Mathew Taylor: Democracy On Halloween

>Rockville Central friend and neighbor Matthew Taylor has penned an excellent meditation in the Baltimore Sun on the relationship between Halloween and our wonderfully American experiment in self-rule called “democracy.”

It begins:

The time has arrived for one of our nation’s most visible displays of democracy in action. No, not Election Day. I mean Halloween.

Each year, as October draws to a close, I get excited. My days as a trick-or-treater are long over; my young children now fill that role. But Halloween in our neighborhood is a big deal. At dusk, the children in their costumes flood our decorated block. The autumn air crackles with their energy and enthusiasm, creating a festive atmosphere. And yet I see something more going on - something to do with us as Americans. Whether I am escorting my kids from house to house or manning the door to hand out candy, the Halloween that I see is not one of rampant consumerism, expensive costumes or trivialized evil. What I see instead, and what I find exciting, is that Halloween is an exercise in democratic principles.

Read the rest of the piece here. It really is quite good.

Tune Into Rockville Central Radio At Noon!

We hope you will be able to tune in today at noon to listen to >Rockville Central Radio because we have quite a show lined up!

We’ll have Duane Monahan, director and choreographer of the Sound of Music on. We’ll also have our friend Rich Gottfried, who is a CPA, to talk about Our Fair City’s expenditure prospects 2010 and beyond.

It’s easy to listen. Either call into our listener number at 646-200-3332 at noon or: just go here.

POTD: Stacked

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I just loved this low-key Halloween display on a neighbor’s porch. Happy Halloween!

Be safe tonight.

Don't Eat The Pirate Coins!

>Rockville Central friend Monique DeFrees has passed along an important word of warning:

Sherwood brand Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate coins are being recalled due to the fact that they contain Melamine, the ingredient in milk product that has caused many infant deaths in china. These candies are sold at Costco, as well as many bulk and dollar stores. Please make sure to check your children’s Halloween candy and DO NOT LET THEM EAT THE PIRATE COINS (you know the ones wrapped in the shiny gold foil).

This is mainly applicable in Canada . . . but it’s worth taking into account tomorrow night, when your goblins and ghouls are out trick or treating.

And yes, we checked Snopes and it is, in fact, not a hoax.

Thanks Monique!

Events In Rockville 10/30/08 - 11/9/08

>Pick of the Week

Sound of Music at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre performed by Rockville Musical Theatre. Three weekends! At 8 PM on Friday, October 31; Saturday, November 1; Friday, November 7; Saturday, November 8; Friday, November 14; Saturday, November 15. At 2 PM Sunday, November 9; and Sunday, November 16.

Adults $20, $18 Seniors (62+), $16 Students (18 and under). Call the box office at 240-314-8690 or order online.

Such a beloved classic! You know you’ll want to sing along and the kids will like it too.

Picture from the RMT website.

Events in Rockville

[Update: Austin Grill Rockville has announced that they will no longer have live music on a regular basis. Live music will only be heard at special events such as Cinco de Mayo. Therefore, we've struck these shows from our listing below ... and are totally bummed.]

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Helen Triolo’s Rockville Living. The main source of the listings is Helen’s database of events.

Don’t see your event? Got an upcoming event you want considered? If you would like your community event to be listed, you must submit your request through Rockville Living using this form. Your event will be considered for publication in Rockville Central’s events listing and Rockville Living’s Calendar. We need your help collecting and posting events — that is how this resource will get better and better. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database. We publish event listings occurring in & around our coverage area (map) on Thursdays. The inclusion of events is at our discretion.

Thursday, October 30

12:00 pm-2:00 pm Financial meltdown - What brought us to this point? at Rockville Economic Development, Inc In order to capitalize on the opportunities that will arise from the current economic crisis, it is essential to fully understand what brought us to this point. Chris Jones, President of BMC Property Group, will provide an overview of the unfolding crisis and describe the many factors that have converged to create this perfect financial storm. He will outline some of the strategies he is developing for his real estate clients. Free; lunch will be provided. RSVP to Michael Zhuang 301-452-4220 or [email protected] more info

6:00 pm Spanish Conversation Club at Rockville Public Library Practice and improve your Spanish through conversation. Every Thursday, 6:00-7:30. more info

6:30 pm Using the Internet for Genealogical Research at Rockville Public Library Learn how to use the Internet to set off on your genealogical quest in a four-session series in the Rockville PC lab. Registrants must be adept at using the Internet. more info

7:00 pm Rockville Library Book Discussion Group at Rockville Public Library We ususally meet the last Thursday of the month. Book for discussion will be “Water for Elephants”, by Sara Gruen. Book can be picked up at the check-out desk. more info

Friday, October 31 Happy Halloween!

10:00 am English Conversation Club at Rockville Public Library The English Conversation Club, for new speakers of English, meets every Tuesday and Friday at 10 a.m.(in meeting room #1 on Tuesday and meeting room #2 on Friday) of the Rockville Library. No registration is required. more info

10:15 am Storytime for 2′s and 3′s at Rockville Public Library Stories and activities for ages 2-3 with an adult. more info

11:00 am Talking Book Club at Rockville Public Library We will be screening the described video of To Kill a Mockingbird, followed by a short discussion. Meets on the last Friday of every month, from 11:00 a.m.-12:30. Books available in Talking Book and other sound formats. more info

7:30 pm National Philharmonic & DC Concerts Presents: Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman at Strathmore **Please note this concert starts at 7:30 p.m.This unique tour showcases two of Christian Music’s most recognized and beloved artists. Together, Chapman and Smith have garnered a staggering eight GRAMMY ® awards, 96 Dove Awards, 77 No. 1 singles and more than 30 Gold and Platinum albums. The idea for the tour came together shortly after Chapman and Smith spent time together in the UK working on the “Compassionart project” that brought more than 10 of Christian Music’s most revered singers, songwriters and worship leaders together to write and record a collection of songs, for charity.Both artists will perform music from their current and upcoming albums: Chapman’s This Moment and Smith’s A New Hallelujah . This also marks the first tour for Chapman since his family’s loss of their daughter Maria. more info

8:00 pm Rockville Musical Theatre: “The Sound of Music” at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater The Austrian Von Trapp family finds a governess, love, music and more in this much loved story, which was Rogers & Hammerstein’s final collaboration. Join us for Opening Night! more info

9:00 pm Denise Henderson at Austin Grill more info

Saturday, November 1

10:00 am-3:00 pm Foreclosure Workshop at Lincoln Park Community Center The City of Rockville is partnering with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Montgomery County, HomeFree-USA, Civil Justice and the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland to help residents nearing foreclosure save their homes.Residents can learn what can be done to stop a home from going into foreclosure at a free and confidential workshop Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.The workshop will feature a general information session followed by individual counseling appointments with housing and legal experts. Participants will receive specific advice based on their individual housing and financial situation. The event will be held at the Lincoln Park Community Center, 357 Frederick Ave. Light refreshments will be available. Spanish and sign language interpreters are also available on request.The number of foreclosed homes in Rockville grew from six in the first quarter of 2007 to 72 in the first quarter of 2008. There have been an additional 50 foreclosures in the City for the second quarter of 2008.Registration for the workshop is required. To register, call Tanya Hines at 240-314-8113 or e-mail [email protected].

10:15 am Cuddle ups for walkers at Rockville Public Library Stories, songs, and rhymes for ages 12 to 24 months, with an adult. more info

2:00 pm A Concert at Rockville Public Library A concert by members of the Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss, 2-4 PM. Co-sponsored by Montgomery County chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America. more info

8:00 pm Rockville Musical Theatre: “The Sound of Music” at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater The Austrian Von Trapp family finds a governess, love, music and more in this much loved story, which was Rogers & Hammerstein’s final collaboration. more info

9:00 pm The Steamers at Austin Grill Germantown band - Andrew Westcott - Guitar, Vocals…. Brian Waitsman - Guitar, Vocals… Chris Compton - Drums, Vocals… Mike Walker - Bass, Vocals

Sunday, November 2

3:00 pm Soheil Nasseri, piano at Strathmore This extraordinary 28-year-old pianist has won praise from The New York Times for his “consistently interesting…consistently thoughtful…inventive spirit” and “magnificent technique.” He has performed 18 completely different solo recital programs in New York, all without repeating a single piece, at venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. To Strathmore he brings a program of works by Beethoven and Schumann.[detail from a photo by Theresa Becherer] more info

4:00 pm WPAS: Midori, violin and Robert McDonald, piano at Strathmore Schumann Sonata in A Minor, Op.105Beethoven Sonata in G Major, Op.96Cage Six MelodiesEnescu Sonata in A Minor, Op.25Recognized as one of the most eminent violinists today, Midori showcases fluent execution and a beautifully elegant tone. This former child prodigy performs with flawless precision and her own “brand of intensity tempered with sweetness and lyricism” (The Washington Post).more info

Monday, November 3

7:00 pm Mayor & Council Meeting with Citizens Forum at Rockville City Hall more info

7:15 pm American Sign Language Practice Club at Rockville Public Library Volunteer coaches will be available to help participants practice sign language. Registration is not required. For more information, contact Library Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community at [email protected] or 240-777-0001. more info

Tuesday, November 4 Election Day! Polls are Open 7 AM - 8 PM.

Twinbrook PTA will hold an Election Day Bake Sale at Twinbrook Elementary School. Voters will be able to have a treat and some coffee; donations are welcome.

Julius West PTSA is holding a breakfast and baked goods sale at Julius West Middle School. If you don’t have time for breakfast before voting, you can grab a bite at the sale to eat in line. Cupcakes, cookies, pies, cakes and donuts will be sold all day. Cindy CG’s even baking for this one!

10:00 am English Conversation Club at Rockville Public Library The English Conversation Club, for new speakers of English, meets every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and Friday at 10:15 a.m.(in meeting room #1 on Tuesday and meeting room #2 on Friday) of the Rockville Library. No registration is required. more info

Wednesday, November 5

12:00 pm 4th Annual America-China Women Business Leader’s Conference at Hilton Washington DC/Rockville 3 day conference, Nov 5-7. Meet Chinese women business leaders looking for US markets and suppliers; network with U.S. Based business leaders curre
ntly working with China; learn about the latest trends in U.S. and China trade and best practices; identify future opportunities. more info

7:30 pm-9:00 pm Focus on Energy: Your Voice Counts at Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville It’s the day after the election and time to focus on our environmental challenges. Holly Gorman, the Maryland Campaign Coordinator for Climate Action Network (CCAN), will speak. CCAN is a local environmental advocacy group which has played an important part in state legislative victories such as the Clean Car Act and Healthy Air Act. In the last three years, events have brought the environment to center stage. Environmentalists and grassroots groups like CCAN have relentlessly petitioned both local and national governments. The stage is now set. Energy is the focus. Hybrid cars, the price of carbon emissions, the sun and the wind will all play big parts in confronting global warning. If you want to do more than just change light bulbs, come to Wonderful Wednesday, the day after the election, and learn of the upcoming legislative opportunities where your voice will be needed.

Thursday, November 6

10:15 am Preschool Storytime at Rockville Public Library Stories, music, and action activities for ages 3 1/2 to 6. Repeated at 1:30. more info

1:30 pm Preschool Storytime at Rockville Public Library Stories, music, and action activities for ages 3 1/2 to 6. Repeat of 10:15 program. more info6:00 pmSpanish Conversation Club at Rockville Public Library Practice and improve your Spanish through conversation. Every Thursday, 6:00-7:30. more info

8:00 pm BSO: Sibelius Symphony No. 2 at Strathmore Leonard Slatkin, conductorROSSINI The Thieving Magpie OvertureSLATKIN The RavenSIBELIUS Symphony No. 2Free pre-concert Music Notes LIVE! with DavidGinder. more info

Friday, November 7

10:00 am Searching for Health Information on the Internet at Rockville Public Library For computer beginners, this free eight-session class will teach basic computer skills and how to search the internet, with a focus on health topics. Register for the eight-session class by calling 240-777-0001. Classes will be held in the PC Lab on the second floor. more info

10:00 am English Conversation Club at Rockville Public Library The English Conversation Club, for new speakers of English, meets every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and Friday at 10:15 a.m.(in meeting room #1 on Tuesday and meeting room #2 on Friday) of the Rockville Library. No registration is required. more info

10:15 am Cuddle ups for pre-walkers at Rockville Public Library Stories, songs, and rhymes for ages 0-12 months, with an adult. more info

8:00 pm Rockville Musical Theatre: “The Sound of Music” at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater The Austrian Von Trapp family finds a governess, love, music and more in this much loved story, which was Rogers & Hammerstein’s final collaboration more info

8:00 pm Marsalis Brasilianos with Branford Marsalis, soloist at Parilla Performing Arts Center Since releasing his first album for Columbia Records in 1984, Grammy Award winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis has become known as one of the giants of Jazz in the new century. The ease with which he performs and plays is no surprise considering the New Orleans native was born into one of the city’s most distinguished musical families, which includes family patriarch, pianist/music educator Ellis Marsalis and brothers Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason. A true Renaissance figure, Mr. Marsalis’ accomplishments have been exceptionally diverse. He has delved into the world of pop with such artists as The Grateful Dead, Sting, and Bruce Hornsby, winning a Best Instrumental Pop Performance Grammy for “Barcelona Mona” with Hornsby in 1994. Mr. Marsalis is also recognized as a complex and sensitive classical musician. His current project, Marsalis Brasilianos, showcases his mastery of both Jazz and classical music. Marsalis Brasilianos commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the death of revered Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. Branford Marsalis will be performing Marsalis Brasilianos with members of the Philarmonia Brasileira featuring renowned conductor Gil Jardim. Tickets are $48 Regular, $46 Seniors and Students more info

8:00 pm Arlo Guthrie - Lost World Tour at Strathmore Featuring Special Guests: Abe Guthrie and The Burns SisterA natural-born storyteller and a master of multiple instruments, Arlo Guthrie weaves tales and tunes into a tapestry that you want to wrap around you and wear home. In this demand return engagement at Strathmore, the hero of “Alice’s Restaurant” sings songs from Lost World, his first album in 12 years (set to be released October 2008), joined by his son Abe.Official media partner: WAMU’s Bluegrass Country, on-air in HD Radio at 88.5-2 and online at bluegrasscountry.org more info

9:00 pm Reed Waddle at Austin Grill Reed Waddle is an award winning singer songwriter, currently completing his fourth independent album in the past five years. In a short period, his career continues to blossom.Reed’s song “I Saw Stars” was selected in 2007 as one of twenty finalists in American Idol’s inaugural American Songwriter competition, chosen from over 25,000 nationwide entrants. He recently signed a publishing deal with 19 Entertainment, the management & publishing arm of American Idol.

Saturday, November 8

8:00 am-3:30 pm Fatherhood Conference at Richard Montgomery High School The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council in collaboration with numerous Montgomery County agencies is very pleased to announce the First Annual Fatherhood Conference scheduled for November 8, 2008 from 8am to 3:30pm.A PDF with more information and a registration form may be found here (English) and aqui (Español). For additional information please call (240) 777-7034.This will be a day to recogni
ze how “Dads Make a Difference” in the lives of their children, and to encourage and honor responsible and positive involvement of fathers with their children and families. The conference will be held at Richard Montgomery High School and will feature workshops addressing the challenges that all fathers face and honoring the importance of fathers. The keynote speaker will be Charles Mann, a co-founder of “A Good Samaritan Foundation” which is an organization committed to preparing youth for leadership in the community and workplace. He is also well known as a former Redskins football player. Workshop topics will include - raising boys to responsible men, - the father’s role in building self-esteem in their daughters, - turning “high risk” children into “high promise” children, - teen dads and new dads,- healthy parenting and the art of communication, and- financial management tools. The conference will also include a Health Fair from 8-11am with free cholesterol and diabetes screening to the first 100 participants. There will also be free vision and blood pressure tests for all. Participants will have the opportunity to obtain employment resource information and have their resume evaluated by a Resume Doctor. A continental breakfast, lunch, entertainment, door prizes, and professionally-taken photographs of dads and kids will be available to all participants and their children. While fathers attend the workshops children will enjoy an array of activities coordinated by Montgomery County’s Department of Recreation. Montgomery County Public School’s Early Child Development Program will provide care for babies and toddlers. more info

10:00 am-4:00 pm Rockville Lions 18th Annual Modular Train Show at Rockville Senior Center The annual train show is one of the Rockville Lions Club’s primary fundraising activities and is always a much anticipated event for model train enthusiasts of all ages in the Washington area. Staged in the Rockville Senior Center, the show features several rooms of large operating displays of model railroads - Z, N, and HO Scales; a Garden Railway Setup in G-Scale; a Lionel modular setup; and a Lego layout - provided by local Model Railroad Associations. Their members are always eager to talk with visitors about their railway systems and the designs, as well as share insights or answer any questions about model railroading. A donation of $5/adult, $3/child or $10 maximum for a family is collected to support the organization’s charitable activities. more info

10:15 am Storytime for 2′s and 3′s at Rockville Public Library Stories and activities for ages 2-3 with an adult. Repeat of program from the previous Friday. more info

8:00 pm Rockville Musical Theatre: “The Sound of Music” at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater The Austrian Von Trapp family finds a governess, love, music and more in this much loved story, which was Rogers & Hammerstein’s final collaboration more info

9:00 pm Ty Braddock at Austin Grill Many are calling Ty Braddock “the voice” of country music on the Washington DC music scene these days and for good reason. Picture listening to someone with Waylon Jennings power and range, Johnny Cash’s attitude, and a George Jones like softness to deliver a heartfelt ballad that will surely get the eye faucets running. more info

Sunday, November 9

12:00 pm-4:00 pm Rockville Lions 18th Annual Modular Train Show at Rockville Senior Center The annual train show is one of the Rockville Lions Club’s primary fundraising activities and is always a much anticipated event for model train enthusiasts of all ages in the Washington area. Staged in the Rockville Senior Center, the show features several rooms of large operating displays of model railroads - Z, N, and HO Scales; a Garden Railway Setup in G-Scale; a Lionel modular setup; and a Lego layout - provided by local Model Railroad Associations. Their members are always eager to talk with visitors about their railway systems and the designs, as well as share insights or answer any questions about model railroading.A donation of $5/adult, $3/child or $10 maximum for a family is collected to support the organization’s charitable activities. more info

2:00 pm Rockville Musical Theatre: “The Sound of Music” at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater The Austrian Von Trapp family finds a governess, love, music and more in this much loved story, which was Rogers & Hammerstein’s final collaboration.Presented by Rockville Musical Theatre. more info

7:00 pm An Evening with Christine Ebersole & James Naughton at Strathmore It’s a match made in Broadway heaven: Tony Award winner James Naughton (Chicago, City of Angels) is “a superb musical leading man [with] flawless timing and a velvety crooner’s voice” (The New York Times); Christine Ebersole has collected a shelf full of awards including two Tonys—the latest for her fabled Grey Gardens performance, a star turn of “sheer staggering magic” (Village Voice). Don’t miss out on this one—order now! more info

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: Last Of The Summer Wine?

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Rockville Central friend Janet Brown sent along this succulent photo. Of it, she says: “It’s a bowl of Muscadine (otherwise known as Scuppernong) grapes, harvested this month at The Argyle House, Argyle Street. Ron Powers planted the vine last year. These grapes are frequently seen further south, nevertheless it survived freezing winter temperatures and flourished this summer, providing a good ‘crop’. These grapes are known to make good wine, but they didn’t hang around for that. We ate them all in their natural, succulent state.”

Sounds good!!

"A Line In The Sand" Educates

>I don’t know what I was expecting. What I found was strength and hope in the faces of those who have worked tirelessly to help the women and children of domestic violence.

A traveling photographic exhibit entitled A Line in the Sand is at the Circuit Court building until tomorrow, October 30, 2008. This is late notice for a Rockville viewing of this exhibit created by House of Ruth Maryland, but it will continue around our state until summer 2009. Having this exhibit in our courthouse has been an appropriate reminder of the women who file for protective orders each day.

At first, the photos were simply large portraits. I wondered why former Governor Donald Schaefer’s picture greeted me. Until you read the words tightly tied to each, you don’t understand. The explanations build until a full awareness of all the work undertaken since the early 1970’s overtakes you. Back then, there was no recognition of domestic violence. Maryland passed its first Protective Order legislation in 1980 but didn’t extend the duration from 15 days to 12 months until 1997. People like Mr. Schaefer worked to change attitudes and laws.

One placard describes the volunteers as angels. Judge Robert M. Bell claims only to be doing his job, yet he increased the number of interpreters in the courtroom. Drs. Jackie Campbell and Barbara Parker are developing protocols to help caregivers support children who survive uxoricide, which is more common among children than leukemia. Lisa Spicknall carried on after her children were killed to insure that our laws were changed when they allowed her husband to purchase a gun even though there was a protective order against him.

Altogether over thirty people are featured for their involvement, including legislators, mothers, philanthropists, and nurses. Some were personally touched by the pain of this abuse, but many went beyond writing a check to dedicate their time to this cause without firsthand knowledge of a tragedy. As I gazed into each of their faces, I felt like I was meeting them, which is a great testament to the sixteen fine art photographers who were given free reign to portray these determined individuals.

If you don’t make it to one of the exhibitions, you can buy the book and make a contribution.

Photograph from House of Ruth Maryland.

Rockville Rooftop Unveiled

>The Rooftop sits high above Rockville Town Center on the sixth floor of the Arts and Innovation Center. Owned by the City of Rockville, this new venue is the only open-air terrace in Montgomery County available for rent.

Many people may not know that in addition to the public events held over this past inaugural summer, this exciting new space can be rented for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, corporate promotional events, award ceremonies, Christenings, and birthday parties. Furniture, draped material, and flowers can transform the space into anything in your imagination. A brand new website describes the possibilities and provides a calendar of events.

Several nonprofit organizations, including the Rockville Recreation and Parks Foundation, have held successful fundraisers on the Rooftop. This amazing space can be rented along with the VisArts’ galleries and meeting room on the second floor. Brides from all over the Washington DC area are having their weddings open to the sky and the stars on the Rooftop with part of the time at VisArts. Imagine an elegant cocktail reception in the art gallery then a party with one or more bands playing on the roof.

The rental season runs from late April through October/early November, but someone’s even considering a New Year’s Day party with mimosas. Wear those coats! Now is the time to plan ahead for next year.

From the grand opening ceremony to the First Friday Deck Parties, I have enjoyed the expansive view and good times on the Rooftop and look forward to many more.

POTD: Pumpkin Pi

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This great photo is a family affair. Submitted by Rockville Central friend (and contributor) Carl Henn, photo by Jessica Henn, pumpkin carved by Allison Henn. There was no way I could refuse.

POTD: To Protect And To Serve

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This groovy photo is by Rockville Central editor Cindy Cotte Griffiths. Of it, she says: “Our councilman Piotr Gajewski brought a police car to the Post Office ceremony and placed it on the wall. I snapped a picture and people commented that it could be a POTD.”

Congratulations To Rockville Marine Corps Marathon Finishers!

[UPDATED]>

As my friends know, I ran in yesterday’s Marine Corps Marathon and was lucky enough to finish. What a fantastic experience.

Turns out there is a way to filter the race results by city, so I went ahead and looked at all the finishers from Our Fair City. We have some really strong marathoners in our town!!

Here is a link where you can look at the results for all 163 Rockville finshers.

Of special note is Jack Beaulieu, the fastest finisher in town. Age 65, he completed all 26.2 miles in 1:59:14, placing him 13th overall in the field and first in his division. Wow.

Way to go, Jack!

UPDATE: Neil points out in the comments that Jack is from a different Rockville. (Silly me.) And, Piotr Gajewski dropped me a note to point out that the world record for marathons is something like 2:04, so there must be some mistake — the standings on the site show 1:59 but there must be an error.

So, let me congratulate the NEW fastest Rockville (MD) Marine Corps Marathon finisher: Andrew Gunther, 33, with a time of 2:49:32, placing 71st overall and 20th in his division. Congratulations, Andrew!

POTD: At The Ready

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If you listened to last Friday’s edition of Rockville Central Radio, you know that Rockville Central editor Cindy Cotte Griffiths is a bit sad that she is not in Phase One of the new trash pickup roll-out. I hope she is not too sad to see all these new trash bins all stacked up. If it is any consolation, i am not in phase one either!

This great shot is by Adam Schwartzman. Of it, he says: “Apparently the city of Rockville is using the area around the King Farm barns to store our new garbage cans. It’s kind of humorous to see all of the trash cans in one place.”

Contributor Opinion By Carl Henn: Slot Costs Outweigh Benefits

>The following contributor opinion is by Carl Henn:

Choosing our president won’t be our only task when we go to the polls on November 4. We also must decide if Maryland should bring slots back. Maryland had more slots than Nevada until 40 years ago, then banned them based on the observation that they left a trail of wrecked lives in their wake and left gambling interests in control of many counties. People would spend their kid’s lunch money on slots and some turned to crime to feed the machines as they become addicted to the one-armed bandits.

The slots plan for Maryland is supposed to raise $660 million for schools. This sounds like a lot, and indeed it is. But that is the gross increase in funds, not net. Money spent on slots isn’t spent at restaurants or clothing, so we’ll be short on other tax revenues. We will need to pay more for police and social services to deal with the harm that gambling addiction causes. Studies show that over time the cost of gambling exceeds its revenues. Further, $660 million is now conceded to be an overestimate. It’s now $500 million at best.

I am troubled by the ‘something for nothing’ attitude that pervades slots. We won’t need to make tough decisions because slots will save us. Likewise on a personal level slots undermine sound decision making. It’s hard to save money. It’s harder still when you think each quarter you plug in a machine may solve your financial problems. Worse, when you do get a payout, folks are likely to think of it as found money. Found money is likely to be spent frivolously rather than saved. Slots undercut sound decision making both for governments and individuals.

A focus on energy and transportation brings other insights to the slots issue. We are now at or very near the peak of global oil production. The current downturn in the price of oil is temporary. High prices will return shortly and go higher still than we have recently seen.

This undercuts the argument that we need slots because the money will otherwise leave the state. As the price of oil rises, we will have less discretionary income to gamble away and driving to West Virginia or Delaware will recede as an option for most Maryland residents.

As the price of oil went up, it took asphalt, steel and concrete with it, causing a $100 million over run in the first part of the first ICC construction contract. Governor O’Malley then cut all of the construction funds for the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway in order to keep the ICC on schedule.

The over run they have admitted to so far is just the beginning. The ICC will continue to over run and more money will be needed to keep the ICC going. That’s where slots come in. O’Malley has already said that slots will help us to avoid budget cuts. So here is the plan - Pass slots and provide the proceeds as promised to the gaming sites, horse racing industry and education. Then reduce state support to education and use that money to fund the ICC.

Most of the people supporting slots have said that we need it for the additional money it will raise. But we should be honest about what we are raising the money for and that there are better alternatives. It isn’t too late to cancel the ICC. O’Malley could cancel it tomorrow with one phone call. This would go a long way toward solving our temporary funding problem. In the long run, the costs of slots exceed its benefits.

Rockville Central runs occasional, edited opinion pieces by contributors as well as other guest columns. Their views are not necessarily those of Rockville Central. We encourage you to join the growing list of contributors! To submit your piece for consideration, contact us.

(Image from Baltimore City Paper)

POTD: Caged Sky

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I took this the other morning at Dogwood Park. The sky was so blue, there behind the chain link fence.

Comment: A Thank You From The Mayor Of Carlstadt

>We do not normally highlight comments, but this seemed worthy of special attention. Rockville Central readers will recall Mark Pierzchala’s wonderful contributor review of the recent dedication of Mattie J. T. Stepanek Park.

You may also recall that Carlstadt, NJ is building its own peace park in honor of Mattie’s work, and that town’s mayor, Will Roseman spoke at the dedication.

Mayor Roseman was kind enough to send along a comment that he addresses to all residents of Our Fair City, and so I wanted to pass it on.

Thank you, Mayor Roseman.

To the People of Rockville:

I can’t express enough to the people of Rockville what a wonderful occasion the dedication was, not just for Jennie and Mattie, but for the Rockville community as a whole. It was wonderful to see everyone come out and show support to Jennie and all that Mattie represents. As Mayor of Carlstadt, I was fortunate to have been invited along with sixty of our school children that love Jennie and Mattie as well. We are a small New Jersey town that was touched by Rockville’s native son, and we too will be building a Peace Park as our effort to “spread the word.”

The park is near completion and the dedication is slated for early Spring. It would mean so much to us if the people of Rockville would join us at our dedication and as we celebrate Mattie’s life. When it comes to Mattie, we are all “one community” and as such, Mattie is our “native son” as well and we thank you for that.

Many thanks and kindest regards.

Sincerely,

Will Roseman
Mayor
Carlstadt, New Jersey