All Smiles and Roses At Rockville’s 150th Birthday Parties

James McConkey and Bernd Hinrichs

The festivities began at Glenview Mansion at noon with a greater than expected crowd. Rockville was throwing a party and the best part is always the friends who attend. A 12-member delegation from our Sister City of Pinneberg, Germany made the trip to help us celebrate, continuing one of the oldest enduring friendships in the Sister City program.

Pinneberg created a special Rockville Rose but we’ve had trouble bringing it into the country. The details of this long process are explained by Nate Carrick in his Gazette article. But the Pinneberg delegation didn’t let the lack of live roses stop them from commemorating our Sesquicentennial. They gave us a more lasting gift, a painting of Rockville Roses by Detlef Allenberg.

Burgermeister Kristin Alheit and her son

Pinneberg mayor, Kristen Alheit, emphasized how a rose shows pure lust for life, which she felt symbolized the relationship of our cities. The Rockville Rose is a very special breed with large, dark flowers which grow upright. Of the painting she said, “May this portrait express all that is important to us in the friendship between Rockville and Pinneberg.”

Mayors Phyllis Marcuccio and Kristen Alheit

When she accepted the painting, Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio explained that roses are especially important to her since her mother’s name was Rose and her middle name is Rose, “I am Phyllis Rose.”

Bernd Hinrichs, President of the German American Society of Pinneberg, explained how roses have played a significant role in society since ancient Greece. Symbolizing affection and friendship, roses stand for distinction. In ancient times everyone could be sure that what was said while standing under roses was covered by a veil of secrecy. He added, “I know why men like to give roses to women.”

Then to honor the 25th anniversary of the founding of our Sister City Corporation, our German friends gave us an actual Rockville Rose enclosed in silver, a remarkable gift which will remain mysterious and everlasting.

During the ceremonies, Rotraut Bockstahler, past President of the Rockville Sister City Corporation, explained that Sesquicentennial means six times a quarter of a century. She was glad when she found out and I’m glad to finally know!

Quite a crowd also turned out for the evening festivities in Rockville Town Center. The Rockville Jazz Band warmed up the crowd before the ceremony. People gathered throughout the Square to hear them.

Mary van Balgooy, Executive Director of Peerless Rockville, was an absolute delight as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening with her friendly and bright demeanor which brought the ceremony together.

Dick Stoner detailed the Rockville’s 150 year history but he started by referencing the names previously given to our City: Owens Crossing, Williamsburg, and Montgomery Courthouse. His list of historical facts described things, the roads and buildings. He built upon each 50 year period and created a dynamic picture of Rockville over the years.

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown noted that he saw people in the audience shaking their heads when Mr. Stoner described the three hour trip from Washington to Rockville back in the olden days of horses. But then he noted,”You don’t speak lightly of traffic in Montgomery County.” He declared Rockville a “vibrant, exciting and nationally-recognized place to live.”

Perhaps the most fun part of the ceremony was the winner of the “Rockville in 2060” Essay Contest, Anish Senapati. Mayor Marcuccio gave him the opportunity to read his essay. He pictured flying cars and lots of pollution with tall sky scrapers 200 floors high, then declared the mayor of Rockville “will be me”.

Nancy Floreen, President of the Montgomery County Council thought he would either be Chairman of the Planning Commission or President.We received proclamations from all levels of government and Mayor Marcuccio said it was overwhelming to receive “so many birthday cards”.

Phyllis Marcuccio, John Britton and Mark Pierzchala

IMPACT, a dance troupe from The Finest! moved in energetic unison then a giant birthday cake with our 150th logo was enjoyed by the crowd.

By the end of the night, it was getting a bit chilly. Throughout the day people seemed genuinely happy to see each other. Perhaps after such a long, cold winter we were especially glad to come together as a community for a good time.

The Reverend Jane Wood concluded the formal ceremony by praying, “Practice random acts of kindness, particularly to those less fortunate than yourselves.”

I only hope we will during our next 150 years as a City.

Predrag Gosta’s New Trinity Baroque Debuts In Rockville

Photo from NTB by Richard Calmes

As some of you may know, Predrag Gosta, formerly with the National Philharmonic, often jets down to Atlanta, as well as many other places in the world. Well, he’s finally bringing Atlanta to Rockville!

Predrag founded and conducts New Trinity Baroque (NTB) which calls Atlanta its home while presenting over 25 concerts and educational events each season. His NTB is doing a special Gala Scholoarship Concert for Montgomery College’s School of Music at Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center on Thursday night, March 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM.

This concert is NTB’s debut in Washington DC area. The program for the evening is entitled “VIVALDI ON FIRE” and will feature as a soloist Magdalena Wor, who sang at the November’s Haydn/Mendelssohn concert as well – she is alumni of the Young Artists Program with P. Domingo. NTB uses “period instruments, stylistically appropriate voices, and historically informed techniques” to delight its audiences.

Tickets are $25 (students only $10). For more information and tickets visit newtrinitybaroque.org or call the Performing Arts Center’s Box Office at (240) 567-5301.

This Month Rockville’s 150, So Celebrate! [UPDATED]

As you might have heard, the City of Rockville turns 150 years old this month. Since the City was incorporated on March 10, 1860, the occasion will be officially commemorated on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

At 12 noon the Rockville Sister City corporation will join the Mayor of Pinnenberg, Germany, Kristin Alheit, for a very special Rose Presentation at the Glenview Mansion gardens. She will give the Mayor, Council and residents of Rockville a newly developed Rockville Rose. A reception will follow the presentation.

Then at 6:30 PM the Rockville Jazz Band will light up Rockville Town Square followed by a formal ceremony and then anniversary cake. With any luck, we won’t have any snow. If you see me, be sure to say “Hi!”.

Update: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown will be issuing a proclamation to the City. Also, The Finest! Youth Performance Troupe will be joining the Rockville Jazz Band during the opening entertainment.

When you are in Town Square, think about going to Noodles and Company for dinner. The first 150 people to visit after 4:30 PM will get a coupon for a free dish on their next visit.

Other special events after March 10th:

If you have a bike, join the Millennium Trail Bike Ride on Saturday, March 13 at 10 AM at Glenview Mansion. The ride will go through 10.6 miles of Rockville and loop back to the Mansion. My family is planning on joining the fun. The ride is cancelled if there is rain or snow! The City encourages everyone to ride 150 miles in 2010 for good health.

As she mentioned at the Inauguration, Eileen McGuckian, founder of Peerless Rockville, will be lecturing on Rockville’s history on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 7 PM. Her The Sesquicentennial of Rockville, Local Government at 150 Years will be released on this fine occasion at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre. She’ll speak about important milestones in Rockville’s history, including Rockville at 50 years old, the Centennial in 1960, and Rockville today.

If you’re part of a community organization which would like to design and paint a fire hydrant around Rockville Town Center for the occasion, the Fire Hydrant Art Project application is due March 24, 2010 and the painting would need to occur in April. Organizations will need to supply the ideas, bright paint colors and volunteers. There will be 20 lucky winners.

Find something you’ll enjoy for our Sesquicentennial celebration.

Rockville Sister City Corporation’s Annual Spring Wine Tasting Is March 5

Rockville Central friend Brigitta Mullican sent us this note:

Rockville Sister City Corporation
19th Annual Spring Wine Tasting
Germany’s Wine Regions
Friday March 5, 2010, 7:30 P.M.
Glenview Mansion at the Civic Center

Please RSVP to 240-314-5004

Reservations accepted on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited. Tickets available at the door if space permits.

Exploration of Germany’s Wine Regions, this year featuring white wines of German producers in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Baden, and Rheinhessen regions. A selection of Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and others will provide you the opportunity to sample new wines to add to your list of favorites.

Gottfried To Talk Tax On Sunday

Our good friend Rich Gottfried — a CPA and a Master of Science in Taxation — is going to be sharing his tax expertise with the community this Sunday in an event helpfully sponsored by the Twinbrook Citizens Association. Here are the details:

Deduct This! Update on the 2009 Tax Law Changes

Learn about tax law changes for 2009 in the first time homebuyer credit, making work pay credit, expanded Earned Income Credits, expanded child tax credit, residential energy tax credit, IRA to Roth IRA conversions and others that might affect your return.

DATE: Sunday, February 28, 2010
TIME: 1:00 PM TO 3:30 PM
PLACE: Rockville Public Library * First Floor Meeting Room (21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850)
Telephone: 240-777-0002

Thank you to Rich for sharing his expertise so generously and for the Twinbrook Citizens Association for thoughtfully sponsoring this timely event.

Changes For The African American Heritage Production

February is African American Heritage Month and Rockville will celebrate with it’s 15th Annual African American Heritage Production. With all this snow, the dates have been changed. Karen Rawlins, Community Recreation Programs Supervisor, sent along this update:

The City Of Rockville will celebrate African American Heritage Month with its 15th annual African American Heritage Production featuring The Finest! Youth Performance Troupe. The weather has caused the dates to be changed. Originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 12 and 13, the new date (one show only) is Friday, February 19 at 8 pm at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.
Tickets are available through the theatre box office, 240-314-8690: $15 General Admission; $10 Seniors (60 and older); $10 Children (younger than 12). Tickets already purchased for February 12 or 13, will be accepted on February 19.

This year’s presentation will be an original scripted work by Rockville resident (and Artistic Director/Choreographer of The Finest!), Kashi-Tara Barrett, called The Cafe. This dynamic play is about a troubled teen who goes to live with “Auntie”, a poetry cafe’ owner. Music and poetry propel the audience, along with the teen, through interactions with African American poets of the past and present. We learn the importance and relevance of poetry, and the art of self-expression, releasing the poet within via the spoken word. For show information, contact Karen Rawlins, Producer/Manager, 240-314-8633 or krawlins@rockvillemd.gov.

Since Rockville Central is a 2010 Census Media Partner, we receive data on all aspects of life in America, including Black History Month:

To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on February 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. Each year, U.S. presidents proclaim February as National African-American History Month.

As of July 1, 2008, the estimated population of black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race was 41.1 million. They made up 13.5 percent of the total U.S. population. This figure represents an increase of more than a half-million residents from one year earlier.

Maryland joins the 17 states with an estimated black population of at least 1 million on July 1, 2008, which made African Americans the largest minority group in our state in 2008.

We’ll be counting the U.S. population soon. Keep an eye on your mailboxes for your easy 10-questions Census Survey which will arrive mid-March!

Bang On The Drum All Night

Have you ever dreamed about drumming?  Rockville Central friend and VisArts Studio Artist, Judith Heartsong, tells us that February’s Art After Hours at VisArts Rockville is a drum fest. Bring along your own small drum or rattle to “beat the winter blues”. If you don’t have your own percussion instrument, they will have some on hand.

Do you want to know the absolute best part? Nancy Nuttle is leading the session. I spent years in her Music Together classes with both my sons. This drumming circle won’t turn you into a rock star drummer, but Nancy certainly taught me how to loosen up and appreciate making music with my kids. The drumming is from 7 to 8 PM.

Nancy says:

I am a trained Health Rhythms facilitator and have been teaching music for 25 years. Health Rhythms Recreational Music Making encompasses enjoyable, accessible and fulfilling group music-based activities that unite people of all ages regardless of their challenges, backgrounds, ethnicity, ability or prior experience. RMM ultimately affords unparalleled creative expression that unites our bodies, minds and spirits. No music skills required.

In case you haven’t attended, Art After Hours is free. VisArts swings wide their doors and all the artists open their studios from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. You can see these artists creating and purchase their work just in time for Valentine’s Day. Speaking with the artists, hearing about their techniques, and appreciating the joy of their work is such a fulfilling experience. The arty atmosphere makes for a fine date. I can’t recommend VisArts enough.

Get together with your friends and enjoy one of the most unique Friday nights in the Metro DC area right here in our wonderful City.

Great Hometown Crowd for Keegan Corbey

During last Friday’s show at Austin Grill Rockville, I asked Keegan Corbey if he had a day job. He replied “Funny you should ask, I quit today.” With this daring move, he’s giving music his full-time attention.

His first CD, Navigators, will be released on February 13, 2010, the same night he opens for The Association (Never My Love) at the Birchmere. This well-deserved break will launch the next phase of this local performer’s career.

Born at Holy Cross Hospital, he laid down his first dollars for a guitar at age 13 while listening to garage bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Sound Garden. After Good Counsel High School he headed to Middle Tennessee State University. He’s back in Rockville and has decided if he’s going to make it musically, now is the time.

If Friday night’s show is any indication, he’s made the right decision. His intense presence and crowd-pleasing voice kept everyone out much later than expected. Keegan’s versions of popular songs made the audience forget the orginals then his own songs caught everyone’s attention. He and Dave Speake are a well-polished acoustic guitar duo, a unified pleasure to hear. Keegan even steps up the sound with a bass drum.

Dave played the harmonica for No Cover Charge, apparently the one and only song he’s allowed to pull it out for:

Keegan’s laying it all on the line to live his dream of being a songwriter performing his original “Neo-Celtic Americana folk rock”. There’s no doubt his obvious talent will win fans with every chord.

Tickets are still available for his Birchmere show with The Association on Saturday 2/13/10 at 7:30 p.m. $35. Fans eagerly anticipate his 8 song CD next month.

Lunching In The DMV: Sushi Damo

Photo by Dskco

In her latest review on Lunching in the DMV, Dskco was out to celebrate her birthday, which meant a visit to both Susahi Damo (for dinner) and Gordon Biersch (for dessert).

I had a great birthday weekend a few weeks ago. On New Years Day, the bf took me to Rockville Town Square for dinner at Sushi Damo, dessert at Gordon Biersh and Regal to watch Avatar in 3D (go see it if you haven’t yet!).

Sushi Damo is the bf’s favorite sushi place. Located in Rockville Town Square, there’s paid parking, meter and free parking all over the place. We parked at the theater for $1 since we were going to see a movie anyway. The closest metro stop would be Rockville on the red line.

As always, Dskco entices with her photos taking you right along for the discoveries. Read to find out about Green Tea Tiramisu and her birthday good time.

Lunching in the DMV is a local Rockville blog reviewing restaurants throughout the metro DC area. Whenever, she writes about a restaurant in Rockville, we post a link to her article. She stops by all those places you wonder about to let you know whether you should. We’re happy to share her experiences with our readers.

Rockville Express Benefit Features Riggleman

Rockville Central reader Tina Campbell sends along the information for the Rockville Express Collegiate Baseball Annual Dinner & Auction, and adds “With the lights going in at the Montgomery College Rockville fields, it will be an exciting summer of nighttime baseball games in our neighborhood.”

Inside the Dugout: An Evening with Washington Nationals Manager & Rockville Native Jim Riggleman will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2010, 7:00 to 10:00PM.

WHERE: The Historic Glenview Mansion, 603 Edmonson Drive, Rockville 20851

DINNER: Buffet by Blue Ribbon BBQ with beverages and open seating

TICKETS: $50 per person, includes free parking

BENEFIT: Silent and live auctions for East Coast vacations, tickets to sporting events, Nationals and other memorabilia, youth baseball lessons, and more.

Meet the new Washington Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman, who will talk about his life, baseball, and what’s in store for the Nats, as well as take questions. Also come meet Rockville’s new Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio, C-Span Anchor Robb Harleston, and other surprise baseball notables. Have fun while supporting Express Baseball and the installation of baseball field lights at Montgomery College Rockville.

Tickets can be purchased online at RockvilleExpress.org Limited tickets available at the door.

Contact Brad Botwin at bb67chev@aol.com for more information.