Before the Lights Went Out
Event celebrates 75th anniversary of first installment on C&O Canal National Historical Park.
About 50 hours before the entire 185-mile length of the C&O Canal National Historical closed because of the shutdown of the federal government, more than 300 people gathered at Great Falls Tavern to celebrate its beginnings 75 years earlier.
Shutdown: Towpath, Glen Echo Closed
Federal shutdown closes area National Parks.
The federal government’s shutdown has closed C&O Canal National Historical Park, Glen Echo Park, as well as use of the towpath from Washington D.C. through Potomac and to Cumberland.
You Matter
Hoops tournament and fun day held in memory of Evan Rosenstock to raise awareness of teenage depression.
Churchill and Bullis have joined together to host a basketball tournament and fun day this Sunday, Sept. 15 in honor and memory of Churchill varsity athlete Evan Rosenstock.
Week in Numbers, Wednesday/Sept. 11
4 People have died in the Potomac River since June 26. On Thursday, Sept. 5, rescuers discovered the body of Mark Moore, 22 of Odenton, at 5:45 p.m., three days after river rescue teams were first dispatched to the river on Labor Day, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m.
Trees Get More Protection
Council passes two bills aiming to protect and expand tree canopy.
Dr. Seuss’s Lorax finally appeared more than two hours into Montgomery County Council’s debate on tree canopy. “Who will speak for the trees?” said Councilmember Valerie Ervin. “Today, all of us are speaking for the trees, and in the end, I think the trees are going to win in Montgomery County,” she said.
Encouraging Educational Gardens
More schools are developing edible gardens.
Despite a small budget, edible gardens have plotted a rise in the Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum. "You know this committee has had interest in this for several years. As you know, good things are happening," said County Councilmember Valerie Ervin at the council's Education Subcommittee on Monday, July 22.
Drivers and Pedestrians Must Be Vigilant
Investigation of June Potomac pedestrian fatality continues, one of 11 so far this year in the county.
Pedestrian Shirley Stearman, 81 of Potomac, died after being hit by a car at approximately 1:50 p.m. in the Cabin John Shopping Center parking lot at 7919 Tuckerman Lane Sunday, June 2. Last week, Montgomery County Police detectives from the Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated the fatal pedestrian collision in the Potomac shopping center.
Deadly River Claims Victim Number Two
In less than one week, two people have drowned in the Potomac River. On Saturday, a 21-year-old drowned near Bear Island. Three of his friends attempted to save him, but were unsuccessful.
Seeking To Preserve Local Agricultural Heritage
Fundraiser supports Brickyard Educational Farm.
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s words greeted supporters at the Brickyard Educational Farm event at Glenview Mansion in Rockville on Friday, June 14.
Pepco Rate Hike Opposed
Montgomery County officials think local residents already pay enough for electricity. The county filed its intervention against Pepco’s rate increase request last week.
Two Potomac Residents Reflect on Decades
Ellen Breen turned 95 on May 5, 2013. Her granddaughter plans to be married in September. “If I am alive, I am going,” Breen said. Her grandchildren call her Rah Rah. “I love it. It’s one of my favorite sounds. When they say it it really means something.” Dennis Lewis is 75.
Resident Killed in Parking Lot
Accident under police investigation.
Pedestrian Shirley Stearman, 81, of Potomac, died after being hit by a car in the Cabin John parking lot at 7919 Tuckerman Lane Sunday, June 2.
Family Takes Up Paddleboarding, Goes into Business
Paddle on the Potomac, standing up.
Michael Katz took his first stand-up paddle board lesson last August with Potomac Paddlesports. Now his entire family is hooked, even creating a business around the sport.
Eating Fresh and Local
Potomac Farmers Market, every Thursday, for vegetables.
Corey McCleaf will bring 33 varieties of fruit to the Potomac Farmer’s Market this summer. Emily Starck will sell 53 varieties of heirloom tomatoes during the farmer’s market season, which runs Thursday afternoons from May through October at Potomac United Methodist Church. Keisha and Scotty Sherman, of Simply Delicious Desserts, work with 50 pounds of rhubarb every morning, and make breads, cakes, ginger strawberry tea, scones, cookies and cupcakes. They also brought their “goodies” to the Strawberry Festival last weekend.
Modernizing Potomac Elementary
Plans underway for new school building, last to be modernized in Churchill cluster.
Potomac Elementary School will have a new building by January 2018, without delay.
Potomac Outfitters Opens
“Ambassadors for the Potomac.”
Pitcher, founder of Potomac Paddlesports, opened Potomac Outfitters last Thursday, May 2, in the Potomac Promenade, in the mall next to Potomac Pizza.
County’s Black Eye
MCPS has no plans to allow organic farm to continue; judge denies legal fees but scolds county, school board.
Circuit Court Judge Robert A. Greenberg’s ruling went far beyond the bottom line. Greenberg denied the request by the Brickyard Coalition and organic farmer Nick Maravell to be reimbursed for legal fees spent in battling the county over the use of 20 acres of farmland on a future school site on Brickyard Road.
Cleaning Up the River
Hundreds turn out to collect trash, recover recyclables.
Volunteers on Saturday, April 6 removed trash at 600 sites throughout the Potomac watershed during the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 2013 Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. The Potomac Conservancy organized volunteer efforts at the River Center at Lock 8, Fletcher's Boathouse and Theodore Roosevelt Island.
News
This Week In Potomac
2.61 Mile Bike Path Improvements The county will soon begin construction of an eight-foot wide, 2.61-mile bike path along MacArthur Boulevard between I-495 and Oberlin Avenue. The county’s Department of Transportation estimates that the project will be completed in one year.
Promise Delivered: Scotland’s New Center
The Potomac Master Plan, approved and adopted in 2002, promised the Scotland community a needed expansion of its community center. Scotland is a historically African American community off Seven Locks Road in Potomac.
Neighbor Saves Two Teenagers from Fire
Family displaced; house fire causes $600,000 in damage.
A neighbor’s efforts saved the lives of two teeangers on Willow Green Court, Monday afternoon, Feb. 25, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue reports. “The teens inside narrowly escaped the blaze,” according to Assistant Chief Scott Graham.
This Week in Potomac
This Week in Potomac Mandatory Water Restrictions Could Last a Week When a 54-inch water main in Chevy Chase at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Chevy Chase Lake Drive ruptured Monday evening, March 18, the result was a geyser shooting approximately 30 feet high and the immediate loss of 60 million gallons of water. To ensure continued water supply for all WSSC customers and for fire protection and hospital/medical uses, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) General Manager Jerry N. Johnson Tuesday morning called for mandatory water restrictions for all WSSC customers.
Callers Create Sense of Urgency in Scam
Local residents victimized after being told loved ones have been injured.
The scammers create a sense of urgency. They convince victims to wire money to various locations.
This Land Is Our Land
Next steps not certain in ongoing Brickyard controversy, but Board of Education makes clear the land belongs to the school system.
With a resolution Monday night, Feb. 25, the Montgomery County Board of Education made clear what it already thought it had made clear.
Council Takes Steps To Protect Trees
New rules would protect individual trees and trees on small lots during redevelopment.
Next Monday, Feb. 25, the County Council’s subcommittee on Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment is scheduled to address two bills that focus on the protection of trees.
Board of Education Locks Out Organic Farmer
Board of Education tells organic farmer to leave Brickyard site before court ruling, without notice.
While coffee brewed in the Maravell’s kitchen, school board security officers prepared to lock the gates to Nick Maravell’s Organic Farm and his daughter’s Brickyard Education Farm on Brickyard Road.
County Urges Congress to Avoid Sequester
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett urged Congress to avoid the sequester, deep automatic budget cuts, that could be implemented March 1 if Congress fails to act.
Environmental Concerns Prompt Dissenting Vote
County Council approves spending for artificial turf at Wootton.
Councilmember Marc Elrich took an authentic stand against artificial turf. “I continue to be concerned with the health and environmental impacts,” he said. “I’ve talked with toxicologists and in the space of five minutes I get information that is reassuring and then I get information that is disconcerting. It’s hard to know where to come out.”
Fate of Brickyard Road Nears Conclusion?
Circuit Court judge’s decision on fate of organic farm on Brickyard expected by next week.
The fate of a 20-acre farm on Brickyard Road and its 30 years of organic soil are now in the hands of Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Robert A. Greenberg. Judge Greenberg is expected to make a ruling by next week on the legality of the Board of Education’s lease of the land to the county for use as soccer fields.
Artificial Trend Offers Benefits
Council action paves way for artificial turf field to be installed at Wootton by August.
Montgomery County Council approved a $1.1 million appropriation to the Capital Improvements Program Tuesday, Feb. 5, for the building of an artificial turf field at Wootton High School.
Things To Do In Winter
Things to do in the winter time.
Save the Soil or Plow Ahead?
Pivotal year ahead in Potomac.
Days before the county was scheduled to take possession of 20 acres of farmland on Brickyard Road to develop the into soccer fields, Gov. Martin O’Malley got involved.
Fireworks In February?
Court of Special Appeals rejects county on Brickyard; legality of school board lease to be argued early next year.
Chief Judge Peter B. Krauser and the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland on Dec. 7, 2012 rejected Montgomery County’s motion that would have allowed moving forward with development of soccer fields on Brickyard Road.
Potomac River Needs Help
Pollutants identified, solutions mandated for Potomac River with ‘barely passing’ grade.
The Potomac Conservancy released its sixth annual State of the Nation’s River on Nov. 15, handing the Potomac River’s health a “D” or “barely passing grade.”
Time To Wait?
New lawsuit, new proposals, new policies emerge from Brickyard controversy.
After nearly two years of controversy concerning a 20-acre “future school” site on Brickyard Road, some new ideas emerged as Montgomery County Council held a town meeting on Nov. 7 at the Potomac Community Center.
Traffic Lights Evolve
New traffic light at MacArthur and Clara Barton Parkway equipped with small computer.
The new traffic light installed at MacArthur Blvd. and Clara Barton Parkway earlier this month is a smart light.
Moral Obligation Or Old Wounds?
Old roller-hockey rink at community center could be used for adaptive sports.
The county has “moral and legal obligations” to provide opportunities for people with disabilities, Steve Landsman said last week. The county also has a significant resource in the roller hockey rink at the Potomac Community Center. But one resident’s comments showed lack of awareness or understanding of the need.
Chance for Compromise on Brickyard Site?
County Council calls for hitting “pause button.”
After nearly two years of edict and opposition concerning a 20-acre “future school” site on Brickyard Road, a town hall meeting in Potomac last week with County Council offered a glimmer of hope for advocates of the organic farm.
New Life for Outdated Rink?
Old roller-hockey rink could be used for adaptive sports.
Last weekend, Mary Cassell and dozens of athletes with disabilities played in this fall’s culminating event for TOPSoccer, an outreach program of soccer for youth with disabilities.
Saving by Going Greener
Company provides data on costs to run common electrical appliances for consumers, now available at Strosniders.
When Susan Marinelli wanted a new coffee maker, she also wanted to shop at a local store. When Marinelli walked in to Strosniders, she found tags on display, educating consumers about different appliances and the different amounts of energy each one uses.
Citizens of the Year
Honorees to be featured at Potomac Day parade on Oct. 20 and chamber ceremony at Normandie Farm in November.
The Potomac Chamber of Commerce named the Potomac citizens of the year this past week. The Citizen of the Year, Youth of the Year, and Businessperson of the Year are scheduled to ride in convertibles in the Potomac Day parade on Oct. 20.
Mock Tragedy or Sober Truth?
Churchill students stage bloody accident to discourage drunk, distracted driving.
Rockville Fire and Rescue personnel covered two Winston Churchill High School students in shrouds last Thursday, Oct 4, at a single car accident scene directly in front of the Potomac school.
Judge: County Complies Reasonably
More legal proceedings loom in Brickyard farm-to-soccer controversy.
Circuit Court Judge Ronald B. Rubin put the county on a specific timetable earlier this summer to execute a freedom of information request.
Potomac’s October Fest
Potomac Day, Potomac House Tour, Family Fun Fest and more.
Potomac Day, the annual community festival sponsored by the Potomac Chamber of Commerce, is just around the corner. The day-long celebration is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 20 in Potomac Village, kicking off with the annual Potomac Day Parade up River Road to Falls Road at 10:30 a.m.
This Week in Potomac
What's going on in Potomac this week.
Stay to Grow (Restrictions Apply)
Brickyard farm allowed to operate through growing season. Next step: court in September.
Organic farmer Nick Maravell is farming along Brickyard Road on an expired lease. Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr made parameters clear in a letter he sent to Maravell on Aug. 17.
Potomac’s Got Talent
Potomac Community Center gears up for its flagship events to start new school year.
The Potomac Community Center will kickoff the new with Potomac’s Got Talent, a new talent show to be held in conjunction with the Potomac Family Fun Fest on Friday, Sept. 28.
This Week in Potomac: Aug.29, 2012
This week in Potomac: First Day of School, Montgomery’s Gold, Flora Singer Elementary, Safety Tips, Honoring Fallen Ranger, Fall Recreation, Great Falls Stewards, Park After Dark, Democracy in Action, Fluent Election Judges, C&O Canal 5K, Get Involved: County Committees and Honoring WWII Veterans.
