out with treatment. But there’s alwayshope.

In the past few years, the FDA hasapproved half-a-dozen new lung cancer drugs,more than during the preceding decade. Idon’t think medical professionals would saythey have lung cancer on the run; they mightsay however, they have it on the trot. Which isgood for me because I can’t run, but I can trot.

As GoodAs It Gets

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