Contributor Opinion By Mark Pierzchala: Biking Rockville

>You’ve heard of ‘Buy Rockville’ but what about ‘Bike Rockville’? In 18 trips from February to July, I biked every street in this fair City. I wanted to see the whole City in a personal way at an achievable pace. A car tour would have been too quick and distant and walking, way too long.

The grand tour took me a total of 48 hours and 35 minutes. There are about 150 miles of City streets but they aren’t exactly laid out end-to-end. I twice covered the length of every cul-de-sac and the crazy pattern of Rockville’s streets meant that I rode some streets 3, 4, or many more times. At an estimated 9 miles per hour I would have covered more than 430 miles. These rides were grueling at times as I hauled my 57-year old body around on a tank of a bike, ultimately using all 21 gears.

The first street I rode on February 21 was Frederick Avenue in Lincoln Park. The last street I biked on July 4 was A Street (it leads to the new Giant off of 355). It took two trips to cover King Farm and three trips to ride through Twinbrook. Excursions ranged from 95 to 285 minutes.

I saw our neighborhoods, Rockville’s industry, its commercial districts and I was able to see how people live. When I entered a neighborhood I tried to understand how the area is affected by pressures on its periphery and how parts of the City connect with one other. I often ventured into the surrounding County to see how the City fits into its surroundings.

Some lessons:

1. Rockville is a sprawling metropolis built around the automobile.
2. There is an amazing diversity of housing and neighborhoods truly are distinctive.
3. The City is wonderfully bikable; its drivers polite (okay, there were a few exceptions).
4. Rockville is incredibly hilly. For every 30-second cruise downhill there was a 2 or 3 minute climb on another hill to dread.
5. The steepest hill is Crofton Hill Lane (opposite Research Boulevard on West Montgomery). The ascent is so challenging, there’s really no second place.
6. Rockville’s bike paths complement the roadways very well. It is often easier to cross from one neighborhood to another via bike path than by a circuitous car route.
7. I found 3 errors on Rockville’s bicycle map; I’ll be sharing these with City Staff.

I’m not claiming that I now remember every street. But as I subsequently campaign by bicycle I find that I’m developing a unique and detailed mental map of the City. For example, to get from College Gardens to North Farm to campaign, the route from College Parkway was: south on Nelson Street, left on West Montgomery Avenue, quick right on Addclare Road, left on Roxboro Road, through Bullards Park onto Autumn Wind Way, down Great Falls Road, cross Maryland Avenue onto Potomac Valley Road, right on New Mark Esplanade to its end, onto the short bike path, right on Waddington Lane, through Dogwood Park, onto a secluded path into The Villages at Tower Oaks, down Tower Oaks Boulevard (crossing Twinbrook Parkway), and finally left on North Farm Lane 30 minutes after starting out. Trips like this are not possible by car, they’re fun, and they really help me understand what Rockville is all about!

Mark Pierzchala

Mark Pierzchala is a candidate for City Council.

This is a contributor opinion. Rockville Central encourages readers to submit such opinions for consideration — the more voices the better. We especially welcome people who disagree with us. We ask that all such contributions be civil and we reserve the right to edit (in consultation with the author) or reject. Contributor opinions should not be seen as reflecting opinions held by Rockville Central editors, as they are just as frequently at odds with our own views. That’s the whole point!

Rockville Central does not endorse candidates. We are encouraging towards all people who choose to run for office the city and try our best to make ourselves open to all. We actively encourage candidates to submit opinion pieces and other news. We don’t include every last bit, but we try to be fair to all and give useful information about what is happening.

Pierzchala Statement On Why He's Running For City Council

City Council candidate >Mark Pierzchala gave the following remarks to Citizens Forum at the Mayor and Council meeting last night. (These are from prepared text that he shared with us.)

In 2007, I ran for Mayor and came in second of three candidates. In January this year I declared my candidacy for council. This early announcement was intended to clarify my intentions, but while the office is different, two main reasons for running remain much the same.

Budget

In 2008, this body passed its first budget and increased City spending by 9.5% to $102M and increased City staff by 17.9 positions. To be fair, I acknowledge here, and have acknowledged on the campaign trail, that this body’s second budget decreased spending by a half percent. But this is small consolation given its first year’s deed and the voters ought to hold you to account. The manner in which Mayor and Council approach the budget process also concerns me. This body just does not bring a great deal of budget expertise to this most important expression of the City’s values.

Though Rockville has seen prodigious increases in revenues for many years, by FY 2012 we could see serious revenue problems. The federal, state, and county budgets are all in crisis because these governments did not take their impending and potential problems seriously enough, soon enough.

As a council member, I will work for a long overdue and very thorough review of the budget, and a revamping of the budget process. Hopefully this would be with full concurrence of Mayor and Council, but if not, when it comes my turn to ask the questions, I just won’t shut up until I get answers. Mayor and Council should undertake a series of substantive work sessions, one department at a time, and one program at a time. This year, I could only shake my head as Department Chiefs, some representing over $20M in spending, appeared before this body for only a few minutes each.

There is much work that Mayor and Council can do now to prepare for rough budget years. This is the best way to ensure that Rockville can continue to do many good things even in lean times.

Governance

A second reason I’m running is the way that this body conducts its business. We still see explosive and corrosive relationships between members of this body. The extended performance at the last meeting has been mentioned to me many times the past few weeks as I have knocked on doors. This is but the latest of several incidents and this behavior gets in the way of business.

In my opinion City Staff have assumed a greater role in formulating policy and setting the agenda over the past 2 years. This year there have been fewer meetings and more agenda items in each meeting. Some of these meetings run very late. For example, tonight’s agenda has 14 substantive items with 40 documents to download from the City’s website, representing several hundred pages of text, pictures, charts, maps, tables, and graphs. One document has 238 pages, and one picture took me 20⁵ minutes to download on broadband access. Three items are on complex transportation issues, and you just can’t give this full consideration in one night! The 2- and 3-week gap between meetings also means it is harder for Mayor and Council to put off consideration of an item. I’ll work to reverse this practice should be voters put me on the council.

Note: Rockville Central does not edorse candidates. But we are glad to publish major statements and significant events of all candidates for City office, always trying our best to be fair to all. We don’t publish everything, but we do publish most things! If you are a Rockville city candidate, please share as much information with us as possible so we can make sure your voice is heard.

Contributor Opinion By Mark Pierzchala: Support Closure Of Princeton Place Fence; Only Open When Smoking Areas Are Provided On Campus

>This is a contributor opinion. Rockville Central encourages readers to submit such opinions for consideration — the more voices the better. We especially welcome people who disagree with us. We ask that all such contributions be civil and we reserve the right to edit (in consultation with the author) or reject. Contributor opinions should not be seen as reflecting opinions held by Rockville Central editors, as they are just as frequently at odds with our own views. That’s the whole point!

One more note. Mark has announced that he is running for City Council. We do not know of other declared candidates yet; as we do, we will try to make sure we provide a balanced forum for all voices.

Dear College Garden Neighbors (via the College Gardens Forum ListServe),

Montgomery College has informed the City of Rockville that with respect to the Princeton Place access to Montgomery College, it plans to “modify and close the opening of the fence to provide immediate relief for the residents. College and city staff agree that immediate relief has to be provided to those residents most adversely affected by the College’s Tobacco Free Campus policy. The College expects to close the opening and erect a new fence beginning as soon as February 28, 2009.”


The information above comes from an internal City memorandum dated February 23, 2009. One of the action items on the memorandum is that there will be a stakeholder’s meeting on March 16 where various options will be presented and feedback from the stakeholders gathered.
Since I’m running for City Council some people including some neighbors would like me to reiterate my oft-stated position on this issue. There are two points: First, given the current Montgomery College policy of absolutely no smoking on campus, I support the closure of the fence to provide relief for the campus’s near neighbors on Princeton Place. The impacts on them have been severe and real. Second, I would support the re-opening of the fence but only if this is accompanied by the implementation of a smoking area on campus. I can’t see any other solution that would provide permanent relief to the Princeton Place residents while re-establishing access.

Please keep in mind that it is Montgomery College that has caused the problem. The Princeton Place residents are defending their children and their property; I can’t fault them for that. We should not allow unilateral action by Montgomery College to cause a rift in our neighborhoods.

With the current MC policy, either keeping the gate open or closing it, would have negative impacts on the community. This fact was clearly established in Citizen’s Forum to Mayor and Council and in testimony to the Planning Commission and the MC Board of Trustees the past several weeks. It is my opinion that the only unifying position for our community is if both College Gardens and Plymouth Woods rally around a position for the College to modify its policy and establish one smoking area on campus.

Other groups, such as the Rockville Bike Advisory Committee should also make the establishment of a campus smoking area central to their efforts to re-open access. Further, I call on Mayor and Council to formally state such a position by resolution. The facts are known and other so-called solutions have been proposed and found lacking. Though I recognize that individual council members have been vocally supportive, it is time for all our elected to go on record and to formally take a clear and strong stand in defense of its neighborhoods.

Yours,

Mark Pierzchala

POTD: Owner Of A Lonely Heart

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This cute shot was taken by Mark Pierzchala on Valentine’s Day. Of it, he says: “Lonely Heart on Valentine’s Day: I saw this heart balloon trapped by a tree outside College Gardens Elementary School on Valentine’s Day. It conjured up all sorts of possibilities.”

POTD: Ow-ow-owooooooooo!

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This photo is by Mark Pierzchala. Of it he says: “I took this picture from the Falls Grove bike path. When I read the sign, I felt as if it were sending a mixed message. The large ‘Coyote Habitat’ and the line drawing jump out at you and I thought at first it should be taken as a positive. But then reading the details, you get the opposite feeling.”

Indeed!

Contributor Opinion by Mark Pierzchala: My Mongoose Is Loose

>The following contributor opinion (and true story) is by Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala:

On Saturday November 1, I purchased a Mongoose. On Wednesday, November 5 it vanished. I swear it was locked up properly. Its disappearance is mysterious and foul play is likely.

The reason I bought a Mongoose is because on Friday, October 31 someone stole my bicycle from a bike rack at Rockville Metro Station. Now before you pull all your children inside, I should explain that a Mongoose is a bicycle brand and that the Mongoose I purchased on Saturday was a used bike from a reputable area bike shop. The reason that the Mongoose vanished on Wednesday is that it too was stolen from the same bike rack at Rockville Metro.

The first stolen bike was cabled properly to the bike rack. I assumed that someone picked the lock on this cable because it had a key lock. After losing that beloved bicycle, you can be sure that the Mongoose bike was even more carefully and fully cabled to the rack. This cable had a combination lock. I think someone has a cable cutter.

I rode the Mongoose back and forth to the Metro exactly 1½ times. Even though it was used, by the time I added a few basic accessories such as a thick cable, it cost $263. If I continue to lose bikes at this rate, this clearly would not represent a cost-effective transportation solution. This poses a dilemma since we share 2 cars between 3 drivers and being able to cycle to the Metro is a key part of this arrangement.

A few months ago, I broached the topic of bike parking at Metro at Citizen’s Forum. I noted that all bike lockers at the Metro were rented and that there was at least a year’s wait. Since then, the City expressed a willingness to purchase more bike lockers for the Rockville stop. Metro said it would accept them but is concerned about the expense of their maintenance.

Along the way I learned that Metro has little money for bike security, that it is replacing some of its 1600 bike racks, that more people are biking to the Metro, but Metro needs to focus on its core business. All I wanted at the time of my presentation to Mayor and Council was a few bike racks inside the tunnel out of rain and sun and within range of security cameras.

Anyway I’m back on my unicycle after a 15 month hiatus after I fractured my elbow a week after I bragged to a neighbor that I had never broken a bone in my life. Maybe one day I’ll get good enough at unicycling to ride it to the Metro and perhaps Metro would let me take it on rush-hour trains. But my skill level is minimal and it’s going to be a long time before that happens if ever. What’s a guy to do?

P.S. The following is from Carl Henn: The county runs a bike registration system that sends you a decal with a number on it, so that if it’s recovered they know who to send it back to. It’s here. I had a bike stolen years ago from a Metro station, but it was registered through NIH. The cops caught the thieves and returned my bike.

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.

POTD: Interloper

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This cool photo is by Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala. Of it, he says: “In Town Square, someone stuck a cone over one of the waterspouts. I thought it a statement; not so profound, but more whimsical. (Earlier in the day the cone was lying on its side near the fountain.) As I reviewed this picture, I noted how the 5 waterspouts in the background appeared like ghosts, and somewhat menacing. As if not happy about this interloping cone.”

Contributor Review By Mark Pierzchala: Mattie J. T. Stepanek Park Dedicated in King Farm

>The following contributor review is by Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala, as are the photos. The City of Rockville press release was used for fact checking and correct spellings.

A celebrity-studded succession of speakers and a Rockville crowd of several hundred people dedicated Rockville’s Mattie J. T. Stepanek Park yesterday in King Farm. Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann led the proceedings. In addition to political figures headed by Representative Chris Van Hollen, there were speeches by Khaliah Ali (daughter of Mohammad Ali), composer/singer Nile Rodgers, and a surprise appearance by Oprah Winfrey. Mayor Hoffman welcomed the crowd and summarized the funding and development of the park. Later, she gave a recap of Mattie’s life and a touching introduction of Jeni Stepanek Mattie’s mother.

Several speakers noted how Mattie was able to overcome adversity and effectively advance his message of peace. In his 13 years Mattie was a remarkably prolific poet; his Heartsongs series made the N. Y. Times bestseller list.

Councilmember Anne Robbins read a letter from the family of President Jimmy Carter. Councilmember Piotr Gajewski, who lives in King Farm, noted his own family’s use of the park and its importance to the development. Councilmembers John Britton and Phyllis Marcuccio, the District 17 state delegation, members of the county council, the board of education, Mayor Will Roseman of Carlstadt, NJ, and Annie Kennedy of the Muscular Dystrophy Association also spoke. (Carlstadt, NJ is building its own peace park in honor of the young Stepanek’s work.)

Jeni Stepanek spoke about the meaning of Mattie’s life and recited some of his work. She spoke about Mattie’s belief that peace starts with the individual. It was a remarkably poised, poignant, and positive speech of hope.

Winfrey remembered Mattie’s appearance on her show and related how she and Mattie often communicated by phone and email afterwards. She noted how a house from across the park came up for sale allowing Mattie’s mother to move in, calling it a ‘God Wink’.

After the speeches, the crowd moved to the sculpture of Mattie Stepanek where there was a ribbon cutting ceremony and an unveiling of the artwork.

Music was an important part of the affair starting with the Montgomery County Pipes and Drum Band marching in the colors. The King Farm Chorus sang the world’s premier of “Look Up Way Down” (lyrics by Mattie Stepanek, set to music by Pepper Choplin). The rock band Creation sang “Stop Be Silent” (lyrics by Mattie Stepanek). A King Farm community gathering followed the dedication.

The hosts of the affair were the Mayor and Council of the City of Rockville, the Mattie J. T. Stepanek King Farm Foundation, Inc., and the King Farm Citizens Assembly, Inc.

Editor’s note: City council member Anne Robbins sent along this wonderful note later in the day: “What a day to honor a young man who had done so much in his 13 years on earth. A fine autumn day, much pagentry, and a mother who had lost much, but was now seeing Mattie’s peace ideas being spread around the world. And, at the end of the program, a surprise guest, OPRAH, who was a great friend of Mattie’s. She charmed everyone and was so natural signing autographs for everyone. WOW! It will be a long time before Rockville sees another occasion like this one.”

Governor O'Malley Visits College Gardens Elementary

>Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala passed along the following Contributor’s Review of today’s event at the newly-renovated College Gardens Elementary.

Governor Martin O’Malley joined Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast, and high ranking county elected officials in a visit to College Gardens Elementary School (CGES) this morning. They were hosted by principal Dr. Albert DuPont and warmly welcomed by staff and students. College Gardens received substantial state and county construction funding and the visit underscored the current administration’s support for education. CGES opened its new building in January 2008.

At College Gardens, O’Malley and group stopped first in the Media Center. They were greeted in Chinese by students from the Chinese immersion program. This was followed by a presentation and speeches. The Governor gave a State of Maryland flag to the school. In his brief remarks, he noted that CGES was the only Primary Years Program (PYP) in Maryland and how this extended the International Baccalaureate Program to the elementary level. He also noted that the school would soon be receiving solar panels.

From there, the entourage proceeded to a 3rd grade classroom, a Chinese immersion classroom, then to the courtyard where they were serenaded by about 80 third graders. O’Malley and company then planted a native Maryland Redbud tree.

Other people I recognized included State Senator Jennie Forehand, Delegate Kumar Barve, County Executive Isiah Leggett, and cluster superintendent Dr. Sherry Liebes (former principal of CGES). It was a well-run affair and the delegation kept to the schedule like clockwork. Weast, DuPont, Leggett, and Barve all spoke briefly at one point or another. O’Malley seemed to go out of his way to praise Barve on at least two occasions. To some extent it seemed a credit-taking event; nevertheless the school community was thrilled to have the visit.

Update On RORZOR

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

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

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

Then they’ll pass it after their summer recess.

POTD: The Gash

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This Picture Of The Day is by Rockville Central friend (and Rockville Roundtable participant) Mark Pierzchala.

Of it, he writes: “As I recall, about 10 years ago the gas company cut this swath through the Forest Preserve in order to provide emergency access to their pipes. There was a court challenge, ribbons tied around trees, and a neighborhood uprising, but the gas company had the right to do this. The picture is taken from Plymouth Woods looking towards Woodley Gardens.”

Want to submit a photo for consideration to be the Picture Of The Day? Wonderful! Just email it to me. Rules: a) Must be taken in Rockville; b) Must be your own work; c) Must not be published or offered for publication elsewhere; d) Should be generally contemporary (try to keep them less than a month or two old).

POTD: Thnks Fr Th Mmrs

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(With apologies to Fall Out Boy.) This warm and lovely weather broughht out my perverse streak. Lucky for me, Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala sent along a clutch of POTD candidates, and this one was among the bunch.

Of it, he says: “Yellow On White: A school bus stands out on a snowy day like this. Taken in a hurry from within my house on Fordham Street.”

Want to submit a photo for consideration as Picture Of The Day? Delightful! Just email it to me. Rules (there are rules): Taken by you; Exclusive (not published anywhere else); In Rockville city limits; Pretty recent. How easy is that?

POTD: Ponds

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Part of a three-part series by Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala. He calls the series “Two Things Part of Another Thing.”

Of this one he says: “Forebay pond and Storm Water Management pond at Exit 6 (towards DC) onto I-270, from the new bike bridge on West Montgomery. (Both ponds part of a Storm Water Management system.)”

POTD: Trees

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Part of a three-part series by Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala. He calls the series “Two Things Part of Another Thing.”

Of this one he says: “Upside-down tree top and right-side-up tree trunk. (Both part (formerly) of the same tree. I’m assuming that it snapped during one of the recent wind storms. This is at the intersection of Gude Drive and State Highway 28, Falls Grove area, near the community center under construction.”

POTD: Hoops

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Part of a three-part series by Rockville Central friend Mark Pierzchala. He calls the series “Two Things Part of Another Thing.”

Of this one, he says: “Two basketball hoops at College Gardens Elementary School. (Both hoops part of the outdoor play area.)”