Serenading Rockville’s “Unsung Heroes”

>Councilmember Piotr Gajewski presided over the City’s annual presentation of its Good Neighbor Awards tonight. Glenview Mansion was as decked out as the award recipients on this balmy summer evening when honorees, friends, family and their neighbors gathered for a reception and awards ceremony. The crowd cheered for the men and women who improve the quality of life in their communities in big and small ways – from advice and guidance to community activism to leaf raking and snow shoveling for neighbors in need to “creating, managing and implementing memorable community events with good humor and hard work” to reaching out to new neighbors with generosity and kindness “that makes more people willing to move out of our comfort zones” to a network of ten families who together provided food, flowers, clothing, cards, and entertainment for a neighbor who had become wheelchair bound.

The 2008 Recipients include: Wilma Bell of Lincoln Park, Marshall Fisher of College Gardens, Chas Hausheer of East Rockville, Joseph McClane of Cambridge Walk II, Paul O’Brien of College Gardens, Shari Perry of College Gardens, Andreas Vassilas of Twinbrook, James Wilburn of Lincoln Park, and Jack and Priscilla Baublitz, Michael and Jeanine Hartnett, Haywood and Lorraine Hughes, George and Roberta Margolies, Jim and Mary Martin, Jesse and Mary Meneses, Dave and Anne McBain, Gerry McDonald, Gram and Diane Paules, Mildred Shields, and Lois Wilson all of College Gardens who were honored together for their support of an ill neighbor. Rockville Central’s founder Brad Rourke was also honored for launching Rockville Central.

If you know someone who makes your neighborhood a better place, you can nominate them next year through the City Manager’s Department.

Update On RORZOR

As >Rockville Central readers know, the Mayor and Council are hard at work reviewing, amending, and preparing to pass a new zoning ordinance. Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala, who has been following the process, sent along an update on where things stand:

Apparently they stayed until 12:30am on Monday, and last night finished about 11:20pm. As a result of this concerted effort, they got through the text part of the ordinance and started on the map part. Their plan is to finish the map review on Monday, August 4. I would guess that the provisional meeting for Wednesday, August 6 will not be needed.

Last chances for citizen input are as follows: (1) the record is open until Monday August 4 (probably close of business, meaning the meeting time would be too late), (2) citizen’s forum will be held Monday, and (3) there is the Mayor and Council drop-in before that.

Then they’ll pass it after their summer recess.

Weekend to Weekend 7/31/08

>Events in Rockville

Thursday, July 31

Tracy Eldridge “Catch the Reading Bug”, Rockville Library, 2 PM. Hands on for kids over the age of 5, who will learn to hear music in their everyday lives.

Jon and Ben Carroll, Concerts in the Square, Rockville Town Square, 6 PM – 8 PM.

Friday, August 1

Patty Reese, First Friday Deck Party, 6th Floor Deck above VisArts at Rockville, 5 PM – 8 PM. You must be 21 years old to enter the deck and be able to prove it. She’s won many awards and played with some big names, so stop by and hear her sing. Free. $ for light meals and drinks from La Tasca.

Art After Hours, VisArts at Rockville, 6:30 PM – 9 PM. The Galleries are open and the artists are working in their studios so explore. Enjoy wine and cheese as you view the new exhibit “From Farm to Market “ in the four galleries. Eleven local artists look to food for their inspiration. Free.

HearArts, VisArts at Rockville, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Experience the literary combined with music. This month Mel Belin, poet, writer and author of “Flesh That Was Chrysalis” and Terry Mulligan acoustic guitar and also an author, will be performing.

National Philharmonic Choral Institute Performance, Richard Montgomery High School, 8 PM. Free. Adults from area choruses, such as the Rockville Chorus and National Philharmonic Chorale, will be joining the Summer Institute high school students for this concert.

Saturday, August 2

Rockville Growers Only Farmers Market, Corner of Monroe Street & Rt. 28, 9 AM – 1 PM. Free parking. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, plants and home-baked goods. Always a good review.

Sunday, August 3

Meet the Artists Exhibition Opening, Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Sunday Afternoon Concert Series - James Mabry is returning to play his blues guitar at 2 PM. Etchings & lithographs from Donald Depuydt and drawings/paintings/ceraminc from Nina Chung Dwyer & Shelly Stevens.

Wednesday, August 6

Preschool Films, Twinbrook Library, 10:30 AM. Take the kids for a cool morning to see “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble”, “Possum Magic”, and “Princess Furball”.

Rags, Out to Lunch Wednesdays, East Montgomery Avenue in Rockville Town Center, 12 PM – 1:30 PM. Farmers’ Market, fine restaurant food, and rock.

Brother Shamus, Concerts in the Square, Rockville Town Square, 6 PM – 8 PM. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and sit back and enjoy the music!

Thursday, August 7

Preschool Storytime with voice and sign language, Rockville Library, 2 PM. Ages 3 & up.

The Nighthawks, Concerts in the Square, Rockville Town Square, 6 PM – 8 PM. Acoustic blues band has a new CD out.

Saturday, August 9

Rockville Growers Only Farmers Market, Corner of Monroe Street & Rt. 28, 9 AM – 1 PM. Free parking. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, plants and home-baked goods. Always a good review.

Sleeping Beauty, Summer Production from the Rockville Civic Ballet, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 7:30 PM. $14/adults, $10 seniors over 59 & children under 13.

Sunday, August 10

Sleeping Beauty, Summer Production from the Rockville Civic Ballet, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM. $14/adults, $10 seniors over 59 & children under 13.

Email Cindy Cotte Griffiths with information for any fun, educational or community events to be included in Weekend to Weekend. Businesses are invited to send along specials and discounts. Please include links to your event and organization. We publish event listings occurring in & around our coverage area (map) on Thursdays. The inclusion of events and specials is at our discretion.

If you attend an event, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Just send it in and we will consider it. Rules: Event is in Rockville; fairly recent; article is your work; you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. Try to keep it under 500 words; we will edit for length. Include a photo if you have one!

POTD: Bloomers

>

Hee hee hee. Sometimes I feel like a ten year old. Bloomers. Hee hee hee.

Kids Eat Free Tuesdays Extended Through August

News flash! The wildly successful Tuesday night “kids eat free” promotions at Our Fair City’s >Town Square have been extended through August 26.

If you haven’t come on down to Town Square on a Tuesday night, be forewarned: it can be an amazing sight, filled to the brim with people. The atmosphere is somewhere between carnival and county fair. There is often wall-climbing, face-painting, and other kids’ activities. Come early!

Here’s a list of Town Square restaurants participating:

• Austin Grill (Every Tuesday - Lunch/Dinner. For each adult entree purchased, up to two kids get a free item off the kid’s menu.)
• Bobby’s Crabcakes (Lunch/Dinner. Free peanut butter & jelly or marshmallow fluff sandwich with milk. Minimum $15 adult purchase)
• Fractured Prune (Lunch/Dinner. Free donut with minimum $5 purchase.)
• Gifford’s Ice Cream & Candy Co. (Lunch/Dinner. Free small cup for kids with an adult purchase. All day)
• Gordon Biersch (Lunch/Dinner. One free kid’s meal (off the kid’s menu) per one adult entree.)
• Greystone Grill (Lunch/Dinner. One free kid’s meal with purchase of an adult entree. Dine-in only.)
• La Tasca (Lunch/Dinner. One child per adult. Minimum $15 purchase.)
• Lebanese Taverna (Lunch/Dinner. Free kid’s meal with purchase of adult entree.)
• Moe’s Southwest Grill (Lunch/Dinner. Free kid’s meal with purchase of an adult entree and drink. Kids 12 and under. Kid’s meal includes fountain beverage and cookie.)
• Primo Italiano (Dinner only, 4pm - close. One child size pasta with purchase of an adult entree)
• Robek’s Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats (Lunch/Dinner. Free Jr. Size smoothie with purchase of a 24oz or larger)
• Stonefish Grill (Lunch/Dinner. One free kid’s entree with purchase of an adult entree)
• Sushi Damo (Lunch/Dinner. One free child entree per adult entree purchase. Not valid with any other offers.

Simply mention the Kids Eat Free promotion to the participating restaurants to receive the special offer. (Certain restrictions may apply. See participating restaurants for more details. )

POTD: Duo

>

The light made it almost seem like these were inside, not outside!

A Fine Example, On So Many Levels

As readers of >Rockville Central know, the recent Planning Commission meeting at which the proposed affordable housing development Beall’s Grant II was considered has been a real controversy-generator. Joseph Jordan has written a piece taking the commission itself to task for the way the meeting itself was conducted, others have pointed out that members of the audience seemed remarkably agitated, and the underlying issue itself — whether or not to allow a 109-unit affordable housing development on the presently-vacant site at the border between Town Square and the West End neighborhood — has generated more comments than any other article in memory.

I could not be more pleased at the give and take, though I personally disagree with some of the comments. Still, that’s the whole point of this space: to provide a forum for people to disagree as civilly as they can, yet still raise sometimes-tough issues.

I want to draw your attention to one comment in particular, by someone who writes as “Max,” because in my view it exemplifies all the qualities one would hope to see in a space such as Rockville Central. It is civil, thoughtful, addresses real issues and does not attack any one in particular.

I have re-posted the comment in full here, with added links by me, because I thought it deserved it:

I didn’t participate at this particular Planning Commission meeting but I do share concerns after observing a few others this year.

Aside the Mayor and Council, the Planning Commission is the most powerful and influential body in the city and whose decisions often affect residents and businesses for decades. These decisions are mostly the result of the knowledge and experience of the Commissioners, the guidance and involvement of Planning staff, state and city regulations, and the decision-making process.

But these ingredients are found in all commissions, committees, or boards, which in our country are mostly made of volunteers and seems to be a result of our democratic sensibilities. So the suggestion that a powerful chief executive will solve the chaos of voluntary boards actually gives me the shivers (no thanks, I prefer our City Manager form of government in Rockville to the corruption and politicking that’s rife in Strong Mayor cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC).

Having served on many boards and commissions, I discovered most of my colleagues took their roles seriously but were confounded by their new responsibilities. They didn’t know their exact responsibilities and were unsure of processes and procedures. Unfortunately, it’s mostly “on the job” training and it often seems like you’ve been handed the wheel to a truck speeding down the highway. But in this case, the steering is actually being done by seven people at one time, so the “good driving habits” of a Commission can be easily upset by just one or two members.

After being appointed, very few Commissioners are trained for both their general and specific roles. The Historic District Commission is the *only* one in the City whose members are required by law to meet minimum professional qualifications and attend continuing education annually. Even so, it only recently developed its own comprehensive manual that provided state and city regulations, organizational charts, flow charts for common processes, guidelines for meetings, and reference materials.

So in the particular case of this Planning Commission (and it’ll change every time one member changes), the serious weaknesses are the mismanagement of public meetings (and that responsibility falls to all Commissioners, not just the chair); inadequate knowledge of both city and state planning codes and other regulations (there’s an incredible amount to master for Planning Commissioners); and an unwillingness of city staff to provide sufficient guidance (I won’t say “inability” because all the planning staff members I’ve met are smart, but somehow seem to be hamstrung when they attend public meetings). The first two can be solved with additional training but the last requires direction and support from the City Manager and the Director of Community Planning and Development Services (and perhaps the Mayor and Council).

And just for consideration, is there something crucial missing in our city code: we clearly spell out how a Commissioner is appointed but not how they may be removed. Perhaps this is to prevent these offices from becoming too political but if you’ve got a real stinker on your commission who doesn’t prepare for meetings, abuses staff, and insults citizens, currently we have to wait until his or her appointment expires, which could be as long as five years.

This discussion, although uncomfortable for some, is valuable and points out the perennial need for everyone to stay involved in Rockville’s government, both as citizens and “governors”.

Thanks, Max, for adding your voice to this space.

POTD: Cool Off!

>

Fine advice, that!

I also, of course, like the star.

The Millenium Trail Is Fun

As some >Rockville Central readers may know, I am training to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October. I’m running in connection with the Organization for Autism Research and raising money for them. This is the first marathon I’ve run since I ran the LA Marathon back in the early 1990′s.

So, I need to get in some better shape, and I have been increasing my run mileage. This weekend for the first time, I had the opportunity to run Our Fair City’s Millenium Trail, which is a bike 10.6 mile route that essentially runs around the perimeter of Rockville. It starts at the community center being built at Fallsgrove and runs around Gude, Norbeck, Wooton Parkway, and then back to Fallsgrove. Here’s a map.

It was a hoot! I know other readers are runners, including Cindy CG, and I am sure they know all about this. But I just wanted to pass along my experience.

The trail is more of a path, really, but you are out of traffic for the whole way. It’s 10.6 miles all the way ’round. It starts at the new community center being built in Fallsgrove, and is marked in half-mile increments (the markers are in the pavement). The numbers run clockwise, but I found it most pleasant to run counterclockwise (that is, I started running into Fallsgrove proper from the community center).

The route felt safe and manageable throughout, but there are some caveats. First of all, there are three or four major intersection crossings, with traffic signals . . . you will have to wait. If oyu are going for speed, you will have to figure out a way to take down time into account. Second, the final stretch, along Gude, is just a little bit, um, industrial. Lots of cars whizzing by (not right next to you) and lots of light-industrial buildings. It was hard to keep up my motivation along that stretch. Finally, it’s important to pay attention to the signs so you don’t get off-track. Some of them are a little confusing while in the throes of exercise (I don’t know about you, but I am not always thinking clearly when I am exhausted from running).

The route has a few gentle hills that are more of a psychological barrier than anything. There is nothing too steep.

Another local blogger, Don Libes, has posted a map at MapMyRun and it is excellent.

Overall, I found myself thinking as I ran that the Trail would be a good candidate for an informal “fun run” contest sponsored by some worthy organization. (Like the Twilight Run?) It would be a neat way to feature Our Fair City.

Let me know if you are ever interested in a weekend run to build mileage. I typically do my long run on Saturdays. If a group coalesces, maybe we can do it together!

POTD: Parked

>

There was just something about this scooter, parked as it was . . . it’s not like you don’t see something like that every day, but this one seemed sort of sinister, know what I mean?

Contributor Opinion by Joseph Jordan: Planning Commission Behaved Poorly

>The following contributor opinion is by Rockville Central friend Joseph Jordan:

POTD: Grace

>

These details, on a new home in the neighborhood, just looked stately I thought. Very graceful together. Welcome!

Weekend to Weekend 7/24/08

>Events in Rockville

Thursday, July 24

Tales from the Librarians, Rockville Library, 2 PM. If you are over the age of 3, you’ll love these tales from around the world.

Janine Wilson, Thursday Concerts in the Square paid for by the City of Rockville will keep on playing that music until 9/11, Rockville Town Square, 6 PM – 8 PM. Roots/rock.

Friday, July 25

Gypsy, Rockville Musical Theater, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. $20/adults, $18 seniors, $16/students. Will be performed for three weekends! This is the 2nd weekend. “Mama Rose takes her daughters on tour across the US in the 1920′s to make them vaudeville stars. Fame comes their way, and burlesque is born with Gypsy Rose Lee.”

Saturday, July 26

Rockville Growers Only Farmers Market, Corner of Monroe Street & Rt. 28, 9 AM – 1 PM. Free parking. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, plants and home-baked goods. Always a good review.

Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale. 10AM — 4PM. Says the County: “Spend a day or two in the country petting farm animals or having lunch by a scenic pond. Purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and more. It’s an educational experience and a great family outing!” The 19th year! Use this map and pick your farm. Make an afternoon of it.

Rockville Express vs Youse’s Maryland Orioles continued from 6/14 so check schedule, Montgomery College Rockville, Knight’s Field, 1 PM. Free Admission to all Home Games, which are family-friendly with souvenirs and food from O’Brien’s Pit Barbeque.

Gypsy, Rockville Musical Theater, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. $20/adults, $18 seniors, $16/students. Will be performed for three weekends! This is the last weekend. “Mama Rose takes her daughters on tour across the US in the 1920′s to make them vaudeville stars. Fame comes their way, and burlesque is born with Gypsy Rose Lee.”

Sunday, July 27

Gypsy, Rockville Musical Theater, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM. $20/adults, $18 seniors, $16/students. Will be performed for three weekends! This is the last weekend. “Mama Rose takes her daughters on tour across the US in the 1920′s to make them vaudeville stars. Fame comes their way, and burlesque is born with Gypsy Rose Lee.”

Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale. 10AM — 4PM. Says the County: “Spend a day or two in the country petting farm animals or having lunch by a scenic pond. Purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and more. It’s an educational experience and a great family outing!” The 19th year! Use this map and pick your farm. Make an afternoon of it.

Tuesday, July 29

Mariachi Los Amigos, Monument Park, Kids Parks & Performing Arts, 7 PM.

Wednesday, July 30

Eric Scott, Out to Lunch Wednesdays, East Montgomery Avenue in Rockville Town Center, 12 PM – 1:30 PM. Farmers’ Market, fine restaurant food, and some Soul Pop. I like Eric because he found me on myspace and sends me messages, which means he’s really reaching out to people and is dedicated to his music. He grew up in PG County. Last month his new CD was very much liked in The Washington Post.

Victorian Lyric Opera Company (VLOC), Theatre on the Lawn, Grassy Area behind the Cottage, Rockville Civic Center Park, 7:30 PM. Light opera, Gilbert and Sullivan.

Thursday, July 31

Tracy Eldridge “Catch the Reading Bug”, Rockville Library, 2 PM. Hands on for kids over the age of 5, who will learn to hear music in their everyday lives.

Jon and Ben Carroll, Concerts in the Square, Rockville Town Square, 6 PM – 8 PM. It’s a father and son playing soul funk.

Friday, August 1

Patty Reese, First Friday Deck Party, 6th Floor Deck above VisArts at Rockville, 5 PM – 8 PM. You must be 21 years old to enter the deck and be able to prove it. She’s won many awards and played with some big names, so stop by and hear her sing. Free. $ for light meals and drinks from La Tasca.

Art After Hours, VisArts at Rockville, 6:30 PM – 9 PM. The Galleries are open and the artists are working in their studios so explore. Enjoy wine and cheese as you view the new exhibit “From Farm to Market “ in the four galleries. Eleven local artists look to food for their inspiration. Free.

HearArts, VisArts at Rockville, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Experience the literary combined with music. This month features Mel Belin, poet, writer and author of “Flesh That Was Chrysalis” and Terry Mulligan acoustic guitar/author.

National Philharmonic Choral Institute Performance, Richard Montgomery High School, 8 PM. Free. Adults from area choruses, such as the Rockville Chorus and National Philharmonic Chorale, will be joining the Summer Institute high school students for this concert.

Saturday, August 2

Rockville Growers Only Farmers Market, Corner of Monroe Street & Rt. 28, 9 AM – 1 PM. Free parking. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, plants and home-baked goods. Always a good review.

Sunday, August 3

Meet the Artists Exhibition Opening, Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Sunday Afternoon Concert Series - James Mabry is returning to play his blues guitar at 2 PM. Etchings & lithographs from Donald Depuydt and drawings/paintings/ceraminc from Nina Chung Dwyer & Shelly Stevens.

Email Cindy Cotte Griffiths with information for any fun, educational or community events to be included in Weekend to Weekend. Businesses are invited to send along specials and discounts. Please include links to your event and organization. We publish event listings occurring in & around our coverage area (map) on Thursdays. The inclusion of events and specials is at our discretion.

If you attend an event, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Just send it in and we will consider it. Rules: Event is in Rockville; fairly recent; article is your work; you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. Try to keep it under 500 words; we will edit for length. Include a photo if you have one!

POTD: Scarecrow

>

It doesn’t look shiny enough to scare the birds away . . . but I am sure it works nonetheless. Someone should tell Staples we have another use for their bulk CD-R’s.

Vote For Eric!

>Rockville Central friend Eric Jensen, whose wonderful photography has graced many a POTD, passed along word that he has made the finals in the first-ever photography contest sponsored by Washingtonian Magazine.

His shot? A snap of Cub Scout Pack 928 atop an antique fire truck in Home Town Holidays.

The finalists are all here.

Now it’s up to us — Washingtonian is picking the winner based on votes. So, go on over to this link here, and vote for your favorite!