Snoozing In Rockville

I have been travelling this week and had to get up early to make a number of flights. To get out of town, I had to wake up at 3:30 am! Yuck!

Then, this came to my attention near the end of my trip:

Rockville, MD -- Snoozester has extended its portfolio of web-based notifications services by launching the Snoozester Wake Up Call Service for Universities.

What is this? I thought. I looked into it. Turns out there's a clever start-up right here in Our Fair City called Snoozester, and they have a very cool service for those of us who could sometimes use an extra little nudge out of bed in the morning, or who have an early date they simply cannot miss.

A Snoozester Wake Up Call is a scheduled telephone call that helps you wake up on time. You can schedule a Snoozester Wake Up Call online, and then receive your wake up call on your home phone or mobile phone.

It's not free, but it is pretty cheap. About $4 per month if you just use it a handful of times.

Yes, yes, I do have an alarm clock. But I can imagine a few uses for this...especially on the road...

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POTD: Pretty

Pretty, huh?

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Weekend to Weekend 9/13/07

Events in Rockville

Friday, September 14

“Desiree” by the Victorian Lyric Opera Company, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. Music by John Philip Sousa. $20/adult, $15 student/senior.

Saturday, September 15

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.

Used Book Sale Begins, Montgomery County Historical Society, Mid-Pike Shopping Center, 11818 Rockville Pike. 9/15-9/23. M-Sat: 10AM–9PM, Sun: 11AM-6PM. Great deals on books help raise funds.

Family Storytime, Twinbrook Library, 11 AM Special storytime tailored for families with young children. All ages welcome!

Sunday, September 16

“Desiree” by the Victorian Lyric Opera Company, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM. Music by John Philip Sousa. $20/adult, $15 student/senior.

Monday, September 17

Documentary “We Are All Smith Islanders”, Rockville Library Meeting Room #1, 7 PM – 9 PM.This award-winning documentary demonstrates how global warming is changing the Chesapeake Bay region. Using the waning livelihoods of Smith Island watermen as its main example, the film explores how the crisis is expected to continue unless solutions to global warming are acted upon. Author and film director Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Action Climate Network presents the film. Dr. Cindy Parker, Johns Hopkins physician and an interviewee in the film, discusses potential health effects of global warming.
Wednesday, September 19

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

Thursday, September 20

Live Music- Young People’s Concert, Twinbrook Library, 7 PM. Talented musicians from the community will play guitars, violins and piano. Contact Ver Ramaty: 240-777-0247.

Friday, September 21

The FINEST! Collage of Fashion, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM – 10 PM, $12/adults, $7/kids & seniors. Rockville’s The FINEST! is a multi-cultural youth performance troupe and they are going to model commercial and original fashions at this annual event.

Saturday, September 22

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.

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: Tie A . . .

And a blue ribbon means . . . ?

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Rockville Art & Frame - A Pleasant Alternative to the Post Office

You have a package to mail...your choices are:

Summon all the patience you can manage, go to the main post office on North Washington Street (being sure to avoid getting sideswiped in the parking lot) and hope that when you enter the building you aren't too far back in the inevitable long line, or...

Visit the postal facility tucked into Rockville Art & Frame at 90 West Montgomery Avenue (Bell's Corner). Over the summer, owner Roger Miller--a retired postal employee--opened this "contract postal unit" to supplement the framing services he and his family offer to the community.

Mr. Miller has all of the same supplies and levels of service as are available at the main post office--USPS envelopes, boxes, and, of course, a large selection of stamps. Since my work duties require sending packages of publications on almost a daily basis, I've had the pleasure of using Mr. Miller's mailing services on several occasions. Each trip to his store has saved at least ten minutes I would have spent waiting in line at the main post office, plus the parking lot is a lot safer!

Many local offices are using his services more frequently, and he's adjusting to meet their needs. If you need an large quantity of stamps, give him a call ahead of time (301-424-1737) so he can make sure he has them in stock when you need to pick them up.

I also like browsing through the artwork, cards, and wild bird supplies available in the store. This is the only place I know of where you could have a picture framed to give as a gift, buy the card, and then ship it all off to the recipient. You could even buy wild bird seed and ship it if you really wanted to.

By the way, I've got nothing against the postal employees at the main office -- mailing rules and restrictions have become increasingly complicated, and under these circumstances, I think the employees do their best to process customers as efficiently as they can. However, after I pick up my PO Box mail, I'll squeeze by the line, and take my packages to Mr. Miller.

Rockville Art & Frame, Inc.
90 W. Montgomery Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
301-424-1737

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POTD: Emerge

I thought the green growing through the orange safety netting looked sort of cool.

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Literacy Tutor Training at Rockville Library

I remember a man who worked for my father when I was a kid. He was one of the best mechanics and he had a country western band that played parties at our house. He also couldn’t read. When my dad needed him to run an errand, he would write the first letter of the business on a piece of paper and send him down the street to match it to the correct sign. As a kid I couldn’t believe a grownup was unable to read.


So, I was struck by the fact that today, right here in Montgomery County, our Literacy Council (LCMC) estimates that 1 in 8 adults are functionally illiterate. They are unable to complete an application, understand a package label, or even read this blog. LCMC helps by providing volunteer tutors, but it has over 200 adult students on its waiting list. They will continue to wait 6 to 12 months.

LCMC provides some other literacy facts:

-Children of parents who are unemployed and have not completed high school are five times more likely to drop out of high school.

-Annual health care costs in the U.S. are four times higher for individuals with low literacy skills than they are for individuals with high level literacy skills.

-Women in the U.S. who have little formal education are more likely than educated women to be in abusive relationships.

-One-half of all adults in U.S. federal and state correctional institutions cannot read or write at all; 85 percent of juvenile offenders have reading problems.

-A one percent increase in high school graduation rates would save approximately $1.4 billion in costs associated with incarceration.

Obviously, it’s much more than just reading.

LCMC is holding tutor orientation right here at our new Rockville Library on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 from 7:30 PM – 9 PM. Tutors teach an adult to read, write or speak English either one-on-one or with small groups. They meet with students in libraries or community centers at mutually convenient times.

Since 1976, LCMC has tutored more than 9,500 native and foreign born students, with the aid of over 6,800 volunteers. If you have the time to volunteer, you could change someone's life for the better.

Registration is required. Call 301-610-0030 or email info@literacycouncilmcmd.org After the orientation session, potential tutors attend a two-day, 12-hour training workshop. There is a $25 registration fee to defray the cost of the workshop.

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Home Invasion Robbery Attempts in Rockville

This courtesy the West End Civic Association:

On September 9, 2007, at approximately 12:35 a.m., Police Officers responded to a report of a an attempted home invasion in progress at the 700 Block of Hurley Avenue. Upon arrival officers were advised that a W/M 18-20 years of age had come to the victim's door requesting help for a friend who was struck by a vehicle. The victim refused to let the individual in to his home but offered the suspect his cell phone to make the appropriate 911- emergency call from outside the home. When the victim opened the door to hand over the cell phone another suspect (unknown race) exited the bushes next to the victim's door and grabbed the victim. Both suspects then attempted to push the victim back in to the house.

The victim was able to hold the two in the doorway while he yelled to his wife "get the gun, get the gun". After the victim's wife replied that she was getting the gun the two suspects disengaged the victim and fled to an unknown vehicle several houses down Hurley Ave (possibly a van with a third suspect driver) and fled the scene. Later that evening,a suspicious incident occurred at a Home on Casey Lane in Rockville. At approximately 1:20 a.m. the front doorbell rang. The homeowner did not answer the door but looked out the window and saw two individuals attempting to hide by the door. He immediately called the police, and the suspects fled.

There are active police investigations ongoing with both incidents.

Residents are reminded that you should never open your door to strangers. If someone comes to your home asking for assistance, do not let them in your home. Let them know that you will immediately call the police to come and help them. If they have a legitimate problem, they will wait for police assistance.If not they will probably leave and will not have had any opportunity to enter into someone's home.

The Rockville City Police Department offers free home security surveys to all residents. Please contact the Police department at 240-314-8900 and ask for the Community Service Officer.

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POTD: Sentinel

Patriot Day, a good day for a flag.

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Get Set For The Rockville Music Festival

This will appear in Weekend To Weekend, but we wanted you to start thinking about this now!

For those who have not had an opportunity to discover and explore Rockville’s Town Square, now’s the chance. The Mayor and Council will host the Fourth-Annual Rockville Music Festival on September 29 from 12 to 6 p.m. This free event will also offer the 27th -Annual Hard Times Cafe International Chili Society Maryland State Chili Cook-off.

With his blend of 50's rock & roll, pop and traditional country, co-headliner Steve Holy has crafted a unique sound that has won fans over across the nation. Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, co-headliner Sarah Buxton is one of Nashville's most distinctive voices and engaging performers.

In addition to Steve Holy and Sarah Buxton, Cletus and Lori, and Leaving, TX will provide musical entertainment. Award-winning songwriters on their own, contemporary folk duo Cletus Kennelly and Lori Kelly combine their artistries, developing a style and a sense for each others voices that is magical. Gripping vocals, intelligent lyrics and songs filled with memorable hooks will be performed by Leaving, TX. This Washington, D.C.-based band delivers a clever blend of cutting-edge "twang-rock" mixed with a healthy dose of country. Cletus and Lori will perform at 12 p.m., Leaving, TX at 1 p.m., Sarah Buxton at 3 p.m., and Steve Holy at 4:30 p.m.

The closed off streets around Maryland Avenue and East Montgomery Avenue will be lined throughout the day with competitors in the 27 th-Annual Hard Times Café International Chili Society Maryland State Chili Cook-off . Up to 75 chili chefs—novice and champion alike—will serve up their blends of meat and spices to compete for $5,000 in prize money and the Maryland State Championship.

For more information, call the Department of Recreation and Parks hotline at 240-314-8620.

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POTD: Deep In Conversation

I've always wondered about these two pipes sticking out of the ground; like they are deep in conversation. What are they for? Where do they come from?

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