Entertainment, Page 10 Going For a Rideconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2018/050918/Potomac.pdfGoing For a Ride News, Page 11 Adam Reinsch leads Nacho with Brianna Eldred riding during the

Running for County ExecutiveNews, Pages 2-3

HomeLifeStylePage 6

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News, Page 11

Adam Reinsch leads Nacho with Brianna Eldred riding

during the open house on Sunday, May 4, at the

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May 9-15, 2018

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2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ May 9-15, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Politics

See Berliner, Page 8 See Blair, Page 8 See Elrich, Page 9

By Peggy McEwan

The Almanac

Primary Election Day is Tuesday,June 26, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

With just over six weeks untilthe Maryland Republican and

Democratic primaries for the Nov. 6, 2018general election, it is time to focus on thecandidates.

During the upcoming weeks The Alma-nac will run candidate profiles starting withthis week’s overview of the men and womenrunning for the position of County Execu-tive.

Current County Executive Isiah Leggettis retiring after this, his third term runningthe county. Leggett, a Democrat, was firstelected County Executive in 2006.

The County Executive serves a four yearterm.

EACH CANDIDATE was asked the samequestions:

Why are you running for MontgomeryCounty Executive?

List past experience, political and/or pro-fessional.

What do you consider the biggest prob-lem Montgomery County faces today?

What is your dream accomplishment forthe county?

Is there anything else you think votersshould know about your when decidingwho to vote for?

More election information can be foundat www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elec-tions.

What setscandidates apart?

RunningFor CountyExecutive

Roger BerlinerDemocrat, 67, North Bethesda – Pike & Rose

Why are yourunning forMontgomeryCounty Execu-tive?

Our county is avery special place.It is one of the fewplaces where wecan truly say “ifnot here, where?”At home, my bet-ter three quarters, Karen Berliner, had theinspiration to have the word “imagine”etched on our living room wall. It is a dailyreminder to think big. And I do think big.What a privilege it would be to lead thisextraordinary county, to help us achieve ourfull potential, always striving to become a“More Perfect Montgomery County.”

I would not be doing this if I did not be-lieve in my heart of hearts that I am theright person to lead us forward. I want tobuild a county where we grow economicprosperity and where that growth toucheseveryone – regardless of zip code or back-ground. To reduce school overcrowding andsee modern school buildings where all ofour children’s needs are met; to provide thefinest transit options and state of the arttraffic signals that reduce travel times by15 percent; to ensure that we continue tolead the nation on sustainability and envi-ronmental protections; to make a differencein the lives of those who have not shared inthe prosperity that many of us have experi-enced; and to create an economic ecosys-tem where entrepreneurship and businessesthrive. The County Executive has the un-paralleled ability to make this happen.That’s why I am running for this office.

Past experience: political and/orprofessional

Before joining the Montgomery CountyCouncil in 2006, I served as: LegislativeDirector for Howard Metzenbaum; SeniorPolicy Advisor for Congressman HenryWaxman; Legislative staff to the CaliforniaState Assembly; Director of CongressionalLiaison for a federal agency during theCarter Administration; Legal Counsel to thelargest county in the country, Los AngelesCounty.

I started a small business, building a lawfirm that gained national recognition in thefield of energy and consumer protection. Ithen went on to become a partner atManatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP before beingelected to the Montgomery County Councilwhere I have been a leading advocate forprotecting the environment, investing inpublic schools, and creating greater sharedeconomic prosperity. I have been elected bymy colleagues either President or Vice Presi-dent of the Council, 5 out of my 11 yearsand had the privilege of being elected bythe region’s leaders to Chair the Metropoli-tan Washington Council of Governments(COG).

What do you consider the biggest

David BlairDemocrat, 48, Potomac


I am a lifelongM o n t g o m e r yCounty resident. Iwent to schoolhere. It’s wheremy wife and I metand where we’reraising our kids. We love it here, and yet,I’m running for County Executive becauseour county is not reaching its potential. Ourelected officials have over developed areaswithout properly investing in our schoolsand transportation – leaving us with over-crowded schools and some of the worst traf-fic in the country. And, because oureconomy has been stagnant for the past 10years, our county officials continually raisetaxes – making our county increasinglyunaffordable for many.

We need new strategies and a fresh per-spective to grow our economy, create high-wage jobs and generate new funding so wecan pay for our education, transportation,senior services and other county programsthat we all expect and deserve. I will investin our education system to close theachievement gap by expanding early child-hood education and adding more programsto ensure all students graduate high schoolcollege- or career-ready. I’ve developed acomprehensive Jobs and Economic Plan,with real solutions to get our economygrowing so we can fully-fund our prioritieswithout raising taxes (read the Plan atwww.blairformontgomery.com).

I’m committed to our community, to pre-serving our tremendous resources and di-versity, and to making our county an evenbetter place to live, work, and raise a fam-ily. We all deserve better.

Past experience: political and/orprofessional

For the past several years, I’ve been in-creasingly active with our local government.I have been a community organizer and partof Ike Leggett’s County Executive’s Eco-nomic Advisory Group. I’ve also been ac-tively involved in projects for the Biparti-san Policy Center, a nonprofit think tank,working to address a number of challengesfacing the public sector, including creatinga vibrant entrepreneurial environment, en-suring access to early childhood develop-ment and accelerating health innovation.

Previously, I founded and was the ChiefExecutive Officer of Rockville-based Cata-lyst Health Solutions, Inc. My team and Igrew Catalyst into a Fortune 500 companyin just over a decade, employing thousandsof employees across the country and sav-ing customers $9 billion in prescription drugcosts. The company received numerousprestigious awards including Fortune’sWorld’s Most Admired Healthcare Compa-nies and Fortune’s 100 Fastest GrowingCompanies, as well as individual awards

Marc ElrichDemocrat, 68, Takoma Park


I am running forthis position be-cause I want everyresident of Mont-gomery County toknow that theirconcerns are be-ing heard and addressed. I am known asthe one elected official who consistently isaccessible and willing to hear from resi-dents, whoever they may be.

I am committed to closing the achieve-ment/opportunity gap by working on mak-ing sure schools are adequately funded, butalso by focusing on strengthening our com-munities. Poverty remains tied to students’struggles in schools and it’s apparent thatpoverty impacts their lives in ways thatmake it challenging to be a successful stu-dent. Unstable housing and the strugglesof parents to make ends meet place a socialand emotional load on children that theyshould not have to carry. That’s why Ipushed hard for the minimum wage, why Iwant to make housing more affordable, andwhy I want to create job opportunities forchildren and their parents that offer a pathup and out of poverty. I want to implementa racial equity lens on all of our county de-partments, including in planning, to be surethat we’re aware of the impact of all of ourdecisions and so that we don’t continue toplan housing patterns that perpetuate seg-regation.

I also want to expand the economy byfocusing on small business development,worker ownership and cooperatives, andthe creation of incubators that provide busi-ness training, develop new skills, and en-gender entrepreneurial skills in the commu-nity. My bus rapid transit plan will connectneighborhoods to job centers, reduce com-mute times, and foster business investmentbecause we know our mobility issues makeus less attractive as a destination. And I’llfocus on our economic strengths to helpexisting businesses grow and prosper in thecounty. We need more of an emphasis ongrowing and nurturing businesses we al-ready have, and we need to use our diver-sity of people and our multi-lingualism toattract new businesses that want to be in acommunity that embraces our multiculturalfuture.

As County Executive, I will remain acces-sible to county residents and take your con-cerns seriously. People have a right to ex-pect that the county will promote growthand solve the problems that come withgrowth, not dismiss residents who raiseconcerns about overcrowded schools andgridlocked roads. We are fortunate here tohave beautiful neighborhoods, greatschools, and diverse and engaged residents;we can use our strengths to build an evenbetter Montgomery County.

I have a lifelong commitment to social and

Potomac Almanac ❖ May 9-15, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Politics

See Frick, Page 8 See Krasnow, Page 8 See Leventhal, Page 9

Robin FickerRepublican, Boyds


We need changeas evidenced bythe 70%, 300,000votes for my 2016Term Limits char-ter amendment,which was op-posed by all our opponents in this race. I amthe only candidate who opposed the unani-mous 9% property tax hike, the 156% residen-tial energy tax hike, the 30% real estate trans-fer tax hike and the 30% council pay hike be-fore they took place. No tax increases for thenext 4 years. I have never met a MontgomeryCounty resident I didn’t like.

Past experience, political and/orprofessional.

Elected MD House of Delegates fromPotomac. Only County Executive hopeful withHonorable Discharge from U.S. Armed Ser-vices or with any experience in MD Courts —completed 35,000 cases — still in Court everyday. Collected signatures for and passed, overthe opposition of all other County Executivehopefuls, 2008 Charter Amendment requiringunanimous council vote to increase propertytaxes more than rate of inflation. It stoppedproperty tax increases in 2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013,2014, 2015, and 2017, saving theaverage homeowner $10,000+!

What do you consider the biggestproblem Montgomery County facestoday?

There is a hostile reception to new business.I shall be open-armed and welcoming. Thecounty government will be kinder, gentler, andsmarter with half of my appointments beingfemale. I won Maryland’s definitive sex dis-crimination lawsuit, outlawing ratings of fe-male job applicants as to physique and facialfeatures, and eliminating questions about childcare arrangements and marital status.

What is your dream accomplishmentfor the County?

To put the people back in charge of theCounty government instead of vice versa. Ishall move the County Executive office downto the first floor and each Monday morning,from 6-9 a.m. shall hold “County ExecutiveOpen, First-come First-served Hours” with you,my boss the voters.

Is there anything else you thinkvoters should know about your whendeciding who to vote for?

I lived in Potomac for many years and placedand passed the charter amendment forbiddingthe county to put the county garbage dumpwhere the Avenel golf course is today. Alsopassed charter amendment forbidding trench-ing of sewage sludge in residential zones andplaced before voters about 20 other charteramendments which sought to make count gov-ernment more thrifty and efficient. Please visitrobindeliversforyou.com.

Bill FrickDemocrat, 43, Bethesda

Why are yourunning forMontgomeryCountyExecutive?

This is myhometown andI care deeplyabout its fu-ture. For toolong, we havehad the rightsocial values – celebrating diversity, striv-ing for equality, respecting public service– but not the right economic values. Asrecent reports have shown, our privatesector economy is languishing, and thatspells trouble for our county and the rev-enues needed for social services. My vi-sion for Montgomery is a community thatcan have it all. Worldly residents andworld-class businesses, progressive socialvalues and economic progress, excellentpublic schools and modest tax rates. Iknow that I can help enact that vision.As an outsider to local government, Ihave the freedom and fresh perspectiveto move the County forward. But as aveteran of Annapolis, I know how gov-ernment works and how to get hardthings done.

Past experience: political and/orprofessional.

Professional Experience: Attorney(Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld,2000-present)

Political Experience: Member, Mary-land House of Delegates (2007-present);House majority leader (2017-present)

What do you consider the big-gest problem facing MontgomeryCounty today?

I am deeply concerned about our eco-nomic trajectory. Demographically, theCounty is growing but growing amongfamilies in poverty. Many in our tradi-tionally affluent suburban communitiesare shocked when I tell them that nearlyhalf of our elementary school studentsreceive Free And Reduced Meals and aquarter require ESOL support. To meetadditional needs of these students andfamilies requires significant resources,and we do not want to shortchange theschool experience of other families, orneglect other critical areas such as trans-portation and public safety. The neglect– at times even contempt – our Councilhas shown the private sector has directlyled to our anemic economic perfor-mance, making it that much harder tosupply the resources we need. I want toreverse that trend, making Montgomerya place where businesses, employers, andyoung professionals are our surging de-mographic and poverty is on a steadydecline.

Rose KrasnowDemocrat, 66, Rockville


I believe thecounty is at acrossroads andthat I am uniquelyqualified amongthe declared can-didates to lead itto a successful future. The term limit voteclearly indicated that the county is readyto move in a new direction. For too long,we have promised roads and transit infra-structure that have not been built. For toolong, we have ignored the achievement gapin our schools. We have also made it diffi-cult for businesses to be successful here,which has resulted in frequent tax increasesfor our residents. I am a strong and respon-sive leader who wants to restore our countyto a position of strength.


I served three terms as Mayor of Rockville,as well as two terms on the Rockville CityCouncil. I also worked for 13 years at theMontgomery Planning Department, over-seeing the Zoning Code Rewrite and numer-ous Master Plans. I also worked as the SmartGrowth Policy Analyst at the National Gov-ernors Association and as the ExecutiveDirector of the Montgomery County UnitedWay. In addition, I worked at Oppenheimer& Co., Inc. as a government bond traderfor four years.

I have an undergraduate degree in Politi-cal Science from Washington University inSt. Louis, where I was a member of Phi BetaKappa and graduated Summa Cum Laude.I also have a Master’s Degree in Urban &Regional Planning from the University ofNorth Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Anything else you would like us toknow about you in your bid to bethe next Montgomery CountyExecutive?

I believe that the County needs an Execu-tive who is proactive, not reactive; who iswilling to make the tough decisions that willbe necessary to solve the issues that con-front us, and who will strive to make thecounty a leader in economic developmentand opportunity for all. I know that I canbe that leader.

What do you consider the biggestproblem facing MontgomeryCounty today?

One of the primary reasons I decided torun for this office is that I am concernedthat, while our county celebrates its greatdiversity, we are increasingly becomingmore divided, as indicated by the fact thateven though we have seven wealthy zipcodes, many of our residents are strugglingwith a variety of issues, including a lack ofaffordable housing, schools with a high

George L. LeventhalDemocrat, 55, Takoma Park


I am running forCounty Executivebecause I loveM o n t g o m e r yCounty. I wasraised in this ex-traordinary place,and along with my wife Soraia, have raisedour two sons in this community. I haveserved as your County Councilmember for15 years, and am proud that we’ve ad-vanced the most progressive policies in thenation. I was raised on the values of hardwork, community, equality, social justiceand opportunity for all of us, not just thewealthy and the well connected. I havenever been afraid to speak truth to power— that doesn’t always make me the mostpopular person in halls of government, butit gets results for Montgomery County fami-lies.

My Mom and Dad were both physicians,and they always taught me that health careis a basic human right, not just for thepeople who can afford it, but for everyone.While Donald Trump and Republicans inCongress attempt to destroy the AffordableCare Act and strip coverage from millionsof poor and middle income Americans, herein Montgomery County, I established theMontgomery Cares program, providing70,000 doctor visits annually to patientswithout insurance. It’s why I have workedto ensure prenatal care for expectant moth-ers without insurance, and to secure healthinsurance for all Montgomery County chil-dren.

As a young man, I got my start in publicservice as Senator Barbara Mikulski’s Leg-islative Director. She taught me a great dealabout leadership and toughness, and is oneof the reasons I am an outspoken championfor women, equal pay, and a woman’s rightto choose.

As your next County Executive, I will con-tinue my advocacy for all members of ourcommunity, including the most vulnerable.Through my work, we have housed everyhomeless veteran in Montgomery Countyand provided property tax credits for theelderly and disabled. As County Executive,I will require that any new residential con-struction includes affordable units, so fami-lies of all income levels can afford to live inthe county.

But I know that we cannot fully achievesocial justice unless we have a prosperouseconomy that treats workers fairly and aneducation system that gives all children apath to career success. I successfully foughtto raise our county’s minimum wage to $15.I am working to make pre-kindergartenavailable to all Montgomery County chil-dren. And I have a plan to eliminate tuitionat Maryland Public Colleges and Universi-ties for Montgomery County students whocommit to 5 years of working in a civilian


News

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EDITORIALPHONE: 703-778-9415

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSusan Belford, Carole Dell,

Cissy Finley Grant, Carole Funger,Colleen Healy, Kenny Lourie,Peggy McEwan, Ken Moore

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Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,

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Graphics and Design

MEALS ON WHEELSDelivers meals to house-bound

seniors, convalescents and personswith disabilities. It receives minimumgovernment funding and reliesinstead on contributions. Donationsare needed to help with unmet mealscosts for clients who cannot afford topay. If you can help, send a check toRockville Meals on Wheels at P.O.Box 465, Rockville, MD 20848-0465or visit the website to contributethrough Pay Pal atwww.rockvillemealsonwheels.org.For more information, call 301-340-1559, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- noon.

WEDNESDAY/MAY 16Author/Speaker. 7-9:30 at Our Lady

of Bethesda Retreat Center, 7007Bradley Blvd., Bethesda. Witnessthe unfolding of a mosaic-likerepresentation of the figure andimportance of Mary Magdalene,through the lenses of archaeological

discoveries, historical texts,scriptural sources, and localtraditions. Jennifer Ristine has beenserving at the recently excavatedsite of ancient Magdala in the HolyLand since 2014. She is aconsecrated woman and member ofthe Regnum Christi Movement.Suggested donation to attend: $25per person. Visitwww.ourladyofbethesda.org.

THURSDAY/MAY 17Mind-Body Connection. 7-9 p.m. at

Potomac Community Center, 11315Falls Road, Potomac. PotomacCommunity Village hosts: “Mind-Body Connection: Keys to HealthyAging,” Psychologist Heidi Hsia,Ph.D, on how a positive outlook helpsattain and maintain quality of life,longevity; offers practical lifestylechanges. Free. Call 240-221-1370 orvisitwww.PotomacCommunityVillage.org.

TUESDAY/MAY 22Free Grant Workshops. Noon-4 p.m.

at Rockville Memorial Library, 21Maryland Ave., Rockville. MarylandHumanities will present a free grantsworkshop for nonprofits andgovernment entities offeringprogramming related to thehumanities, arts, or heritagepreservation. The workshop willprovide information about grantprograms and application proceduresfor statewide and local organizations.The roster of presenters also includesthe Arts and Humanities Council ofMontgomery County, MarylandHeritage Areas, Maryland HistoricalTrust, Maryland State Arts Council,and Preservation Maryland. Free butregistration is required. Register atwww.mdhumanities.org/grants/grant-programs/upcoming-grants-workshop.

Self-Determination at End of Life.1-2:30 p.m. at Potomac CommunityCenter, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac.

Potomac Community Village hosts:“Ensuring Self-Determination at theEnd of Life,” with Rosalind Kipping, ofCompassion and Choices of Maryland,on medical aid in dying, planning forcare at the end of life, the proposedEnd of Life Options Act. Visitwww.potomaccommunityvillage.orgor call 240-221-1370.

WEDNESDAY/MAY 23Alzheimer’s Association

Workshop. 6:30 p.m. at BrookdalePotomac, 11215 Seven Locks Road,Potomac. “Healthy Living for YourBrain and Body: Tips from the LatestResearch.” At any age, there arelifestyle habits people can adopt tohelp maintain or even potentiallyimprove their health. These habitsmay also help to keep brains healthyas we age and possibly delay theonset of cognitive decline. Free. Formore information and to register, call800-272-3900.

Bulletin Board Submit civic/community announcements at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least two weeks before event.

Participants are covered in pink, purple, and blue hues of color.Michal, Itzik andDafna Havakuk

Festival of ColorsHoli DC, the annual festival of colors, gave families and friends a chance to playfullythrow colors at one another and create fun and happy memories on Sunday, May 6, atthe ISKCON of DC Temple, 10310 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac. The International Society forKrishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is also known as the Hare Krishna Movement.

Angela Mamani andFany Arcilla at theFestival of Colors.Photos by Deborah Stevens/The Almanac


News

See Parents Question, Page 11

By Peggy McEwan

The Almanac

When parents with children in WaysideElementary School learned April 22that the nonprofit organization,Farmland Child Development Center

(CDC), providing before and after care lost its con-tract at the school they were very unhappy, accord-ing to Gina D’Angelo, a CDC board member andWayside parent.

Actually, more than unhappy. So unhappy that theyheld a Town Hall meeting at Potomac CommunityCenter Thursday, May 3. About 40 people attendedthe meeting to learn about the change in providersand express their concern about how the changecame about.

“This is a very emotional things for us,” D’Angelosaid. “I feel blindsided. Why would you replace agreat program with one you didn’t know?”

CDC has been the before and after care providerat Wayside for 28 years, said Renee Sussman, direc-tor of the program who has been at the school 20years.

No one ever thought CDC would lose the bid tocontinue at the school.

“Everyone was happy with it as far as I can tell,”D’Angelo said.

As part of the Montgomery County Community Useof Public Facilities (CUPF) program, day care pro-grams in schools must go through a competitive se-lection process every seven years.

This was the year for Wayside along with 11 otherelementary schools.

The process began in the fall of 2017 accordingthe CUPF website. At that time, both the school prin-cipal and the childcare provider were notified thatthey were a site to be up for the bid process.

That process follows several steps throughout theschool year including a principal appointed selec-tion committee, Requests for Proposals and appli-cant interviews, ending with the posting of the re-sult in mid-April. Kids Adventures, a for profit com-pany located in Silver Spring, was selected for Way-side and will operate the program beginning in Sep-tember 2018.

Not, however, if the CDC board of directors canblock the decision.

“The county implemented a deeply flawed processin selecting and reviewing childcare organizationsfor the Wayside community,” the CDC Board wrotein a letter to county Council member Roger Berliner.“Although county officials were required to adherestrictly to [regulations] and implement a system thatwas both transparent and inclusive, they — instead— manufactured an opaque process devoid of anymeaningful input from the CDC community….”

The letter to Berliner listed eight areas in whichthe process was flawed.

Wayside to have new beforeand after care provider.

Parents Question Provider Change


HomeLifeStyle

By Marilyn Campbell

When designing the patio of her McLeanhome, interior design professor JeanFreeman of Marymount University, relied on the natural surroundings to cre-

ate a backdrop for her outdoor oasis.“I have an area in the backyard that has small stones

and lounge furniture,” she said. “Our backyard is nextto Pimmit Run Trail and has lots of trees, some ofwhich I planted. Also, I planted several holly trees sothat the area would attract more birds and sometimesthe bird chirping gets quite loud and wonderful.”

Gentle breezes and mild temperatures are some ofthe pleasures of spring that beckon many outdoorsfor parties and family dinners, but turning a winter-worn patio into a space for entertaining can feeldaunting. Breathing new life into a landscape dulledby snow and frost or creating an entirely new out-door space might be easier than it appears.

When considering a patio furniture purchase, avoidthe battle against Mother Nature by selecting piecesthat can stand up to the elements. “The number onerule in furnishing your patio is to purchase qualityfurniture,” said Anne Walker of Anne Walker DesignLLC. “There are a lot of outdoor furnishings that lookalike, but they are not all the same. Dedon, based inGermany and Janus et Cie, based in California, makeexcellent outdoor furnishings that will stand the testof time … [and] will not fade, warp or degrade evenif left outdoors in the elements for years.

Less expensive look-alikes will fall apart after justa few years or months of exposure to the elements,continued Walker. “I can’t stress it enough: invest inhigh-quality outdoor furnishings or you will just bethrowing your money away. Buy the best you canafford, and work little by little if need be to com-plete your outdoor space. You won’t be sorry.”

When choosing fabrics for that furniture, ToddMartz, co-owner of Home on Cameron in Old TownAlexandria, says, “Accessories like pillows and drap-eries as well as chairs, sofas and rugs are all avail-able in low maintenance fabrics.”

Selecting smaller, easy-to-move pieces of furnitureover large sectionals will produce a design plan withversatility. “You’ll be happy to have the flexibility tomove things around when you entertain or when thesun shifts and you want to get into or away from thedirect sun,” said Walker.

Incorporating potted plants into the landscape de-sign offers versatility. “Mix several sized plants … verylarge as well as different types of plants in smallerplanters,” added Kelley Proxmire of Kelley Proxmire,Inc. “Vary the textures as well as the color of greenleaves such as ferns, palms and flowering plants.”

Use planters to create architectural features likewalls and borders. “The plants will add beautiful vi-sual interest, and the planters are moveable, allow-ing flexibility in use and design,” said Walker.

For those who want to build a stone patio, go forvariety, but establish a solid base to avoid costly re-pairs later. “Combinations of flagstone and brick areelegant and more interesting than use of only onetype of materials,” said Walker. “Make sure you havea professional set your patio in concrete. It’s muchless expensive to set the stone in stone dust, butwithin a year or less the stones will begin to shiftand weeds will grow through the gaps.”

Lighting matters, says Proxmire, and she suggestthat when designing or even sprucing up patio, “Usedifferent sources of light [such as] inside-outdoorlamps, different sizes of lanterns, candlesticks withglass hurricanes,” she said. “The candles with bat-teries are great for using outside because the windisn’t an issue.”

Now that summer is on the horizon, Walker has aplan for getting her patio guest-ready. “I will powerwash with my personal home power washer, planta few flowers and boom! Ready to entertain,” shesaid. “We love to entertain on our patio. It’s ourfavorite space.”

Time to dust-off and spruceup patios for a season ofal fresco entertaining.

Ready for Summer

Todd Martz of Home on Cameron designedthis patio and says that exterior spacescan be treated like an indoor room byusing bright, fresh fabrics designed spe-cifically for outdoors.

Kelley Proxmire suggests using plants andplanters in a variety of sizes — such asthese blue and white ceramic pots tocreate a light and airy patio space.

One design technique that Anne Walkerhas incorporated into the design of herown patio is choosing smaller, moveablepieces of furniture — like these DedonBarcelona lounge chairs — over largesectionals to allow for a versatile designplan.

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HomeLifeStyle

By Ashley Claire Simpson

The Almanac

Just a few years ago,Bethesda residentswould find a standardstrip mall at 11580 Old

Georgetown Road in NorthBethesda. Today, it’s the site of thePike & Rose, a community com-plete with condominiums, apart-ments, office buildings. The resi-dents of these buildings are astone’s throw from restaurants,shops and just about every type ofvenue one could imagine.

Mixed-use communities likePike & Rose are developed to im-prove both human and environ-mental health. The developers be-hind Pike & Rose are taking theseeco-priorities one step beyond –literally – with a rooftop garden-ing initiative.

Federal Realty, in partnershipwith Up Top Acres, a provider ofrooftop farms, is launching 17,000square feet of agriculture on at thetop of Pike & Rose residentialbuildings.

“Federal Realty is trying to re-develop its properties to becomemixed-use,” said Chris Brown, Fed-eral Realty’s Director ofSustainability. “We did BethesdaRow, Pentagon Row, and other lo-cal projects. One thing aboutmixed use and high density devel-opments is that it helps people inthose communities focus onhealth. It’s all about having live,work and play options together inone spot. The farm will galvanizeresidents to eat healthier and willadd to the community that theyglean from.”

Pike & Rose’s farm will thrive onurban farming roof space to date,benefitting the hundreds of resi-dents and employees who work atbusinesses at Pike & Rose as wellas the North Bethesda community.

“Green roofs are often installedto facilitate high performance en-ergy, and rooftop gardens take itto a whole new level,” Brown said.“They produce crops, but they arealso good for stormwater manage-ment. When you can turn an oth-erwise unutilized space it intosomething that produces food forthe community, something for resi-dents to use, that’s exciting.”

Federal Realty has already expe-rienced success with Up Top Acres.

“A few years ago, we were in-troduced to the founders of Up TopAcres, and they were looking foran opportunity to convert an ex-isting green roof into a garden,”Brown said. “Since Bethesda Rowhad a green roof, we partnered

with them for them to build a7,000-square-foot garden. Now it’sbeen a solid partnership of threeyears. Both Federal Realty and UpTop Acres are always looking toexpand and recreate. The oppor-tunity to do a larger scale farm,make it an interactive part of thecommunity and offer communitysupported agriculture is somethingwe are looking forward to.”

Up Top Acres was founded bythree DC locals with a shared pas-sion for their hometown and a col-lective goal to make it an evenbetter place.

“We started working on the ideain 2014,” Up Top Acres co-founderKristof Grina said. “Each memberof the founding team has a differ-ent specialty, and I’m the one withthe agricultural background. Wewere all captivated by the conceptof rooftop farming. We got in-spired and thought it would begreat to bring to DC. We openedour first, pilot rooftop in 2015[with Bethesda Row] and sincethen we have grown to seven dif-ferent rooftops — collectivelywe’re farming more than twoacres.”

The 17,000-square-foot rooftopgarden at Pike & Rose is Up TopAcres’ biggest project to date.

“Our mission aligned with thatof Federal Realty for the garden atPike & Rose,” Grina said. “We areopening it officially this spring toprovide produce for the local com-munity – for the residents, whole-

sale clients, restaurants in the Pike& Rose development, and to thegreater North Bethesda commu-nity.”

Up Top Acres’ farm will ensurethat Pike & Rose’s city slickers will

benefit from a full spectrum offarm fresh vegetables.

“We are growing everythingfrom lettuces, mixed greens,herbs, peppers, radishes, and somuch more. There are 16 differ-

ent variety vegetables,” Grina said.For every vegetable grown

above Pike & Rose, there is at leastone advantage to the communityat large.

“With this rooftop vegetation,we are providing hyperlocal food— as local as it gets — harvestedand distributed within 24 hours,”Grina said. “We’re also cuttingdown on the distance the food hasto travel, which in turn is support-ing the local economy. Then, thepeople who work on the farmswork in the community that thefarms are in. Rooftop gardens aregreat, because, in urban areas, it’sdifficult to find space to grow. Forexample, it’s not like there is any-where on the ground to grow foodon Rockville Pike. We’re reallymaking use of space.”

As Up Top Acres looks to growmore rooftop farms, the FederalRealty team is pleased to be a partof the movement.

“Finding different ways to inter-act with the built environmentshould always be a goal of devel-opment,” Brown said. “Green roofdesign is constantly evolving, andwe see rooftop farms as a naturalprogression. We are proud of ourpartnership with Up Top Acres.They are the drivers, and we’reproud to be a part of somethingso forward-thinking.”

Provides new meaning for locally grown.Urban Farming

A 17,000 square feet of agriculture on at the top of Pike & Rose residential buildings.

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tributed

Copyright 2018 MarketStats for ShowingTime. Source: Bright MLS as of April 15, 2018.

In March 2018, 61 Potomac homes sold between $3,000,000-$500,000.This week’s list represents those homes sold in the $3,000,000-$775,000 range.

For the complete list, visit www.ConnectionNewspapers.comHome Sales

Address .............................. BR FB HB ...... Postal City .... Sold Price ... Type ............... Lot AC .PostalCode ................ Subdivision19 PINEY GLEN CT ...................... 6 ... 7 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $3,000,000 .... Detached ............. 10.68 ...... 20854 .............. PINEY GLEN FARMS11507 SKIPWITH LN .................... 6 ... 5 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $2,169,000 .... Detached ............. 2.68 ....... 20854 .................. POTOMAC FALLS13 POTOMAC MANORS CT .......... 7 ... 8 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $2,050,000 .... Detached ............. 1.60 ....... 20854 ............... POTOMAC MANOR11225 RIVER VIEW DR ................ 6 ... 6 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,900,000 .... Detached ............. 1.72 ....... 20854 .......................... MARWOOD9400 CRIMSON LEAF TER ............ 6 ... 6 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,750,000 .... Detached ............. 0.62 ....... 20854 ............................... AVENEL9731 SORREL AVE ....................... 7 ... 7 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,700,000 .... Detached ............. 2.30 ....... 20854 .................... FALCONHURST9806 KENDALE RD ...................... 5 ... 5 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,595,000 .... Detached ............. 0.57 ....... 20854 .................... MCAULEY PARK7802 CADBURY AVE .................... 4 ... 3 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,429,000 .... Townhouse .......... 0.05 ....... 20854 ................... PARK POTOMAC10700 LOCKLAND RD .................. 6 ... 3 ... 1 ......... ROCKVILLE ..... $1,425,000 .... Detached ............. 1.89 ....... 20854 ............. POTOMAC OUTSIDE9210 PEGASUS CT ...................... 5 ... 5 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,380,000 .... Detached ............. 2.06 ....... 20854 ............... POTOMAC RANCH11810 CHAREN LN ...................... 6 ... 5 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,320,000 .... Detached ............. 0.33 ....... 20854 ............... REGENCY ESTATES12575 ANSIN CIRCLE DR ............. 5 ... 3 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,305,000 .... Townhouse .......... 0.05 ....... 20854 ................... PARK POTOMAC10 LAKE POTOMAC CT ................ 6 ... 4 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,275,000 .... Detached ............. 2.00 ....... 20854 ................... LAKE POTOMAC10415 BOSWELL LN .................... 4 ... 5 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,265,000 .... Detached ............. 1.04 ....... 20854 .... PT ROCKVILLE OUT RES. 310828 BARN WOOD LN ............... 6 ... 4 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,250,000 .... Detached ............. 2.02 ....... 20854 ................ RIVER OAKS FARM13309 MORNING FIELD WAY ....... 5 ... 4 ... 0 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,226,500 .... Detached ............. 0.19 ....... 20854 ............ PINEY GLEN VILLAGE9801 HALL RD ............................ 6 ... 4 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,200,000 .... Detached ............. 0.47 ....... 20854 ............. POTOMAC OUTSIDE11005 RIVERWOOD DR ............... 5 ... 3 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,192,900 .... Detached ............. 2.08 ....... 20854 .......... POTOMAC VIEW ESTS7805 GATE POST WAY ................. 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,152,500 .... Townhouse .......... 0.09 ....... 20854 ........................ RIVER FALLS131 BYTHAM RIDGE LN ............... 3 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,100,000 .... Attach/Row Hse ... 0.77 ....... 20854 ........ POTOMAC HIGHLANDS10407 DEMOCRACY LN ............... 5 ... 4 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,068,000 .... Detached ............. 0.23 ....... 20854 ............. INVERNESS FOREST123 BYTHAM RIDGE LN ............... 3 ... 2 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,062,000 .... Detached ............. 0.06 ....... 20854 ........ POTOMAC HIGHLANDS9007 BELMART RD ...................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,050,000 .... Detached ............. 2.17 ....... 20854 ...........GREAT FALLS ESTATES10337 WINDSOR VIEW DR .......... 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,040,000 .... Detached ............. 0.35 ....... 20854 ................... WINDSOR HILLS9415 TURNBERRY DR.................. 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,040,000 .... Townhouse .......... 0.08 ....... 20854 ............................... AVENEL11801 HUNTING RIDGE CT .......... 5 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,032,000 .... Detached ............. 0.35 ....... 20854 .......................... GLEN OAKS11732 CANFIELD RD ................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ...... $1,000,000 .... Detached ............. 0.36 ....... 20854 ......................... WINTERSET10005 SOUTH GLEN RD .............. 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $995,000 .... Detached ............. 0.46 ....... 20854 ............. POTOMAC OUTSIDE8506 HUNTER CREEK TRL ........... 5 ... 2 ... 1 ......... ROCKVILLE ........ $950,172 .... Detached ............. 0.25 ....... 20854 ............................ FOX HILLS9001 ROUEN LN ......................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $939,000 .... Detached ............. 0.43 ....... 20854 ........ LAKE NORMANDY ESTS10226 DEMOCRACY LN ............... 4 ... 2 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $905,000 .... Patio Home .......... 0.10 ....... 20854 ..... EAST GATE OF POTOMAC8504 HORSESHOE LN ................. 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $900,000 .... Detached ............. 2.00 ....... 20854 ............... POTOMAC RANCH12532 ANSIN CIRCLE DR ............. 4 ... 4 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $895,000 .... Townhouse .......... 0.03 ....... 20854 ................... PARK POTOMAC11436 CEDAR RIDGE DR .............. 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $895,000 .... Townhouse .......... 0.06 ....... 20854 ................. POTOMAC CREST12404 BEALL SPRING RD ............. 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $850,000 .... Detached ............. 2.00 ....... 20854 ...................... BEALLMOUNT11413 ROUEN DR ....................... 5 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $850,000 .... Detached ............. 0.38 ....... 20854 ........ LAKE NORMANDY ESTS10906 CANDLELIGHT LN ............. 4 ... 2 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $850,000 .... Detached ............. 0.27 ....... 20854 ............................ FOX HILLS11700 DEVILWOOD CT ................ 5 ... 3 ... 0 .......... POTOMAC ......... $840,000 .... Detached ............. 0.38 ....... 20854 ............... REGENCY ESTATES8800 HARNESS TRL .................... 4 ... 2 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $835,000 .... Detached ............. 0.25 ....... 20854 ............................ FOX HILLS12430 ANSIN CIRCLE DR ............. 4 ... 4 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $820,000 .... Townhouse .......... 0.03 ....... 20854 ............ WHEEL OF FORTUNE9405 WOODINGTON DR ............. 4 ... 3 ... 1 .......... POTOMAC ......... $805,000 .... Detached ............. 0.41 ....... 20854 ................... BEDFORDSHIRE8009 GRAND TETON DR .............. 3 ... 2 ... 2 .......... POTOMAC ......... $775,000 .... Semi-Detached ..... 0.16 ....... 20854 ............. INVERNESS FOREST


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From Page 3

problem facing Montgomery County today?I believe that the biggest challenge facing our county

is increasing our revenues – without increasing taxes –in order to have the funds we need to address schoolovercrowding, congestion, and the growing poverty inour midst. That means we must grow our tax base, whichtranslates into creating more jobs in our county. Ourcounty has for far too long been overly dependent onthe Federal government. We must focus on diversifyingour economy if we are going to succeed. I believe thefuture of the economy is the “innovation economy,”which includes the bio-health community, IT, and theGoogles, Apples, and yes, the Amazon’s of the world.We must position ourselves to attract them and at thesame time, make it easier for small businesses to thrive.I have worked diligently at these sets of issues for thepast 12 years on the Council, but my ability to makesignificant strides will be exponentially increased asCounty Executive.

I think we can support employer growth and successby 1) creating a culture that is welcoming, appreciativeand supportive of small business owners, 2) investingin work force development to ensure talented/highlytrained workforce strategically targeted at identifiedindustries, 3) investing in our relatively new businessrun organization in charge of economic development,the Montgomery County Economic Development Cor-poration, and holding them accountable based on soundstrategic plan and reliable metrics, 4) growing a climateof innovation by expanding the Chief Innovation Officerinto a thriving Office of Innovation to help put our countyat the forefront of new technologies, creative solutions,and cutting-edge service delivery, 5) investing in andexpand transit service/infrastructure by building thepurple line, a BRT network, and the CCT in order toenhance mobility throughout the county, 6) supportingsmall businesses by increasing the role of the Small Busi-ness Navigator and Business Solutions Group, and 7)streamlining regulations in a meaningful way that pro-vides a predictable and timely regulatory process.

What is your dream accomplishment for theCounty?

Implementing a universal Pre-k-14 integrated educa-tion system that provides all of our children with theskills they need to succeed. Our children are the futureof our county. If we aren’t investing in them we aren’tinvesting in our future.

Is there anything else you think votersshould know about you when deciding whoto vote for?

Bringing people together in order to achieve real tan-gible results is part of my DNA. I am a Common Groundguy. The Washington Post described me as “progressivebut pragmatic.” I take issue with the “but.” You must beboth to do this work and make big things happen. I takethe time to learn all the details, dive deep into the is-sues – fully recognizing that they are generally not asblack and white as they are often made out to be – andbring all the stakeholders together in order to find an-swers to tough questions. It is this kind of leadershipthat earned me the Scull Award for outstanding regionalservice and the endorsement of the Sierra Club for mycommitment to sustainability and the environment.

Berliner

including Forbes’ America’s Most Powerful CEOs 40and Under.

What do you consider the biggest problemfacing Montgomery County today?

Our economy is stagnant. Our county leaders havecreated an unfriendly business environment. We’ve onlyadded six net new business establishments over the lastfive years. Fairfax County had more than 3,000. We’veadded fewer than 4,000 private sector jobs over the past15 years while our population has increased by 150,000– that’s one job for every 38 people. It is no wonder that200,000 of our residents commute to places like DC andVirginia each morning for work. I am concerned thatmany of our young residents leave for college and thendon’t come back – they are finding better employmentand more affordable living elsewhere. There’s no greaterurgency facing our county right now than our economy.I’m the only candidate to have put forth a comprehen-sive Jobs and Economic Plan to address this challenge.The plan was born out of discussions with hundreds ofemployers, government officials, community groups andresidents; best practices from around the country; aswell as my own business experiences with one goal inmind: to identify the best ideas to move MontgomeryCounty forward.


We need an education system that works for every-one and responds to the changing needs of our growingcounty. As our student population continues to expand,new resources are needed to ensure every student cansucceed in the classroom. My dream accomplishment isto expand our school funding to:

❖ Provide high-quality, pre-K programs in all Mont-gomery County schools;

❖ Reduce classroom sizes;❖ Build new schools or modernize existing ones so

our kids do not have to learn in portables;❖ Ensure 100% of our high school graduates are col-

lege- or career-ready;❖ Close the achievement gap through early educa-

tion initiatives for 0-3-year old’s; and❖ Invest in after school and summer programs for our

students.I’ll work on creative solutions to increase funding for

schools such as establishing a private foundation tosupplement public investment; and team up with localcolleges and business leaders for mentorship and sup-port programs to ensure all children have a fair chanceto excel.

Is there anything else you think votersshould know about you when deciding whoto vote for?

Last year, my wife Mikel and I opened BadlandsPlayspace, an innovative education center in Rockvillewhere families can come together to play and learn. Mywife and I are also philanthropists and actively supportvarious local organizations aiming to end poverty andhomelessness, promote healthy living, empower childrenwith disabilities and provide quality early childhood edu-cation.º

We have great passion for our county and take pridein the work that we do. If elected County Executive, I’llwork hard to build the diverse, high-performing, job-growing county that we all want and deserve.

For more information visit BlairForMontgomery.com

BlairFrom Page 3


As County Executive, I’ll strive to achieve three primary objec-tives:

Objective 1: Improve Quality of Life. Ensure that we are mak-ing the right investments in the essential services that local gov-ernment exists to provide: education, transportation, and pub-lic safety. Good schools and safe neighborhoods are the reasonso many of our families came to Montgomery County in the firstplace, and they are essential to our future. I will make sure ourfunding priorities reflect these public priorities.

Objective 2: Recharge Our Economy. A critical aspect of fund-ing these services, and allowing our neighbors to build stablelives is access to good jobs with good wages. Montgomery Countyhas developed a reputation as a county that is hostile to privateenterprise, leading too many small and large businesses to chooseD.C. or Virginia. When that happens, our property tax baseshrinks and our income tax revenues suffer. As County Execu-tive, I intend to show that we can be a progressive, inclusivecommunity that also boasts a thriving and exciting private sec-tor economy.

Objective 3: Reform Local Government. Montgomery Countyneeds to provide a great public education, safe communities,and the transportation infrastructure to let families spend theirtime together instead of stuck on congested roadways. TheCounty does not need to be in the liquor business or the cablemedia business, for example. In my administration, we will im-prove our delivery of the core services by reducing our involve-ment in unnecessary and ancillary enterprises and by betterembracing technology.

Frick

FARMs rate, a paucity of daycare resources, and so forth.I want everyone in this county to have a chance to be success-

ful, and I believe my priorities will move us in the right direc-tion. Certainly, my views on closing the minority achievementgap address this issue. Improved transit options will improvethe mobility of all of those in lower socio-economic classes whocannot afford single occupancy vehicles and who face challengesgetting to and from work and to other destinations that are im-portant to them. Finally, workforce development programs forthe unemployed and underemployed will provide importanttraining that will help many in the lower socio-economic classesobtain the skills, certifications, and licenses needed to competeand achieve middle class jobs; ones that will provide a path tosuccessful careers in the building trades, health and healthcareservices, information technology, life sciences, or hospitality in-dustries.


I want to significantly accelerate the growth of businesses andwell-paying jobs in order to expand the tax base without in-creasing the tax burden on our residents. This is essential if thecounty government is going to have the resources required toaddress our significant needs in local education, public safety,and transportation.

Is there anything else you think voters should knowabout you when deciding who to vote for?

Voters need to realize that elective legislative experience doesnot necessary translate well or prepare a person for being CountyExecutive. I am the only candidate with elective executive expe-rience (Mayor of Rockville for 3 terms) and an outstanding recordof accomplishment while in office. Further, my background inthe financial sector is a huge advantage for me to be an excel-lent steward of the county’s finances with the ability to makethe decisions necessary to preserve the county’s AAA bond rat-ing.

Krasnow


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economic justice and a deep understand-ing of how county government works, andI am a practical problem-solver. I have foundthat people are more empathetic than weoften give them credit for and that seeingthe possibility of building a better societyis something that a lot of people are hun-gry for; I believe my wide range of experi-ences will help me show people that possi-bility.


I was elected to the County Council in2006 and was the top vote-getter in the at-large County Council races in both 2010 and2014. I chair the Public Safety Committee,serve on the Education Committee, and amthe County Council’s representative to theMetropolitan Washington Council of Gov-ernments Transportation Planning Board.From 1987 to 2016, I served on the TakomaPark City Council. During my time in pub-lic office, I have successfully pushed for twominimum wage increases, tenant rights leg-islation, paid sick and family leave, envi-ronmental protections — including leadingthe fight to save Ten MIle Creek, protectingthe viewshed of the C&O Canal from en-croachment, protecting the tree canopy, andopposing a second bridge crossing over thePotomac — and more responsible masterplans.

While I was on the Takoma Park CityCouncil, I taught fourth and fifth grade for17 years at Rolling Terrace, a high-povertyelementary school. And before I first ranfor public office, I was in the private sectorfor 16 years, including as a manager in alarge corporation and a small business. Iwas a founder and one of the originalworker managers of the Takoma Park foodco-op; I understand the issues involved inmeeting payroll and know what it takes torun an organization effectively. I also didtenant and community organizing, servedon master plan committees, and served onthe county’s Transportation Policy ReviewTask Force.


Since the Great Recession, county rev-enues have been relatively static. The tax-able wage base has not recovered alongwith jobs because many new jobs pay lowerwages than the jobs we lost. And bond rat-ing agencies have expected us to meethigher reserve requirements than existedbefore the recession, meaning that tens ofmillions of dollars that would have ordi-narily gone to restoring services are nowsitting in reserve funds and unavailable foroperating expenditures. These two factorshave made it harder to maintain services,let alone address the county’s rising needs.

ElrichI plan to address this problem as the next

County Executive. I am not willing to ac-cept the status quo. I intend to change theway the county government operates so wecan ensure that we can invest sufficientlyin priorities like schools, transportation, andenvironmental sustainability in the comingyears. I believe that we have the ability toachieve this goal because I will partner withour employees and the unions that repre-sent them. They have a shared interest inmaking sure the county is sustainable, andthey have endorsed me for County Execu-tive because they trust my leadership. I haveoutlined a First 90 Days Financial To-DoList, which you can read more about athttps://www.marcelrich.org/making-gov-ernment-work-better, that will help us be-gin to pivot people and resources to addresswhat we cannot do today and put us on amore sustainable path.

What is your dream accomplish-ment for the County?

My dream accomplishment is to realizeour county’s full potential by closing theopportunity gap in the county with an “in-side/outside” strategy that builds bothstronger communities and well-resourcedschools, filling our vacant office space byenhancing quality of life and helping small,local businesses start and thrive, and mak-ing government services more equitable andmore effective for residents. I think we canbe engaged in truly smart growth where weprovide the transportation and schools nec-essary to support our development and notleave the area in gridlock with overcrowdedschools. It is important to make these deci-sions in a way that preserves existing af-fordable housing and light industrial areas,which are important for job preservationand creation. We know that quality of lifeis central to why businesses want to comehere; I believe we can and should remainone of the most attractive places to live andwork in the country.

Is there anything else you thinkvoters should know about youwhen deciding who to vote for?

I am participating in MontgomeryCounty’s new public financing program,which limits contributions to $150 so noone person or organization has undue in-fluence. I am the only member of the CountyCouncil and the only candidate running forCounty Executive who is not taking and hasnever taken money from developers; devel-opers stand to make millions of dollars fromthe decisions county leaders make. While Iam known for my open-door policy and willmeet with anyone, I have the freedom tomake decisions that may not be popularwith powerful interests, and you will neverhave to question whether I am working foryou or for big-money donors.

You can learn more about me and mypolicies at my website, www.marcelrich.org.

public service job in the county.Life in Montgomery County is so enriched

by our diversity. My grandparents, mymother and my wife are all immigrants toAmerica. As County Executive, I will standup to the Trump administration in their ef-forts to intimidate and terrorize immigrantcommunities.

I’m not running as an outsider to countygovernment. I’m running as the guy whoknows how to gets results by advancingpolicies that reflect our progressive values.I offer progress and experience that moneycan’t buy.


I have been a Montgomery CountyCouncilmember for 15 years. Prior to that Iwas the Chair of the Montgomery CountyDemocratic Central Committee for fiveyears. I was Senator Barbara Mikulski’s Leg-islative Director for five years. In Decem-ber, 2017 I earned my PhD in Public Policyat the University of Maryland.


The issue of de facto segregation in ourschools is the top structural inequity inMontgomery County, and it is too impor-tant for our future for the next County Ex-ecutive to take a hands-off approach. Fortoo long, we have failed to address the factthat outcomes for Black and brown kids aredeeply inequitable, as compared to out-comes for white and Asian American kids,and that access to the programs that canchange kids’ lives and trajectories are con-centrated among families that already havethe most resources. It’s a disgrace that inour community, where we express progres-sive values and promote diversity and in-clusion, that we would tolerate schoolswhere segregation by race and income isincreasing (https://ggwash.org/view/31601/de-facto-segregation-threatens-montgomery-public-schools).

What is your dream accomplish-ment for the County?

My dream accomplishment would be toensure that our schools provide opportuni-

ties for every family in our community re-gardless of race, income, or zip code andthat access to health care is guaranteed.

Is there anything else you thinkvoters should know about youwhen deciding who to vote for?

I have a deep desire to help those whomost need a government on their side. Ihave some ideas:

Affordable Housing – When Ike Leggettwas elected to his first term as County Ex-ecutive, I suggested to him that he createthe position of Faith Liaison, which bothFairfax County and the District of Colum-bia had already. The position is currentlyfilled by the Rev. Mansfield “Kasey”Kaseman. If I’m elected County Executive,I will significantly increase the portfolio ofthat position. Kasey has been working todevelop a GIS mapping system of houses ofworship, which I would like to see us put touse to identify locations where affordablehousing could be developed. Then, weshould work to partner willing houses ofworship with developers to utilize availableland for a multiplicity of affordable hous-ing types, ranging from multi-family build-ings to collections of tiny homes. Religiousinstitutions are mission-driven, and manyof them have land that could be made avail-able at a below-market price. I will alsodouble the amount of money in the Hous-ing Initiative Fund in my first term asCounty Executive.

Education - If elected County Executive,I will initiate a program whereby the countypays in-state higher education costs for resi-dents with critical workforce skills (espe-cially language skills), in return for a recip-rocal obligation, where the residents agreeto come back and work for the county forfive years after getting a degree. This wouldassist in meeting the acute need for speak-ers of Spanish and other critical languagesin the school system, law enforcement,Health and Human Services, and other ar-eas.

I have been endorsed by the LGBTQDemocratic Club, the Latino DemocraticClub, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, DelegateSheila Hixson, former Senators Karen Mont-gomery and Ida Ruben, former DelegatesSaqib Ali, Bill Bronrott, and Herman Tay-lor, Garrett Park Mayor Peter Benjamin, andmany, many other local leaders.

Leventhal


FRIDAY/MAY 1125th Anniversary Party. 6-9 p.m. at

Waverly Street Gallery, 4600 EastWest Highway, Bethesda. Inrecognition of this milestone,Waverly has planned a SpecialAnniversary Exhibit from May 6-June2, featuring the work of present andpast Waverly Street Gallery membersfrom D.C., Maryland andVirginia.The Gallery is openWednesday – Sunday, noon-6 p.m.Call 301-951-9441 or visitwww.facebook.com/waverlygallery/or visitwww.waverlystreetgallery.com.

SATURDAY/MAY 12Choral Concerts in Montgomery

County. 7 p.m. at Asbury MethodistVillage, 201 Russell Ave.,Gaithersburg. The Encore Choralesand the Encore ROCKS, rock ‘n’ rollchoruses, of Montgomery Countyinvite the community to attend theirfree choral concerts. No tickets orreservations required. Visit

encorecreativity.org, call 301-261-5747 or [email protected].

Stand-Up Comedy. 8 p.m. atHighwood Theatre, 914 Silver SpringAve., Silver Spring. All female line-upfeaturing Sara Armour, KandaceSaunders, Michele Sometimes, SandyBernstein and Violet Gray. Giveawaysand treats for the women in theaudience. Cost is $24/advance /$28/door. Tickets atwww.improbablecomedy.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/MAY 12-13Bethesda Fine Arts Festival.

Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10a.m.-5 p.m. in Bethesda’s WoodmontTriangle along Norfolk and Auburnavenues. The Bethesda UrbanPartnership will hold the 15th annualBethesda Fine Arts Festival, a two-day event highlighting more than 120contemporary artists from across thecountry who will showcase and selltheir original painting, drawing,photography, furniture, jewelry,woodwork, ceramics and more. Sixblocks from the Bethesda Metrostation. Free parking is availableadjacent to the event. Visitwww.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.

“Snow White.” Saturday, 1 and 5p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. at the Robert E.Parilla Performing Arts Center,Montgomery College, 51 MannakeeSt., Rockville. Lost in the forest,Snow White takes refuge in thehouse of the seven dwarfs to hidefrom her stepmother, the wickedQueen. Filled with forest friends andcreatures, Maryland Youth Ballet’sadaptation of the classic fairy-tale isfor audiences of all ages. Alsopresenting Alvin Mayes’contemporary piece Eireann Kenteand the classic ballet La Bayadère,Act II, Kingdom of the Shades. Cost:$18-$26. Email:[email protected] www.marylandyouthballet.org.

20th Maine Regiment Civil WarCamp Reenactment. At GreatFalls Tavern, 11710 MacArthur Blvd.,Potomac. Enjoy two days of livinghistory at Great Falls Tavern byexperiencing the tavern area as itwould have looked like throughoutthe Civil War. Programs at GreatFalls Tavern are free, but there is anentrance fee of $10 to the park pervehicle. Call 301-767-3714.

SUNDAY/MAY 13Waltz Dance. 3:30-6 p.m. at Spanish

Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo.Featuring Blue Bamboo playing alively mix of folk waltzes with a fewother couple dances, includingHambo, Schottische, Swing, Tangoand Polka. Introductory WaltzWorkshop from 2:45-3:30 p.m. Social

dancing follows until 6 p.m.Admission is $13. No partnerrequired. Call Joan Koury at 202-238-0230 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222, go towww.WaltzTimeDances.org or [email protected].

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/MAY 18-20SerbFest Spring Festival. At Saint

Luke Serbian Orthodox Church,10660 River Road, Potomac. SerbFestDC’s Spring 2018 Festival bringsauthentic Serbian food, culture,crafts and entertainment, dance andmusic performances, gifts andboutique items and family-friendlyactivities. Hours are Friday, May 18(11 a.m.-9 p.m.); Saturday, May 19(11 a.m.-9 p.m.); and Sunday, May20 (12 noon-6 p.m.). Visitwww.serbfestdc.com/.

SATURDAY/MAY 19Fifteenmile Creek Pride. 9 a.m.-1

p.m. at Lockhouse 28, 3705 CanalRoad, Point of Rocks, Md. Volunteersneeded to help remove vegetationfrom historic Lockhouse 28, spruceup Lockhouse 28 and the nearbypicnic area, repaint picnic tables andvisitor facilities, and remove invasiveplant species and trash. Projects aresuitable for ages 12 and older. SSLhours are available. Registration isrequired. Visit www.canaltrust.org/pyv_events/canal-pride-days-at-point-of-rocks or email Heidi Schlagat [email protected].

Gaithersburg Book Festival. 10

a.m.-6 p.m. at Gaithersburg City Hall,31 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg.Free workshops for adults, teens andchildren. Some workshops for adultsand teens include: How to Write aMystery – Alan Orloff; Where YourStory Begins – Hildie Block; FlashFiction 101 – Tyrese L. Coleman;Story Writing – Con Lehane, andmore. Visit http://gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs/workshops/ to see thecomplete adult/teen workshopschedule and descriptions.Visit http://gaithersburgbookfestival.org.

Gaithersburg Book FestivalFinalists. The Gaithersburg BookFestival has announced the names offinalists for its Short Story Contestfor high school students. The localfinalists are: Keira DiGaetano,Richard Montgomery High School;Madeline Hudson, Gaithersburg HighSchool; Nathalie Jabbour, WalterJohnson; and Natalia Pereira, WalterJohnson High School. The first-,second- and third-place winners andthe fan favorite will be announced atthe Festival on May 19. Voting forFan Favorite Story closes May 7.Prizes for first-, second- and third-place winners are $250, $100 and$50, respectively. The fan favoritewinner will receive $25. Visitwww.gaithersburgbookfestival.org orfollow on Twitter @GburgBookFest.

SUNDAY/MAY 205K Race/Walk and 1K Fun Run. 8-

11 a.m. Fundraiser to support

Muskaan India Inc. of Potomac. Tobe held at Fairfax Corner Center,4100 Monument Corner Drive,Fairfax. The organization Muskaan isa U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit thatsupports Muskaan, a NGO in NewDelhi, India. Started in 1982, as asmall place for children withdisabilities to have fun and spendtime together, it now focuses onempowering students with acomprehensive education, life skills,vocational training and workopportunities so that they are able tolead a quality life with respect anddignity. Visitwww.muskaanthengo.org.

Potomac Hunt Races. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.on the Kiplinger estate in Poolesville.The Potomac Hunt Races is anannual tradition, celebrating thesport of steeplechase racing. Amidstthe thrill of thundering hooves andsoaring horses, race day festivitiesinclude a car display, mounted policedemonstrations, a Kid Zone, andVendor Village. Visitwww.potomachuntraces.com.

Choral Concerts in MontgomeryCounty. 7 p.m. at Asbury MethodistVillage, 201 Russell Ave.,Gaithersburg. The Encore Choralesand the Encore ROCKS, rock ‘n’ rollchoruses, of Montgomery Countyinvite the community to attend theirfree choral concerts. No tickets orreservations required. Visitencorecreativity.org, call 301-261-5747 or [email protected].

MONDAY/MAY 21Memorial Dedication. 1 p.m. at

Memorial Plaza, at the GovernmentComplex Center Terrace, 101 MonroeSt., Rockville. County Executive IkeLeggett, local officials and VietnamWar veterans will dedicate theMontgomery County VietnamVeterans Memorial Wall. Thememorial will include the names of130 service members fromMontgomery County who were killedor reported missing in action duringthe Vietnam War. MontgomeryCounty is inviting family membersand friends of these fallen heroes toparticipate in the ceremony. Formore information and to RSVP, callCommunity Outreach Manager BetsyTolbert Luecking at the Commissionon Veterans Affairs at 240-777-1256or send an email [email protected].

THURSDAY/MAY 24Moonshine Society (Blues). 6-8

p.m. at Veterans Park, corner ofWoodmont and Norfolk Avenues,Bethesda. Free. Visitwww.bethesda.org.

EntertainmentSubmit entertainment announcements at www.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/.

The deadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artwork encouraged.

Bethesda Fine Arts FestivalThe 15th annual Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will feature artists from across the

country artists from across the country to showcase and sell their original paint-ing, drawing, photography, furniture, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics and more.Bands will be performing and Bethesda restaurants will be on site. Saturday, May12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, May 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in Bethesda’s Woodmont Tri-angle along Norfolk and Auburn avenues, rain or shine. Admission is free. Visitwww.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.

Crowds visit a previous Bethesda Fine Arts Festival.

Bethesda Fine ArtsFestival

The Bethesda Urban Partnership willhold the 15th annual Bethesda Fine ArtsFestival, a two-day event highlightingmore than 120 contemporary artistsfrom across the country who will show-case and sell their original painting,drawing, photography, furniture, jew-elry, woodwork, ceramics and more. Sixblocks from the Bethesda Metro station.Free parking is available adjacent to theevent. Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.and Sunday, May 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. inBethesda’s Woodmont Triangle alongNorfolk and Auburn avenues. Visitwww.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.

Jewelry by Debra Adelson.


From Page 5

News

When asked if the process was followedaccording to regulations, ElizabethHaberman of the Office of Community Useof Public Facilities replied by email.“CUPF staff take great care to follow all ofthe steps in the regulation. ºI am not awareof any variations,” she wrote.

Thursday’s meeting included an explana-tion of the flawed process as the CDC boardsees it and input from parents or others in-volved with CDC. Many parents spoke aboutthe positive role CDC plays in their families

Board members announced they wouldmeet with a lawyer experienced in work-ing with the county and its regulations onMay 7 and work for change following thetack that the process was not transparentenough and the county did not adhere toits own guidelines.

A few parents expressed deeper concerns,alluding to personnel problems at Kids Ad-ventures.

“Two employees of Kids Adventures arecurrently indicted for crimes,” Sussmansaid. “In the fall of 2016 an employee at[the Kids Adventures program] was accused

of improper touching, that is reported inthe Washington Post; and the other, re-ported April 2 on WJLA, involved a fightand robbery between two employees. Thisspeaks to the type of people they hire.”

Kids Adventures was asked about theseallegations and how they would reassureparents about care in its hiring practices.

“In accordance with our policies and pro-cedures, we conduct both state and federalbackground checks on all staff that remainopen throughout their tenure of employ-ment,” Drew Phillips, executive director ofKids Adventures, wrote in an email. “En-suring a safe environment for the studentsin the program is our top priority.”

Will the CDC Board be able to put thedecision on hold while they appeal?

“The regulation provided for a review ofthe process. If a request for review is timely,the decision would be put on hold, whileCUPF’s board, the Interagency Coordinat-ing Board for the Community Use of PublicFacilities (ICB) committee reviews CUPF’scompliance with regulation. The ICB can-not overturn a school committee’s decision,”Haberman replied in her email.

Parents Question Provider Change

Open HouseThe Potomac Horse Center held an open house on Sunday, May 4,with horse rides, hay rides, food, and face painting.The Friends ofPotomac Horse Center are embarking on a capital campaign toraise $1 million over the next 10 years to repair, rebuild, andupgrade the center’s facilities.

Photos by Deborah Stevens/The Almanac

Shai Kaplan and Hali HartmanAndy Van Wye and Stormy

Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Wow!. I just saved “Up to $504 ** “ (notincluding the two asterisks), and all I did wasbuy a six pack of LED light bulbs. So it says onthe package anyway.

Maybe I should buy another six-pack andsave even more money? There are only twoproblems (just two?) with this plan. First, Idon’t see a rebate-type form to complete andreturn and; in lieu there of, neither is there aguarantee, considering my health situation,that I’ll even live long enough (“Lasts 13+Years”) to realize the benefit/savings of notspending additional money on light bulbs.(Are they even called light bulbs any more? Idon’t see it printed on the packageanywhere.)

And while I’ll definitely enjoy not spendingmoney on light bulbs – or whatever they’recalled, I won’t enjoy wondering if I’ve nowspent money on light bulbs that I don’t actu-ally need and/or likely will never even use. Imean, I have previously – because as a coun-try/consumer we’ve had no other choice,given that the incandescent light bulb ship hassailed – bought replacement light bulbs. Idon’t remember however, if the bulbs wereLED, Halogen, Incandescent, CFL,Fluorescent or who knows what? Literally.Certainly not me.

My only light-bulb-related talent is screw-ing them into the fixture as I’ve written aboutpreviously. (Do you remember I called myself“Tauras Bulba”?) In fact, I may very well havealready installed light bulbs that are going tolast for years so it’s possible there isn’t even aneed to allocate dollars and sense to bulbinventory – or even to write this column.

I suppose that if I’m serious and/orinclined to shine a light on this problem, Ineed to get organized, either on my com-puter or in pen in a notebook (Sort of likehow my wife’s Italian grandfather, Cesare, didregarding Christmas cards. He had years ofnotebooks with names listed with boxesalongside, checked or not, for cards sentand/or received) to identify whichlights/fixtures have which kind of light bulbsso I’ll know whether it’s likely I’ll actuallyneed to spend money on replacement lightbulbs.

If the light bulbs really are going to “Last13+ years,” (as is also printed on the pack-age) then I might not need to buy them anymore, for awhile, anyway. As a result, lightbulbs will no longer be a regular purchase liketoilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent,etc. Instead, they will become an irregularpurchase like batteries, sponges and the like.

Now, if I really can stop this unnecessarylight-bulb-redundancy, I should have a fewextra dollars that I can allocate elsewhere onreal necessities – like candy, cookies and icecream.

Having sorted out the light bulb task aheadof me; in addition to saving money, I willhave saved time as well. And who wouldn’twant to save time and money? Everybody.However, saving it in this excruciatingly bor-ing/mundane manner has limited appeal, Iwould guess.

But, we’re not just saving pennies here;potentially, according to the light bulb’s pack-aging, we are apparently saving hundreds ofdollars, and hundreds are worth saving.

Unfortunately, the dollars saved are notexactly in-pocket. They’re more dollars whichwon’t be spent out-of-pocket. Not as direct asa rebate, but more like an indirect benefitsuch as money saved from the installation ofenergy-efficient windows or placing insulationin your attic.

Either way, it’s money not in somebodyelse’s pocket. I just wish the manufacturerscould figure out a way to pay me today, espe-cially since I paid them yesterday.

Still Haven’tSeen the Light


Documents

Entertainment, Page 10 Going For a Rideconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2018/050918/Potomac.pdfGoing For a Ride News, Page 11 Adam Reinsch leads Nacho with Brianna Eldred riding during the