Contributor Review by Cheryl Kagan: YumBurgers

This Contributor Review is from Rockville Central friend, Cheryl Kagan, who recommends one of Rockville’s newest dining locations, YumBurgers in King Farm.

When one’s tastebuds are all primed for Russian blini, caviar, and goulash, it’s not the most pleasant surprise to find that the restaurant at King Farm has been replaced by a joint called “YumBurgers.” Lucky for us, the four of us decided to stay and enjoyed the discovery of an affordable new Rockville dining establishment.

I have a bias for locally owned restaurants and shops. In my opinion, they are more attuned to our community, more generous in their local giving, and more responsive to customers’ reactions. Michael Passas, a resident of Gaithersburg, bought this space with his wife when it came on the market in November. They’ve kept much of the experienced staff while transforming the menu and décor.

Addressing the menu first: it is in some ways, a straightforward burger joint, with hot dogs, burgers, and chicken with countless condiments and accompaniments. (Think Cheeburger, Cheeburger without the screaming kids and insane portions.) Michael is of Greek heritage, and his chef is Peruvian. There is a bar menu of options that reflect both.

While we were waiting for our food, we enjoyed a deliciously decadent appetizer called “Chester’s Sweet Tots.” The sweet potato nuggets were warm and tender insider the crispy exterior; the Buttermilk Garlic dressing and parmesan cheese made for a perfect complement!

The Greek-spiced lamb chops were completely delectable and very reasonably priced at approximately $12. The cole slaw that accompanied our dishes was tasty and without the mayonnaise gloppy texture I’ve sometimes found. We also enjoyed their chili, which was served (after they generously allowed us to sample it) in a large bowl over pasta. It was meaty with large chunks of tomato. It definitely had a bite but wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy. Lastly, the namesake of the place, their burgers, were delicious. I chose a customized “That’s My Burger” with my choice of cheese, 4 regular toppings, and 2 premium toppings. Although the kitchen accidentally left off the promised fries (which I didn’t need), I found the meal to be filling without the insane portions one finds at many restaurants. One can choose the burger with a bun or in a bowl; an extra dollar buys a second 5-ounce patty.

The owner was diligent in checking in to be sure we were satisfied. His eagerness for feedback makes it likely that the table service (fairly average) and kitchen will improve in the coming months. I’d recommend “YumBurgers” for a family with or without kids. It’s neither fancy nor fast food, but the friendly ambiance and tasty meals make it a new place worth patronizing soon!

Cheryl C. Kagan

YumBurgers Grill
800 Pleasant Dr, Suite 160
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 355-4979
Eat@YumBurgers.com
www.yumburgers.com
Hours:
Sunday thru Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Free Wi-Fi

This is a Contributor Review. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us, Hello@RockvilleCentral.com if you would like to submit something!

What’s In And What’s Out In Rockville

It’s that time of year again. Time to reflect and remember. What’s better than a traditional In and Out list?

My family has been throwing around ideas for a few days and here’s ours for 2010-2011:

Thanks to my husband and sons for helping me and making it fun. We’re sure there are more!

Happy New Year!

Comic Strip: ROCK’burb 12/23/10

Here’s hoping!

This week’s strip is based on “Possible New Grocery Store In Town Square“.

May you have an amusing New Year!

About ROCK’burb: A few months ago we were tossing around ideas for new features on Rockville Central. We thought Saturday morning comics would be fun. Since I’ve always wanted to draw a comic strip, I’ve been imagining them in my head each week. Sometimes an idea pops up in my head and sometimes my whole family thinks up a panel about our lives here in Rockville.

Do you like to draw? We’re hoping we have other cartoonists who would be interested in submitting comic strips. If you have one about life in Rockville, please send it along! We’d love to see it and may even publish it. Remember, be nice! Email us: hello@rockvillecentral.com.

Keep Warm By The Fire At These Rockville Restaurants

Lately, the cold really seems to be getting to me. January has hit a month early and we barely have temperatures above freezing. Where can we go to keep warm by the fire in Rockville? Here are the warm and friendly choices with open flames in the hearth.

Photo from Clydes website

#1 Clyde’s Tower Oak Lodge

My husband and I have enjoyed romantic dinners on winter evenings by the light of this fire. Tower Oaks is always crowded because of the atmosphere and fine food. Even though you are next to the 21-acre nature preserve on Wootton Parkway, you would swear you were in a wood lodge in the Adirondacks with massive stone fireplaces. Their classic American menu is centered around their purchases of meat, fish, and poultry direct from their native regions. From spring to autumn, Tower Oaks also buys produce from local farmers.

Photo from Spice Xing website

#2 Spice Xing

As Tom Sietsema said in his review in The Washington Post, “A diner can point pretty much anywhere on this menu and hit a winner …” In addition to the popular Indian fare, SpiceXing offers an assortment of dishes which have been influenced by other cultures and nationalities such as British, Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish and French. There really isn’t a bad choice on the menu and every single bite deliciously fills the senses.

Photo from Timpano website

#3 Timpano Chophouse and Martini Bar

Timpano Chophouse revives the big city dining experience with steaks & chops.  The rich decor includes velvet draperies, large chandeliers, and white tablecloths. The Starlight Lounge provide comfortable sofa seating, a baby grand piano and the fireplace to go along with the cocktails.

Photo from Rolls 'n Rice website

Rolls ‘n Rice

This modern restaurant has a comfortable sleek feel while offering traditional Japanese and sushi dishes such as rolls and bento boxes, along with some Korean favorites. Here’s a review from Lunching In the DMV.

Photo from La Madeleine website

La Madeleine

La Madeleine is a country French café for light and casual meals in the cafeteria style. The cozy atmosphere is French-cottage inspired with fireplaces situated around the restaurant with lots of wood and beams.

Can you think of any more? Where else can I keep hot by the fire?

Reader Note From Rockville REDI: Congratulations INNoVATE Graduates

By Lynne Benzion, Associate Director of Rockville REDI:

Don Springer (PNC Bank), Sally Sternbach (REDI), Keith Nalepka (BioLOGIS)

Last week, 20 budding entrepreneurs gathered at Glenview Mansion to graduate from INNoVATE, a 9-month program that teaches people how to evaluate the commercial viability of a technology from a federal or university laboratory, prepare the business case for the technology, and start a company based on it. This is a special group, because it is the first INNoVATE class, and many of the graduates are postdoctoral fellows working in local federal and university labs. Postdocs have rarely been targeted for such intensive entrepreneurial training; the National Science Foundation funds this program.

Rockville City Councilman and entrepreneur Mark Pierzchala spoke to the class at the graduation. He gave them some marketing tips (never leave the back of your business card blank: you can summarize 30 years of experience in that space!) and described the increased respect he received from colleagues and friends after he started his company. He also advised the graduates to be prepared for surprises, as business is full of them.

Mark Pierzchala Addresses INNoVATE Graduates

Sally Sternbach, Executive Director of Rockville Economic Development, Inc., one of the key organizers of the program (along with The Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business; the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development; and the National Institutes of Health) emceed the program and read the Kauffman Foundation “Entrepreneur’s Pledge”. Among other things, entrepreneurs “bring something of value to society, making a job for themselves and others, and creating wealth that benefits the family, the community, the country and the world.”

Rockville is already seeing the benefit from the INNoVATE program, as one company, BioLOGIS, has formed, settled in Rockville, and has customers. BioLOGIS monitors the transport of high-value biologics and other valuable goods. A second business has launched, and 12 others are in various stages of formation.

Congratulations to the INNoVATE graduates, and to Rockville, for having the vision to seed tomorrow’s technology companies – and the high-paying jobs that go with them – today.

This is a Reader Note. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us us if you would like to submit something!

Comic Strip: ROCK’burb 12-18-10

We’re not getting an ice rink in Rockville Town Square this winter.

About ROCK’burb: A few months ago we were tossing around ideas for new features on Rockville Central. We thought Saturday morning comics would be fun. Since I’ve always wanted to draw a comic strip, I’ve been imagining them in my head each week. Sometimes an idea pops up in my head and sometimes my whole family thinks up a panel about our lives here in Rockville.

Do you like to draw? We’re hoping we have other cartoonists who would be interested in submitting comic strips. If you have one about life in Rockville, please send it along! We’d love to see it and may even publish it. Remember, be nice! Email us: hello@rockvillecentral.com.

Editorial Opinion By Cindy Cotte Griffiths: Questions Arise About The APFO Committee

APFO Committee Members present during the Planning Commission Appointments On Wednesday.

If you want to find out who was appointed to the Rockville Planning Commissions Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Advisory Committee, you need to listen to the video from the Wednesday, December 15, 2010 meeting. The list of who will be appointed was not on the Agenda for the meeting nor has it been posted anywhere on the City’s website.

Surprisingly, before the nine members were appointed on Wednesday night, an article was published in Wednesday’s edition of The Gazette and it appeared online with the lede:

The Rockville Planning Commission had tasked nine people with reviewing one of its most controversial zoning ordinances.

The members of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Committee will officially be announced at the Planning Commission’s meeting today. The list includes business, non-profit and neighborhood representatives.

(The grammatical error is The Gazette’s, not mine.) The article includes the names of who will be appointed later in the day.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Planning Commission David Hill admitted to providing the information about the appointments to The Gazette on Monday so that they could publish in their paper version on Wednesday. He also emailed the information to the Mayor and Council on Monday.

So my first question is, why does The Gazette get such privilege over all the other news providers?

My second question is, why can’t I find the names of who was appointed anywhere except for this news article? The names are still not on the Planning Commission section of the City’s website. Why weren’t they included on the Agenda for Wednesday’s meeting if they were sent to a news outlet on Monday? Shouldn’t the citizens have the information first – before a newspaper?

After repeated attempts throughout the years, The Gazette still does not deliver to my house. Many of my neighbors in apartments don’t get it either. This obviously is not the way to communicate with residents.

I hope The Gazette spelled their names correctly because I have no way of officially knowing:

Jason Anthony
Temperance Blalock
Denis Cain
Julie Carr
Sean Hart
Soo Lee-Cho
Charles Littlefield
Roald Schrack
Eric Segal

During Citizen’s Forum at Monday night’s Mayor and Council meeting, Beryl Feinberg spoke about her application for the APFO Committee. She said that no one who applied was ever contacted or interviewed about their application. She was only contacted to be told she was not selected. She knew that there would be seven (7) male and three (3) female members chosen, including one reserve. Since Rockville’s population is roughly 50-50 male-female, she didn’t think the Committee was inclusive or reflective of our population.

Councilmember John Britton responded by asking for copies of the resumes and applications of all the applicants knowing that it is privileged information. Due to Ms. Feinberg’s remarks, he was curious about the ethnic, gender and geographic breakdown.

Councilmember Piotr Gajewski used his response to Citizen’s Forum to explain his position on the Committee:

I’m sure you’re not going to be the last to complain about the composition of this Committee which is the problem I have with the forming of this Committee to begin with. APFO is arguably one of the most inflammatory issues that our City will be facing. I think it should be faced by elected officials at the very least it should be faced by officials appointed by elected officials.

Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio reminded everyone that it was within the privilege of the Planning Commission to appoint a subcommittee. The Mayor and Council had absolutely no input. The Planning Commission will eventually make recommendations to the Mayor and Council for a decision. She added:

I think it’s a process that maybe is flawed in some ways. I don’t think that anyone had the intention of slighting a soul. I think they were just looking for more help and this was one way to do it. Sometimes when you mean to do well, you do poorly. Let’s hope it results in something we can positively use.

I’ve been told that originally only 11 people applied for the 9 positions which is why the deadline was extended and about 21 applications were eventually received.

Regardless of these concerns, the Planning Commission seems pleased with their selections.

During Wednesday night’s meeting the Planning Commission decided the Advisory Committee’s start date will be January 2, 2011 and they must report to the Planning Commission by their first meeting in July.

Commissioner John Tyner reminded the representatives that their first chore is to elect a Chair to keep the meetings moving on schedule.

Offering all the Commissioners as a resource, Tracy Pakulniewicz advised the Task Force that they can contact them with questions in addition to asking City staff because “it is a pretty hefty task that you’re being charged with and we want to make sure you have all the information, all of the insight you need to effectively and efficiently do your job.”

Mr. Tyner added “You won’t be left hanging out in the breeze. That’s for sure.”

Contributor Review By Hena Khan: Like a Moth to a Flame: Matchbox opens in Rockville

Photo from Matchbox.

I am extremely pleased to welcome this Contributor Review from my friend, Hena Khan, a children’s book author who you may know from her wonderful work and local appearances. Thank you Hena!

When deciding where to entertain a pizza and burger-loving friend visiting from California for a great meal and hip atmosphere last Friday night, one place came instantly to mind: Matchbox. Although I’d been eagerly anticipating the opening of the popular DC restaurant’s new Rockville location in Congressional Plaza on December 11, our plans pre-dated the grand event by one day. So down to Chinatown we trekked in the bitter cold, to pay a visit to the original Matchbox that opened its doors in 2003.

Even though our group of four was hungry, I was met with skepticism when I declared that we must order at least nine—if not more—mini-burgers as a starter. But all doubts disappeared the moment our tower of burgers arrived: black angus beef cooked to a touch of pink, snuggled inside fresh brioche bread and topped with our choice of gorgonzola and gouda cheeses. Piled on top like a crown was a glorious heap of the crispiest and lightest onion strings you’ll ever taste, sprinkled with a dusting of parmesan cheese.

Sure enough, in a matter of minutes, we were negotiating who got the last burger and emphatically agreeing on one thing: Matchbox was a winner. And we hadn’t even gotten to the wood-fired brick oven pizzas yet.

Photo from Matchbox.

Ever since my husband first introduced me to Matchbox years ago, fanning a box of spicy meatball pizza under my nose as we waited in line for a concert at the Verizon Center, it’s been a family favorite (I had to endure the whines of my sons who heard that I dared go eat there without them). But as exciting as it was to learn that it would soon be so close to home, I was a little nervous that something might be lost in the new Rockville location, which took over a historically unsuccessful spot. I wondered if the atmosphere and experience would somehow be diminished by a suburban setting.

I had nothing to worry about. The expansive 10,000 foot building, which was rebuilt from the ground up, dwarfs the Matchbox in Chinatown and its other location in Capitol Hill. But the space retains Matchbox’s signature design elements and rustic charm, with walls made of old barn wood from New York and fireplaces crafted from reclaimed brick. The 67 tables inside were each handcrafted by one of the principal partners, Ty Neal, who painstakingly poured layers of resin to highlight the centerpiece of each table: a unique matchbox.

“Customers bring us matchboxes all the time, from all over the world,” Neal explains—a personal touch that adds to the charm of the restaurant.

The two-story space includes a mezzanine level, two patios for outdoor seating, as well as a spacious private room (with clever plans underway to host birthday parties for the kid-friendly plaza).

The Rockville menu is exactly the same as the DC locations. Apart from the trademark mini-burgers, the signature wood-fired pizzas include ‘spicy meatball’ and ‘fire and smoke’ for those who like it hot, traditional favorites like ‘four cheese’ and ‘white pizza,’ and a variety of other choices boasting gourmet toppings like coppa Italian ham and arugula, wild mushrooms, grilled marinated chicken, and more (or build your own). With its crispy, blistered thin crust, the pizza is sure to please. But if you fancy something else, the menu features delicious salads, sandwiches to satisfy the most discerning foodie, and a host of creative entrees to choose from (like succulent braised beef short ribs served with garlic mashed potatoes and bacon-gorgonzola brussel sprouts in a red wine reduction). Plus, every day, long time Rockville resident Executive Chef Jonny Mac serves up original creations for lunch and dinner.

It’s really challenging to save room for dessert, but if you can swing it, it’s absolutely worth the extra calories. My favorite is the warm chocolate chip bread pudding, served with banana, rum caramel, and whipped cream—yum.

And how does the food in Rockville match up to the original? Perfectly. Plus, the fact that I didn’t have to drive downtown, circle around city streets searching for parking, wait for a table (at least, not yet!), or suffer a long bathroom line for a single stall might have allowed me to enjoy my meal even more than in the district. Now I can take comfort in knowing that my favorite grown-up comfort food, in all its glory, is just around the corner. All I need is an errand that takes me to, say, the Container Store. Don’t I need some new closet organizers?

Hena Khan

Hena Khan is a Rockville native, communications consultant and children’s book author (Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story, Chronicle 2008). She enjoys sharing her stories and talking about writing with local audiences and schools, and can be reached at hena_khan@yahoo.com.

This is a Contributor Review. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us, Hello@RockvilleCentral.com, if you would like to submit something!

Reader Note From Justine Cowan: A Magical Holiday Concert Sun. Dec. 19

We’re happy to pass along this announcement about a very festive and great family event in Rockville this weekend:

Rockville Chorus Photo From The City Website

Winter is here and Magic is in the Air! Join the Rockville Chorus on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 7:30 PM, for “A MAGICAL HOLIDAY” Concert at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.

For this concert, Rockville Chorus Director, Bryan Seith, has chosen a wide variety of selections with a holiday theme that will appeal to all ages and musical tastes. Highlights of this performance include THE RELUCTANT DRAGON by John Rutter. This whimsical piece tells the tale of a dragon that prefers writing poetry to fighting. More traditional selections include THERE SHALL A STAR FROM JACOB by Felix Mendelssohn, the CHERRY TREE CAROL by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, as well as John Leavitt’s traditional Hebrew OSE SHALOM. Another selection by Robert Shaw, THE CAROL OF THE BIRDS, a jazz version of the well known HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, and another classical selection, HOW LOVELY ARE THE MESSENGERS from St. Paul by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy round out the program.

The Rockville Chorus is currently composed of 70 members. They have been delighting local audiences of all ages with quality musical selections for more than thirty years. New members are always welcome and can schedule an audition at the beginning of the Fall semester or Spring semester by calling Julie Farrell at (240)314-8682.

The Rockville Chorus Concert is free. No tickets are required. Donations are appreciated. Ample free parking is available. Seating is on a first come, first-served basis. For more information call the Theatre Box Office at 240-314-8690 or the recorded direction line at 240-314-5004.

Justine Cowan

This is a Reader Note. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us us if you would like to submit something!

Reader Note From Kate Gordon: National Philharmonic Singers At Christ Episcopal Church Sat. Dec. 18

From National Philharmonic

Rockville Central friend Kate Gordon has passed along a reminder about a Rockville holiday tradition: The National Philharmonic Singers free concert at Christ Episcopal Church. Here’s what Kate says:

The National Philharmonic Singers has presented concerts at Christ Episcopal Church for the last 5 years or so, free of charge, with all donations going to support a local charitable organization. The National Philharmonic has deep roots in the Rockville and this concert is one way we try to provide accessible, exemplary  arts experiences for the whole community.  We encourage families to attend together (although it is most appropriate for kids 7 an older–lots of sitting still…)

And she included the official announcement:

National Philharmonic Singers – A Christmas Fantasia

Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville will be the setting for The National Philharmonic Singers’ holiday program, to be presented on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 8 p.m.

Join the Singers as they perform Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen, motets from Continental Europe, and rarely heard carols from England and the United States, culminating in a celebration of traditional holiday favorites for the season. This concert promises to be an intimate celebration of this very special time of year.

No tickets are required, and there is no admission charge. Donations in support of Community Ministries of Rockville will be gratefully accepted.

The National Philharmonic Singers, conducted by Stan Engebretson and Victoria Gau, is the chamber ensemble of the National Philharmonic Chorale, the resident choral group of National Philharmonic at the Music Center at Strathmore. For more information please visit nationalphilharmonic.org or call 301-493-9283, ext 116.

Christ Episcopal Church is located at 107 South Washington Street in Rockville, MD. Directions to Christ Church may be found at christchurchrockville.org or call the church at 301-762-2191, ext. 3.

Roller Derby Jams In Rockville [Updated]

The Jammer has a star on her helmet. Photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths.

If you’ve seen the 2009 movie Whip It (the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore staring the ever intriguing Ellen Page), you know all about roller derby bouts. What you might not know is that Rockville has its own roller girls.

In November 2009 Keightasorass Rex formed Free State Roller Derby (FSRD) using her father’s Fast Pitch location in Rockville as a practice facility. Since then she’s left to work with the Park Service, but the team jams on. Update: she will be returning to scrimmage in December.

In case you’re wondering about this founder, derby skaters have alter-ego names and FSRD is no exception with Brusie Q, CINder BLOCK, Crum N’ Punishment, Evil Stitch, Melony Conviction, Psyche Drama, Scarlet Cleaver, Ta Ra Boom D A, Tawna Brixx, Tiffany Twisted, and Unablonder, Only a killer sport requires such epic handles.

Jammers start at the back. Photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths.

Free State Roller Derby practices every Wednesday and Sunday on quad skates with sturdy knee pads. During a roller derby bout, a team tries to make it difficult for one skater from the other team (“the jammer”) to advance through the pack of skaters (“the blockers”) led by a “pivot” who sets the speed. The jammers from both teams score points for passing members of the opposing team. Since teams skate in a pack while the two jammers dodge and glide through the crowd at the same time, the sport involves extensive strategy by the inside, outside, and power blockers.

Jammers moving through the blockers. Photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths.

A definite camaraderie has grown among the skaters who range from 20 to 50 years old. This spread in years proves age and experience don’t matter when you’re having fun. B-Knock-Ya is about to become a grandmother. Most haven’t skated since they were young girls. Some never skated in their lives before lacing on a pair to join Free State.

Mothra Stewart found the time to join and is glad she did:

I spent a long time thinking about doing derby and not doing anything about it. A friend of mine joined a drumming group called Batala which requires a lot of practice time and physical effort. I thought, “Well, if she can find the time for that then I can find time for derby.” Derby is amazingly fun and unlike anything else I’ve ever done. I feel like an athlete and part of a community. I only wish I had started playing earlier.

Co-Captain Slaughter Lily is also new to the sport without any experience skating:

I actually got started after watching Whip It five times and finally saying to myself that I have got to do that, no matter what it takes. I had no skating experience of any kind when I started, unless you count one miserable night in college of wobbling around an ice rink. I literally was unable to skate — I had to be held up to stay vertical for my first month of practices. It’s really hard to start from zero as an adult, and not a particularly athletic one, either. I’m still one of our weakest skaters, but I have made so much progress in the year I’ve been doing this and I’m pretty proud of myself. It’s the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life.

I think I was elected as a co-captain because, though I am not a good skater yet(!), I have a single-minded obsession with derby. I really appreciate that people saw me as a person who’d commit the time and effort to keep the team thriving, and I hope that I’ve been living up to those expectations. And I could never have come this far without my teammates, who are all incredibly supportive and just great people. I feel really, really lucky to be a part of this team.

Jammer sizes up the situation. Photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths.

Although Co-Captain Trips Ahoy was never on a roller derby team either before joining FSRD, she leads practice with the help of solid online resources and a committed roller derby community which is extremely supportive and encouraging to newcomers. Guest coaches, especially advanced skaters who have retired, stop by to teach others about the sport they love. Former FSRD member, Crowella De Vil, a very talented jammer who was chosen to join the Baltimore Charm City Roller Girls, also brings it back to coach her friends.

Besides Charm City, our area is home to several DC teams including the DC Rollergirls whose motto is “With Liberty And Justice To Brawl”. These teams compete as part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (Real. Strong. Athletic. Revolutionary.)

Although the roller derby scene has been described as “aggression on wheels”, FSRD concentrates on communication and strategy by leaning and blocking, although they do sometimes practice hip checking. After each scrimmage the group discusses what worked and what didn’t.

How'd we do? Photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths

When asked about the aggressive reputation of roller derby, Slaughter Lily provided an overview of the current roller derby world:

Although we are just a small start-up league and not a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), we do play by their rules, as do most flat track leagues. Using elbows and hands is strictly prohibited — if you elbow someone, even accidentally, you will get called for a minor penalty; if you do it hard enough to affect their game play, that’s a major and you’re in the box for a minute. Tripping, kicking, and any blocking to or using the head are also not allowed. Punching will get you tossed from the game, no questions. There are several pages of rules detailing how to hit legally. The idea with the 2000s revival of roller derby is to combine a full-contact, fairly aggressive spectacle with real athleticism and camaraderie. I’ve heard that there are some teams in the West (where the sport was reborn) that still play derby the way it used to be on TV in the 1980s — brawling on the track and all — but that is definitely not what the vast majority of leagues are doing. As for Free State, we’re still learning a lot about how to play this sport, including the contact aspect of it and how to, say, control where our elbows go, but we are definitely interested in playing fair, playing safe, and playing hard.

The action comes from behind so communication is key. Photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths.

For those who want to try recreational roller derby, Free State welcomes new skaters. Don’t worry, the first lessons include two extremely important skills (1.) how to stop and (2.) how to fall down. After the basics are out of the way, the fun is learning about this all-female, up-and-coming sport. Plus, they’ve found the training to be great exercise.

If you want to try the roller derby scene, e-mail Free State for the details: FreeStateRollerDerby@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page. All you need is a desire to learn and a pair of skates. Dues are minimal and not necessary until you’re really sure you want to commit and have bought your first pair of rad skates.

Comic Strip: ROCK’burb 12/11/10

This week no one could ignore the weather.

About ROCK’burb: A few months ago we were tossing around ideas for new features on Rockville Central. We thought Saturday morning comics would be fun. Since I’ve always wanted to draw a comic strip, I’ve been imagining them in my head each week. Sometimes an idea pops up in my head and sometimes my whole family thinks up a panel about our lives here in Rockville.

Do you like to draw? We’re hoping we have other cartoonists who would be interested in submitting comic strips. If you have one about life in Rockville, please send it along! We’d love to see it and may even publish it. Remember, be nice! Email us: hello@rockvillecentral.com.

Reader Note By Bill Burchett: Support RMHS December 13

Click for full size

This from Rockville Central friend Bill Burchett:

The Richard Montgomery Booster Club is holding a fundraiser at Gillys Craft Beer and Fine Wine on Monday Dec. 13th from 5-9 pm.

Gillys is located on Chapman Ave next to Urban Barbeque just off of Rockville Pike. They have one of the largest craft beer selections in the area and they maintain a good wine selection. They have a deli with interesting sandwiches and they have a decent cheese selection as well. Visit their website www.gillyscbfw.com

For this event, reps will be there from Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada. Firestone wines will also be poured. Gillys always rotates an interesting selection of beers on tap.

The fundraiser is being held to replace the flags in the Roy Lester sports stadium. The old flags are faded and worn. The Boosters Club receives 10% of all purchases in addition to the raffles and the suggested $10 donation. The donation is only suggested and people can certainly come and shop without donating at all. Visit the RMHS booster club home page for more info www.rmboosters.com

I have shopped at Gillys since they opened. The Washington Post featured them on the front cover of the Weekend section this past summer. It’s a different place. Yes it’s a beer and wine store but you can also have a sandwich or try a draft beer that you’ve never had before.

If you plan to buy beer or wine for yourself or as a gift for someone else this holiday season please consider stopping by and supporting us. You can also just stop by for a sandwich. And please, tell your friends…especially those friends who love good beer.

Editorial Opinion By Brad Rourke: Engagement, Please, Not ‘Input’

MCPS

As many Rockville Central readers know, Montgomery County Public Schools superintendent Jerry Weast is stepping down after more than ten years. On Tuesday, the Board of Education formally selected the executive recruiting firm to conduct the search for his replacement: Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, based in Illinois. This is the same firm that led the search to find Dr. Weast. (They have also done most of the searches in the surrounding area, including Prince George’s County, Fairfax County, and Baltimore County).

Choosing a leader for one of the largest and best school districts in the nation is no easy task. The job is part CEO, part cabinet secretary, part community leader. You can’t just look for the “best qualified” candidate because there may not be a good fit with the community. In fact, some would argue that community fit is at least as important than qualifications.

A Public Role

Superintendent is an inherently public role. In large districts like ours, it is even more properly seen as a public position. Such searches are tricky, because when there are many legitimate public claims to have a say in the selection, it becomes a political question.

By “political,” I don’t mean “partisan.” I mean it in the highest and best sense. Politics, after all, is how we make decisions together in our community and our nation. In my view (of course I am a civic nerd so take it with a grain of salt), it is among the most important inventions of humankind.

Even if you aren’t a civic nerd like me, all would agree, I believe, that the search for the leader of a school district with more than 100,000 students ought to have a very strong public engagement component. The public voice is certainly not the only voice that must be heard, but it is critical.

Engagement vs. ‘Input’

With that in mind, I am concerned about how the process may unfold. I am worried that we will get engagement in name only.

This is an endemic problem throughout public life. Too often, public officials say they want to engage the public in this or that decision – and then go ahead and convene a hearing where everyone has three minutes to speak, or announce a “town hall” by sticking a notice up on a website, or by announcing an online survey where people can “be heard.” These are all decent methods of “gathering input” but they do nothing to make citizens feel heard. When was the last time, for instance, that you felt as if you had adequately made an important point in three minutes?

I got to thinking about this when I read an interesting article by the Parents’ Coalition of Montgomery County. The Coalition is a strong critic of the school district, and I often disagree with their assessments. But, sometimes I agree.

In this particular article, the Coalition pointed out that the search firm would likely be using an off-the-shelf online survey to “gather input” from the public about what kinds of qualities they would like to see in a superintendent. The article implied that using a standard online survey form was less desirable than something that would be created on a custom basis, and that this was emblematic of how the district seemed to be overpaying for the search contract.

For my part, I have no problem with using a standard web survey as a piece of the engagement strategy, and I don’t necessarily think the $35,000 search price tag is too high.

However, I have a problem with the online survey. The Coalition found other instances where it had evidently been used (for instance, Mill Valley, California) so I was able to take a look at the survey itself.

It is a series of more than 40 dense, jargon-filled qualities that respondents are supposed to assign 1-6 “important/not important” rankings to. My eyes glazed over after the first set. None of the questions are bad, mind you – it’s just that the whole thing is stamped “bureaucrat.”

Is This What We Can Look Forward To?

My worry is that this is a harbinger of what “community engagement” will look like: expert-driven, bureaucratic, and perfunctory.

I hope that more care and attention will be paid to engaging the community in this critical decision. Many factors come into play and expertise and qualifications are certainly key. But the district will have squandered an important opportunity if it does not authentically reach out to the community as a partner and not just as a source of “input.”

The full survey is copied below. (This is the version intended for “community members.”) Mind you, this has not been released as an official survey to be used in the Montgomery County search. However, this survey appears to be used frequently by the search firm.

The Survey:

Vision and Values

1. Articulate a clear vision of what is required to be an exemplary school district.

2. Act in accordance with the district’s mission, vision, and core beliefs.

3. Strive for continuous improvement in all areas of the district.

4. Have concrete plans to be actively involved in developing, monitoring, and evaluating the progress of school and district initiatives and implementation plans.

5. Promote high expectations for all students and personnel.

6. Lead in an encouraging, participatory, and team-focused manner.

7. Delegate leadership responsibilities effectively.

8. Demonstrate integrity, honesty, and fairness.

Instructional Leadership

9. Serve as the district’s instructional leader.

10. Hold a deep understanding of the teaching and learning process.

11. Increase academic accountability at all levels of the district’s schools and for all its students.

12. Provide meaningful guidance on the district’s curricular and instructional programming.

13. Provide meaningful guidance on the implementation and management of a systematic district-wide assessment program.

14. Utilize student achievement data to drive the district’s instructional and assessment programming.

Community and Relationships

15. Be visible throughout the district and the community.

16. Understand the conditions, cultures, dynamics, and values of the school community.

17. Listen to and effectively represent the interests and concerns of students, personnel, and community.

18. Foster a positive professional climate of mutual trust and respect among faculty, staff, and administrators.

19. Seek a high level of engagement with principals and other school-site leaders.

20. Maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with the school board and its members.

21. Develop strong relationships with constituent groups, local government, area business, and external partnerships.

Communication and collaboration

22. Communicate effectively the plans, goals, and progress of the district to the Board, staff, parents, students, and the community.

23. Communicate clearly to the school community about student achievement in the district’s schools.

24. Facilitate the sharing of ideas, plans, and methods among various district stakeholders.

25. Provide constructive, meaningful feedback to personnel he/she supervises.

26. Involve appropriate stakeholders in the decision making process.

27. Encourage a sense of shared responsibility among all stakeholders regarding success in student learning.

Core Knowledge and Competencies

28. Possess strong understanding of organizational and educational leadership.

29. Possess strong understanding of emerging issues and trends that affect the school community and the mission of the school.

30. Possess strong understanding of current legal, regulatory, and ethical issues affecting education.

31. Possess strong understanding of personnel needs and requirements.

32. Possess strong understanding of the system of public school governance and finances in the state and nation.

Management

33. Be an effective manager of the school district’s day-to-day operations.

34. Align operational plans and procedures with the school district’s vision, mission, and goals.

35. Identify, confront, and resolve district issues in a timely manner.

36. Effectively plan and manage the financial operations.

37. Align financial resources with student learning needs and the district’s vision, mission, and goals.

38. Recruit, employ, and retain effective personnel management teams throughout the district and its schools.

39. Apply policies and procedures fairly, wisely, and consistently.

40. Guide the usage and maintenance of school facilities to ensure secure, safe, and clean school environments that support learning.

41. Facilitate efficient delivery of supplemental school services (e.g., security, food service).

Additional Comments

42. Please add any additional comments you wish to make regarding what you believe are necessary characteristics for a superintendent.

43. If you know of someone that you think would be a good candidate for this position, please share their name and contact information in this space.

Testimony From Jeremy Martin: Pedestrian Safety and Neighborhood Connectivity

Rockville City Hall

Here is the full text of Jeremy Martin’s remarks to last night’s Mayor and Council meeting:

Thanks for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the traffic and transportation commission. There are two subjects we wanted to address this evening: pedestrian safety and neighborhood connectivity.

Three recent pedestrian fatalities on the Rockville Pike, one inside and two just outside the city limits, make it crystal clear that pedestrian safety is a life or death issue throughout the city, and especially on the Rockville Pike. This is a topic to which the commission devotes a great deal of time and thought, and we feel these fatalities quite acutely. I wanted to pass along a few thoughts to you in person.

There were a number of contributing factors to these recent accidents, including lighting problems, the location of bus-stops and the proximity of cross-walks, and generally intersections that are not pedestrian friendly. Several of these factors have been promptly addressed, and for this we want to commend the work of the city’s interdepartmental task force on pedestrian safety.

But we need to avoid the next fatality, rather than react to it. To do this, we hope the city will encourage all city employees, especially those on the roads after dark: police officers, refuse collection and others, to report problems with street lights, so these dangerous situations can be quickly resolved.

We also need to ensure that the pedestrian safety projects are adequately funded in the upcoming budget. We hope that you can find the resources to fully fund the Accessible Pedestrian Signals, Sidewalks, the Intermodal Access Project on Baltimore Road, and Asphalt Repair. Keeping citizens safe on Rockville streets should be a top priority, even when budgets are tight.

The other topic I wanted to address is neighborhood connectivity. The recently proposed brand statement highlights the importance of connectivity between Rockville’s neighborhoods and residents. Connectivity, for pedestrians, cyclists and all users is another topic to which the traffic and transportation commission devotes considerable energy.

Unfortunately, we have not been very successful improving connectivity. Numerous examples, from the Princeton Place access to Montgomery College, the road abandonment associated with the Victory Housing project, and many others have failed to realize the potential for improved connectivity.

I didn’t come here to grouse about these missed opportunities, but to offer our assistance, in whatever capacity would be most effective, to support improved connectivity throughout the city. The commission wants to remind the Mayor and Council of our commitment to improved connectivity, and our eagerness to work with you, with the planning commission, with the county, with the college, with the Rockville bicycle advisory committee, or whomever else we can engage to build a city that meets our ambitions for safety and connectivity. We hope you will think of us, and find ways we can work together in an efficient and effective manner to improve our city.

We invite anyone who testifies during a Public Hearing or at Citizens Forum to send us your remarks, which we will consider for publication at Rockville Central as a public service. As with any opinion piece, our publication of an article does not mean we endorse the author’s opinion.