If You Need Mulch Then Support RMHS

Kevin Brooks, the President of the Richard Montgomery High School (RMHS) Booster Club, sends along this announcement of their upcoming annual Mulch Sale on Saturday March 27, 2010:

This is the biggest fund raiser that the Club holds each year. The profits benefit not only the student athletes and their teams, but, also to the many school organization’s inside the school. The Booster Club donates to Every 15 minutes, Post Prom, the year book, the School newspaper (The Tide) and other groups as well.

The Mulch sale is a great opportunity to come out see the community spirit that is required to sale and deliver over 5,000 bags of mulch in one day!

The Booster Club has been putting this Mulch Sale on for years. Each year people from all over Rockville come out and donate their trucks, cars and hands to make the day a great success. We welcome all the help we can get that day.

The Mulch is sold by the bag (3 cubic ft) and can be picked up in front of the school or can be delivered (25 bags free, 24 or less $10 additional).  Students who come and work the Mulch Sale can earn those important SSL hours as well. 

Orders can be placed on-line at www.RMboosters.org. Keep a look out for flyers to be delivered to your door as well. All orders need to be placed by March 24th. For further information, call Cheryl Hoover at:  cahoover1@yahoo.com.

Thank you very mulch!

All About The Emergency Shelter at RMHS

Our local Richard Montgomery High School has been set up as a Montgomery County emergency shelter for those experiencing power outages. Curious, I walked over to learn what it would be like to stay at the high school.

With electricity still out for approximately 50,000 Montgomery County residents and temperatures expected in the teens tonight, the shelter will provide warmth and food for those suffering without electricity. All the volunteers and staff created a very welcoming atmosphere. This makeshift facility is providing top notch services. Nurses were available along with an officer from the Sheriff’s department who’ll make sure everyone stays safe.

Anthony Holmes, an American Red Cross volunteer, was on hand to answer questions. He’s a volunteer with our local Red Cross Disaster Team. When he heard they needed volunteers in the DC area this weekend, he signed up to help. Last night at 11 PM as he huddled under a blanket without electricity in his own home, he received the call to volunteer. He immediately told them to send a vehicle over to pick him up.

Cots are set up in the gym and the 21 people who stayed there last night had plenty of room. Families are allowed to stay together. The Red Cross supplies their signature red blankets to everyone. Heater Meals, which require wrapping an individual heater pack around liquid and food packets, are available for on the spot meals. Steam rises from the packs during the fast 10 minute cooking process. M&M’s and peanut butter are included in the Meals. Hot tea and coffee are brewed throughout the day.

This morning the IHOP in Ritchie Center sent over 30 meals which included eggs, pancakes, sausage and bacon for everybody, along with a big bottle of syrup. Remember to thank IHOP for this community service the next time you stop by for a meal.

Some people with medical needs have been transported to the shelter by ambulance and the National Guard. If you don’t have heat, go to the shelter. If you are wondering about whether you should go before the roads freeze up tonight, don’t worry. They pulled out a T.V. and everyone will be able to watch the Superbowl.

In addition to the shelter at RMHS, at 4 PM today Montgomery County opened two more: (1.) at Schweinhaut Ctr, 1000 Forest Glen in Silver Spring and (2.) Longwood Ctr, 19300 Georgia Ave, in Brookville/Olney.

See The Richard Montgomery High School One-Acts On January 15!

Last year, the Richard Montgomery High School drama club, the Black Maskers, started what looks to be a fantastic tradition of a one-act play series. They reached out to us to let us know about this year’s production:

The Richard Montgomery High School Black Maskers Drama Club Proudly Presents

ONE-ACTS 2010!

The One-Acts, created and performed for the first time last spring, is back as an annual Black Maskers tradition! For one night only, the hard work from this completely student-run production will be on display. Four comedies under the direction of six student-directors will be preformed. Co-creators Kate Drummond and Jonathan Frankle are back to produce the show for another year.

The show is going up for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 7:00pm in the RM auditorium. Tickets will be $7 for students and $10 for adults. The entire auditorium will be general admission seating. Tickets can be purchased online here.

And here’s another thing: The Black Maskers are still accepting ad applications for the program. For information on that, companies, parents, or friends should email: RMOneActs@gmail.com. This show is funded entirely on donations, ads, and bake sales, so they appreciate everything!

RMHS Student Named Youth Entrepreneur of the Year

Richard Montgomery High School junior Julie Cheng has been named the greater Washington region Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Junior Achievement.

Julie, who is 17, founded Create With Care. What’s that? Glad you asked. According to JA’s press release:

Julie founded Create With Care in 2007 when her then-unborn sister’s health was in question. Realizing that good health was not something to be taken for granted, she decided to create an organization that would improve the lives of children who were not as fortunate. Since then, Create With Care’s more than 100 active members have donated over 1,500 crafts to the Children’s Inn at NIH.

Congratulations Julie!!

(Image from Junior Achievement)

Contributor Review By Piotr Gajewski: The Baker’s Wife

The following Contributor Review is by Rockville City Council member Piotr Gajewski:

The Baker’s Wife by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin) is a funny yet touching story with many life’s lessons in the bargain. The action takes place in a small French town of Concorde, which is itself a “character” in the plot (much as is Rockville on Rockville Central!).

The Richard Montgomery High School production is expertly directed by Denise Duvall Saladyga and conducted by Peter Perry. The cast is uniformly strong with good singing voices and often able dancing. I was at the premiere and thoroughly enjoyed the show and recommend it for its great community entertainment value. Congratulations to all who worked to make this production the success that it is! The remaining performances are March 20 and 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Piotr Gajewski

Join Richard Montgomery Black Maskers for The Baker’s Wife

From our friends at Richard Montgomery High School:

Come join the Richard Montgomery High School Blackmaskers as they produce the Steven Schwartz musical, THE BAKER’S WIFE!!

This unique musical combines the singing, dancing and acting talents of the cast with the incredible skills of the crews to create a delicious and delectable experience of the senses that is sure to delight you.

The baker will provide you with eye-popping and wonderful oven-fresh goods that are low-carb, low-cal and low-sodium–perfect for anyone’s diet or appetite!!!

Don’t miss this exquisite theatrical experience!!!

Friday March 13th, Saturday March 14th, Friday March 20th, and Saturday March 21st at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday March 15 at 2:00 p.m. in the RM Auditorium!!!

Richard Montgomery High School
250 Richard Montgomery Dr
Rockville MD 20852
Plenty of free parking

Tickets: $5 for students / $10 for adults

Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance on-line and then follow the directions to reserve your seats for any performance. And the processing fee is approximately $1.37 per ticket

Don’t forget to visit the Blackmaskers Website.

You won’t want to miss this show–where else can you find a musical with a cat AND 72 loaves of bread?

David Gelin Talks BBQ Joints

BB-Q, Bar-B-Que, Barbecue, or B-B-Que. No matter how you like to spell it, mosey on over to the Rockville Library this Saturday, November 28 29, 2008 at 3 PM to find out all about it.

Rockville native son, David Gelin, will be serving up a lively sample of his book, BBQ JOINTS: Stories and Secret Recipes from the Barbeque Belt. After graduating from Richard Montgomery High School, he headed down south to Emory University and never looked back. Many of you may know him as the son of Jacque and Margaret Gelin.

After an extensive journey in search of the best barbeque, David pulls together a book that goes beyond a travel guide or restaurant listing. You won’t forget the life stories and contemplative gazes of the folks from these hole-in-the-wall or out-of-the-way joints. Lately I’ve grown restless with fictional, made-up stories and seek appealing, true-life narratives so maybe that’s why I read the book cover to cover even though I have no plans to visit these states in the near future. The passionate people who serve up their renowned barbeque make your acquaintance on every page.

The photographs from the book were shown as an exhibit at the University of South Carolina in Columbia but David explains, “I can’t begin to tell you how many places I have been to that were everything I could ever hope for in a picture, and I could just tell that there was a gem of a story behind the place. But I couldn’t be true to you if I steered you to a place where the food is just mediocre.”

David dishes up a comprehensive list of what should not be at a barbeque joint. Keep driving if you see a costumed animal waving. Don’t eat it if it’s drenched in barbeque sauce. Avoid chains at all costs. To find out what makes a place a good bet, you’ll just have to buy the book. You’ll also find some fine recipes on how to grill corn-on-the-cob, make slaw, fry tilapia, boil peanuts, bake Elvis’s pound cake, or even cook coon burgers.

If you are planning a trip to the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, or Texas and walk into one of these joints with knowledge of David’s work, rumor has it that you get the royal treatment. I feel like I’ve already had a whirlwind trip down South.

Any of my family still wallowing around my house after the Thanksgiving excess will come with me to the Rockville Library. Perhaps by Saturday we’ll be able to think about food again because this book will make a great holiday present.

POTD: Come And Stay A While

This is the set for the Richard Montgomery High School Black Maskers’ production of The Man Who Came To Dinner — which is excellent. One weekend left! Go see it!

Richard Montgomery Seeks New Principal

The following is from Rockville Central friend Lori Miller:

Families in the RM cluster can have a voice in the selection of a new principal for Richard Montgomery High School, but don’t delay: MCPS plans to move on a fast track for a decision.

MCPS officials described the selection process and took questions from parents at a meeting Thursday (6/12) night. Parents filled out a survey to rank the most important characteristics of a principal, and also submitted written comments. That information will be used in choosing and interviewing the principal candidates.

Because the meeting was called on short notice, PTSA President Kate Savage has arranged to provide copies of the questionnaire in the main office at RM. They are designed to be read by a scanner: Use a number 2 pencil and fill in the bubbles for up to five listed characteristics. At the top, fill in 0201 for the school code and use the date June 12.

Comments can also be sent to RM’s community superintendent, Dr. Sherry Liebes.

Candidate interviews are to take place and a decision made within weeks. Current principal Moreno Carrasco announced his departure this week, and will become director of secondary leadership training in the MCPS central office.

Parents at the meeting floated one candidate’s name: James Fernandez, current principal of Einstein High School and former principal of Julius West Middle School. The two MCPS officials present said they didn’t know if Fernandez would want to leave Einstein or if Superintendent Jerry Weast would prefer to keep him there. Members of the community can submit names and offer advice, but the final decision belongs to Weast.

Contributor Review by Dianna Burge: Fiddler On The Roof

This contributor review is by Rockville Central reader Dianna Burge:

I had the pleasure of going to see “Fiddler on the Roof” Saturday, April 5. First off, the new auditorium was terrific! I am a graduate of RM in 1965 and was thoroughly fascinated by the seating, sound systems, and staging.

I found “Fiddler on the Roof” to be excellent! My friend and I had good seats and the show was phenomenal! I have seen many versions of this musical and I was blown away by Zach Sandberg as Tevye, Lauren Kuzminsky as Golde, Matty Golub as Motel, plus the dancing and acting of Micajah Dudley as Mordcha, the innkeeper, he was fantastic, and such a great actor. You would never have known that these were high school students.

The choreography of this production was terrific! Hats off, to each entertainer no matter how big or how small the part…. they were all important and wonderful! The chorus also blew me away…. such wonderful voices that added so much to the production.

I particularly loved the dream sequence. I was in awe… this particular scene is very important to the story and they made it remarkable and unforgettable. Being a huge fan of this particular musical, I was actually watching, and listening for any mistakes. The cast was so good…. I never did see or hear one error in the whole production. My gratitude goes to the Conductor of the wonderful orchestra, and each student musician that played such amazing music that added so much to the musical’s success. All I can say is, “Bravo!”

Would you like to write a contributor review of an arts event to Rockville Central? Excellent! 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!