Potomac - Ellington CMSconnection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/documents/...2013/10/02 · and catering by Ridgewells. It will include a DJ dance party for ages 7-17-plus;

Potomac Almanac ❖ October 2-8, 2013 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at potomacalmanac.com

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Shutdown: Towpath,Glen Echo ClosedNews, Page 3

St. James Episcopal Turns 50News, Pages 3

Saxenian LeadsMcLean SchoolNews, Page 4

Shutdown: Towpath,Glen Echo ClosedNews, Page 3

St. James Episcopal Turns 50News, Pages 3

Saxenian LeadsMcLean SchoolNews, Page 4

CelebratingOctoberfest

News, Page 7

CelebratingOctoberfest

News, Page 7

Frederieke (left) and Ilona Schmidtin traditional German attire at theOktoberfest celebration at the Ger-man School Washington D.C. inPotomac on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Frederieke (left) and Ilona Schmidtin traditional German attire at theOktoberfest celebration at the Ger-man School Washington D.C. inPotomac on Saturday, Sept. 28.

PotomacPotomac

SeniorLivingSeniorLivingSeniorLiving

OCTOBER 2013OCTOBER 2013

InsideSenior Living

InsideSenior Living

InsideSenior Living

2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ October 2-8, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Potomac Almanac ❖ October 2-8, 2013 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

See St. James, Page 12

By Steve Hibbard

The Almanac

It’s been a busy time at St. James Epis-copal Church in Potomac; the Fall Rum-mage Sale takes place Friday-Saturday,

Oct. 4-5, the Blessing of the Animals is onOct. 6 at 5 p.m., and the church just cel-ebrated its 50th anniversary on Sept. 21 and22 with a family dinner and concert by Ja-son Gray.

St. James was founded in July 28, 1963,when nine families met at Green AcresSchool. They branched off from mothercongregation, St. John’s Episcopal Church– Norwood Parish in Bethesda/ChevyChase, in southern Montgomery County. In1966, ground was broken at 11815 SevenLocks Road, with the Rev. David C. Lord asits first rector; he stayed until 1979. Thesecond rector was the Rev. Robert S.Creamer Jr. until 1992. The third rector wasthe Rev. James Rains who stayed until 1998.

The fourth and current rector, Cindy Baskin,joined in 1999.

Fifty years ago there weren’t as many two-income families where both parentsworked, said Baskin. On Sundays, storesweren’t opened; there weren’t sports gamesor band practices. “There was a time whenthe culture supported church stuff,” saidBaskin, the rector for 14 years, who guidesa staff of mostly volunteers and overseesan operating budget $700,000.

“It’s a lot harder to do church now, than

it was 50 years ago,” said the Minneapolisnative. “Because 50 years ago everybodywent to church …. Now the people who arehere come to church to get a deeper rela-tionship with God and to get a deeper sense

St. James Episcopal Turns 50 Potomac Church on Seven Locks Roadtravels the “Via Media” or Middle Way.

The Rev. CindyBaskin, rectorat St. James’EpiscopalChurch onSeven LocksRoad inPotomac.

Ground was broken in 1966 for theSt. James’ Episcopal Church onSeven Locks Road in Potomac.

St. JamesRummage Sale

St. James Episcopal will hold a rummage saleFriday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Satur-day, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will includeclothing, linens, jewelry, collectibles, books,kitchenware, household items, toys, tools, babygear, bicycles and sports equipment. Whateveris left over from the Rummage Sale will go toInterfaith Works, which supports the unem-ployed and homeless. Families recentlycollected school supplies and filled about 50backpacks for its Backpack Project, which arealso distributed to Interfaith Works.

Children’s SchoolTurns 20

St. James is also celebrating the 20th anniver-sary of its Children’s School on Friday, Oct. 25from 6 to 9 p.m. with a silent auction and raffle,and catering by Ridgewells. It will include a DJdance party for ages 7-17-plus; and The GreatZucchini for children. RSVP to 301-762-3246 [email protected].

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Potomac Almanac Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

See www.potomacalmanac.com

By Ken Moore

The Almanac

The federal government’sshutdown has closed C&OCanal National HistoricalPark, Glen Echo Park, as

well as use of the towpath from Wash-ington D.C. through Potomac and toCumberland.

“After working side-by-side with thewonderful staff of the C&O Canal Na-tional Historical Park for many years,

it’s heartbreak-ing for theTrust to seethem closingthe doors,given nochoice but toturn awayt h o u s a n d s

upon thousands of visitors seeking torecreate and rejuvenate along thecanal’s towpath,” according to MikeNardolilli, president of the C&O Ca-nal Trust.

Even the towpath is closed.“Visitor traffic, whether on foot, bike

or horse, is strictly prohibited,” ac-cording to the C&O Canal Trust’s alertto the public.

Visitor centers, campgrounds, per-manent or portable restroom facilities,lockhouses and access roads are allclosed, and interpretive and educa-

tional programming is cancelled. Handleshave been removed from well pumps, vol-unteers have been told to cease their efforts,kayakers and other recreational boaterswon’t be able to use access roads or rampsalong the towpath.

“While the park staff has no choice but tostand by, we as civilians can take action,”said Nardolilli.

“Educate yourself and others on how theshutdown affects National Parks, be vocalon social media and use #KeepParksOpen,use any means of communication you can,letter, email, phone calls, social media, or

even a carrier pigeon to appeal to Con-gress,” he said. He urged residents to sendnotes of encouragement to park staffthrough Facebook, Twitter, and email. “Tosay this is a rough time for them is an un-derstatement. ”

But “respect the closure,” he said. “Whilewe don’t like it one bit, we have to respectit. Disregarding the closure can create po-tentially unsafe and hazardous situations,damage park resources and create unduework and stress on the few staff left stand-ing.”

Glen Echo Park is also shut down on the

Almanac’s press day, Tuesday, Oct. 1. Itswebsite, suggests a small glimmer of hopethat a resolution comes in the near future.

“Today is Tuesday, Oct. 1. Due to the fed-eral government shutdown, Glen Echo Parkis currently closed. All activities at the parkare cancelled today.” The National ParkService’s webpage is more blunt. “Becauseof the federal government shutdown, allnational parks are closed and the NationalPark Service’s webpages are not operating,”according to the park website that switchesto the Department of Interior website aftera few seconds.

Shutdown: Towpath, Glen Echo ClosedFederal shutdowncloses areaNational Parks.

“It’sheartbreaking.”

— MIke Nardolilli,C&O Canal Trust

Kayakers are left stranded on the road, with no access to public waters.

Great Falls Park will be closedduring the federal governmentshutdown.


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By Susan Belford

The Almanac

Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6, is the perfect time toenjoy your favorite melodies while making adifference in the fight against ocular melanoma

— a little-known disease that affects 2,000 peopleannually. However, this disease is life-altering andresearchers are desperately seeking a cure. But thiscan only happen if they receive funding. This is apersonal fight for Harvey Levine of Potomac, coordi-nator of the concert.

His sister Sheila is fighting ocular melanoma —and he is doing everything in his power to raise fundsfor research.

This benefit concert, “The Music of GeorgeGershwin and John Denver,” will take place on Sun-day, Oct. 6, at the Sixth and I Street Historic Syna-gogue at 600 I Street, NW, Washington D.C. The art

show will begin at 1 p.m. and the concert will startat 1:45 p.m. Performing artists will be pianist ShaunTirrell with his 12-year-old daughter Audrey on theviolin, pianist Matthew Bachman and Side By Side(Doris Justis and Sean McGhee, vocals and guitars).The art of Carl Dryer, Jill Freedman, Alan Rubin andothers — as well as paintings by benefit coordinator,Harvey Levine — will be featured. A reception andcontinuation of the art show will take place follow-ing the concert.

Tickets to this benefit concert and art show are$50 (or $35 for parties of six or more). People willalso be admitted by making a contribution of anyamount to the Melanoma Research Foundation.Checks are payable to CURE OM and should be sentto Harvey Levine, 7803 Cadbury Avenue, Potomac,MD 20854 — or come to the concert and donatewhat one can. For more information, contact HarveyLevine at [email protected].

Help Cure Ocular Melanoma on Sunday

News

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

Iwas profoundly drawn to themission of the school and adedicated faculty that has ex-

look at the program to see how we can take it fromreally strong to great.”

He has already formulated plans for additionalprofessional development for the faculty and is put-ting together a task force to bring more technologyto the classroom. Saxenian would also like to see agardening program in the school to make the foodservices as environmental and sustainable as possible.“I would also like to incorporate “mindfulness” (medi-tation) into the classroom for the first few minutesof class as a method for settling the brain before thetask of learning.”

Small classes are one of our biggest assets,” he said.“We provide a nurturing environment with caring,individual attention. We allow for the many differ-ent learning styles by being flexible and accommo-dating. Eighty-seven percent of our parents cited onour market study that their kids have developedhigher self-esteem since attending McLean. Similarly,parents agreed that their children were more excitedabout school, their family life had improved and theyfelt a strong sense of community.

Saxenian has also built a strong leadership teamat McLean. Dr. Sara Hines from Hunter College willlead the Lower School and David Roth, former Headof the Middle and High Schools at CommonwealthAcademy will head the Middle School.

On Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 6:30pm, the school willpresent the first program in its Parent Education Se-ries “Surviving Social Media.” This free program willhelp parents understand the world of social media.

To learn more about the McLean School of Mary-land, so go www.mcleanschool.org.

Saxenian Leads McLean SchoolNew Head ofSchool is a “builder,not a maintainer.”

Michael Saxenian, the new Head of School at theMcLean School.

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“traordinary talent and a strong com-mitment to the institution,” saidMichael Saxenian, who became the newHead of School at the McLean Schoolin July. “I see a lot of opportunity tobuild on a wonderful foundation.”

Formerly the Assistant Head and School and ChiefFinancial Officer at Sidwell Friends School,Saxenian’s life experiences have shaped his visionand defined his leadership skills. He was born andraised in Concord, Mass., the son of parents who wereboth teachers. After earning his BA in internationalrelations and an MBA and MA in development eco-nomics, he moved to Asia where he ran the Indone-sia program for Volunteers in Asia. The group wasinvolved in education, economic development andenvironmental sustainability — and with this oppor-tunity, he realized his aptitude for community lead-ership.

After returning to the U.S., he and his wife movedto D.C., where he worked in management for Con-servation International and Discovery Communica-tions — and commuted to work via bicycle.

Twelve years ago, he moved into education andfinancial management at Sidwell Friends. Here heestablished environmental sustainability at theschool, supervising the state-of-the-art campus reno-vations which have become a model for other insti-tutions. He also taught classes in economics, man-aged a capital campaign, community relations andmore.

Saxenian is excited about the challenges of his newposition. “My first month at McLean has been somuch fun,” he said. “We have a terrific faculty whoare very talented and dedicated. Part of the appealof this job is that I’m really a builder, not a main-tainer. I plan to spend these initial months immers-ing myself in the culture, and then comprehensively


News

Drama students from Thomas S.Wootton High School will sharethe stage on Oct. 4 with 23 vis-iting students from Beijing in a

first-ever companion performance of theShakespeare classic “Romeo and Juliet.”

The event, two years in the making, willfeature performances in English and Chi-nese. The event is free and open to the pub-lic.

Wootton has been partnering with BeijingSchool #166 since 2007. The school wasstarted in 1864 by American missionariesand has a thriving cultural arts program.

As part of the exchange program, Beijingstudents visited Wootton two years ago fora joint band concert that attracted nearly400 people.

“It was an amazing experience just to bepart of that,” said Wootton’s Humanities andArts coordinator Michelle Hanson, who isoverseeing the cultural exchange. “It wasunbelievably beautiful.”

This year, drama students from the twoschools will work together to perform thesame scene from “Romeo and Juliet,” theclassic moment when the star-crossed lov-ers spot each other across a crowded ball-room for the first time.

Students from Beijing will perform thescene in English, but wearing traditionalChinese costumes. Wootton’s students will

perform the scene from an American CivilWar perspective.

Students from eachschool will also presentone additional perfor-mance. The Beijing stu-dents will perform ascene from a produc-tion that celebrates theschool’s 150th anniver-

Two Schools, a World Apart, Join for Theatre Event

DetailsA Cultural Exchange of TheatreThe Wootton Center for the Arts and Beijing School

#166Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.Wootton High School AuditoriumFree and open to the public

Wootton students (left) and Beijing School #166 students (right) prepare for show.

sary. Wootton students will present a scenefrom the upcoming production of “Little

Women.” Thep e r f o r m a n c eweekend for thisplay is Oct. 18, 19and 20.

“We have al-ways wanted ourexchange pro-

gram with Beijing School #166 to be dif-ferent than just home stays and visits totourist sites,” said Wootton PrincipalMichael Doran. “We wanted to play, per-form and learn together, and this is the sec-ond such opportunity. Two years ago, ourbands put on a joint concert, and this year,it is the turn of our drama department work-ing together on different interpretations ofRomeo and Juliet—– how cool is that?”

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WMCCA Meeting The West Montgomery County Citizens Asso-

ciationwill meet at the Potomac Community Center on

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:15 p.m. If schools are closedbecause of inclement weather, the meeting will becancelled. The speaker will be Pamela Dunn, plan-ning coordinator for the Maryland NationalCapital Park and Planning Commission.

The current zoning code for MontgomeryCounty is 30 years old and runs to more than1,500 pages. Considered antiquated, redundantand lacking in tools to guide future growth, thezoning code rewrite project initiated by Park andPlanning has been underway for several years. Ithas already passed through review by the Plan-ning Board and is currently undergoing review atthe County Council. Potomac citizens have a Mas-ter Plan based on environmental resources,low-density zoning and limiting sewer capacity to

control growth. How will the zoning code rewritechange the way our community looks and func-tions? There are county citizen groups closelyfollowing the rewrite that fear major negative im-pacts on neighborhoods. Will our RE-1 and RE-2zoning be altered? Will the concern about the ad-dition to the code of a new building type, thegeneral/residential building, that could be built“by right” with no public input in the middle ofresidential neighborhoods affect us? What aboutallowing incompatible nonresidential and institu-tional uses without notice to nearby neighbors?Will our carefully crafted Master Plan be weakenedby the new zoning code? Dunn will tailor her pre-sentation on the zoning code revision’s impacts tothe Potomac Subregion Master Plan to help citi-zens prepare for and comment to the CountyCouncil when their public hearing is held on Nov,12. The public is welcome to attend.

Protect RiverTo the Editor:

My name is Seth Brody, I am originallyfrom Potomac and I find the current stateof the Potomac River disgusting. The factthat the Potomac River obtained a “D”or a “barely passing grade” is disturbingand off putting to say the least.

Since the Potomac provides drinkingwater to around five million people weneed to something about the pollution,and we need to do it sooner than later.However, I do not agree that educatingfarmers on the correct way to apply fer-tilizer will eliminate the problem. I of-fer a solution. Imagine the Potomac Riveras a person, just like you or me. Nowimagine that the Clean Water Act, gov-ernment and non-government organiza-tions are a bullet proof vest, and thatthe pollutants (such as fertilizers) are thebullets. Doesn’t it make more sense toremove the bullets than to apply the vestin the first place?

Farmers shouldn’t be allowed to usethese fertilizers. No matter how carefulyou are with them, someone is bound tomess up. It is not a question of if; it is aquestion of when.

Seth BrodyPotomac

Letter

Opinion

By Ginny Barnes

WMCCA President

For the last two years, WMCCA hasbeen deeply committed to saving theBrickyard School site from becominga commercial sports enterprise on

public land. We worked with Brickyard Roadneighbors and other local citizens groups inan all out effort, including multiple legal ac-tions, relentless fundraising and untold hoursof volunteer time. Finally, County Executive IkeLeggett withdrew the county from the Boardof Education lease, ending Montgomery Soc-cer Inc. (MSI) plans to build a soccer complex

on the site. Although the organicsoil it took 30 years to create liesfallow and the Board of Educa-tion has been silent on its fate,

the Brickyard Coalition, of which WMCCA wasan integral part, has elected to carry on as amember-driven organization (Brickyard Coa-lition Inc.) that continues to monitor the schoolsite and other proposals of concern to the Brick-yard community. WMCCA has transferred tothem the remainder of funds donated througha Brickyard fund we administered during ourlong collective effort. We will continue to worktogether toward preserving our Master Planand the rights of citizens to be informed andinvolved.

WMCCA is an all-volunteer 60-plus year oldcivic association, and with Brickyard so all-consuming, we’ve come late to the zoning code

rewrite. We have been embroiled in anotherpotential Master Plan precedent; the Glen HillsSewer Study is about to be finalized by theDepartment of Environmental Protection(DEP) and sent to the County Council. Whatthe council does with results of this study couldhave a major impact on water quality in WattsBranch — our largest watershed and a drink-ing water source for 40 percent of the Wash-ington region.

In early August, the Washington SuburbanSanitary Commission (WSSC) held a jointscoping meeting with the National Park Ser-vice at Potomac Elementary School to an-nounce and elicit public comments on theirproposal to seek a mid-river intake to reachcleaner water for the filtration plant on RiverRoad. Sediment loading in Watts Branch, whichenters the Potomac River at the current intake,overwhelms filtration capacity, particularly inpeak flow storms.

WMCCA has major concerns about the dam-age to the C&O National Historical Park. Wemust also question what happens next as theregional demand for drinking water increasesand the powers-that-be have put the last strawin the river to reach cleaner water while doingnothing to help the Watts Branch recover fromlong-standing development impacts?

Lastly, we bid a sad goodbye to our excel-lent secretary, Mike Denker, who passed awayin late May. Mike was a good man gone toosoon. In the last year we lost a beloved formertreasurer and long time WMCCA member,Meredith Williams. His daughter, Nancy Mad-den, was recently elected our newsletter edi-tor — so nice to have a family tradition of ser-vice to the community continue. Please joinus at the Oct. 9 meeting and consider whatskills you might bring to the association thatguards our residential “green wedge” and hasdone so since 1947.

GLEN HILLS SEWER STUDY: TheSlumbering Beast is About to Rear ItsUgly Head

By Susanne Lee

No news is never good news when it comesto the Glen Hills Sewer Study. After months ofsilence and no engagement with the Study’sCitizens Advisory Committee, let alone the

general public, the Montgomery County De-partment of Environmental Protection (DEP)indicates that it is about to finish the Phase 1and Phase 2 Reports and make them final.

Recall that in the prior draft of the Phase 1report, DEP declared, based totally on flawed,hypothetical factors, that over 240 homes werenot sustainable on septic, even though thereare only nine septic failures among the 500houses within the study area. Based on thisdata, the Phase 2 draft report proposed 13 newsewer lines be constructed, with their enor-mous costs borne totally by the abutting prop-erty owners. Now DEP is using these reportsto prepare recommendations that will be sub-mitted to County Executive Leggett for sub-mission to the County Council. DEP plans tomeet with Leggett in mid-October and antici-pates that his transmittal and recommenda-tions will be before the Council before theirend-of-year break.

The DEP spokesperson states that it’s unclearwhat the County Council will do with the studyand the recommendations, including the pub-lic process, if any, they will utilize in deter-mining the fate of the Glen Hills neighborhood.

At its last meeting on June 3, the CitizensAdvisory Committee (CAC), of which WMCCAis a member, demanded that it be allowed toreview the revised Phase 1 and Phase 2 reportsbefore their final publication and, most impor-tantly, that they be allowed to see and com-ment on the recommendations before they aresubmitted to Leggett and the County Council.Given the extensive comments that have beenmade on the prior drafts, the CAC also askedthat all comments from the CAC and the pub-lic be included in the package that is submit-ted to Leggett and the Council. To date, DEPhas refused all these requests.

Barring a miracle, we presume that the sameflawed, damaging, property value-loweringdata and conclusions will be included in thefinal report and recommendations. It is outra-geous that the CAC members, some of whomeven support limited extensions, are barredfrom seeing and commenting on whatever fi-nal product comes from DEP. This is particu-larly egregious in light of the critical role theMaster Plan mandates for citizen representa-tives and the hours of effort and expertise CACmembers have already dedicated to the study.

Supporting Incorporated Brickyard Coalition

WMCCA


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News

5K OktoberfestRunThe 5K OktoberfestRun was held at theGerman SchoolWashington D.C. inPotomac on Satur-day, Sept. 28. Above,5K runners at theschool.

Matt Clark finished in 2nd place.Thomas Selished finished in 1st place.

Pretzels were amongthe treats atOctoberfest.

Shai Neal took 1st place inthe 1K for children.

Traditional Oktoberfest at the German School.

Photos by

Deborah Stevens

The Almanac


By Cissy Finley Grant

The Almanac

It’s a PaintedTurtle, noticethe caps. It’snot a draw-

ing, not somethingcovered in latex,and certainly not athing of beauty, ex-cept for maybe inthe eyes of the be-holders.

This PaintedTurtle is a lumber-ing aquatic crea-ture Miriam andJohn Crook haveliving in a bath tubin their Potomachome. That is, it’s in the bath tub when it’snot swimming in their pool where it lovesto play bump ‘em with them, unless thereis a guest included she doesn’t recognize.“Then, she dives to the bottom and won’tsurface until our friend leaves,” Miriam said.

This is an honest-to-goodness story abouta turtle named Turtzi. It might help to ex-plain some of the turtle’s anecdotes whenher name was questioned. “Oh, we just gaveher a little class. Instead of just Turtle wedecided on Turtzi. Sort of like, Mitzi. It wasTurtle fancied up,” Miriam said.

“We had just moved to Rome. All of Italygoes to the beach in the summer. I was justwandering around and decided I needed alittle companionship. It was in the summerof year 2000, when Miriam wandered intoa pet store and purchased a turtle, “the sizeof a quarter,” she indicated with a thumbto finger gesture.

Miriam’s husband, John, was general con-sul for MFO (Multi National Force and Ob-servers), a peace-keeping force in the Sinaiand traveled extensively. Hence the reasonfor Miriam’s need “for a little companion-ship.” Turtzi became more than just a com-panion she became a mystery to both ofthem throughout their four-and-a-half-years stay in Rome.

Turtzi, now 13, has had numerous com-panions. In one way or the other, they haveall disappeared. Perhaps, because shortlyfollowing the purchase of Turtzi, they tookher to a “Blessing of the Animals” celebra-tion at Rome’s San Antonio Abate Church.Her blessing must have stuck. Turtzi is theonly one left to date, even though when shearrived in the USA from Rome, Miriam washolding high above her head, two PaintedTurtles. Unlike Turtzi, the second one haslong since disappeared, name forgotten. “Ido remember fellow passengers screamingin terror when they saw two large turtles.They do have a habit of hissing when theyencounter strangers and strange places,”she said.

Prior to leaving Rome, Turtzi had numer-ous experiences to prepare her for most anyunexpected happenings. For the uninitiated,Painted Turtles grow to be about 10 inches

erty and lived nearby said. “We haven’t seenthe turtle.” Again they gave her up for lost.Soon thereafter, they were moving onceagain, this time to a hotel and were prepar-ing to head back home to the states, withJohn still on crutches. “We left the farm-house lady our hotel number, just in case,”he said. Once again, Turtzi came through.The Crooks received a call from the farmowner saying new renters had called to saythey had found the turtle.

Turtzi the Painted Turtle made her wayto the U.S. and officially is now a Marylandturtle. Like everything else in which Turtzihas been involved, it wasn’t easy. TheCrooks had to contact the Federal Fish andWild Life Service in Maryland to be assuredshe was legal. “I had to use all my best Ital-ian to explain to the Carabinieri at the air-port that she was not an endangered spe-cies,” John said. It is legal to import aPainted Turtle into the USA.

However, Turtzi’s life in Potomac has con-tinued to be one adventure after another.There was the time when the Crooks wereon vacation and their son, Victor, came totake care of her. While in Barbados, theCrooks received a call that Turtzi’s heaterin her bath tub had shorted out when shewas in her tub. It was severe enough to melther plastic water house. Turtzi had escapedelectrocution.

Another time, had it not been for Miriam’scuriosity about an unfamiliar noise behindtheir home, Turtzi would have become car-rion for a couple of hawks. “I was watchingher after putting her outside and noticedsomething was with her, but thought it wasa squirrel. I went to get a camera and glassesand then saw the hawks. I went flying outthere and grabbed her. The hawks actuallychased us. I had taken their dinner,” Miriamsaid.

Turtzi lives quite comfortably in the Crookhousehold, along with three dachshundsshe enjoys except when they try to showher who is boss. One day Salime (Italianfor one sausage), the eldest of the three,noticed Turtzi digging down deeply into thepachysandra. Apparently Salime did notapprove of this and pulled her out by herhead before Miriam could get to her. “It lefta dent in her head,” Miriam said. Turtzi hadgotten cold and was trying to hibernate.Salimie was lucky Turtzi didn’t bite back.

Turtles will bite, in spite of what onehears. When Turtzi was among the petsbeing blessed at the aforementioned Bless-ing of the Animals in Rome, a German TVguy went to pet her. He stuck his finger nearher mouth and Turtzi took a nip. “She madeGerman television,” John proudly an-nounced. Turtles don’t have teeth but asharp pointed beak. They will open theirmouths to indicate when they have the in-clination to bite. The TV guy found this outwhen he stuck his finger in her mouth, theCrooks surmised.

Although turtles have a natural life spanof between 75 and 100 years, Miriam Crookwill be the first to tell you that having aturtle as a pet is not the wisest of choices.She elaborates by explaining they are messy,must have proper food, heat, lighting, tem-perature, and particularly an appropriatehabitat. This includes changing the waterat least twice a week. The omnivorousPainted Turtle, indigenous to NorthAmerica, eats, fish, fruits, berries, evencanned dog food. The Crooks rely on com-mercial aquatic turtle food. “But I give treatslike shrimp and fresh veggies. She lovescarrots,” Miriam added.

Turtzi’s bathtub habitat has all the properequipment and space, but her summertimepleasure riding on a kickboard in the out-door family pool is a special treat. She alsoparticularly enjoys floating on John Crook’sstomach after she has crawled aboard. It’sa photo he adamantly refused to allowtaken. Just imagine a turtle in paradise,even a turtle with seemingly as many livesas a cat, and you get the picture.

In spite of all the entertainment Turtziprovides, the Crooks still maintain a turtleis not for you if you want a soft and cuddlypet. However, they do insist she has a per-sonality of her own, comes when she iscalled, likes music, (“it calms her down”)knows the dogs, (“gets in their beds”) hasgood vision and lays eggs about five timesa year. The eggs are usually buried outsideand critters dig them up. Grimacing, Miriamsaid, “We are careful not to let our dogs getthem. It would be like our pets eating eachother.”

It was the late Ogden Nash who waxedpoetically:

“The turtle lives twixt plated decksWhich practically conceals its sex.I think it clever of the turtleIn such a fix to be so fertile.”

long. Their top shell, known as a carapace,is dark green to blackish with yellow or redlines. The head and feet have more distinc-tive yellow lines. It’s not hard to find themif you know where to look.

However, when Turtzi went among themissing from the Crook’s upper floor apart-ment in a Rome building, it was pretty muchascertained she had fallen off the balconyand was gone for good. “We figured she wascaught somewhere, maybe in a hedge,”Miriam said. But, she wasn’t to be founduntil one day there had been a terribledownpour of rain. “I came home from shop-ping and there she was sitting on the frontporch,” she said. That was six weeks afterTurtzi had taken the plunge from the fourthfloor.

When the Crooks moved from city life inRome to a nearby farm on a lake, Turtziwent along to enjoy country living. It wasduring this time John befriended aneighbor’s dog and agreed to care for himwhile the owners went away. En route toputting the dog to bed one night, and fol-lowing the pup in the dark to his dog house,John fell into a dry well and broke his leg.Unfortunately, he was due to leave shortlythereafter for a two-week session in TheNetherlands.

Turtzi was to remain at the farm in hertank. Also, unfortunately, when the Crooksreturned they discovered Turtzi had crawledout of her tank.

“No,” the farmers who owned the prop-

Turtzi the Turtle: A 13-Year SagaGetting Around

Up close, andpersonal, Turtziextends her frontclaws in hope ofescape.

John Crook holds Turtzi, now 13years old. She has been a Marylandturtle for 9 years following heradventurous stay in Rome, Italy.

“I’m not so sure I need company,”Salime, one of the Crook‘s threedachshunds, seems to be thinking,as Turtzi makes her way into thedog bed.

Salime attempts to head off Turtzias the Painted Turtle makes herway down a hallway. PaintedTurtles, Turtzi’s species, can live tobe between 75 and 100 years old.

Turtzi the turtle enjoys a ride on akick board piloted by MiriamCrook.

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Potomac Village Deli Catering

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Catering

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HELPWANTEDPart-timegraphicartistneeded onWednes-days to helpwith pagelayout, addesign andphoto proc-essing insmall, verybusy depart-ment inOld TownAlexandria,walking dis-tance to KingSt. Metro.More hoursavailablesome weeks.Send letter,resume [email protected]

Bake SaleJoey Aldridge (left) and Sean Healy volunteer at theSt. Raphael bake sale. The event raised money for the5th annual Father Bill Finch Memorial Golf Classic.The tournament will be held on Monday, Oct. 21, atManor Country Club. For more information go towww.straphaels.org.

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Email announcements to [email protected]. Deadline isThursday at noon.

THURSDAY/OCT. 3Talk. 10:30 a.m.-noon at Aspen Hill

Library, 407 Aspen Hill Road,Rockville. JSSA presents “Getting aJob in the Age of Social MediaWorkshops at Libraries andCommunity Centers” for job seekers.Visit www.jssa.org/ecsprograms or301-610-8380.

Secondary School Fair. 6-8 p.m. atNorwood School, 8821 River Road,Bethesda. Learn about independenthigh schools, boarding schools andmore. Free. 301-841-2101 orwww.norwoodschool.org for more.

THURSDAYS/OCT. 3-NOV. 14Class. Adults age 18 and older can

learn helpful hints to strengthensupport systems and deal withstructure, organization andmedication. “Deaf Adults Coping withADHD” will be at JSSA, 200 WoodHill Road, Rockville. $75/session.Registration required, [email protected].

SATURDAY/OCT. 5Volunteers Needed. The 24th annual

Taste of Bethesda is coming up onSaturday, Oct. 5, and the BethesdaUrban Partnership needs 100volunteers to make it happen.Volunteers must be at least 16 yearsold. Each volunteer works a three-hour shift on one of five teams: set-up, ticket booth, drink tent, rovingand parking. Each team is led by a“captain” who will explain whatneeds to be done. Details and thevolunteer application form areavailable at www.bethesda.org.

MONDAY/OCT. 7Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse

Prevention Forum. 7-9 p.m. atRichard Montgomery HIgh SchoolAuditorium, 250 RichardMontgomery Drive, Rockville. Thefree forum will address youthsubstance abuse in MontgomeryCounty for concerned residents andparents who want to learn aboutdrugs, addiction, and promotingwellness in the community. Forinformation and to register, visitwww.montgomeryschoolsmd.org andclick on “Preventing Alcohol andDrug Abuse” or call 301-279-3100.

Chronic Pain Support Group. 1-2:30 p.m. at Pain Connection Office,12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.Guest speaker Laurel Rubinstein willspeak on “Nutrition and ChronicPain.” Bring items to be comfortable.Visit www.painconnection.org or301-309-2444.

WEDNESDAY/OCT. 9Speed Networking for Job

Seekers. 7-9 p.m. at Temple BethAmi, 14330 Travilah Road. Getconstructive feedback and more onjob related speeches. Free. Visitwww.jssa.org/ecsprograms or 301-610-8380.

Town Hall Meeting for Students.6:30 p.m. at the Council OfficeBuilding in Rockville, 100 MarylandAve. Students who wish to attend themeeting are asked to RSVP by calling240-777-7931. The meeting will bebroadcast live on County CableMontgomery (CCM-cable Channel 6on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 onVerizon) and rebroadcast at varioustimes in the weeks following themeeting. The October meeting isopen to high school and middleschool students from public and

private schools from around thecounty and to students from localcolleges. The meeting will allow theparticipants to let councilmembersknow how they feel about specificissues and also will provide theopportunity to ask questions of thecouncilmembers in an organized, butinformal, setting.

SATURDAY/OCT. 12Special Education, Two-Part

Series. 1:30-4 p.m. at RockvilleMemorial Library meeting room, 21Maryland Ave., Rockville. Designedfor parents, get information on thespecial education process. Free. Thesecond session is Saturday, Oct. 26.Free. RSVP at www.ldamc.org,[email protected] or 301-933-1076.

SUNDAY/OCT. 13Senior Expos. 12-4 p.m. at Silver

Spring Civic Building at VeteransPlaza. The Expo will featurespeakers, health screenings,resources, information andentertainment for older adults andtheir families. Dr. Luigi Ferrucci willgive the keynote address. Call 301-949-9766.

Public Microchip Clinic. 1-3 p.m. atAspin Hill Memorial Park. $35/cat ordog. Selected pets from theMontgomery County Humane Societywill be available for adoption. Visitwww.mchumane.org/countyadoptionfees.shtml for more.

MONDAY/OCT. 14Community Forum. 6-8 p.m. at The

Children’s Resource Center, 332 W.Edmonston Drive, Rockville. Helpidentify services that will help ensurethe department’s goal of building a

safe, healthy and strong community.Sign up to speak at 240-777-1211.

Program. 7:45-10 p.m. at CountyCouncil Office Building, 100Maryland Ave., Rockville. Learnabout the Countywide BikewaysFunctional Master Plan.Free. Visitwww.montgomerycivic.org for more.

SUNDAY/OCT. 20Fire Station Open House. 10 a.m.-2

p.m. at Glen Echo Volunteer FireDepartment, Station 11, 5920Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda. Thisyear’s theme focuses on theimportance of preventing kitchenfires. Open house events include:tours of the station, fire safetyactivities, educational information/handouts, demonstrations ofemergency equipment and more.Free. Call 301-229-3200.

Bulletin Board


‘The BodyBeautiful’

Capitol Arts Network, an-nounces its October show, ajuried exhibition titled “TheBody Beautiful,” opening Fri-day, Oct. 4, at Capitol ArtsNetwork gallery at 12276Wilkins Ave., Rockville.

The show will highlightthe human figure in variousforms, and will includepainting, photography andmixed media. October’s fea-tured artist will beBaltimore’s Jessica Damen,widely acclaimed for herability to capture youthfulemotion in her images. Formore information on Damenand her art, visit her websiteat http://damenart.com/Welcome.html.

The opening reception for“The Body Beautiful” is setfor 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Oct.4. The exhibition runsthrough Oct. 25. For moreinformation on Capitol ArtsNetwork or its facilities, visitwww.capitolartsnetwork.comor call 301-661-7590.

“Hold on Tight, This is GonnaHurt Like Hell” by Jessica Damen

Email community entertainment eventsto [email protected] is Thursday at noon. Photos andartwork encouraged.

ONGOINGArt Exhibit. See works by Nebiur

Arellano in VisArts, 155 Gibbs St.,Rockville, through Sunday, Oct. 13.Visit www.visartsatrockville.org/gallery/kaplan-gallery for more.

Art Exhibit. See “The District: TheStreets of Washington, D.C., 1984-1994” through Monday, Oct. 14 atPhotoworks Gallery at Glen EchoPark, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. MichaelHorsley shows how much the city haschanged, as well as how much it hassurvived. Free. Hours are Saturdays,1-4 p.m. and Sundays and Mondaysfrom 1-8 p.m. Visit www.glenechopark.org for more.

Art Exhibit. See “Core With Rocks” byJohn Ruppert at Kaplan Gallery inVisArts, 155 Gibbs St., Rockville,through Oct. 20. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/gallery/kaplan-gallery for more.

Art Exhibit. See works by Judy Stoneat Gibbs Street Gallery in VisArts,155 Gibbs St., Rockville, through Oct.20. Visit www.visartsatrockville.org/gallery/kaplan-gallery for more.

Art Exhibit. Gallery B, 7700 WisconsinAve., Suite E, Bethesda, presents“Cityscapes,” featuring DavidFeBland, Beata Drozd, Ben Ferry andGavin Glakas through Saturday, Oct.26. Visit www.bethesda.org or 301-215-6660.

Theater Performance. ThroughSunday, Oct. 27, see “GoodnightMoon” at Adventure Theatre at GlenEcho Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Allages. Visit www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org or 301-634-2270.

Theater Performance. See “Lulu and

the Brontosaurus” through Oct. 27 atImagination Stage, 4908 AuburnAve., Bethesda. Best for children ages4-9. Performances are Tuesdays-Fridays at 10:30 a.m., Saturdays andSundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. andselect Saturdays at 11 a.m. Ticketsstart at $12 and can be purchased atwww.imaginationstage.org or 301-280-1660.

Art Exhibit. Through Monday, Oct. 28,see “The Power of Color” at GalleryHar Shalom, located at CongregationHar Shalom, 11510 Falls Road. Freeand open to the public. Call for hoursand directions 301-299-7087.

ART CLASS REGISTRATIONAcrylics for Kids. Starting Saturday,

Oct. 5 from 1-3 p.m. at VisArts, 155Gibbs St., Rockville. Children canexplore artist tools, paints andintroductory color concepts. Eight-week course. Register at www.visartscenter.org or 301-315-8200.

Progressive Painting. 7-9:30 p.m. atVisArts, 155 Gibbs St., Rockville. Thisacrylic painting class willaccommodate beginners throughadvanced painters using still life ofvarying degrees of difficulties. Classruns on Tuesdays from Oct. 8-Nov.26. Visit www.visartscenter.org or301-315-8200 to register.

Chinese Brush Stroke Painting.6:30-9:30 p.m. at VisArts, 155 GibbsSt., Rockville. Runs Fridays from Oct.4 through Nov. 22. Visitwww.visartscenter.org or 301-315-8200 to register.

THURSDAY/OCT. 3Friends of the Library

Presentation. 12:30 p.m. atPotomac Library community room,10101 Glenolden Drive. Great

Decisions is a program in which localgroups gather to discuss topicsassociated with foreign policy. Thismeeting the topic will be China inAfrica. Brown bag lunchesencouraged. Visit www.folmc.org.

Preschool Storytime. 10:30 a.m. atPotomac Library, 10101 GlenoldenDrive. For children 3-5 years. Free.Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/libraries or 240-777-0690.

Blues Dance. 8:15 p.m. lessons start,dancing from 9-11:30 p.m. in theBallroom Annex, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. $8. Capital Bluespresents the dances. Visitwww.capitalblues.org for more.

FRIDAY/OCT. 4Contra Dance. 7:30 p.m. lessons start;

8:30 -11:30 p.m. dancing at SpanishBallroom at Glen Echo, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. DivineComedy provides music. $10/adult;$5/17 and under. Visitwww.fridaynightdance.org for more.

SATURDAY/OCT. 5Taste of Bethesda. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at

Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle.Enjoy five stages of entertainment,more than 50 restaurants providingfood and drinks, crafts and more.Free. Food costs tickets, $5/fourtickets. Visit www.bethesda.org or301-215-6660.

Cajun & Zydeco Music and DanceFestival. Noon-midnight at SpanishBallroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd. Dancing by theBayou presents a day of music withJesse Lege & Bayou Brew, RustyMetoyer & Zydeco Krush and morebands. $50/door. Visitwww.dancingbythebayou.com.

Music Performance. 7:30 p.m. at theBethesda Blues and Jazz SupperClub, 7719 Wisconsin Ave. D.C.native Cathy Ponton King and herband will perform songs off her newCD “The Crux” long with bluesguitarist Bobby Parker. Call 240-330-4500 or [email protected].

Solo Piano Concert. 8 p.m. atWesmoreland CongregationalChurch, 1 Westmoreland Circle,Bethesda. Free. Haskell Small willperform. Free. Visitwww.washingtonconservatory.org or301-320-2770.

Kick-off Art & Wine Tasting Party.4-7 p.m. at Semmes Hall, St. FrancisEpiscopal Church, 10033 River Road.Enjoy an exhibit by The Art Gallery ofPotomac and more. Presented by TheWomen of Saint Francis, withproceeds benefiting local andnational charities.

Art Exhibit. See “Mostly Drawings,”drawings and paintings by KenConley in the Yellow Barn Gallery atGlen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., from noon-7 p.m. A receptionis scheduled from 5-7 p.m. See worksthat depict food, landscape locationsaround Great Falls, Maryland andWashington. Free. Visit www.glenechopark.org or 301-371-5593.

SUNDAY/OCT. 6Benefit Concert and Art Show. 1

p.m. at the Sixth and I Street HistoricSynagogue, 600 I Street, NW,Washington, D.C. “The Music ofGeorge Gershwin and John Denver”will take place for the benefit of theMelanoma Research Foundation/CURE OM (www.cureom.org). Theart show will begin at 1 p.m., concertat 1:45 p.m. Tickets are $35-$50.Checks are payable to CURE OM c/oHarvey Levine, 7803 Cadbury Ave.,Potomac, MD 20854. [email protected] for more.

DC Dance Challenge. 9:30 a.m.-11p.m. at Spanish Ballroom at GlenEcho Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.Enjoy competitive dances and all

Entertainment


LET’S TALKReal Estate

For professional advice on all aspectsof buying and selling real estate, call:

MICHAEL MATESELong & Foster Realtors

[email protected]

by Michael Matese

Get it Inked or itDidn’t Happen

Amidst the rapid banter and emotionalhighs of pursuing a home, it’s easy tolet things slip through the cracks, gounnoticed, or allow them to fall by thewayside. Fortunately, there is, alongwith endless conversation, endlesspaperwork. It is important to protectyourself and provide legitimacy toclaims by making sure to get themwritten down, as verbal contracts inthe midst of a complicated negotiationprocess do not go far.

Paperwork and Reasonsto Get it in WritingDuring the process of purchasing ahome, you will file articles of paper-work to make an offer, have anappraisal done, and agree to yourresponsibilities versus those of eitherthe bank or seller. Things not usuallycovered in this paperwork, though, arethings like inclusion of furniture orappliances, expectations regarding dis-closure of home history, and anythingelse that would be difficult to prove. Itis also a worthwhile discipline for thefuture, as a contract is the best way toclarify expectations, measure results,and avoid disappointment. When writ-ing a contract, use firm, descriptivelanguage, and consider opting to haveyour documents notarized. Unless oth-erwise stated, contracts of this naturestay valid for a “reasonable time.” Soeven if you’re in the initial stages ofnegotiation, it’s not a terrible idea toapproach things with the mindset thatif it didn’t get put on paper, it didn’treally happen.

Landon School prepares

talented boys for productive

lives as accomplished,

responsible and caring men.

WWW.LANDON.NET301-320-1067An independent,

non-sectarian, collegepreparatory day schoolfor boys in grades 3-12

located inBethesda, Maryland.

‘Little Women’ at WoottonThomas S. Wootton High School will present the Broad-

way musical version of “Little Women,” based on LouisaMay Alcott’s story of four sisters and their mother set dur-ing the Civil War.

The four sisters in Wootton’s production will featureCorrieanne Stein as Jo, Jackie Kempa as Beth, Mara Pughas Meg, Meghan Wright as Amy and Sasha Bartol asMarmee. Rounding out the cast is Max Fowler as LaurieLaurence, Naomi Boxman as Aunt March, Jeffrey Morseas Prof. Bhaer, Simon Chen as John Brooke, Zachary Kornas Mr. Laurence/Braxton. Joining them are ensemblemembers Janet Lewandowski, Saira Umar, MelanieSchaeffer, Denise Nalibotsky, Maddie Weldon and AustinOliver.

Performances Oct. 18, 19 and 20. Adults, $12; students,$8. Order online at http://schooltix.org/wootton/ andclick on “Drama: Little Women.” Thomas S. Wootton HighSchool, 2100 Wootton Parkway, Rockville.

Corrieanne Stein (Jo) and Mara Pugh(Meg) rehearse for Wootton’s upcomingperformance of “Little Women.”

levels of ability welcome. Visitwww.dcdancechallenge.com.

Waltz Dance. 2:45-6 p.m. at BumperCar Pavilion at Glen Echo, 7300MacArthur Blvd. Dance to live musicby Larry Elke & Friends. $10. Visitwww.waltztimedances.org for more.

Contra Dance. 7-10:30 p.m. atBumper Car Pavilion, 7300MacArthur Blvd. $13/nonmember;$10/member; $5/17 and under. Visitwww.fsgw.org for more.

Music Performance. 5 p.m. at TheEpiscopal Church of the Redeemer,6201 Dunrobbin Drive, Bethesda. TheInscape Chamber Orchestra presents“Songs of the Earth.” Free. Visitwww.redeemerbethesda.org or 301-229-3770.

Potomac Vintage and ArtsFestival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on thegrounds at St. Francis EpiscopalChurch, 10033 River Road. Enjoy asilent auction with restaurant andticket vouchers, vacation getawaysand more. Browse arts and crafts,hear stories, play games ($2/game)and make crafts related to Potomachistory, eat food and more. Profitswill support families in need.

Art Exhibit. See “Mostly Drawings,”drawings and paintings by KenConley in the Yellow Barn Gallery atGlen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., from noon-5 p.m. See worksthat depict food, landscape locationsaround Great Falls, Maryland andWashington. Free. Visit www.glenechopark.org or 301-371-5593.

Potomac Village Block Party. 4-6p.m. on the north cul-de-sac of HollyHill Place. Open to all residents ofPotomac Village, the event featuresan inflatable obstacle course,basketball games and treats forchildren. Free.

WEDNESDAY/OCT. 9Snapshot Day. At Potomac Library,

10101 Glenolden Drive. Visitwww.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/libraries or 240-777-0690.

THURSDAY/OCT. 10Potomac Toddlers. 10:30 a.m. at

Potomac Library, 10101 GlenoldenDrive. For children 1-3 years. Free.www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/libraries or 240-777-0690.

Blues Dance. 8:15 p.m. lessons start,dancing from 9-11:30 p.m. in theBallroom Annex, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. $8. Capital Bluespresents the dances. Visitwww.capitalblues.org for more.

FRIDAY/OCT. 11Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. 10 a.m.-6

p.m. at Montgomery CountyFairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St.,Gaithersburg. Enjoy gourmet treatsincluding breads, olive oils,chocolates and more; live music andinteractive children’s activities. $8/online; $10/door and is good for allthree days of the show. Visitwww.sugarloafcrafts.com or 800-210-9900.

Opening Reception. 6-9 p.m. atGallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., SuiteE, Bethesda. Meet the artists of“Cityscapes,” featuring DavidFeBland, Beata Drozd, Ben Ferry andGavin Glakas. Visitwww.bethesda.org or 301-215-6660.

Art Walk in the Park. 6-8 p.m. atGlen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthurBlvd. Enjoy open studios,demonstrations and more. Free. Visitwww.glenechopark.org for more.

Contra Dance. 7:30 p.m. lessons start;8:30 -11:30 p.m. dancing at SpanishBallroom at Glen Echo, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. GlenEcho Open Band provides music.$10/adult; $5/17 and under. Visitwww.fridaynightdance.org for more.

Blues Dance. 8 p.m. lessons start,dancing from 9-midnight in theBumper Car Pavilion, 7300

MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Admission to be determined. CapitalBlues presents the dances. Visitwww.capitalblues.org for more.

SATURDAY/OCT. 12Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. 10 a.m.-6

p.m. at Montgomery CountyFairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St.,Gaithersburg. $8/online; $10/doorand is good for all three days of theshow. Visit www.sugarloafcrafts.comor 800-210-9900.

“Eye Spy” Halloween Train. 1-8p.m. at Cabin John Regional Park,7410 Tuckerman Lane. Children 8and under can enjoy a journeythrough a slightly haunted forest andmark their “Eye Spy” cards each timethey spy a familiar friend hidingthere. Halloween movies and otheractivities are included in price.Costumes encouraged. $5/person.Visit www.cabinjohntrain.com or301-765-8670.

Playhouse Puppetry Slam! 7 p.m. or9 p.m. at the Puppet Co. at Glen EchoPark, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Adultscan watch the final slam eventfeaturing puppets. $15/person. Visitwww.puppetryslam.com for tickets.

Blues Dance. 8 p.m. lessons start,dancing from 9-midnight in theSpanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. Admission to bedetermined. Capital Blues presentsthe dances. Visitwww.capitalblues.org for more.

Art Exhibit. See “Sun/Water/Sky,”paintings by Amy Sabrin in theYellow Barn Gallery at Glen EchoPark, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., from 11a.m.-5 p.m. A reception is scheduledfrom 5-7 p.m. Free. Visitwww.glenechopark.org or 301-371-5593.

Art Workshop. 1-4 p.m. at VisArts,155 Gibbs St., Rockville. Learn todeal with mental blocks and oldbehavior patterns. No experiencenecessary. Visitwww.visartscenter.org or 301-315-8200.

SUNDAY/OCT. 13Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. 10 a.m.-5

p.m. at Montgomery CountyFairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St.,Gaithersburg. $8/online; $10/doorand is good for all three days of theshow. Visit www.sugarloafcrafts.comor 800-210-9900.

Feast Fundraiser. 1-5 .m. atBethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad,5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda. Enjoyall-you-can-eat shrimp and oysters,potato salad, ham, rolls, baked beans,beer and soft drinks. $45/person. Fortickets call 301-977-6634. Visitwww.bccrs.org for more.

“Eye Spy” Halloween Train. 1-8p.m. at Cabin John Regional Park,7410 Tuckerman Lane. Children 8and under can enjoy a journeythrough a slightly haunted forest andmark their “Eye Spy” cards each timethey spy a familiar friend hidingthere. Halloween movies and otheractivities are included in price.Costumes encouraged. $5/person.Visit www.cabinjohntrain.com or301-765-8670.

Contra and Square Dance. 7-10:30p.m. at Spanish Ballroom, 7300MacArthur Blvd. $13/nonmember;$10/member; $5/17 and under. Visitwww.fsgw.org for more.

Blues Dance. 8 p.m. lessons start,dancing from 9-midnight in theBallroom Annex, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. Admission to bedetermined. Capital Blues presentsthe dances. Visitwww.capitalblues.org for more.

Art Exhibit. See “Sun/Water/Sky,”paintings by Amy Sabrin in theYellow Barn Gallery at Glen EchoPark, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., from 11a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Visitwww.glenechopark.org or 301-371-5593.


St. James Episcopal Travels the ‘Via Media’ or Middle WayFrom Page 3

Childcare Direc-tor Mary LouEnglish hasworked there for20 years. The $15,000 rain garden was

funded by a grant from the Chesa-peake Bay Foundation Trust andalso from Montgomery County.

Children’s SchoolThe St. James Children’s School caters to 90

children, ages 6 weeks to 6 years old, including afull kindergarten, five days a week, from 7:30 a.m.to 6:30 p.m.

The staff of 32 teachers (18 full-time, 12 part-time) is guided by Director MaryLou English, whohas been there from the start. “I think we’re ableto have a warm, loving atmosphere with creativeactivities for children,” said English, married 43years to artist husband Craig.

The academics, which includes conversationalSpanish, begins at age 3. Children can also takepiano lessons, Tumble Bus (gymnastics), and soc-cer lessons. Upstairs is a martial arts (karate)business that rents space and offers lessons.

“We’re able to give a one-on-one atmospherewhere they feel loved and appreciated,” Englishsaid. “We’re able to give attention where the chil-dren need it.”

of themselves.”Today, St. James is a worship-centered

denomination — focusing on liturgy, con-temporary music and blended services forits 350 members. They meet on “ReligionRow” — alongside Beth Shalom Synagogue,Seven Locks Baptist, and Geneva UnitedPresbyterian. The “Pot-Rock” group as shecalls them, is more derived from Rockvillethan Potomac — with a mix of Caucasian,European, Philippine, and African Ameri-cans.

According to Baskin, her No. 1 missionis: “We try and provide meaningful worshipwhere people can hear the word of God andhow it relates to their life. Are the Bible sto-ries written 2,000 years ago still relevant?I think so.”

Three services are offered on Sunday:8:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.; and Chris-tian Education for adults at 9:15 a.m.There’s a Children’s Arts Program at 9:15a.m. for fifth-grade down. A Youth Groupmeets Sundays 6-8 p.m. for high school andmiddle school ages. Also have adult educa-tion at 9:15 a.m.

The Christian Education classes for chil-dren and adults offer a number of outreachministries. In 2014, the Youth Mission Tripwill take students in grades 9-12 to PuertoRico for a week to repair and build houses.

The church is known for its ChristmasPageant and Feast of Light — celebratingthe Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6. In the

spring, it offers asix-week Springon Earth Stew-ardship with sixevents focusingon biodiversity,water, climatechange.

The church alsorents its buildingout on weekdaysto Celebrate Abil-ity, an after-school programfor autistic chil-dren. It also rentsout to eight, 12-Step programs — like AAand Food Anonymous. A Bridge Club of 100seniors meets four days a week from 11-3p.m. to play bridge.

“This is a win-win. It gives them a placethat’s convenient, it helps us financially,”said Baskin.

Baskin calls church members “main-stream,” serving both liberals and conser-vative — theologically and politically. “TheScriptures don’t come out with who youshould vote for in a presidential election,”she said. “They’re not going to hear fromme, here’s how you should believe on so-cial issues like abortion, same-sex marriageor capital punishment.”

For those discussions, St. James offers“Contemporary Issues and the Gospel,” onSundays, tackling current topics. “It’s de-

signed to encourage people to reflect ontheir own spiritual journey to help inter-pret what’s going on in the world.”

She added: “We believe God gives peoplebrains to think with,” she said. “We welcomequestions. And the Episcopal Church rec-ognizes there are often a lot of shades ofgray.” Episcopals are more comfortable inrecognizing that the world is more complex,what she calls “Via Media” or the MiddleWay – where absolute clarity is not alwayseasy to discern.

Church member Holly Winzler agreed.She likes that St. James offers opportuni-ties to participate and serve on many dif-ferent levels. “To have opportunities to

serve, in social justice capacities and Chris-tian education …. learning about the dif-ferent ministries, volunteering, becomingmore aware and exploring the ‘Via Media.’”

Church members also minister by offer-ing financial help to people in BonSamaritain and L’Acul, Haiti, where theybuild wells and support the school lunchprogram. And St. James works with St.John’s Church in Connecticut, which sendsits volunteers to Haiti.

There’s also a Prison Aftercare Ministryat the Detention Center on Seven LocksRoad, which used to be a major outreachwith volunteers ministering to inmates tohelp cut down on recidivism, but that pro-gram has since moved out to Clarksburg.

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News

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

Wounded Warrior J.D. Hartleycredits a horse for changinghis life. “I was scared at first,but I haven’t had a night-

mare since I met Peanut, my horse.“What a difference it has made in the

Wounded Warrior’s lives to be aroundhorses. The spirit of being around an ani-mal is incredible,” Col. John Mayer said.

These are just two of the real-life stars ofPotomac filmmaker Thomas R. Waters’documentary “The Best Thing For the In-side of a Marine Is the Outside of a Horse,”a film that records how a week’s participa-tion in the Jinx McCain Wounded WarriorHorsemanship Program builds self-confi-dence, relieves emotional pain and helpsWounded Warriors feel more positively intheir outlook for their futures.

Waters describes his latest project withenthusiasm: “This documentary has givenme a profound respect for these men andwomen who have severe injuries — PTSD,

a m p u t a t i o n s ,brain injuries —yet are deter-mined to rebuildtheir lives. … Ittakes a braverybeyond imagina-tion to face life af-ter sustainingsome of the inju-ries these men andwomen do. Hav-ing horses as a

way to help these soldiers heal both physi-cally and mentally is a fantastic rehab tool.”

Waters moved to the Potomac area 18years ago from Los Angeles, wanting topursue his life-long love of horses andeventing. “But after 25 years of traininghorses, I have come back to my roots as anactor/producer,” said Waters. He has actedin a number of films and television shows,including “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Effigy,” “For-ever,” “Night Falls Fast,” “Tales of the Fron-tier,” “My Dirty Little Secret” and others.He was formerly associated with the Hid-den Hills Playhouse and with Neon Art Pro-ductions where he produced and co-pro-duced several stage plays including the criti-cally acclaimed “Working.” His new produc-tion company is called El Gato Rojo Pro-ductions.

The documentary will be aired on

ConvergTV as soon as it’s completed. How-ever, in order to finish film, El Gato RojoProductions needs to raise funds to com-plete the editing process. A fundraisingevent was held on Sept. 18 to view thetrailer and to explain why donations arecritically needed.

“We are also hoping for donations toSemper Fi, the Marine organization thatadministers the Wounded Warriors Horse-manship Program, said Waters. “They donot receive funding from the government,but must run these meaningful programsfrom donations. I hope Potomac residentswill understand how worthwhile these pro-grams are for the healing of the woundedveterans.”

Waters is also scheduled to shoot severalepisodes of the television program, “Paran-ormal Experience.”

“We are filming in a home in Poolesville,one outside of Poolesville, another inMiddleburg — and the Olney House Res-taurant. All have a history of ghosts andparanormal activity.” In the show, host Wa-ters and paranormal experts SandraDunphy and Debbie Perkins share revela-tions and visions without prior knowledgeof the history or occupants of the homes.Waters said, “Perkins is known for her abil-ity to vividly visualize past events accuratelyin great detail. Afterward, these happeningsare researched and confirmed. Dunphy is

Documentary Highlights Wounded Warriors ProgramPotomac filmmakerfocuses on healingaspect of horses.

Tom Waters

known for making contact with the spiritsof children. During the episode, Perkins andDunphy compare findings and the strongestevidences of spirit activity. I hope that ev-eryone will join me in the next few episodes,entitled “Horse Country Hauntings.”

To view the trailer of the film, “The BestThing For the Inside of a Marine Is the Out-side of a Horse,” go towww.eventingnation.com/hom/wounded-warriorproject.html or to contact Waters, goto www.elgatorojoproductions.com.


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Sports

Churchill FieldHockeyFalls to B-CC

The Churchill field hockey team lost toBethesda Chevy-Chase 1-0 on Sept. 30,dropping the Bulldogs’ record to 5-2.

Churchill opened the season with fiveconsecutive victories, defeating Quince Or-chard, Watkins Mill, Kennedy, Whitman andPoolesville by a combined score of 16-2. TheBulldogs defeated Poolesville 3-2 in over-time, with Clare Nolan scoring the gamewinner.

Since then, the Bulldogs have lost toWootton (3-0) and B-CC.

Churchill will travel to face Richard Mont-gomery at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2. TheBulldogs’ next home game is against PaintBranch at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Wootton FootballBeats Whitman

The Wootton football team defeatedWhitman 43-20 on Sept. 27, improving thePatriots’ record to 3-1.

According to stats from the WashingtonPost’s allmetsports.com, Wootton quarter-back Sam Ellis completed 27 of 44 passesfor 335 yards with three touchdowns andthree interceptions. Trevon Diggs had 11receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.

He also returned a fumble 85 yards for ascore.

Whitman running back Zac Mortonrushed 26 times for 197 yards and a touch-down. Quarterback Evan Smith completed4 of 13 passes for 129 yards with one touch-down and one interception. Nick Newshamcaught two passes for 97 yards and a score.

Wootton won its first four games, but hadto forfeit its season-opening victory overWalter Johnson.

The Patriots will travel to faceGaithersburg at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct.4. Whitman (2-2) will host Richard Mont-

gomery.

Bullis FootballWins Third Straight

The Bullis football team defeated JohnCarroll 37-8 on Sept. 27, improving itsrecord to 3-1. The Bulldogs have won threestraight since dropping their season openerto St. John’s.

Bullis will travel to face Cape Henlopenat 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. The Bull-dogs’ next home game is Oct. 11 against

St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes.

Churchill FootballFalls to Paint Branch

The Churchill football team lost to PaintBranch 41-0 on Sept. 27. The Bulldogs havebeen outscored 89-0 in their last two games,including a 48-0 loss to rival Wootton.

Against Paint Branch, Steven Stillwell ledthe Bulldogs with 10 tackles and two sacks.

Churchill will travel to face Quince Or-chard at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4.

Carly Kabelac and the Churchill field hockey team won five of their firstseven games.

Churchill’s Clare Nolan, seenagainst Bethesda-Chevy Chase onSept. 30, scored the game-winninggoal in overtime againstPoolesville on Sept. 23.

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Potomac Almanac Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]

See www.potomacalmanac.com


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Meaning, in my head anyway, thefuture and what there is left of it. Morespecifically, I mean life expectancy. Whenyou’re given a “13-month to two-year”prognosis – at age 54 and a half, by a can-cer doctor, your cancer doctor, the time-line between where you are and whereyou thought you’d be – and when,becomes as clear as mud. Yet not planningfor the future, a future that previous toyour diagnosis was thought to be guaran-teed (based on family/patient history) cre-ates a negative when all health care pro-fessionals advise being positive. Anecdotalevidence suggests that acting like youhave a future helps in some unexplainableway in you/the patient having one.

Over the last month, I’ve had sometime-sensitive and planning-for-the-future-type decisions/expenditures that onpaper at least – given my terminal diagno-sis, could be construed as money poorlyspent. Nevertheless, since it is my life –and I’m trying to live it, I went ahead andsigned up and paid to have these futurebenefits in place (starting at the present),and I’m not talking funeral arrangements,either. What I’m referring to are every-day/ordinary expenses where your dollarsguarantee years ahead rather than yearsbehind: one-year anti-virus coverage formy computer – until September 14, 2014;two-year coverage until September 30,2015, for my Life & Health Insurancefrom the Maryland State InsuranceAdministration (I used to be an activeagent in my previous career); and finally,six-years renewal (although one has nochoice, really) until September 30, 2019,for my new Maryland Driver’s License.

Certainly, in my mind and experience,these renewals are sort of necessary, per-haps more so for the present than thefuture, but since I can’t know for sure, Ifelt as if hedging my bets was the prudentcourse of action. And though not renew-ing these three obligations was not reallypractical, given the realities of my life andits related responsibilities, the planning-forand purchase-of them did give me pauseto consider my future and my expecta-tions for it. Having terminal cancer will dothat to you: stop you in your tracks andcause you to measure (almost literally)every step you take. It’s not exactly fun,but it is a living, and I’m particularlyhappy to be the one doing the living.

And during these past few weeks, I didstop, and I hemmed and hawed too anddecided to pay it (and my life) forward; toinvoke and rework a concept madefamous by a movie of the same name star-ring Haley Joel Osment. So I’m now offi-cially paid up – for a few years. If I thinktoo much about what’s happened to me(stage IV non-small cell lung cancer) andwhy, I fear it will weaken my resolve. Aresolve which is short on facts but reallylong on feelings. Feelings which I’vebecome accustomed to having andbelieving.

I have to believe in something, andbelieving I have a future is the best way Iknow how to turn these feelings into facts.

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People

By Carole Funger

The Almanac

These days, many of us aresearching for alternatives toconventional lawn and gardencare, a task that has become in-

creasingly dependent on time and mainte-nance, as well as pesticides and other poi-sons. The suburban meadow offers a solu-tion to this problem.

Low-maintenance and chemical-free,meadows eliminate the need for constantyard work while optimizing land use, sav-ing water and preventing soil erosion. Plant-ing a meadow can improve water qualityin the community by dispensing with theneed for harmful chemicals and fertilizers.And by making use of native wildflowersand grasses, meadows help conserve thenatural landscape while complementingand enhancing a home’s natural terrain.

According to meadow expert CatherineZimmerman, author of “Urban and Subur-ban Meadows,” and currently at work ontwo projects in Potomac, what she terms“meadow-scaping” can liberate residentsfrom their lawn’s virtual monoculture andrestore healthy, sustainable ecosystems toback yards.

“If you think about things in life, diver-sity is usually the most healthy,”Zimmerman said. “Traditional lawns allowlittle opportunity for biodiversity, let aloneplant or insect life.” Aside from the regularapplications of pesticides and fertilizersneeded to sustain them, lawns require con-stant maintenance while placing heavy de-mands on water supplies “Water is going tobecome very precious in the future,” saidZimmerman.

LAWNS VERSUSMEADOWS

Lawns planted with non-na-tive species such as Kentuckybluegrass engage people inan ongoing battle to main-tain a landscape that re-quires constant monitoringand irrigation. Accordingto Zimmerman, most alllawn seed sold todayoriginated in other partsof the world. Kentuckybluegrass, native to Europeand northern Asia, is actually a cool-season species that goes dormant in the drysummer months, making it a poor choicefor local hot, humid conditions.

Many native grasses, on the other hand,are drought tolerant and can be used toestablish low-maintenance, low-cost alter-natives to the traditional lawn. Examplesinclude Little Bluestem grass, Indian grassand Box Sedge. Buffalo grass is a warm-sea-son species that is sod forming, with rootsthat can extend as deep as seven feet intothe ground.

Even the ubiquitous white clover can of-fer a viable option for lawn enthusiasts whoare trying to wean themselves from chemi-cals. A member of the pea family, clover uses

bacteria in its root system to convert nitro-gen into fertilizer in the soil. A rapidspreader, it can crowd out broadleaf weedswhile growing harmoniously with grass.Drought-tolerant clover also keeps its coolgreen color even in the hottest summermonths.

To meet growing demand, many nurser-ies are now developing native grass seedmixes, adapted to specific regions that re-quire little attention once rooted. This ad-aptation makes watering infrequent andrequires no fertilizer input. Mowing is mini-mal, required as infrequently as once ortwice a year, or once a month for a moremanicured appearance.

Compared with the native lawn, mead-ows deliver even more low-cost, low-main-tenance advantages. When successfullymodeled after plant communities alreadyexisting in the area, they can stabilize soil,control storm run-off and make watering abygone chore. Ultimately self-sustaining,the suburban meadow is a smaller and more

intentioned space than traditionalmeadows. It is oftenused in conjunctionwith natural lawns.

A meadow designedfor the urban/suburban

landscape typically con-sists of more grasses than

flowers. Zimmermanstresses that while flowers

are beautiful, the meadowshould actually comprise at

least 60 percent grasses.Grasses aid in stabilizing soil

while supporting taller meadowflowers. They are also capable of

surviving drought and act as food and shel-ter for local wildlife.

During its crucial developmental phase,usually two to three years, the meadowadapts and aligns itself with conditions na-tive to its environment. This enables com-plex relationships to form between themeadow’s plants, animals and other micro-organisms. Over time, each meadow devel-ops into its own unique ecosystem, attract-ing scores of insects and wildlife.

THE BEST TIME TO PLANT a meadowis in the fall, or before the first frost. Sow-ing seeds in the fall allows for them to break

their dormancy. Warm, wet spring weatherinduces them to germinate.

A standard seed mix comprises 25 spe-cies, making meadow seed more expensivethan grass seed initially. However, over thelong term the emerging seedlings are muchcheaper to maintain, requiring little to nowatering or mowing. “Over time, you re-ally start to see you’re saving money,” saidZimmerman. “Plus you are providing a habi-tat for insects and birds that are becomingextinct because there are no longer placesleft for them to feed and make nests.”

While seeds are the most economical wayto go, “plugs” or live plants bought in flatsor containers, are also an option, especiallyfor those who don’t want to wait the two tothree years it takes for the meadow to es-tablish. Appropriate planting tools can bedetermined based on number of plants, soiltype and soil conditions. While a plantedmeadow requires less mowing in the firsttwo to three years to control weeds, after itis established, maintenance is the same asthe seeded meadow, with mowing requiredonly once annually.

Potomac residents Bill and Diana Conwayare calling upon Zimmerman’s skills to de-sign a meadow in their backyard this fall,just in time for planting. They’re planningto cover approximately a half-acre of theirlarge property. The couple loves the idea ofbringing in plants that will support nativepollinators such as butterflies and bees.They are also excited about the idea ofmowing a large chunk of their property onlyonce a year.

The Conways will be hand-broadcastingseed and settling down for the two to threeyear wait until the meadow is established.“We are looking forward to creating a vi-sual focal point from the back of our houseand all the back bedrooms,” said DianaConway. “Plus, we’re tired of paying themowers.”

Down the street, the Slovers are workingwith Zimmerman to design three meadowareas. They’re intrigued by the idea of turn-ing a portion of their yard into an areawhere native plants and flowers can thriveand feed the bees, butterflies and birds. Theplan is to use a combination of seeds andplugs so that the meadows have visual im-pact from the start.

“We know that adding a meadow will not

only help conserve the local flora and faunabut will add to our enjoyment of the out-doors as well,” said Katherine Slover. “It’sreally better than watching TV.”

CHOOSING A SITEAccording to Zimmerman, careful analy-

sis of the prospective site, coupled with cor-rect soil preparation, are the two most im-portant tasks in creating a meadow garden.Site analysis allows for the selection ofplants that are best suited to the environ-ment, while good preparation is essentialto controlling weeds and aiding in estab-lishment of the plants. “What species youend up putting in is secondary. Once youunderstand the site, you will know whatplants are most suitable,” Zimmerman said,adding, “It is very important to start outcorrectly.”

For instance, through simple observation,the homeowner can get a good idea ofwhere the water collects on their propertyand which spots remain damp or dry. Topsof hills are typically dry, while the bottomsof hills are most likely to exhibit wetter con-ditions. While the best place to establish ameadow is typically in an open, sunny andwell-drained area, successful meadows havebeen designed for wet, low-lying spots aswell. Many plants traditionally associatedwith meadows are tall, but meadow plantscan be small as well, sometime measuringonly 2-4” in size. Following are some of thebest meadow sites:

❖ Areas of new construction where thesoil is either rocky or poor

❖ Lawns❖ Ground where trees have been removed❖ Land where woods and lawn meet❖ Slopes where there is an erosion prob-

lem and mowing is difficult❖ Areas where heavy rains cause flood-

ing.

SUITABLE PLANTSMany nurseries offer meadow plants and

seed mixes suitable for the Potomac area.Zimmerman recommends the North CreekNurseries’ wholesalers catalogue as a greatresource for plants at www.northcreeknurseries.com. The website features colorphotos and meadow layouts. Check to makesure the plants you’re choosing aren’t onthe state’s noxious weeds lists. For a list ofnative plant and seeds, go to the Lady BirdJohnson Wildflower Center plant databaseat www.wildflower.org/plants orwww.nativeseednetwork.org for informa-tion on all aspects of native seed.

To learn more about meadows, and howto incorporate one into one’s own site, goto https://themeadowproject.com/ andread about Zimmerman’s work. Or purchaseher book, “Urban & Suburban Meadows,”available through Amazon.com.

Zimmerman is a certified horticulturistand landscape designer. Follow her onFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Meadow-Project/ or read herblog about planting a meadow at http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/is-there-a-meadow-in-your-future.

Planting a Suburban Meadow Garden Sustainablegardening at home.

Catherine Zimmerman designed these meadow projects for local homes.

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Potomac Almanac ❖ Senior Living October 2013 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at www.connectionnewspapers.comLocal Media Connection LLC

PotomacPotomac

SeniorLivingSeniorLivingSeniorLiving

OCTOBER 2013OCTOBER 2013

2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ Senior Living October 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

By John Byrd

Russ Glickman was a traditional full-service remodeler until the late1990s when he abruptly added a

host of accessibility certifications to a longlist of building industry credentials. Theservice extension was less about opportu-nity than a personal call to apply what he’dlearned from personal experience in help-ing his son, Michael, who was born withcerebral palsy.

“As a professional builder and a parent, Iwas fascinated with the challenges entailedin helping people with mobility issues makeuse of their homes, and really eager to ab-sorb the evolving strategies and technolo-gies that were then beginning to evolve,”Glickman said. “I spent several years acquir-ing new certifications while continuing toexecute full-scale remodeling projects.”

Starting initially as a helpful neighborwith sound advice, Glickman, who has op-

erated Glickman Design Build for more than30 years, eventually recognized that thedemand for accessibility solutions waslarger than he had thought.

“I was offering feasibility studies in spe-cial needs situations mostly on referral, butthe inquiries pretty quickly became abouthalf of my work,” he said. “It wasn’t thatthere weren’t other practitioners in thisfield. But I soon discovered that the needfor original solutions was as pronouncedamong people with mobility requirementsas it is in remodeling — may be more so.”

His conclusion: an accessibility solutionthat’s tailored to an individual is alwaysbest, especially when designed to accom-modate both current and probable futureneeds.

“Mastering guidelines and practices spe-cific to a particular condition is a good start-ing point,” Glickman said. “The Americanswith Disabilities Act, for instance, publishesrecommendations everyone should know.

But the reality is that every disability is alsouniquely personal, and every house presentschallenges that must be fully understood ifa solution is to work well.”

On top of this, Glickman said, there arealways code and budget issues, emergingtechnologies and, often, collaborative inputfrom therapists, engineers and other spe-cialists.

In the end, it is field experience thatmakes a mobility or access solution practi-cal.

“This is an enormous societal issue, witha significant and growing practice literaturethat must be absorbed,” he said. “Havingsaid this, I find that the best solutions arisefrom effectively collaborating with some-one facing challenges who’s really passion-ate about making the most of their situa-tion.”

IF THERE’S ONE TREND that’s well un-derway in Northern Virginia, it’s that seniorsare consistently deciding to age in place —even when a major retrofit is called for.

In McLean, for instance, a retired execu-tive and his wife recently hired Glickmanto develop a plan for installing a three-story

See Diverse Needs, Page 3

Seniors increasingly seek innovative plansthat embrace both the present and the future.

Diverse Needs, Desires Drive Mobility Solutionselevator in their 10,000-plus-square-foothouse. “The owners are in their in their late60s, and walking without assistance. Thestairs have gradually become a chore, how-ever, a situation that was unlikely to im-prove.”

By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

Jim Harkin, 81, and his wife,Phyllis, 80, have little free timethese days. Jim spends his daysprotecting and photographing

wildlife on the 60-acre campus at TheFairfax, a Sunrise Senior Living Community,in Fort Belvoir. He helped build, refurbishand maintain more than 20 birdhouses onthe grounds, including homes for tree swal-lows and purple martins.

Phyllis Harkin manages a small gift shopand runs marathon bridge games. Thecouple moved to The Fairfax more than two-and-a-half years ago because they wantedthe freedom to pursue their interests andlive among people with similar lifestyleswithout the responsibility of maintaining ahousehold. “We were getting older andkeeping up a house and yard in Fairfax wasgetting harder,” said Jim Harkin, a retiredNavy captain. “We also wanted to make ourown decisions about where and when wemoved and not have that left up to our busychildren.”

Phyllis Harkin, a former real estate ap-praiser, said, “We did it in time, but afterliving at The Fairfax, we wish we’d done itearlier. You have no idea how much fun itis over here.”

Kathy Aust, 67, has lived at Heritage HuntGolf and Country Club, an independent liv-ing retirement community in Gainesville,

Va., since 2001. She moved there fromBurke, she said, for social reasons. “I wantedto move into a community where there werepeople who had lifestyles that were similarto mine,” said Aust, a retired federal em-ployee who has no children. “I like living ina community with people in similar situa-

tions. It is very active here. Thereare indoor and outdoor pools, ten-nis and golf. There is so much tobe done here.” Aust volunteers onthe Heritage Hunt communitytask force and with thecommunity’s women’s group.

The decision to move out of one’s homeand into a retirement community is oftencomplicated and can be fraught with anxi-ety. Experts in geriatrics say that reasons torelocate to a retirement community usuallyboil down to three factors: social connec-tions, physical condition and personalsafety.

“It’s like a trifecta or a three-legged stool.It is hard to be stable if one leg isn’t work-ing” said Andrew Carle, an executive-in-residence at George Mason University’s pro-gram in senior housing administration inFairfax. “A person might be physicallyhealthy, but if they are isolated in theirhome and not driving or have lost touch

with friends, theycould become de-pressed.”

Carle, who hasmore than 25 years ofexecutive-level seniorhousing and healthcare experience, addsthat if a person hashad a stroke or an-other condition thataffects mobility, living

Senior Living

See Choosing a Home, Page 4

Many options for retirement communities in the region.

Choosing a Home for the Golden Years

Phyllis and Jim Harkin are active residents of the Fairfax, aSunrise Senior Living Community, in Fort Belvoir. Jim, 81, runsthe facility’s birding club and Phyllis, 80, manages the campusgift shop. The couple wanted to live among people with similarlifestyles without the responsibility of maintaining a household.

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Where to FindHelp for Seniors

“We wish we’d[moved] earlier.You have no ideahow much fun itis over here.”

— Phyllis Harkin

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Potomac Almanac ❖ Senior Living October 2013 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Since elevator access within thehome’s existing structure wasn’tfeasible, Glickman’s plan calls fora 60-foot tower designed to housean elevator shaft — a substantialmodification that will not be vis-ible from the front facade.

Inside, the tower will connect afinished lower level, a study on themain level and a third floor sittingroom. The owners are also consid-ering an option to build-out thefourth floor as a guest room suite,a choice which will entail extend-ing the tower another floor, finish-ing selected attic rooms and tyingoff the roof.

The execution is meant to be ar-chitecturally seamless, with thetower clad in brick to match the25-year-old, original masonry. Thenew roof will then be tied intoexisting rafters, reframed andreslated.

Not surprisingly, professionalsregarded this as a highly special-ized assignment.

“There aren’t lot of local contrac-tors who could execute a projectlike this,” said Andria Gregory ofArea Access, Inc., the firm that willinstall the elevator.

“The specifications are alwaysexacting, so it’s important to us towork with people who have a trackrecord, ” Gregory said.

Gregory notes that Glickman’sexperience in mobility prescriptionputs him in a selective class. “He’samong a handful of our preferredcontractors in Northern Virginia,”Gregory said. “It’s critical to us thatthe project satisfies the client inevery respect.”

IN ARLINGTON, a mobility planwith incremental components hasbeen implemented in the two-levelranch Jaime and Janice Marquezhave occupied for 24 years.

Jaime, 59, who had polio as achild but walked without assis-tance for most of his adult life,started intermittently usingcrutches again about 10 years ago.

“This wasn’t a surprise,” JaniceMarquez said. “The researchshows that polio survivors canhave increased mobility challengesas they age, so we wanted a wheel-chair friendly plan even though it’snot a necessity right now.”

The biggest obstacles: a curving,ruggedly-steep front walk thatlinks up with a front stoop; stan-dard-width interior halls and door-ways that had proven restrictive;and a back deck inaccessible toJaime Marquez from the ground.

“It had become difficult forJaime to negotiate the house on

crutches, so we we’re lookingahead,” Janice Marquez said. “Ini-tially, I wasn’t sure if we shouldremain in this house, but I hadread about Glickman and decidedto get his feedback.”

Compounding the “move vs.improve” question was thecouple’s mutual concern that anaccessibility solution might makethe house less functional for oth-ers, including two daughters awayat college who are frequent visi-tors.

“I’ve seen accessibility modifica-tions that become obstructive,”Janice Marquez said. “I wanted tosee if we could make changes thatwould enhance the property —functionally and aesthetically.”

To improve front elevation ac-cess, Glickman and team removedthe existing front walk, re-gradedthe front slope so that it rises atthe rate of one inch per foot andintroduced a “zero step” entry.

Inside, hallways have been wid-ened from 36 inches to 48; door-ways from 30 to 36 inches.

To facilitate Jaime Marquez’saccess between the rear deck andyard, Glickman designed and con-structed a wider, low-rise staircasethat accommodates his crutches.

While focused and small-scale,the changes have improved JaimeMarquez’s ability to move freelyfrom driveway to front door andthroughout the house. They’vealso bestowed an unexpected ben-efit. “The interior now feels muchmore spacious,” Janice Marquezsaid, “and the wider doorways al-low more natural light.”

Also, she notes, the new frontwalk adds considerable curb ap-peal. “Honestly,” she said, “I wishthe walk had been in place when Iwas still pushing the girls in theirstroller. It’s just a lot easier for ev-eryone.”

OUT IN STERLING, the Saads,both in their mid-60s, askedGlickman for a plan that wouldmake life easier for Mrs. Saad —who recently transitioned to awheel-chair. The couple’s desire tostay in place for the near-term in-spired an alternative vision: con-vert the 2,000-square-foot lowerlevel into a four-room suite com-plete with accessible bath, kitch-enette and other amenities.

To facilitate access to the newone-level living area, Glickmandesigned a lift that connects thefirst floor to the new suite.

From Page 2

Senior LivingMobility Solutions

DetailsRuss Glickman periodically offers work-

shops on accessibility solutions for seniors.Visit www.GlickmanDesignBuild.com orcall 301-444-4663

ArlingtonseniorsJaimeMarquezand JaniceShack-Marquez ontheir newlydesignedaccessiblefront walk.

Photo courtesy of Home Fronts News

4 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ Senior Living October 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Senior Living

alone is challenging. “If you need assistancewith dressing and bathing that would makeit difficult for you to stay in your homealone,” he said. Safety issues, such as a riskof falling or medication management, areother reasons that one might not be safeliving alone, said Carle.

Not everyone who leaves their home doesso willingly. Gail, who has no children orfamily in the area and asked that her lastname be withheld, moved to Potomac Val-ley Nursing and Wellness Center inRockville, after her close friends and a so-cial worker determined that she was nothealthy enough to live alone. “I want to goback to my house,” she said. “That is whereI want to be.”

Linda Gulyn, Ph.D., a professor of psy-chology at Marymount University in Arling-ton, who teaches aging psychology, says thatdespite the amenities and services that canmake retirement communities a good fit, afeeling of losing the ability to make deci-sions about one’s life makes many seniorsresistant to leaving their homes.

Andrew Carle said, “The very best strat-egy for a resistant parent is respite stay,which is essentially a short-term stay. Thefamily goes on vacation and lets the seniorstay at a retirement community for a week

or two. It gives the senior a chance to meetthe people, eat the food and participate inthe activities. Usually after about a week ortwo the senior realizes that living alone intheir home and watching television all dayisn’t all it is cracked up to be.”

WHEN ONE DECIDES that living aloneis no longer wise, there are plenty of op-tions. Local retirement communities run thegamut from independent living where aperson lives among fellow seniors, but doesnot need special care, to levels of assistedliving. Assisted living facilities provide dif-ferent levels of care for those who need helpwith small tasks such as medication admin-istration, to those who need help with daily

tasks such as getting dressed or taking abath. Skilled nursing facilities, where resi-dents have greater medical needs, are an-other option.

Some facilities such as The Fairfax andthe Hermitage in Alexandria, are actuallycontinuing care retirement communitiesthat enable residents to transition from in-dependent living to nursing care in the samefacility as conditions change.

“Independent living basically meets aperson’s social needs,” said Carle. “Assistedliving is for people who have physical needsor limitations. I don’t think of nursinghomes as senior housing. It is long-termhealth care or for someone who is recover-ing from an injury or who needs physical

therapy.”“Fox Hill’s... amenities, services and fas-

cinating residents all combine to offer a dis-tinctive retirement lifestyle that is both veryattractive and very accessible,” said JulieSabag, director of marketing at Fox Hill, inBethesda, Md.

Peg Bixler, an assisted living resident atThe Hermitage, said her doctor advised herthat she should not live alone anymore.Living in an assisted living community al-lows her to maintain an active lifestyle whilestill getting the help that she needs.

Dorothy Lavoie, 93, another resident ofThe Hermitage, moved to be near family. “Idon’t have any children, but I am close tomy niece” said Lavoie, a former nurse whoserved in World War II and the Korean War.“I was living in California, and my niece wholived here wanted me to live near her.”

Another Hermitage resident, JohnMutchler, a retired chemist who has adaughter in Arlington, and a twin sister inAlexandria, moved from New Jersey to Al-exandria to be closer to his family. “It is noproblem for me to visit with my family of-ten, which is nice for me,” he said. “I keepbusy here. I am the chairman of the execu-tive committee. I am also a member of thepoetry group where we read poetry everyweek. I am a member of the current eventsgroup.”

From Page 2

Choosing a Home for the Golden Years

John Mutchler Dorothy LavoiePeg Bixler

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Potomac - Ellington CMSconnection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/documents/...2013/10/02 · and catering by Ridgewells. It will include a DJ dance party for ages 7-17-plus;