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Kentlands Day Marshals ResourcesBy Pam Schipper

T hanks to Montgomery CERT (Community Emer-gency Response Team), the

ninth annual Kentlands Day parade on May 6 will return to its pre-2016 route, stepping off on Main Street. Last year’s parade was short-er, traversing Center Point Way from Whole Foods to the Potomac Village Deli parking lot.

“CERT will provide marshals so we will have a longer parade route,” said Jennifer Matheson who is organizing the event with Adam Greenberg of Potomac Vil-

lage Deli. The parade will stage at 9 a.m. behind Main Street live-work units and commence at 10 a.m. down Main Street to loop around to Center Point Way, end-ing in the community festival lo-cation in Kentlands Market Square and the Potomac Village Deli/U.S. Post Office parking lots.

New attractions at the ninth annual event include a petting zoo with bunnies, ducks, chick-ens, guinea pigs, a Flemish giant rabbit and a teacup pig from Po-tomac-based Squeals on Wheels, as well as rides and inflatables like Human Billiards, Soccer Darts,

and Mechanical Dizzy. The Boy Scouts will bring a STEM (Sci-ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) table where kids can learn and play at the same time.

The always popular Taste of Kentlands will showcase many local restaurants. Look for Pasha Land, Asia Nine, Carmen’s Cart, Potomac Village Deli, Thai Tani-um, Chick-fil-A and Whole Foods. More restaurants are anticipated.

Live music by FUSE—lead gui-tarist and Kentlands resident Devin Streight, vocalist Aidan Gross, bass guitarist Jacob Gemma, and drum-

Community Mourns Homeless Woman

By Scott Harris

K athleen Garlington would turn on a dime.

One moment, she was intelligent and thoughtful. An accomplished pianist, she loved music and art and animals.

The next, she would be screaming at the top of her lungs, insisting spies were out to hijack her mind.

Garlington’s severe mental ill-ness ultimately resulted in home-lessness. Numerous efforts from family members and the broad-er Gaithersburg community fell short when she passed away re-cently at age 61 because of com-plications related to high blood

Saul Speaks at Kentlands Square Town Hall

By Ellyn Wexler

B .F. Saul Company has big plans for the Kent-lands, but don’t hold your

breath until they materialize. The commercial areas on the north side of Kentlands Boule-vard are properties owned by the Bethesda-based equity real estate investment trust that plans to make significant additions—during the next decade. The de-sign approval process itself could take three years.

About 75 residents attended a March 28 Kentlands Square Town Hall that featured a pre-sentation by Saul’s Vince Burke, vice president, and Brian Down-ie, senior vice president-con-struction, and design architect Brian O’Looney of Torti Gallas and Partners.

Mariann Zylstra, executive di-rector of event organizer Kent-lands Community Foundation (KCF), noted a higher-than-ex-pected turnout.

All three men “did an excel-lent job of communicating their

vision,” KCF chair Ruthzaly Weich said. “In the same man-ner, the community did an ex-cellent job conveying their con-cerns, inquiries and even support for the vision.”

The Saul presentation includ-ed photographs of the company’s “existing D.C.-area projects and the high quality of those,” Zyls-tra said, noting that she “believes the audience was pleased to see (them). She felt that any “grum-bling in the crowd was all about the length of time it will take to bring the project from the plan-ning stage to completion. Every-one, including Saul, would love to move more quickly.”

Phase one of Saul’s propos-al focuses on a 12-acre tract of land—approximately four city blocks—of the 34.9 acres known as Kentlands Square. According to Saul’s Sketch Plan Applica-tion to the City of Gaithersburg, submitted at an April 3 joint public hearing, Saul will initiate redevelopment “for the transfor-mation of the Kentlands Square

Building Blocks for a New Commercial DistrictBy Pam Schipper

A t this point, it’s just about laying the framework. That’s the message B.F. Saul

Company, owners of the Kentlands Square Shopping Center, City Planner Rob Robinson, and May-or Jud Ashman wanted to empha-size at Monday night’s joint public hearing for the Kentlands Square Sketch Plan Application SK- 7503-2017.

The plan considered by the May-or and City Council and Planning Commission on April 3 propos-es up to 784,080 square feet of non-residential commercial uses and up to 1450 residential mul-tifamily units on approximately 12 acres of the center’s northeast corner. This “Phase 1” of the en-visioned mixed-use development will be built on the current Kmart building site and parking lot and includes the planned Corridor Cit-ies Transitway (CCT) Kentlands

station anchor on its Great Seneca Highway frontage.

The sketch plan is the first step in the mixed-use zone development process, Robinson said, and “pro-vides the overarching framework

for all of the subsequent plans.”According to Vince Burke, se-

nior vice president with Saul, the company is still developing a time-

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Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands, Lakelands, Quince Orchard Park and More

Vol. 15, No. 8

COURIERTHETOWN

www.towncourier.com April 14, 2017

n COMMERCIAL DISTRICT Continued on page 11

n KENTLANDS DAY Continued on page 8n TOWN HALL Continued on page 10

n GARLINGTON Continued on page 8

Photo | Mac Kennedy

The eighth annual Kentlands Day 2016 was the first organized without City of Gaithersburg support. Volunteers are needed for this year’s event on May 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo | Submitted

Phase 1 of the Kentlands Square mixed-use development includes a one-acre Kentlands Green.

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QO Alum Helps South Carolina Superfan to Final FourBy Syl Sobel

I f you watched the University of South Carolina’s run to the Final Four, you probably saw a bearded,

long-haired South Carolina basketball fan on the sidelines wearing a Caroli-na shirt that says “Believe,” waving a Gamecock flag, and running around the USC cheering sections firing up the fans. That’s the guy USC fans call “Gamecock Jesus,” and he joined his beloved Gamecocks at the Final Four with a big assist from a former Quince Orchard High School student-athlete.

Carlton Thompson—also called “Baseline Jesus”—is a devoted South Carolina sports fan who has gone to almost every home USC men’s and women’s basketball game in the past 40 years. A graduate of USC, he told a Columbia, South Carolina, televi-sion station that he has continued his high-energy cheerleading activities for all these years “because the fans can make the difference and actually help win the game.”

But Thompson’s income as a nurse at a nearby Veterans Affairs medical center doesn’t support luxuries like a cross-country trip from Columbia to Phoenix for the Final Four, so he wasn’t expecting to be there to do his superfan thing.

That’s where Mikey Murtaugh, a ju-nior at USC and former quarterback of the Quince Orchard Cougars, decided to step in. Murtaugh had spent the re-gional finals weekend watching South Carolina play on television at sever-al campus venues, and everywhere he went Gamecock Jesus was there, too, wearing his customary outfit and rev-ving up the fans.

“He was running around doing laps,” said Murtaugh, “riled up and excited … throwing his flag around,” a flag that bears the Gamecock logo and has been signed by South Carolina players and

coaches through the years.So Murtaugh got on his cell phone

after South Carolina advanced to the Final Four and started a GoFund-Me campaign to send Thompson to Phoenix with the following message: “Gamecocks, Send Gamecock Jesus to the Final Four. He’s always been there for us and our team, and now it’s time to give him something in return. Please donate! Go Cocks!”

“This guy has been around forever,” said Murtaugh in explaining what mo-

Compiled by Pam Schipper

KCF Lecture Focuses on Main StreetThe Kentlands Community Foundation (KCF)

presents “Revitalization Strategies” on Tuesday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Arts Barn. A panel of representa-tives from successful “Main Streets”—Richard Grif-fin, Frederick’s director of economic development, David B. Levy, Rockville’s chief of long range plan-ning, and Kristen Barden, executive director of Ad-ams Morgan Partnership BID—will discuss reener-gizing communities and neighborhoods. “We think it is an important lecture for our Main Street,” said Ruthzaly Weich, KCF chair. Results of a Kentlands Main Street business and property owners survey conducted by the KCF also will be shared. The eve-ning starts with a wine reception at 7 p.m.

Volunteers Needed for Kentlands/Lakelands 5KPlease consider volunteering for the 24th annu-

al Kentlands/Lakelands 5K, planned for Saturday, Sept. 2. Volunteers are needed before, during and after the race, and students can earn student service learning hours. Positions include bib and chip assem-bly, registration and packet pickup, packet pickup sup-port and cleanup, merchant setup, course marshals, and start and finish line workers. Visit kentlandsfoun-dation.org/annual-5k for more information.

Arts Barn Staff Member HonoredJaree Donnelly, program coordinator at the Arts

Barn, was invited to be a juror for the 2017 Congres-sional Art Competition sponsored by Congressman John Delaney. This nationwide high school arts com-petition is open to high school students. Congressman Delaney will accept entries from students in Mary-land’s 6th District. The 6th District winner will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The deadline to submit work is Friday, April 21. For more information, visit delaney.house.gov/services/art-competition.

QO Alum on the MendWhile getting ready to hold a free self-defense class,

Quince Orchard alum Uriel Casas sustained an injury to his left forearm that left both bones fully fractured and displaced. Surgery on March 28 was a success, but he needs help with medical expenses. Visit www.gofund-me.com/jiu-jitsu-broken-arm-broken-usa or www.mealtrain.com/trains/gq4vml to learn more.

Grow During Gaithersburg Green MonthThe city’s Green Month invites you to celebrate,

learn about and improve the environment. A free screening of “Climate Refugees” on Saturday, April 29, 7 p.m. at the Arts Barn, illuminates the human face of climatic change; seating is limited so please regis-ter by calling 301.258.6370. Then on Saturday, May 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm, the city hosts Montgomery County GreenFest. This free, family-friendly event will connect residents to local and national environmental leaders and green businesses and products. It will also offer activities, workshops, bike repair demos, music, food trucks, and an electric vehicle car show.

Fall to Bring Faster CommuteRide On will launch a new, limited stop, higher

speed rush hour service on MD Route 355 in Octo-ber. Called Ride On extRa, this service will make only 12 stops between the Medical Center Metrorail Station in Bethesda and the Lakeforest Transit Cen-ter in Gaithersburg. Buses will run every 10 minutes from 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

AROUND TOWN

n SUPERFAN Continued on page 7

n GARDEN CLUB Continued on page 8

Kentlands Garden Club Nurtures Nature and the Community

By Ellyn Wexler

M argaret Brown’s love of nature stems from early childhood. Family members nurtured the

Kentlands Garden Club (KGC) presi-dent’s appreciation by example.

“My father was a forester and an avid vegetable and flower gardener,”

she said. “I remember spending time helping my father cultivate and main-tain our family’s large vegetable gar-den. There were also numerous beds of flowers near our house that con-tained all sorts of seasonal flowers.”

Brown’s maternal grandmother, too, was “an avid flower gardener,” she said. “Whenever I smell the scent

of phlox, I think of her and remember playing on the grass paths that wound throughout her beds.”

Indoor gardening had a place in Brown’s upbringing as well. “Our home overflowed with house plants, and, especially in the spring, seeds

Photo | Mac Kennedy

Kentlands Garden Club members (L to R) Jackie Stevens, Elizabeth Verzariu (vice president), Judy Gross (historian), and Nina Chace (secretary) assemble Easter baskets for adults and children who reside at the Stepping Stones Shelter.

Photo | Submitted

University of South Carolina superfan Carlton Thompson went to the Final Four thanks to a GoFundMe page started by Quince Orchard alum Mikey Murtaugh.


It’s All About the DressBy Molly Cohen

O rnate lace, crystal beads, and innu-merable shades of white and ivory come to mind when you think about

weddings. Hone your focus to Gaithersburg, and two boutiques stand out for their bridal wear: Mei’s Bridal on Main Street and Cou-ture by Posh Bridal in Downtown Crown.

Mei’s Bridal, known for its alterations, of-fers a personalized selection of bridal wear from traditional Chinese Cheongsam wed-ding dresses to the classic white dress. If you’re someone who gets overwhelmed by too many choices, Mei’s is the spot for you. As soon as you walk into the shop, you will be greeted by the family, mother-daughter duo Mei and Sam Luk, who will help you find your perfect dress. On the first floor you will discover Cheongsam wedding dresses along with the tailoring studio, while down-stairs offers an intimate selection of white bridal dresses.

On the other end of the spectrum, Posh Bridal offers the largest open stock of bridal wear in Montgomery County, and has a sis-ter store in Urbana. The Downtown Crown store is divided into three sections: a gener-ously lit area with tables to browse through bridal magazines, an area with bridesmaid gowns and tuxedos, and finally, in the back, a dramatic floor-to-ceiling selection of brid-al gowns. If you’re looking to invite your en-tire bridal party and drink champagne while you shop, Posh Bridal is the spot for you. Co-owners Brandi Tan and Tirza Chappell will be happy to host.

According to Chappell, Posh Bridal’s busi-est months are Valentine’s Day through May. Their busiest days are Saturdays and Sundays, with two bridal appointments, a bridesmaids group, and alterations all going on at once. All ages of brides, those in their 20s through 60s, come to Posh Bridal, Chappell noted. Shoppers are currently coming in for winter/spring 2018 weddings.

“Shop early,” advised Chappell. “Eight to 10 months is where you really want to be, but more than that is 100 percent okay. … If you like it, you like it. You don’t want to lose it, because it will get discontinued.”

Meanwhile, Mei’s Bridal shoppers tend to be 25 to 45 years old. The store’s busiest months are March through October, with Saturdays their busiest day with 20 to 30 cus-tomers stopping by for alterations. Accord-ing to Mei Luk, their bestseller is their tra-ditional red Chinese wedding dress. When it comes to the white dress, dresses in mermaid style and lace are shopper favorites.

“Choosing the dress depends on your body

and the wedding theme,” said Sam Luk, who is store manager. “For summer, ball gowns because it’s a happy time.”

At Posh Bridal, wedding dresses range in aesthetic from traditional A-line to boho. According to Chappell, the Lillian West and Stella York collections are the best choices for a boho-chic dress. Meanwhile, Tan’s fa-vorite line, Calla Blanche, offers a Middle Eastern aesthetic.

As for Chappell, she favors a classic ball gown. “You know, an A-line with simple beading is the one that’s going to be around forever,” said Chappell.

When it comes to recent trends, co-own-ers Chappell and Tan find that younger brides tend to go for high necks with low backs or cut-out sides with sheer panels. Meanwhile, older brides tend to go for softer shapes and shift dresses. As for accessories, shorter trains are making a comeback. To simplify the se-lection process, Chappell advises narrowing

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309 Main StreetGaithersburg, MD 20878

For Advertising: 301.455.5721Also on the Web at www.towncourier.com.

©2017 Courier CommunicationsThe Town Courier is an independent newspaper

published twice a month that provides news and in-formation for the communities of Kentlands, Lake-lands and Quince Orchard Park in Gaithersburg, Md. The paper is published by Courier Communications, which is responsible for the form, content and policies of the newspaper. The Town Courier does not espouse any political belief or endorse any product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed and may be edited for length or content. The Town Courier is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers Letters to the Ed-itor and Commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, management or advertisers of The Town Courier.

Pam Schipper Managing Editor

[email protected]

Debi Rosen Advertising Manager

301.455.5721 [email protected]

Leslie KennedyAdvertising Sales 301-330-0132

[email protected]

Staff Photographers Arthur Cadeaux

Phil Fabrizio

Staff Writers

Jennifer BeekmanNora CaplanMolly Cohen Mike Cuthbert

Gina Gallucci-WhiteSharon Allen Gilder

Betty HafnerScott Harris

Sheilah Kaufman Syl Sobel

Bethany StarinMaureen StilesEllyn Wexler

Social Media Consultant

Mac Kennedy

Diane Dorney Publisher

[email protected]

Matt Danielson President

[email protected]

n WEDDING DRESS Continued on page 11

SHOPTALK Compiled by Pam Schipper

Shops Plan Spring FlingWhat better way to celebrate spring

than to “Stop, Sip & Shop,” right? Four downtown shops host a “Kentlands Spring Fling” on Thursday, April 27 from shop opening until 7 p.m. Visit Clover Bou-tique, My Big Finds, Lipstick Lounge and O’Hair Salon to enter a gift basket drawing of goods from all four locations. In addi-tion to treats and refreshments, shops will have special offers like My Big Finds’ big discount on furniture.

Powerhouse Brass Awarded First Place

The Pritchard Music Academy (PMA) Powerhouse Brass played Ewald Symphony no. 1 mvt 1 and Malcolm Arnold Quin-tet mvt 1 in the YMIC (Young Musicians Inspiring Change) Chamber Ensemble competition, held April 2 at the United

Korean Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, and won first place. Ensemble members are Arjun Guthal, Christopher Hunter, Alex Loane, Kristen Gottlieb and Jason McFad-den. Becky Pritchard, Powerhouse Brass director, wrote on social media, “It was an inspired performance. Powerhouse Brass has surpassed the playing level of just five kids coming together to play and are now one group, a cohesive performing ensem-ble that thinks together and plays together at a level that is beyond their young years.”

Hair Cuttery Supports Victims of Domestic Violence

Hair Cuttery and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) are joining forces for Hair Cuttery’s latest iter-ation of its Share-A-Haircut program. On

n SHOP TALK Continued on page 10

Photo | Molly Cohen

Mei’s Bridal on Main Street offers the traditional Chinese Cheongsam wedding dress, as well as the classic white dress.


GO GREEN Given Environmental Award

The City of Gaithersburg presented En-vironmental Awards to individuals and organizations demonstrating outstanding environmental stewardship in the Gaith-ersburg community, with the goal of in-spiring others to pursue similar efforts. The

awards were presented by Mayor Jud Ash-man and members of the City Council at a ceremony at City Hall on Monday, April 3.

The Kentlands Community Founda-tion GO GREEN group was one of the nine award winners and four certificate of appreciation recipients selected by the Environmental Affairs Committee. GO GREEN was recognized for realizing its

goals of learning and exploring environ-mental practices and methods through a variety of activities, including clean-ups to beautify the community and protect the Muddy Branch and the Chesapeake Bay. The group organized and ran a con-servation garden and an organic vegetable garden club at Rachel Carson Elementary School, and its members are also part of

the city’s Sustainable Maryland Certified Green Team.

Go, Dog, Go—Paws in the Park Returns

It’s like a big dog party. Paws in the Park on April 23, noon to 4 p.m., is one of the

CITYSCENE Compiled by Pam Schipper

POLICEBEAT By Scott Harris

n CITY SCENE Continued on page 13

Police Advise Vigilance on Gang ActivityA s proceedings continue after the re-

cent death of a Gaithersburg teen, county police are asking residents to

work with police in reporting and ending gang-related activity.

On Feb. 11, the remains of Gaithersburg resident Damaris Alexandra Reyes Rivas were uncovered in a Springfield, Virginia, industrial park. According to court docu-ments, 10 people were charged in Fairfax County in connection with the case, in-cluding five who were charged with her murder.

One of the defendants told police he was associated with the MS-13 gang and par-ticipated in the abduction of Reyes.

Captain Paul Liquorie, director of the Montgomery County Police Department’s special investigations unit that oversees in-vestigations into potentially gang-related

incidents, said that while overall gang-re-lated crimes have decreased in the county, there has been a “spike” in gang-related murder.

“When we look at gang activity overall, it’s pretty level, with the exception of ho-micides,” said Liquorie. “That’s obviously a big concern.”

According to Liquorie, there have been 15 gang-related homicides in the coun-ty since June 2015. Seven of these were connected to MS-13, an organization that originated in Central America but eventu-ally spread to the United States. MS-13 has a considerable presence in the Washington, D.C., metro region, including Montgom-ery County.

In January, the remains of New Jersey resident Jordy Mejia were found in Gaith-ersburg. Gaithersburg resident Reynaldo

A. Granados-Vasquez and Jose Israel Me-lendez-Rivera of Montgomery Village were among those charged in Mejia’s mur-der.

Two potential challenges face police when it comes to investigating potentially gang-related crimes. The first is determin-ing whether or to what extent a given inci-dent is, indeed, gang-related.

“It’s a very difficult thing to say,” Li-quorie said. “If I have somebody arrested for crimes, and they fit the criteria for a gang member, it can still be hard to com-pile (the data) because it’s hard to differen-tiate gang versus non-gang (activity).”

The second is an abiding silence about the crimes in the areas where the crimes tend to occur. Fear of retaliation and con-cerns over immigration status drive this reluctance to speak with police, Liquorie

said.“There’s definitely an intimidation fac-

tor,” Liquorie said. “But (gang members) work under the premise that the public will remain silent. And that emboldens them. … The Latino community is the most victimized (by gang activity), and we need their assistance in recognizing where the gang activity may be occurring.”

Liquorie also pledged that police in Montgomery County would not ask about someone’s immigration status if that person chose to come forward with information about any criminal activity, gang-related or otherwise.

“Anyone who doesn’t have (legal cit-izen) status in the county can still report crimes,” Liquorie said. “We do not even ask about status. … Any suspicious activity that the public sees should be reported.”


George Lucas Biographer Coming to Our GalaxyBy Sharon Allen Gilder

N ew York Times bestselling author Bri-an Jay Jones and his latest biography, “George Lucas: A Life,” are coming to

our galaxy on April 19. Hosted by the Gaith-ersburg Book Festival, Politics & Prose, and Johns Hopkins University, the free event, “An Evening with Brian Jay Jones,” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Hopkins’ Mont-gomery County campus in Gilchrist Hall Auditorium at 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville.

Ask Jones for two words to summarize his tome about Lucas and he’ll quote the succinct review from People magazine, “Whiz bang.” “I will tell you that the phrase elevated me right out of my chair. For someone like me

who is a comic book fan, that is the highest praise that you can give me,” Jones said with a smile. “I was turning 10 the summer Star Wars came out, so Lucas is my version of pop culture for my entire life.”

Pop culture icons are no strangers to Jones’ writing repertoire. The last book he penned was about Muppets creator and children’s television legend Jim Henson who worked with Lucas on the 1986 film “Labyrinth.”

For Jones, the real challenge with Lucas was to tell “the comprehensive story because the public generally thinks of him in silos as the Star Wars guy, the Indiana Jones guy, or the digital cinema guy. No one has ever ac-tually put all those narratives together before … to bundle them and see how they relate to each other,” he said. “Biographers are re-

pressed actors. We love sliding into the shoes of the other person and playing out that part while we’re writing the story. You have a new appreciation for their life if you’re look-ing at it through that prism of their work as well.”

Lucas declined to be interviewed for the biography, but Jones said that fact made it a better book and kept the biography in his control. “Biography gets to be really excit-ing when you can put people in the here and now. So, actually getting his voice at age 32 as opposed to age 72 I think makes the book that much more exciting.”

Without access to Lucas, his files or ar-chives, Jones began to decipher the pletho-ra of information published about him. He found the filmmaker’s voice through archi-val newspaper articles from the 1970s, par-ticularly within smaller publications that printed entire interviews where Jones found there was “just tons of great info hidden in plain sight in these tiny newspapers.” As a biographer in residence at the University of Mary Washington, Jones is the associate di-rector for the Great Lives program and he, along with fellow biographers, coordinates

Compiled by Pam Schipper

‘Arte di Primavera’Through May 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1:30-5:30 p.m. Sun., Arts Barn

Come celebrate the awakening of spring at a juried art show of maidens, flowers, birds and landscapes depicted in a variety of media. Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Main Street Farmers MarketApril 15, 22 & 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Main Street Pavilion

Products for sale include a variety of fruits and vegetables, herbs, jams and jel-lies, baked goods, crab cakes, meat, eggs, honey, cut flowers, potted plants and dog treats. www.facebook.com/Gaithersburg-Markets

AAUW Scholars Celeste Carano, M.A. and Dr. Mary Beth SaffroApril 18, 7:30 p.m., Montgomery College-Germantown (Bioscience Education Center, Conference Room 158)

This event will celebrate 125 years of the American Association of University Women National Fellowship Programs, supporting higher education for women and girls. For more information, email [email protected] or call 301.840.5443.

An Evening With Brian Jay JonesApril 19, 7-9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County campus, Gilchrist Hall Auditorium, 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville

Brian Jay Jones will discuss his latest book, the first comprehensive biography of the influential creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Free, but seating is limited. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

‘One-Stop Fair Housing Shop’April 20, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Activity Center at Bohrer Park

Learn about the fair housing require-ments for people with disabilities, rea-sonable accommodations, use of service animals, parking requirements, common ownership communities’ responsibili-ties, legal updates on the county, state and federal levels, and new trends for a changing housing consumer base. Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Sugarloaf Craft FestivalApril 21-23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Montgomery County Fairgrounds

More than 250 artisans display fine art, clothing, jewelry, home furnishings and more. You’ll also discover a “Festival of Food” with specialty vendors offering roasted almonds, natural dip mixes, bal-samic vinegar, artesian cheeses and more. Tickets are $8 online, or $10 at the gate; children 12 and under are admitted free. sugarloafcrafts.com

‘Guys and Dolls Junior’April 21-30, 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Sundays, Arts Barn

Bustling with gamblers, gangsters and sassy showgirls, “Guys and Dolls Junior” celebrates Broadway’s golden era with one of the greatest scores ever written for the musical stage. This pro-duction in partnership with Kensing-ton Arts Theatre-Second Stage features youth performers. Tickets are $12-$15. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT

n ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Continued on page 13

n BIOGRAPHER Continued on page 14

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Brian Jay Jones speaks about his latest biography, “George Lucas: A Life” on April 19, 7 p.m. at Johns Hopkins Univer-sity’s Montgomery County campus.


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Town Crier 1-4 Page ad (April)

ASSIGNMENTEDUCATIONCompiled by Pam Schipper

MCPS Launches Student Contest to Celebrate Diversity, Combat Hate

In the past several months, the Montgom-ery County Police Department has reported seeing an increase in hate crimes, some of which have directly affected our school com-munities. To help our county combat this, MCPS, in partnership with the Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group, has launched a contest titled United We Learn: Combating Hate through the Arts. The goal of the contest is to provide students with a creative, structured opportunity to explore issues of prejudice and learn about the values of respect, diversity and civility.

The contest is open to students from all grade levels. Submissions will be judged by level (elementary, middle and high) and by medium. Entries must be created by groups of two students or more. Submissions must be in by Friday, April 21. For more informa-tion, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/events/unitedwelearn.

Summer Programs ExtendedThe Montgomery County recreation de-

partment and public schools have extended summer programs to accommodate the lat-er start date of the school year. This follows the executive order that Gov. Larry Hogan signed last fall, which required Maryland’s public schools to start classes after Labor Day, beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) traditionally started the school year the first Monday of the last full week in Au-gust.

Montgomery County Recreation add-ed more than 40 additional full or half-day programs. These include six Summer Fun

Centers (SFC), which are the Department of Recreation’s most affordable summer day programs. These SFC were positioned to serve communities with the greatest number of families eligible for the RecAssist, which is the Department of Recreation’s financial assistance program.

Board to Address QO ClusterMark your calendar for Thursday, April

20. The MCPS Board of Education will visit with QO cluster schools at 7 p.m. at Quince Orchard High School. Parents are encour-aged to attend this meeting.

RCES Rocks PlannedRachel Carson Elementary School’s annual

variety show, RCES Rocks, is coming! Stu-dents in kindergarten through second grade perform on April 27, with third through fifth graders taking the stage the following eve-ning on April 28. Shows begin at 6 p.m. in the multi-purpose room.

Superintendent Promises Security Review

In response to the alleged sexual assault that occurred at Rockville High School in mid-March, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith promised to conduct security reviews at all schools, be-ginning with high schools in early April. In a statement, he added, “As part of the review, we will examine security procedures already in place to determine the appropriate next steps for individual schools. … Following the review, we will work closely with each school on next steps, including strengthen-ing security procedures where needed. As a part of this process, we will be benchmarking best practices with other school districts and youth-serving organizations.”

tivated him to start the campaign. “He’s like a legend here. … There’s no one more de-serving to go than this guy,” said Murtaugh of Thompson, whose real name he didn’t even know when he started the drive.

In less than a day, the campaign had reached its goal of $3,500 for tickets and airfare to send Thompson to Phoenix, and the contributions kept coming, eventually amounting to almost $8,000 from 464 con-tributors. That was enough for Thompson to bring his two sons and a close friend along,

though sadly for them USC lost to Gonzaga in the semifinal.

“I am just so grateful,” Thompson told an interviewer. “People … kept telling me, coming up to me saying, ‘I gave money for you to go, I gave money for you to go.’ That was just great.”

Murtaugh, who has since met Thompson, learned more about him and received his ap-preciation, is modest about taking credit.

“It wasn’t just me,” he said. “I was the guy who started the page, but it’s a community effort and a testament to this school and this community. I’m glad we were able to do this for him.”

n SUPERFAN from page 3


pressure. Her funeral took place April 3 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Parish on Clop-per Road.

Along with a few other places in and around Kentlands—an area not exact-ly accustomed to face-to-face encounters with the homeless—St. Rose had become a prominent way station in Garlington’s transient existence. For about a year before she died, Garlington would spend hours lingering in the chapel, visiting with staff members and borrowing books (always promptly returned) from the small church library.

And then there were the bad days.“She would go back and forth so easi-

ly,” said Sherry Moitoza, who interacted frequently with Garlington as the church’s director of social concerns. “You could have an incredible conversation with her but instantaneously she could switch into a paranoid state and become very delusion-al.”

According to the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, 981 people experience homelessness on any given day in the county. In a 2008 survey from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 48 percent of city governments cited mental illness as a key cause of homelessness.

Garlington’s story illustrates the vi-cious loop of mental illness, homelessness and the difficulties that can arise when

well-meaning people try to intervene. In a nutshell, providing a home to the home-less is nowhere near as simple as it might initially seem.

“It was really a sad kind of thing,” said Shellie Williams, director of the Arts Barn in Kentlands, which Garlington visited several times in the final weeks of her life. “She obviously needed help but she was incredibly and fiercely independent. … It made everybody feel helpless. So many people wanted to help her, but we were unable to do so.”

According to Moitoza, Garlington suf-fered from a “mixed soup” of disorders that included paranoid and delusional be-haviors. But the official medical diagno-sis was outdated, maybe decades old, and Garlington’s fear of doctors—and of sign-ing her name to any document—impeded a new one.

“She never wanted to stay in any of the homeless shelters because of her paranoia, thinking people would steal her identity,” Moitoza said. “For her it was not neces-sarily a choice, because she would never admit she actually had mental illness. But for her to live out on the streets or in the woods was better to her than living in a confined space with people she didn’t know. … It was getting her to sign some-thing, she thought it was spies.”

Moitoza reached out to the city’s home-less services division and, eventually, to the county government and various non-profits. Garlington’s family, it turned out,

were also well aware of the situation and wanted Garlington to get better, even if they didn’t have the expertise or capacity to personally take her in.

All were willing to help, but the vicious loop came acutely into play. It all came to a head about a week before she died.

Shelter is critical not only for safety and well-being, but because it can lessen the stress placed on a person because of home-lessness—which can exacerbate mental illness and a raft of semi-related health problems. Despite the difficulty she had in trusting others and signing documents, Garlington received clearance to move into an apartment. At the same time, the waters in her life had become extraordi-narily choppy.

“One day she was yelling and screaming inside the chapel,” Moitoza said. “Some-one came in to get her and she chased them out. She was about to get the keys to an apartment, where she would live alone. … We were so close.”

Mental health services—or rather, the lack thereof—have become and may re-main a hot-button topic on the nation’s political landscape. But even in places like Gaithersburg and Montgomery County, where solid services exist for the homeless and others with mental illness, people can still slip through your fingers.

“Suddenly she started appearing in our building,” Williams said. “And then, sud-denly, she was gone.”

mer Liam Chen—will light up the commu-nity stage. Between music sets, community groups will perform and offer demonstra-tions. Doggie Zone, new to Kentlands Day, will offer a dog training demo.

Business fair participation is on track to surpass last year when 80 local businesses registered, Matheson said. New this year are Eye Care for Animals, Atar Designs, Kent-lands Manor Care Plus, Solar City and Solar Energy World.

The Classic Car Show, sponsored and organized by Ourisman of Frederick and Bethesda, already has lots of cars coming, Matheson said. The People’s Choice Award will be given again this year.

Kentlands Day could not be held without support from its sponsors. Adventist Health Care, Central Roofing, Siding and Win-dows, and Morton’s Towing & Recovery are returning sponsors, this year joined by Kim-co Realty, Vector Security, The McLean School, AAA, Hopkins & Porter Construc-tion and Squeals on Wheels, Matheson said.

The City of Gaithersburg no longer sup-ports Kentlands Day, due to the same-day scheduling of La Milla de Mayo. As a result, volunteers are very much needed. Most of the work involves setup and cleanup, Mathe-son said, and students can earn student ser-vice learning hours.

Kentlands Day is planned for Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. For more information, visit www.kentlandsday.org.

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were being started under grow lights and the bulbs of his specialty, tuberous bego-nias, were being nurtured for the growing season.”

The 33-year resident of Gaithersburg’s West Riding community has not had suf-ficient property to cultivate a large garden, but through the years, she has planted veg-etable patches and perennial beds. She has maintained her herb garden for some two decades, plants annuals every year and does a great deal of container gardening. Many of her fellow KGC members, she said, “are like me, primarily backyard and container gardeners.”

Brown joined KGC six years ago and has served as president of the group for two years. “We currently have about 50 members from the Kentlands and sur-rounding communities, but would love to have more,” she said. Elections for KGC’s five-member executive board are held each spring, with officers serving for terms of at least two years.

According to Brown, KGC was found-ed in 1994 “with the mission of offering fellowship, cultural and educational ex-periences designed to enhance our mem-bers’ and the community’s enjoyment of gardening and the natural world. We pro-vide a forum for the exchange of gardening ideas as well as engage in various activities that benefit the community.”

Members meet the first Thursday of every month, from September to June, at 7 p.m. at the Kentlands Clubhouse. Annual

dues are $15. Programs, Brown said, “fea-ture garden- and nature-related lectures on a variety of topics by local Master Garden-ers, businesspeople and occasionally, City of Gaithersburg officials.” In addition to the monthly meetings, she noted, the club usually plans an annual outing to a metro-politan area garden or site of cultural in-terest.

KGC’s projects have benefitted Kent-lands as well as the wider community. For several years, most recently on April 6, the club has assembled Easter baskets con-taining their donations of age-appropriate items for adults and children who reside at Rockville’s Stepping Stones Shelter. Their goal, Brown said, is to “create some fun and joy while at the same time, help out with needed everyday items.”

In the past, members also have “planted an herb garden near Kentlands Mansion, a tree in honor of the late Gaithersburg Mayor Ed Bohrer, a camellia garden on Chestertown Street and spring bulbs at the Quince Orchard Library.”

Ongoing projects include helping plant and maintain Rachel Carson Elementary School’s Atrium Garden in conjunction with the school’s PTA, and participating in the Kentlands House and Garden Tour, which KGC was an “instrument in orga-nizing” at its start, Brown said.

Beyond their gardening focus, KGC members regularly volunteer at the Kent-lands Mansion and the Arts Barn, and gave the community both the “beautiful red leather benches in the Arts Barn foyer and the ‘Children Reading’ sculpture in front of the Kentlands Clubhouse.”

n GARDEN CLUB from page 3

n KENTLANDS DAY from page 1

n GARLINGTON from page 1


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Property into a mixed-use community as envisioned by the city’s (master plan).”

The intent is to establish “an urban street grid, provide for important pedestrian and bicycle linkages to other sites in the Kent-lands, and ensure that buildings are appro-priately oriented closely to existing public roads.” The property “will form the core of the new downtown of the Kentlands with a planned Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) station as an anchor.” Up to 784,080 square feet of commercial uses and up to 1,450 res-idential multi-family units (in buildings of various heights, from two to 12 stories high) are possible.

Prior to the April 3 hearing, Burke said that “the presentation (to the city) will be the same, if not pared down, from what (KCF Town Hall attendees) saw,” adding that “this

level of approval is the first in a series and is therefore very conceptual at this level.” He declined to “offer formal comment on the record response” because “our organization is press averse.”

KCF’s goal is, Weich said, “to facilitate community engagement” in that “commu-nity input is a hallmark of the New Urbanist movement.”

As such, KCF’s role, added Zylstra, will be “to facilitate ongoing discussions” about concerns expressed by the community “about the traffic patterns and pedestrian safety on Kentlands Boulevard and ensuring that there is a cohesive approach to all the projects currently on the planning boards for Downtown Kentlands.”

Comments on Saul’s proposal (SK-7503-2017) may be submitted in person at City Hall or emailed to [email protected] while the application records remain open.

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from page 4

SHOPTALK

n TOWN HALL from page 1

Monday and Tuesday, May 1 and 2, for every haircut purchased at one of Hair Cuttery’s nearly 900 salons, a free hair-cut certificate will be donated to a victim of domestic violence through NNEDV’s member programs. Through the part-nership, Hair Cuttery and NNEDV will work closely to distribute thousands of free haircut certificates to individuals affected by domestic violence, including wom-en, children and men. Through last year’s

campaign, 55,000 haircuts were donated to victims of domestic violence. The Kent-lands Hair Cuttery is located at 257 Kent-lands Boulevard.

Payless Closing Half of Its StoresPayless ShoeSource filed for bankrupt-

cy April 4. As part of its restructuring, the company will close 400 stores. Pay-less’ three Gaithersburg stores—Kentlands Square, Lakeforest Mall, and Montgomery Village Crossing—will remain open.

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line for the project. “There are some open and operating stores here on the site, stores that have leases, so that creates some uncer-tainty around the timing. We would like to go as soon as possible … but we can’t give any definitive date … and what we’re doing here with the first step in the sketch plan is being proactive.”

Burke said that Saul has been part of Kent-lands since its inception and plans to be a long-term participant in its future. “We’re very familiar with Kentlands, all the fore-thought that went into it, the visionary de-sign and civic pride associated with that, and we don’t want to upset that. We’re here to get it right.”

The Kentlands Square sketch plan closely follows the Kentlands Boulevard Commer-cial District 2008 Master Plan, Burke said, before acknowledging that there are some changes.

Brian O’Looney, Torti Gallas and Partners architect for the project and 17-year Kent-lands resident, said that while the design reflects the master plan vision, it has been tweaked for the proposed Kentlands Apart-ments (now at the schematic development

plan stage), the arrival of the CCT, and to incorporate “some thoughts that we’ve had that we think will improve the quality” of the development. O’Looney shared that the goal is to move “from need-based retail to want-based destination retail” with the ca-veat that change will be incremental. “You have to be careful to protect existing busi-nesses,” he said.

A focal point of the design is the one-acre Kentlands Green where Market Street and Main Street intersect. A one-story marquee of restaurants will spill out onto the green, and a road was added to the design to make the green readily accessible, O’Looney said. Another focal point will be the “celebratory entrance” from the CCT station to Kent-lands Square.

Kentlands Square will connect to the

proposed Kentlands Apartments via a road and to the Colonnade through a pedestrian walkway. New multi-use buildings abutting the Colonnade appear in the master plan as an eight- to 12-story building on one side and a four- to five-story building on the other. “To appropriately step down to the Colonnade, we’re proposing that would be better as a six-story block with up to 300 units potentially or 250,000 square feet of commercial space,” O’Looney said.

The mayor and city councilmembers questioned parking, especially as it relates to the planned CCT station, as well as den-sity. Robinson advised that parking, ade-quate public facilities and affordable housing would all be evaluated as the project pro-gresses through the approval process; given the indefinite timing of the project, these

considerations would be premature.Bob Dalrymple, attorney with Linowes

and Blocher, said that Saul is in a “wait and see mode” for the CCT, which is current-ly at the 30 percent design phase. Planning Commission Chair John Bauer confirmed with the development team that nothing in the sketch plan is contingent on construction of the CCT station.

The Planning Commission will hold its record open until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 5 with an anticipated recommendation on May 17. Bauer asked Saul to submit a dia-grammatic solution to linkages and circula-tion to aid the Planning Commission in its recommendation.

The Mayor and City Council will hold its record open until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 26 with anticipated policy discussion on June 19.

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your bridal search to one store that matches your personal shopping preferences.

“We all have very similar things, so re-ally you want to pick a store that has good reviews and feels comfortable, that you feel good doing business with,” said Chappell. “Invite all your friends and your mom, and just have a good time once. Don’t try to move the celebration to 16 different stores.”

At Mei’s Bridal, the family enjoys find-ing the perfect fit for their customers. “We had one curvy bride. It was hard for her be-cause not many stores offer the bigger size. The buyer’s order takes six months, which is not enough time (for the dress to arrive). The customer came in, purchased the mer-maid-style dress, and we altered it. Once we had a dress for her, she was so happy she was a little tearful,” said Sam Luk.

At Posh Bridal, Chappell has seen her fair share of unhappy brides. “Women have to stop being so tough on themselves. Don’t or-der down three sizes and say it’s going to be a goal. Love yourself,” said Chappell. “He al-ready asked you to marry him with the way you are now.”

Despite the challenges of finding the per-fect fit, the final result is always worth the wait. At Posh Bridal, fond memories revolve around hoop skirts and crinoline.

“Rachel is still my favorite story. We worked on her dress for a year. She kept pushing her wedding date back because she just wanted to change something about the dress,” said Chappell. “I think we custom-ized for a year, and then when it was finally perfect, she looked like a giant frosted cup-cake. She was adorable. She was 5-foot-4, and she wore 6-inch platform heels. ... If you can envision My Big Fat Greek Wedding, that’s what it was like.”

Posh Bridal and Mei’s Bridal are both cur-rently having April sample sales. Visit Posh Bridal for 15 to 85 percent off retired gowns, and Mei’s Bridal for 40 percent off their se-lection of white wedding dresses.

n WEDDING DRESS from page 4

n COMMERCIAL DISTRICT from page 1


Plan for a New Roof Over Your Head

Quince Orchard Park homes are be-tween 13 and 17 years old, and the ex-pected lifespan of most of the communi-ty’s shingle roofs is 20 years. That means that within the next few years, many QOP homes will need a new roof.

Your replacement roof must match your original shingle color and style, and this needs to be approved by the QOP Architectural Control Committee (ACC) before work begins. To request approv-al, please submit an architectural change request form detailing shingle color and style and include an actual shingle sample. You can mail the form and sample to the Architectural Control Committee, c/o

The Management Group Associates, Inc., 20440 Century Boulevard, Suite 100, Germantown, MD 20874.

Before You Paint, Consult Approved Color Palette

Spring is a great time to spruce up your home with a new coat of paint. Just be sure that your color matches the approved paint color scheme for your home. If you use a color that is not approved, you will be asked to repaint.

Choose the color that matches the ap-proved paint color scheme for your home by referencing the Approved Paint Color Palette on the QOP website, www.quin-ceorchardpark.com, under the “Architec-tural Info” tab. And as always, if you are contemplating a change, please submit an

architectural change request form to the ACC.

Community Clean-Up Day PlannedBoard Secretary Daniel Lowery is co-

ordinating QOP’s annual Community Clean-Up Day for Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. to noon. All materials needed for the clean-up will be provided. Students can earn student service learning credits.

Get in the Swim of ItJoin the DF Stingrays swim team for a

summer of fun! A pre-team program is available. New and returning swimmers are welcome. Email [email protected] to receive information about the up-coming season kickoff and how to regis-ter.

Clubhouse Update

ARK Systems is working to repair the clubhouse’s sprinkler system. This needs to be done in order to obtain an occu-pancy license. The management company hopes that Montgomery County might grant a temporary occupancy license while the work is being done.

Residents’ key fobs will be reactivated for clubhouse entry; new key fobs will not be issued. Please note that according to new QOP policy, residents with a $250 or higher account balance won’t be able use the clubhouse and fitness room. This follows the pool policy of not granting admittance to residents whose accounts are in arrears.

The ParkPages

MANAGEMENT MENTIONS

Trash and RecyclingTrash is collected on Tuesday and

Friday and must be placed in lidded trash cans. Recycling is picked up on Fridays. Bulk pickup is usually the first Friday of the month. The next bulk pickup is Friday, May 5.

Please remember that trash cans and recycle bins must be stored out of sight on non-pickup days.

The City of Gaithersburg and Po-tomac Disposal (301.294.9700) both offer collection services for bulk items at no cost.

Dog DutyCleaning up after dogs is the legal

responsibility of every canine own-er walking a dog in the communi-ty. Dogs are not permitted off-leash on common property in the City of Gaithersburg.

QOP Management Contact InformationQuince Orchard Park Community

Manager Ruchita Patel

QOP Co-Manager Alex Deeringc/o The Management Group Asso-

ciates, Inc.

20440 Century Boulevard, Suite 100

Germantown, MD 20874

Phone: 301.948.6666

MEETING CALENDAR

May 9 — Board of Directors Meeting, Quince Orchard Park Clubhouse, 7 p.m.

News and Current Events for Quince Orchard Park n E-mail your contributions to [email protected]

QOP NEWS

APRIL 2017

QUINCE ORCHARD PARK 2017 ASPHALT AND CONCRETE REPAIR SCHEDULEAsphalt and concrete repairs and seal-

coating will be completed on all common area parking spaces and alleys in Quince Orchard Park beginning on Monday, April 17. No work will be completed on streets or sidewalks maintained by the City of Gaithersburg.

If work is scheduled in an area near or ad-jacent to your property, please remove your

vehicles from your garage, driveway and alley by 7 a.m. and return them only after the barricades are removed. This ensures that the work can be done properly and your vehicles are not damaged. Vehicles that remain in the work zone may be towed to another location in the community. This schedule will be posted on www.QuinceOrchardPark.com, and will be up-

dated if weather or other delays are expe-rienced. Please check the website for up-dates and/or sign up for the listserv to be notified by email of changes.

Diagrams showing the location of con-crete and asphalt repairs to be made have been posted at www.QuinceOrchardPark.com.

Date Work to Be Completed Vehicles to Be Removed by

Vehicles Can Return by

Mon., April 17throughWed., April 19

Concrete Repairs:Community CenterAlley by 231 Winter Walk DriveGazebo by Tannery Drive Pond

7 a.m. After barricades are removed(either same day or following morning)

Tues., April 25

Asphalt Repairs:Community CenterAlley by 231 Winter Walk DriveAlley behind 202-216 Winter Walk DriveAlley behind 203-217 Highland Ridge AveAlley behind 718-750 Highland Ridge Ave.Alley behind 802-894 Highland Ridge Ave.Alley behind 104-148 Elmira Lane

7 a.m. After barricades are removed(either same day or following morning)

Mon., May 1CracksealingCommunity-wide

No need to move vehicles

No need to move vehicles

Tues., May 9

SealcoatingAlleys202-216 Winter Walk Drive219-243 Winter Walk Drive333-345 Winter Walk Drive718-750 Highland Ridge Ave.802-894 Highland Ridge Ave.104-148 Elmira LaneParking SpacesRight of 133 Fountain Green LaneOpposite 262 Fountain Green LaneRight of 222 Painted Post LaneFront left of 118 Swanton LaneFront right of 146 Swanton LaneOpposite 213 Swanton Lane

7 a.m. Following day after barricades are removed

Thurs., May 11SealcoatingClubhousePrivate Driveways (those who signed up)

7 a.m. Following day after barricades are removed


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Jazz Vocalist Danielle WertzApril 22, 8 p.m., Arts Barn

Experience the jazz sounds of Danielle Wertz at this album release concert. Wertz was a semi-finalist in the illustrious The-lonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition. Tickets are $25, $15 for youth 18 and under. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Discovery Day - Model BuildingApril 23, 1-4 p.m., Gaithersburg Community Museum

Explore the fascinating world of model building with hands-on activities, demon-strations, and exhibits by hobbyists and hob-by groups. Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Baile Club Spring RecitalApril 26, 4:30 p.m., Arts Barn

Fourth and fifth graders from Gaithers-burg Elementary School perform. Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Boston Blackie Radio PlaysApril 27, 1 & 8 p.m., Arts Barn

Return to the glory days of radio when plays were performed live in front of a studio audience. Performances of two short mysteries from the radio se-ries “The Fur Trade” and “The TV Poi-soning” feature Blackie, a former jewel thief and safecracker turned good guy. Tickets are $20, $12 for those 14 and under. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Grow It, Eat ItApril 29, 12-4 p.m., Agricultural History Farm Park, Derwood

Learn how to grow your own food with gardening classes, workshops, demos and more. Classes are free. Workshops and programs have fees. Please register at goo.gl/GYFV3N. For more information, visit www.extension.umd.edu/mg/locations/montgomery-county-mastergardeners.

Environmental Film NightSaturday, April 29, 7 p.m., Arts Barn

The City of Gaithersburg Environmen-tal Affairs Committee presents a screening of “Climate Refugees,” a documentary that covered 48 countries and was three years in the making. The multi-award winning Sundance film illuminates the human face of climatic change. Admission is free; seating is limited and registration is encouraged by calling Gaithersburg Envi-ronmental Services at 301.258.6370.

‘Funny Love’ Spring Chorus ConcertApril 30, 7:30 p.m., Rosborough Cultural Arts Center

May 19, 7:30 p.m., Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church

The Gaithersburg Chorus presents “Funny Love,” a spring concert featuring a variety of love songs, from expressive odes of adoration to light-hearted melodies of affection. Free, but donations are gratefully accepted. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Kentlands Acoustic JamMay 2, 6 p.m., Kentlands Carriage House

Bring your voice and instrument and join in, or just come to listen. Free. kent-landsacousticjam.reverbnation.com

Yoga in the ParkMay 2,7-8 p.m., City Hall Concert Pavilion

Yoga in the Park launches today and continues Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 29 (no class July 4). Bring a yoga mat, towel or blanket. Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Skywatching - Group Astronomy NightMay 5, 6-8:30 p.m., Observatory Park, 100 DeSellum Ave.

Explore the observatory, create your own planetarium, learn about telescopes, observe the Moon through telescopes. For ages 6 to 10 (ideal for Cub Scouts, Brown-ies and Home School students). One adult required for every six children. $3 per child; no cost for chaperone. Reservations must be made as a group. Pre-registration required. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Zumba in the ParkMay 5, 7-8 p.m., City Hall Concert Pavilion

Brought back by popular demand, Zum-ba in the Park returns on Friday evenings through Aug. 25 (no class May 19). Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

‘Hip Hop Snow White’May 5, 7:30 p.m.; May 6, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., Arts Barn

This is a high-energy, modern-day ver-sion of the Brothers Grimm story, includ-ing “Snow” and her seven popping “Crew” battling an evil queen and finding Prince “Cool.” Recommended for ages 4 and up. $22 for adults, and $12 for youth. www.gaithersburgmd.gov

from page 6

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

area’s largest events oriented to dogs, their owners and all animal lovers. The festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature a 1-mile dog walk at 2 p.m. and a variety of activities for children, including a moon bounce, contests and other activities for dogs and their owners. There will be contests for pets and owners, including pet-owner look-alike, best singing dog, best trick, best “hu-man barker,” a “musical sit” competition, and more, with prizes awarded in most cat-

egories for first, second and third place fin-ishes.

Hosted by The Montgomery County Hu-mane Society (MCHS) in partnership with the City of Gaithersburg, Paws in the Park is held at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm. Funds raised support MCHS.

Advance registration for Paws in the Park is now open. Advance registration is $15 for adults; children 12 and under are free. Ad-mission at the gate is $25 for adults. For more information, visit www.mchumane.org.

from page 5

CITYSCENE


the lecture series. He said another bonus of his position is access to the university’s library and Reference and Humanities Li-brarian Jack Bales for great resources beyond his computer.

While researching Star Wars, Jones dis-covered a 1976 interview by a Los Angeles Times reporter where Lucas is “bemoaning his fate and griping about 20th Century Fox abandoning him by not providing the money he needed. So, we’re watching George Lucas at 31 tie himself into a pretzel over the be-lief that the studio has completely abandoned him and he’s got this spectacularly expensive bomb on his hands. … It’s almost like he’s trying to get out in front of it to explain why this movie’s going to fail so terribly, and I think what’s really fun for readers now is we actually know how that turns out,” noted Jones.

Jones said that Lucas found his talent for filmmaking when he was in college at the University of Southern California (USC) studying cinematography and he became influenced by Akira Kurosawa’s “The Seven Samurai.” He liked “esoteric, artsy, sort of avant-garde films like Arthur Lipsett’s ‘21-87’ with abstract images and an interesting sound track. It’s the kind of film Lucas says even to this day he aspires to.”

Jones noted that Lucas was a fan of comic books, particularly Tommy Tomorrow, an intergalactic policeman, and Uncle Scrooge

McDuck. Like Steven Spielberg, Lucas was part of the first generation influenced by television and its fast pace.

Jones said Star Wars’ DNA began when, as a kid in Modesto, California, Lucas watched the old Flash Gordon serials. “That’s sort of culturally what’s influencing Lucas, but he was always looking for big brother fig-ures most of his life,” Jones observed, “and his first big brother figure that really influ-enced him was Francis Ford Coppola.” Lu-cas worked as Coppola’s right-hand man and together they formed the independent film company American Zoetrope.

“Coppola says to Lucas, ‘You’re nev-er going to be taken seriously as a director unless you can learn how to write a script.’ So Lucas, who hates writing and can’t spell very well and actually writes these scripts out even to this day in pencil, in longhand on yellow pads, chains himself to the desk to write the scripts for THX and drafts of American Graffiti, and these long, kind of boring, really detailed backdrafts of what be-comes Star Wars,” Jones said. “Who knew that Indiana Jones started in his notebooks in 1975 because he was trying not to write Star Wars?”

With Lucas’ conservative, “almost nerdy” appearance, his risk-taking was a surprise to Jones. “He looks like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, but the guy is a gunslinger.” For more information, visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org or www.brianjayjones.com.

‘On Turpentine Lane’Written by Elinor Lipman

I t is almost impossible to find a smart, ro-mantic comedy these

days at the movies, but I know just where to go at a bookstore—that would be to Fiction, and then the L shelf for Lipman. She never disappoints. Her newest novel “On Turpentine Lane” (2017) is narrated by 30-something Faith Frankel, who has moved from Brooklyn back into her small Massachusetts hometown, living close to her parents, and working in the de-velopment office of Everton Country Day School where she has the mind-numbing job of writing thank you notes to donors. Hoping to throw herself into a project, she has purchased 10 Turpentine Lane, “a chronic headache masquerading as a charming bungalow.”

Going home is Faith’s way of treading water while her fiancé, Stuart, treks across the continental United States to find him-self, or maybe his path in life, but definite-ly “the awesomeness in the everyday.” (An emergency appendectomy had caused him to rethink his life and to begin using words like potentiality and wholeness.) Faith be-gins to question the sincerity of the prom-ise he made, or rather “implied,” while tying a red string around the ring finger of her left hand just before he left.

Things aren’t going well for her as she

settles into Everton. Her father seems to be developing a new life, now that he’s dis-covered his inner artist. Her boss Reggie, an ex-athlete of Everton Country Day, shows himself to be an annoyingly in-competent distraction. She had heard her crumbly Turpentine Lane house had a shady history, but an old photo she finds in the basement suggests there might have been serious criminal activity there. To top it all off, Stuart’s Instagram feed unnerves her with its steady stream of photos with attractive women hanging on him.

Luckily, something in her life is working out. Nick Franconi, her friendly officemate at school, keeps her laughing and has her back when Reggie falsely accuses her of a ridiculous ploy to steal funds. She rents out the extra room at Turpentine Lane to Nick when he breaks up with his girlfriend, and now comes the Rom Com I promised. Lipman has given us her most appealing love story yet! Will they or won’t they? I rooted for them instantly.

What makes Lipman’s zany stories must-reads for me is not only the appealing characters and the hilarious lines that she throws out, but she also slips in some meat-ier things to think about—here, it’s the id-iosyncrasies of today’s culture, a long-time marriage coming apart and racial/religious intermingling. The bottom line is, though, I loved having an artfully sexy and enter-taining book to look forward to in these decidedly idiosyncratic times.

READER’SCHOICE

By Betty Hafner

Shows at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre

‘Great Performances in the Neighborhood’

x Rockville Little Theatre presents BOOK OF DAYS 6 performances | Fridays and Saturdays, May 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, May 7 and 14 at 2 p.m. ByLanfordWilsonanddirectedbyJeffMikoni.Wilder’s“Our Town”meetsShaw’s“SaintJoan”inthiscountry-noirstory about how friendship, loyalty and willful denial prevent us from confronting the truth. TICKETS: $22 ADULTS; $20 SENIORS 62+ & STUDENTS

x Glenview Mansion presents WINE AND IMPROV SERIES Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m. Led by a theater professional, dive into the world of improv theater. No experience needed. Workshop includes one drink ticket; additional wine and beer for sale. Must be 21 and ID required. TICKETS: $35/INDIVIDUAL; $60 COUPLE

x The Washington Balalaika Society presents PARADE OF FAVORITES Saturday, June 3 at 8 p.m. ConcertpiecesbroughttoyoulivebythedazzlingvoiceofOlga Orlovskaya. TICKETS: $25 ADULTS; $20 SENIORS; $15 STUDENTS; CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER FREE

Rockville Civic Center Park 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, Md.Tickets available online at www.rockvillemd.gov/theatretixBox Office: 240-314-8690

n BIOGRAPHER from page 6


The Zookeeper’s Wife (PG-13) ****Jessica Chastain sparkles

in every way as Antonina Zabinski, the zookeeper’s wife. Her husband is Jan ( Johan Heldenbergh), and he has a difficult role to play. A young, dashing zoologist, inducted into the SS, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl) has an eye for Antonina and, because she’s hiding Jews in the basement of her bombed-out zoo, she has to be nice to him. As she tells Jan, “He frightens me,” but Jan is still jealous of the Nazi’s attention to her. This attention grows more intense with each visit, culminating in his first of two rape attempts.

The film set in Warsaw covers the years 1939 until two years after the war is over. The decline of the Warsaw Ghetto is graphically sketched, from its opening to its destruction in 1943. Deportation is presented—254,000 residents were sent to Treblinka, 300,000 killed in the ghetto by bullet or gas, and an-other 92,000 died from hunger.

All that time, the Warsaw Zoo was han-dling over 300 Jews, mostly one at a time or in small groups of 5 to 10 smuggled out of the ghetto in trucks filled with garbage meant for the hogs kept at the zoo for Nazi consumption. Many of the Jews escaped to safety when the time was right; several stayed through the end of the war and even returned after the war was over.

Antonina’s signal to be quiet in the presence of Nazis was to play her piano very loudly. That worked save for one example in which a

naughty boy started making noise while Lutz was upstairs, romancing Antonina. She co-operated with him to distract him from the noise of those hiding in the basement.

The rape of a young girl who remained catatonic in the zoo basement when rescued exemplified Nazi viciousness. Only a rabbit saved her and freed her tongue and personal-ity. She was one who stayed at the zoo until the end of the war.

While this film is mostly good for the family in educational terms, more sensitive members of your clan may be stressed out by the slaugh-ter of many of the animals by Nazis, mostly for no apparent reason other than the presence of animals and guns. To Antonina, this slaughter was secondary only to the slaughter of humans that was going on simultaneously. Again, Chastain is brilliant at portraying all the emo-tions that must have attacked Antonina at the time. Don’t be surprised if she gains more rec-ognition around Oscar time. The youngsters should first read about the Warsaw Ghetto and save this for more mature years. The story is true, by the way.

Going in Style (PG-13) ****Perfect for summer viewing, this film is

about a bank heist planned by three dirty old men—not really that dirty, but it seems appropriate to call three octogenarians who conspire to rob a bank “dirty.” Their mo-tives are pure: Their pensions have been sold out by their former company, society is abusing them and they are down to their last free meal at the lodge hall. So why not rob a bank? To quote Michael Caine as Joe: “What have we got to lose?” All of them are on the

frosty side of 70, if not 80, and all of them have families: Joe has his granddaughter, Brooklyn ( Joey King), and hapless ex-son-in-law Murphy (Peter Serafinowicz); Willie (Morgan Freeman) has a granddaughter he never sees except by Skype; and Albert (Alan Arkin) has a blooming romance with Annie (Ann Margret). The relatives all get involved in the plot more or less and are always on the trio’s minds as they begin to plan the heist.

The three soon realize they are in over their heads and solicit Jesus ( John Ortiz), a professional yegg, to advise them. Interest-ingly enough, the guys only want to rob the bank that destroyed their lives and for only what the bank cost them: $2.3 million and no more. In-between lessons from Jesus, Joe advises his ne’er do well former son-in-law: “You have to act like a man, even if you have to fake it,” and Willie has to deal with the fact that his kidneys are failing and he needs a transplant immediately if he is to survive, while Albert has to fend off Annie’s constant pressure to extend their relationship.

There is the classic comic relief role of Milton played over the top by Christopher Lloyd, and Matt Dillon plays a somber FBI agent, Hamer. In the meantime, we are treat-ed to a karaoke interlude, and the bank job goes off almost as planned.

Is this a happy ending movie? One of the last lines is by the groom: “I’m feeling this odd feeling—I think it might be happiness.” You figure it out. A thoroughly enjoyable, inoffensive and imaginative remake of a 1979 film by the same name that was more elder-issue oriented, this edition is light on the issue element but strong on comic timing.

Take the kids for a new image of being old and feisty.

The Boss Baby (PG) ***With animated movies, it is often hard to

determine their target audience. This is true of “The Boss Baby.” On the surface, young kids would be the correct answer except that the Boss Baby’s conceit is that he’s really a businessman dressed in baby duds on a mis-sion for his company, Baby Corp. The Corp makes babies and delivers them so they are, to say the least, a major corporation.

Alec Baldwin is Boss Baby and his foil is Tim Templeton (voiced by Miles Christopher Bakshi). Tim is happy being an only child, and you can see why when Boss appears seem-ingly out of nowhere. The plot turns on BB’s attempt to find out the nature of the puppy that is being created by Puppy Corp, headed by a former head of Baby Corp who was fired and is out for revenge. His tool is the “Forever Puppy” that never turns into a dog.

BB calls a business meeting with several of his other not-quite-infants, and together they plan to break into the Las Vegas convention of Puppy Corp to find out what’s up.

There is a lot of running around, comic chase scenes and snatches of adult dialogue. BB’s intermittent transition back to ba-byhood is cleverly done and quite funny. I found the rest of the film to be a little on the frenetic and obvious side. Small kids will love the puppies and the babies. Adults may rethink their positions on parenthood.

Enjoy more of Mike’s reviews at www.towncourier.com

MIKEAT THE MOVIES

By Mike Cuthbert

301-990-1070 or [email protected]

267 Kentlands Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878(Kentlands Square, next to BB&T Bank)

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House Rules

S ome days, parent-hood feels like one big bureaucracy. Be-

ing successful at the par-enting game is like a never ending congressional ses-sion; complicated, long and divisive. Let’s face it people, fairly representing diverse groups is hard; everyone has an agenda that often puts them at odds with others in the House.

So, I present the top ways my house is like the United States Congress:

Laws: The House is where the laws—designed to protect all constituents—are made. Not everyone agrees that these laws are beneficial or necessary. Sometimes you have to release one law (wearing a coat) to make sure another law gets enacted (going to school). It is a balancing act. Often, a bill goes through different versions before it is law. For instance, your goal when you draft a bill may be a total ban on screen time. Yet, by the time it is official, it is watered down to “no screen time except when people need

to be quiet and occupied so everyone can get through the rest of the day without bodily harm.” And that is ultimately what passes.

Filibuster—Some issues are hot buttons, like, say, bedtime. When the minority party senses the vote is not going their way, stall tactics are inevitable. An all-out effort fea-turing babbling, general shenanigans and no apparent word limit will be waged. Every night. Eventually, they will have to yield the floor but not before they have exhausted every possible bathroom function and your patience.

Addendum—There is an addendum to ev-erything brought before the House. There is no such thing as a simple proposal. It is just part of the process. A request to do home-work may be brought to committee but then members follow up with a request to listen to music, sit on the deck, have a snack and promise not to get distracted by clouds while they do it. Senior members of the House are adept at deciphering which codicils are worth fighting for and which are just drag-ging down the process and act accordingly.

Lobbyists—Someone is always trying to

curry favor and sway your vote. This ma-neuvering pits members against each other and calls for a strong commitment to your position on any given matter. Members will pinky-swear, vow loyalty and make false promises to influence you. Do not fall for the rhetoric! Realistically, no one is going to happily clean the bathroom every week until they move out even if it sounds convincing in the moment.

Budget—Much of the House discussion and subsequent votes surround the budget and escalating deficit. Budget cuts are un-popular. Each member truly believes there should be no reduction in funding for their particular, personal cause. A proposition by the majority to decrease cell phone data plans or eliminate Chipotle stops due to monetary constraints is sure to rile up the minority. (See Filibuster.)

Joint Session—Most days, the senior rep-resentative can go it alone. Occasionally, however, resolving an issue requires rein-forcement from someone on the same side of the aisle. Make sure you have an ally in the House. It is surprising how quickly al-

liances change depending on the matter at hand. As an example, the colleague you chose to spend eternity with may complete-ly disagree about the laws of the land—like curfew—making you wonder how they ever got the job in the first place. Work together and compromise. Presenting a united front at all times is essential to maintaining con-trol of the House.

Recess—When the House adjourns for the day, unfinished business is tabled. There is zero chance that even the most trivial of old business will be forgotten during the re-cess. Instead, it is painfully resuscitated ev-ery morning until there is a resolution. Even if it takes forever. Members will be unable to find their shoes (new, urgent business) but will remember that the day before another member had the last Oreo.

And my favorite similarity to Congress is the power of veto. As president of this bu-reaucracy, I can veto anything that doesn’t align with my agenda. My seniority affords me some perks that all the checks and bal-ances in the world can’t take away.

God Bless America.

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QO Track Ready to Go the DistanceBy Mac Kennedy

Q uince Orchard’s spring track team is back once again with a talented squad across the board. This group is con-

tinuing the tradition of having some of the top distance runners in the county, as well as adding some high-level sprinters.

The infamous Cougar Relays took place at

QO on a chilly April Fool’s Day. Quince Or-chard Coach Seann Pelkey began the “Dev-il Takes the Hindmost” race dressed as an angel, an unusual look for him in this race, before quickly turning back into the an-ticipated devil to finish. QO junior Chris Toms took first place in the “Devil Takes the

n QO TRACK Continued on page 18n NW TRACK Continued on page 18

SPORTSQO’s Samuel Gyeni Taking on Opportunity at Towson

By Syl Sobel

O pportunities have had a way of find-ing Samuel Gyeni in his young life, and so far he’s made the most of them.

Now, with one big opportunity ahead, this soft-spoken but powerful young man has a chance to accomplish something that can profoundly influence the rest of his life—even more than the world record he already holds.

Gyeni is a senior at Quince Orchard High School who played nose tackle for last sea-son’s state runner-up football team. Recent-ly, he received an offer from Towson Univer-sity to compete next season as a “preferred walk-on” for a spot on the football team and a possible scholarship.

That’s a huge accomplishment for some-one who has only been playing football for two years.

Gyeni, the youngest of five children, em-igrated to the U.S. from his native Gha-na when he was 13 years old. His parents brought their family to this country seeking “better opportunity,” Gyeni said.

That first opportunity came during Gye-ni’s sophomore year at Quince Orchard. As a boy growing up in Ghana, Gyeni was aware of American football, “but I was always play-ing soccer.” So, he played his native soccer on QO’s junior varsity team during his first two years of high school.

But after soccer season ended he started lifting weights at a local gym to get stron-ger. That’s where he met Mike Sarni, a fit-ness and powerlifting trainer and longtime defensive line coach for the Cougars.

Sarni, who knew Gyeni’s older brother, said, “I asked Sam, ‘Do you go to Quince Orchard?’ and he said ‘Yes.’ And I said, ‘Well you don’t play football,’ and he said, ‘No, I play soccer.’ And I said, ‘Well next year you’re going to play football.’”

Gyeni recalled “at first I was unsure, like should I really do it? But I just got to the point where I got a lot bigger that I couldn’t run as fast and I didn’t have the stamina I used to have, so I just went and played foot-ball.”

His first year wasn’t promising. As a 230-pound defensive lineman with no foot-ball experience “it was a big learning ex-perience for him,” Sarni said. “He was just learning the sport.” With experienced play-ers ahead of him on a very good QO team, Gyeni did not get much playing time.

So, he and Sarni went back into the gym. That’s when Sarni noticed something.

“He was getting stronger and stronger,” Sarni said. “Every time I’d give him numbers to do, he’d hit them. And he was always ex-celling farther than what I expected.” Sarni, who runs a powerlifting team, had an idea of what the lifting records were for 17-year-old weightlifters, so he suggested entering Gyeni in a competition, and the young man “went along.”

Turns out that was another opportunity for Gyeni. At his first and only competition,

the June 2016 International Powerlifting Association Strength Spectacular in York, Pennsylvania, Gyeni set age and weight class world records in the bench press (392.5 pounds), squat (577.5 pounds) and overall (1,525 pounds).

“He kind of blew (the world records) away,” Sarni said. And with Gyeni’s increas-ing strength, Sarni knew something else. “As he got stronger and stronger in the off-sea-son, I kept telling the (football) coaching staff that I thought Sam was going to be very good and very special. They didn’t believe me, because they were only seeing what hap-pened the year before.”

But when summer camp workouts start-ed, Sarni said, “it was quite evident that” the now 5-foot, 11-inch, 265-pound Gyeni would be the Cougars’ starting nose tackle. He ended up anchoring the Cougars’ stingy front seven and playing in the 4A state cham-pionship game.

Gyeni credits weightlifting for his football success. “Lifting, it gives you a lot of confi-dence. Once you step on the field you feel like no one can block you one-on-one. That

gives you a lot of confidence knowing that you’re the strongest on the field.”

Sarni agreed. “I knew just with his strength alone … if I could teach him some technique he was going to be very effective, and it turned out that he was. They had to double-team him pretty much every game.”

And that paved the way for the newest op-portunity.

Following the football season, QO’s coaches contacted the Towson coaches about giving the still-learning, but fast-learning Gyeni a chance to show what he could do as a walk-on. The Towson coaches, recognizing Gyeni’s big upside, offered him the chance. If he succeeds in landing a roster spot, Gyeni could receive an athletic scholarship.

“The Towson coaches are happy to have me competing for a spot, and I’m … ready to go and just do what I have to and earn a scholarship,” Gyeni said.

Sarni and head coach John Kelley think Gyeni’s chances are good. “He’s the strongest athlete I ever had in high school,” said Sarni, who has coached four guys who played in the NFL, including current Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Kerr, and “Sam’s stronger than all of them.”

Gyeni, who is deciding between study-ing business or computer science at Towson, said that he’s now “very happy” he made the choice to leave soccer and try football. “(Football) opens up a lot more opportuni-ties than soccer did.”

And while he and Sarni think about more lifting competitions—and perhaps more world records—in the future, Gyeni’s em-phasis now is on education and football.

“If he really wants to try and do this foot-ball, then he needs to concentrate on that kind of training,” said Sarni. “Towson has an opportunity for him to get an education and possibly earn a scholarship there, so that’s got to be the first priority.”

Photo | Mac Kennedy

Quince Orchard High School senior Samuel Gyeni works with Mike Sarni, fitness and powerlifting trainer and longtime Cougars defensive line coach, at Gold’s Gym.

NW Track and Field Continues Mission to Sweep State Competition

By Jennifer Beekman

N orthwest High School senior Bobby Gicheru was sure he was a distance runner when he first joined the Jag-

uars boys’ track and field program during his sophomore year. As a soccer player—he played for two years at Northwest—he knew he had the endurance for longer races. But Coach Robert Youngblood had other ideas.

“One day he was like, ‘Hey, I want you to try hurdles,’” Gicheru recalled. “I thought he was crazy. I was like, ‘I don’t want to hur-dle, I don’t want to hurt myself.’”

But, as is quite often the case, Young-blood’s prediction was right. This spring Gicheru, a Salisbury University track recruit, is poised to contend for state title in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and high jump

as the Jaguar boys look to follow up Feb-ruary’s fourth consecutive indoor track and field state title with their second straight out-door state championship—third since 2013.

“The guys are on a mission to win another state title and we feel like we can do what we did last year; we feel we have all the pieces,” Youngblood said. “The girls also have a lot of pieces, so we hope to be in the running come the end of the season.”

Gicheru’s breakout this year—he finished eighth in the 55m hurdles and sixth in the high jump at the indoor state champion-ship—perfectly exemplifies part of what has enabled the Jaguars, both boys and girls, to become a mainstay in the county and state’s upper echelon. Youngblood makes a concert-

Photo | Mac Kennedy

Sophomore Noah Buchs-baum battles his way through a tough crowd at the Cougar Relays.


Hindmost” men’s race, repeating his victo-ry from last year. After the race, Toms ex-pressed his admiration for the growth he has seen in his team so far, noting how “talented and focused” his teammates are in “improv-ing and making the team better.” The Cou-gars finished 10th in the women’s and at 13 in the men’s.

The first meet of the season QO hosted Damascus and Watkins Mill. The Cou-gars kicked off the year with a stellar per-formance. Both men’s and women’s teams won their divisions. Freshman Kyra Lyles took first place in the women’s 100-meter race, which is the start of what could be a dominating career. Coach Pelkey is “look-ing for big things” from the girls’ sprint re-lays made up from the pool of Lyles along with Kayla and Alexis Martin, Julia Sloan, and Zakaiyah Bright.

Senior Maya Jacobson, one of QO’s top runners for the past few years, is a strong believer in the potential of this year’s team. “The distance team has started the season off with a bang,” Jacobson said, “and we really have potential to go far this year along with the sprinting team which has a lot of new-comers that are soon to find their way in this sport.” She has plans for herself to reach the state meet at the end of the year, and hopes Toms and senior Isabelle Sajonia, among others, will join her.

Off the track, the boys’ pole vault has be-come a strong event for the Cougars. In fact, just a month into the season, seniors Adam Levey and Matthews Owens have the top marks in the county now.

ed effort to groom two, three—even four—athletes capable of scoring in just about every event and when stars graduate, new talent is always waiting in the wings, ready for their turn to shine. And the more experienced ath-letes relish the opportunity to prepare their younger teammates to take over.

“I remember when I first started, the se-niors were telling me what to do; they helped me become the hurdler and jumper that I am today,” Gicheru said. “Now that I’m a senior, there is a sense of pride in telling my younger teammates what I’ve learned from being in the program.”

Northwest prides itself on being a true program, not a team built around one ath-lete. While Northwest might not win every event come championship season, there’s a good chance it will have one or two athletes score in most events. And that level of depth and versatility is rare.

With six state championships in the last

four years, between indoor and outdoor track, Gicheru said there is pressure to con-tinue the winning tradition. But the Jaguars use it as motivation, Youngblood said.

The field events should be a strongpoint for Northwest’s boys and girls this spring. In addition to Gicheru, Divinus Muteba, Nor-val Black and Anthony Woods are all among the county’s best jumpers; Deandre Jules is coming off a fifth-place finish in shot put at the indoor state championship. Woods and Khaloni Mganga, currently rank among the county’s top sprinters. Chase Osborne, who claimed his first state title in the 800-meter run over the winter, Ngoy Jeriel Yamitshi, Komlan Attiogbe and Jose Infante anchor the middle distance and distance events.

Northwest’s girls are led by dynamic soph-omore duo Taylor Wright (sprints/jumps) and Cori Brown (sprints), Editta Pessima (hurdles), who won the 55m hurdles state title during a breakout indoor track season, Sofia Zarate (distance) and jumper Stephanie Bateky. Bateky has been one of the state’s top high jumpers since her freshman season, and one of Northwest’s most reliable performers.

SPRING SAVINGS!

Revitalized NW Boys’ Tennis Back on TrackBy Jennifer Beekman

T he Northwest High School boys’ ten-nis team is no stranger to the county’s top division, where nearly every team

is comprised primarily of U.S. Tennis Asso-ciation tournament players. However, after graduating many talented players over the last five to 10 years without refueling with the same level of tennis experience, the Jaguars slipped down to Division III last spring. But don’t expect them to be there for long.

An influx of young talent combined with great senior leadership not only has North-

west poised to compete for this year’s divi-sion title, but in position to make its way back up the county ladder in the next few years. As of Sunday evening, the Jaguars were 5-1 overall and 3-0 against division opponents—their only loss was to perennial power Walter Johnson.

“Our collective goal is to get back to Di-vision II, and it’s something we’ve all been working toward and hoping to achieve,” Northwest Coach Marie Franklin said. “We don’t take anything for granted, we don’t count out any of our opponents. There’s much more parity now, even among the low-er divisions; it’s refreshing, you can’t go into a match assuming you’ll win.”

In the last three years, senior Charles Beau-champ has worked his way up from No. 2 doubles to take over, and hold his own, in the top singles spot this spring. His dedication is contagious, Franklin said.

The addition of freshmen Ben Parker, Jo-nah Osband and George Slaughter into the singles lineup—they play Nos. 2-4, respec-tively—has bolstered Northwest’s depth. Parker is ranked No. 239 of 445 players in the USTA Mid-Atlantic Boys 16s. Osband and

Slaughter are ranked Nos. 275 and 145 of 548 players, respectively, in the Boys 14s. Frank-lin said she has admired the young players’ wherewithal against older—and often bigger, faster and stronger—competition.

The arrival of C.J. Thueson, who just moved to the area from California this year, along with returning senior Akshar Patel, provides strength and experience at the top of the doubles roster. After taking a year off to focus on his academic responsibilities, Harish Kumar is back and serving as an important leader and role model for his younger team-mates, Franklin said.

Naturally, the increase of experienced tennis players has changed Northwest’s dy-namic and has encouraged other players to work harder to break into the lineup, Frank-lin said—every position is just as important as the next, with each match win adding a point to the team’s total.

“Our mantra is that our No. 1 position is just as important as No. 50,” Franklin said. “We have a constant team approach to ev-erything, and the support has been amazing. The experience the guys have brought onto the team raises the level of intensity as far as everyone wanting to work harder in practice and wanting to become a better player. It’s a nice infusion.”

Cougar Boys’ Tennis Gains MomentumBy Mac Kennedy

T he Quince Orchard boys’ tennis team has a long road ahead this season. Al-though they are deep in numbers and

have some balanced skill throughout the ranks, a majority of the team is made up of new, young players.

This spring roster is made up of 15 under-classmen, eight of whom are new starters. In a sport that relies heavily on individual and partnered performances, having so many young and new players is a challenge.

Head Coach Chris Barber understands this challenge and is taking it head on to pre-pare his team for a winning season.

He has called upon some of his talented returning players to lead the younger guys, especially junior Alec Rappaport. Rappa-port is constantly working on his own tennis skills, and now he is learning how to be a

better leader. “I’m trying to be a role model for the younger players and help them im-prove their game,” Rappaport said, “while also working on improving my own game.”

The season started slowly, as the Cougars lost at home to Walter Johnson High School and then away to Churchill High School. But since then, QO has found some rhythm in their game. They have gone 3-1 over the last two weeks heading into a tough part of their schedule. Rappaport is pleased with the performance so far. “We are still settling in a little because we are just such a young team, but I feel like so far we are doing well.”

Coach Barber and Rappaport both know this is going to be a tough year for their team but continue to have a positive outlook on the progression. This momentum they have picked up can be a huge boost to some of the younger players and can really excel the play of the Cougars across the board.

n NW TRACK from page 17

n QO TRACK from page 17

Photo | Mac Kennedy

Junior Alec Rappaport serves off against his opponent during the Cougars’ home match against Blake High School.


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