Town Center Event a Relaxing Success

People were really” living it up” in the new Rockville Town Center this afternoon. Many took advantage of the free massages. The weather was sunny and cool. People showed up under the big, white tent for very relaxing 15-minute sessions.

Break For Massage did a wonderful job. The company is available for corporate and private events and the massage therapists are certified. Everyone was greeted with a smile and a quick check to find out if there was any particular reason for the massage or just relaxation. All of the masseues were very friendly and immediately put you at ease.

Personally, I felt my back readjust four times during my massage. I hadn’t even been aware of how my shoulders were carrying stress until it was gone.

We all know that the City is holding 101 special events in the Town Center to celebrate the opening, and that the reason is to attract shoppers. I must admit that it worked on me. While waiting for my friend, I went to a shop and made a purchase. Then we decided that we should have lunch too.

Rockville resident, Kari Keaton, gets a massage from Michele Mnatzakanian.

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POTD: Lazing On A Sunny Afternoon

(With apologies to The Kinks.) A great way to spend some time in Town Square...

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Weekend to Weekend 8/30/07

Events in Rockville

Friday, August 31

Seated Massage, Rockville Town Center Plaza, 11 AM – 1 PM. The City of Rockville is actually offering you a free massage during your lunch break. Who’s going with me?

Saturday, September 1

Growers Only Farmers Market, Rockville Town Center, Monroe Street & Rt. 28, 9 AM -1 PM. Local farmers come together to sell fruit, bread, flowers and more.

Sunday, September 2

Uncorked" Rockville Wine Festival, Rockville Town Center, 12 PM- 4 PM . Admission to the festival is $10.00 (must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol), and includes a commemorative wine glass for the first 1,500 paid attendees. Rockville's first wine festival! How about that! We’re having a Maryland Wine Festival! The Barry Gurley Quartet will be playing. They’ll even be cooking demonstrations from Lebanese Taverna. Also, the treats are from Whole Foods.

Wednesday, September 5

The Newports, Out to Lunch Wednesdays, City of Rockville, Food & Farmer’s Market, E. Montgomery Ave, 12 PM - 1:30 PM. Classic oldies.

Thursday, September 6

The Crimestoppers, Concerts in the Square, City of Rockville, Rockville Town Center Plaza, 6 PM - 8 PM. Blues/rock.

Friday, September 7

Storytime for ages 2 and 3, Rockville Library, 10:15 AM. Stories and activities. Child must be at least 24 months old. No registration necessary.

First Fridays Deck Party, Rockville Town Square Plaza, 5 PM – 8 PM. This is also a First for this event! Gordon Biersch will turn the Plaza into a “Biergarten”. Featuring the band, Jah Works with their reggae, dancehall, dubs and roots. Must be 21 or older and have an I.D. to enter the beer garden.

Saturday, September 8

Doggie Dip Day, Rockville Swim Center, 12 PM – 4 PM. Fee $5 per dog.

Sunday, September 9

Happy Birthday Montgomery County!, Beall-Dawson Historical Park, 2 PM – 5 PM, Free. Annual event held by the Montgomery County Historical Society. Birthday cake with Ike Leggett at 4 PM. Displays, reenactors, crafts, digs, and genealogy.

Weekend to Weekend will publish event listings occurring in & around our coverage area (map) on Thursdays. If you know of a fun, educational, or community event, please email cindycgblog@gmail.com. The inclusion of events is at our discretion.

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POTD: What's THIS For...!

(With apologies to Killing Joke.) While we are aware we have already posted a photo of this sculpture called "In Place," RC friend Ed sent along the following that we could not resist:

Have you seen that blob of concrete added as a peninsula off the walk at the corner of Nelson / Mannakee? Is that a viewing station for the art? A diving board to land one in the art? Why the view of the art be mandated from there? Why not in the MIDDLE of the art as that is the most interesting view?

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Building Communities at Our Schools

As the recent post on Rockville Central illustrates, parents need to be involved in our schools and communicate with each other. Often the staff and PTA struggle to figure out how to encourage more parents to show up at events. Successful students often have parents who volunteer at school.

I’ve noticed barriers which seem to prevent some parents from participating. Often they don’t understand that they are welcome at school, and that they need to communicate regularly with their child’s teacher. In some cultures, parents are never expected to have contact with the school. Sometimes parents don’t feel like they “fit in” with the other parents who are volunteering. Others feel that they don’t have time because of work. With the demographic change in Rockville, some parents do not speak English. As another school year is starting, I’ve been thinking about the ways I’ve learned to try to bring these parents into the school community and I thought I might pass some along.

One of my kids is at Ritchie Park Elementary. Our Principal, Bonnie Dougherty, was named Montgomery County ESOL (English as a Second Language) Principal of the Year for 2006-07. What has she done to earn this honor? Two years ago she formed an Outreach Committee of parents, teachers, and staff. The main goal of the Committee is to make the school inclusive and welcoming to all families in order to encourage more parents to participate. Often it becomes apparent that just bringing this diverse group together is an accomplishment, as ideas are excitedly exchanged and plans are made. Now we are translating everything into a few languages, surveying parents on best meeting times, and explaining all of the available communication methods.

The Outreach Committee has also encouraged African American and Hispanic families to start networks. Rides and childcare are provided. The Hispanic Network meetings are in Spanish with English translation. The first network meetings primarily explained the achievement gap and asked parents what they thought could be done to close it. In this way, partnerships have been established to determine how to best help the kids.

Last year, the Montgomery County Council of PTAs held a workshop on outreach. One of the best ways to increase parent participation at school is to ask them directly. The simplest way is to introduce yourself and start to talk about the kids. It’s a matter of building friendships. The workshop also advocated calling parents. Workshop participants were skeptical about taking the time to call, but this method is very effective. At Ritchie Park, teams write basic scripts, call parents, and it actually works. Establishing these personal relationships is the key.

Whenever I speak to parents, I tell them that they need to volunteer at least one time during the school year. It doesn’t really matter what the task, either in class or at a party, lunch, or an event. Kids are proud of their parents when they volunteer. It sends them a message -- school is so important that mom and dad will dedicate some of their very valuable time to it. In this way, the whole family makes education a priority. After all, it really is about giving our children the best chance possible.

Update: Montgomery County Public Schools offers a great series of workshops called the Parent Academy. Registration for the Fall started on August 27th.

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POTD: Rollin' On

I am not sure whether these whimsical bike racks in Town Square are more or less efficient than those good ol' fashioned ones we knew from yore, but in the rain they glisten nicely -- you have to look closely on this one.

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Candidate's Forum October 27

RC friend Herb Winkler has passed along this information:

Sort out the candidates at the Alliance of Rockville Citizens Candidate Forum:

Saturday, Oct 27, 7 to 10 pm
At the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Rockville
100 Welsh Park Drive
(just off Mannakee, west of the swim center)

Mark your calendar! All welcome!

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Trash Petition

As many Rockville residents know full well, the collection of trash has been a Major Political Issue for months now. There are competing proposals for maintaining the current twice-per-week collection or shifting to a once-per-week system. The Council recently chose to stick with twice-per-week. Some observers say the majority did this in response to a vocal minority who just don't want change.

A group called "RockTrash.Org" has mounted a petition campaign in response. Rockville Living has joined in to help and is encouraging people to sign a petition stating that they prefer once-per-week pickup. More details are at their website.

As trash is inexplicably a political -- and campaign -- issue, Rockville Central will try its hardest to have no opinion on the issue.

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POTD: Fore!

It's not a golf ball on a tee . . . it's a mushroom! Thanks to RC friend Charlie Gilak for this one. Got a cool photo? Send us a note and maybe it will be a Picture of The Day!

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Students May Carry Cell Phones

It's back to school day for Montgomery County Public Schools kids, and some of our readers may have been facing a dilemma. Lots of parents of high-school, middle-school, and almost-middle-school kids have gotten them cell phones to keep in touch and generally make it easier to know where the kids are and when they need to be picked up. But, I am told that such phones are not supposed to come to school. What is a student to do? Bring the phone, keeping it hidden and off? Or leave it at home?

Policy makers to the rescue. This year, says NBC channel 4, students will be allowed to carry their cell phones, only they have to keep them off.

Now you will hear about those canceled after-school practices right away -- and legally.

(Photo IntoMobile.com)

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POTD: Common Courtesy

This was the scene at Ourisman's parts department the other day. It amused me that the "courtesy" phone was in fact nonexistent.

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