POTD Slideshow

Thanks to a miracle of modern science, we are able to provide the following slideshow that will, if you are patient, cycle through every single POTD that Rockville Central has published, starting with the first. Woot!

Come back often!

Want to add a POTD? Email it to us. Higher resolutions are better. The rules are: it must be original, it must not be published elsewhere, and it must gave been taken in the City of Rockville.

P.S. Some photos may be a little out of order. You will just have to deal.

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Rockville Police Blotter 10/1/2007

If you are like me, you like reading the Rockville police blotter but can't quite get a fix on where all these incidents are taking place. Well, I had some time today and took the most recent report and mapped it all out on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Each of the pushpins is an incident, and it's described if you click on it.

I will try to do this every Monday or Tuesday. It takes a bit of doing, so if it turns out not to be useful I may stop. Which means: Let me know if you like it!

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Chambers Leaving On A High Note

Longtime, active Rockville residents probably know him pretty well. And, when candidates for mayor and city council uniformly praised "city staff" in the Rockville Central interviews, he is no doubt one of the people they meant.

Arthur D. Chambers, the City's seven-year director of community planning and development services, says he is going to retire in January.

"The Mayor and Council and City managers I have worked for here have always been extremely supportive in doing good planning," Chambers is quoted in the City's dry press release on the subject. "The many projects I have seen and helped complete in Rockville are directly because of their support and encouragement."

But Warren Parish at the Gazette fleshes out just what Chambers means by "many projects." It's an impressive list.

Not only did Chambers plan and oversee the successful and award-winning redevelopment of Town Square, but he has also been the chief staffer driving the RORZOR effort to revise all of the City's zoning laws and been prominent in shpepherding the King Farm and Fallsgrove developments.

What's Chambers planning on doing come January? Returning to his wife and two grown children in Kansas. His family stayed behind when he left his job in Olathe, KS to come to Our Fair City. ‘‘When I came here, I thought maybe two or three years to get a flavor and move on,” Chambers says in Parish's Gazette piece. ‘‘There was just so many more things to do here.”

Two years has become seven, and we wish Arthur Chambers well as he leaves Rockville on a high note.

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POTD: Play 'Misty' For Me

This was a pretty early morning scene.

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Curb Your Water Use!

In case you hadn't noticed, it's been a dog's age since it rained last. Yesterday, the Council of Gevernments declared a drought watch. That's the second level of a four-level escalating scale.

I used to live in Los Angeles, where droughts were such a way of life we have our own special ways of determining when to flush (it involves a rhyme with the word "mellow").

But, here in Our Fair City of Rockville, the powers that be are much more helpful and have sent along a few helpful tips:

• Use the garbarge disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save gallons everytime!


• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you . . . and not down the drain.


• Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.


• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time. (Do people still do that?)


• Divide your watering cycle into shorters periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.


• Take shorter showers!

Want more? Go here.

(Photo Department of Natural Resources)

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Weekend to Weekend 10/4/07

Events in Rockville

Take a look at all the events this week and appreciate how amazing and vibrant our City really is!

Thursday, October 4

Election Event: Candidates Forum, King Farm Citizens Assembly, Community Center at 300 Saddle Ridge Circle, 7 PM. To be rebroadcast on The Rockville Channel 11.

Friday, October 5

Rockville Sister City Ceremony, Town Center, 5 PM. The “Sister City Plaque” will be dedicated.

First Friday Deck Party, Le Bon Temp Krewe, Rockville Town Square Plaza, 5 PM – 8 PM.

Hay Fever by Noel Coward, Rockville Little Theatre, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. $16/adult, $14 seniors & kids.

The West End, at the Austin Grill in Rockville Town Center, 10 PM. No cover charge. Come on over to the Town Center because FINALLY our Rockville band will be playing their aggressive burst of upbeat original rock on our new local stage. The West End released their first CD in June, and are leaving their usual DC club to play our local venue. Don’t miss the blending of this band’s talents, as they lay down and smooth out their deep lyrics of the downtrodden, while pounding out their own kind of “Primitive Americana Rock”.

Saturday, October 6

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. Read about the Farmer’s Market!

Hay Fever by Noel Coward, Rockville Little Theatre, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. $16/adult, $14 seniors & kids.

Sunday, October 7

Project Natale, Sunday Afternoon Concert Series, Glenview Mansion, Rockville Civic Center Park, 2 PM. Free. Every month the new art exhibit has a musical kickoff.

Hay Fever by Noel Coward, Rockville Little Theatre, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM. $16/adult, $14 seniors & kids.

Rockville Sister City 50th Anniversary Gala, Rockville Library, 7 PM. $40/Rockville Sister City Corp, $50/Non-members. This is the concluding festivity for the week long celebration. Refreshments, 50’s & 60’s music by the Fabulous Hubcaps, and a chance to meet Pinneberg’s forty delegates.

Tuesday, October 9

Election Event: Candidate Forum, co-hosted by the East Rockville and Hungerford Civic Associations and the Twinbrook Citizens Association, Social Hall at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, 6:30 PM (Not 7 PM).

Wednesday, October 10

Growers Only Farmer’s Market, Rockville Town Center, East Montgomery Avenue, 11 AM – 2 PM.

Thursday, October 11

Election Event HAS BEEN MOVED TO OCTOBER 22: Candidate Forum, Rockville Chamber of Commerce, County Council Office Building 3rd floor auditorium, (100 Maryland Ave.), 6:30 PM.

Saturday, October 13

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. Read about the Farmer’s Market!

Twelfth Annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference, MontgomeryCollege, Rockville, 7:45 AM – 8:30 PM. $85 The 2007 Award Honoree is William Joseph Kennedy. All new workshop leaders will present at this excellent opportunity for aspiring writers. Registrations received after 10/8 will not be processed. Check-in at the registration table as applicable.

NPC Maryland State Grand Prix Bodybuilding and Figure Championships, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 10 AM - 10 PM. Tickets at the door. One the the largest amateur bodybuilding championships on the East Coast.

Sunday, October 14

Rockville Concert Band Gems in the Library, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 3 PM - 5 PM. Free. They are playing the classics.

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: Good Morning Starshine

With apologies to James Rado and the cast of Hair. This pretty flower has spooky Halloween web stuff on it, very seasonal.

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Follow The Money

Drew Parrish Warren Parish at The Gazette reports that the first campaign finance reports for Rockville city elections are in.

The deadline for reporting was Monday. (The next reporting deadline is October 29 at 5pm.) In the Rockville Central interviews, you can hear more from the candidates for mayor and city council.

As of the deadline, the revenue each candidate reported was:

Mayoral candidates

• Susan R. Hoffman: $10,945


• Drew Powell: $2,752.61


• Mark Pierzchala: $2,595

City Council candidates

• Anne M. Robbins: $7,110.77


• Brigitta Mullican: $7,038.44


• Phyllis R. Marcuccio: $4,830


• Carl Henn: $2,421


• John Britton: $2,409.57


• Tracy Pakulniewicz-Chidiac: $1,500


• Piotr Gajewski: $960


• Richard Gottfried: $460


• Robert E. Dorsey: $350


• Theodric Anderson: $85


• Eric Kuohwa Wang: $0

If, as is often the case in upper-ballot races, money translates into electability, we could see a situation in which the Mayor has little to say to the Council, and vice versa!

I wonder if, as with the presidential election campaigns, the next reporting deadline will see a big last-minute push?

(Image J. McKinley Co.)

[UPDATE P.S.: I have no idea why I called one of my favorite Rockville reperters by the wrong name. I think I may have known a Drew Parrish in my dim past. His name is Warren Parish. Warren Parish.]

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Today Was Walk To School Day!

Here's the scene on the way to Beall Elementary during this year's Walk To School Day.

Did you walk?

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List of Rockville Schools

The other day I tried to find a list of all the schools in Rockville. Not so easy.

I couldn't really find one that wasn't really a help-you-move site, where the point is just advertising and the links don't go anywhere. Also, it seemed like Montgomery County Public Schools made it intentionally difficult to get an overview that allows you to compare schools in the same area. Finally, there was no resource that included both public and private schools. So, I compiled this list myself. It may be incomplete; feel free to send me a note pointing out errors (or include it in the comments).

On the list of public schools, they are organized into clusters, each corresponding to the high school. That's how MCPS arranges it. I have added hyperlinks: clicking on the school name will give you a fact-sheet. I also include a link to the schools coverage area ("map") and to the schools web page ("link"). It is amazing -- and irritating -- how time-intensive that turned out to be.

Note that this list is just schools that go above kindergarten; it is not pre-schools.

List of Public Schools in Rockville:

Richard Montgomery Cluster

• Richard Montgomery HS (link map)
• Julius West MS (link map)
• Beall ES (link map)
• College Gardens ES (link map)
• Ritchie Park ES (link map)
• Twinbrook ES (link map)

Rockville Cluster

• Rockville HS (link map)
• Earle B. Wood MS (link map)
• Lucy V. Barnsley ES (link map)
• Flower Valley ES (link map)
• Maryvale ES (link map)
• Meadow Hall ES (link map)
• Rock Creek Valley ES (link map)

Thomas S. Wootton Cluster

• Thomas S. Wootton HS (link map)
• Cabin John MS (link map)
• Cold Spring ES (link map)
• Stone Mill ES (link map)
• Robert Frost MS (link map)
• DuFief ES (link map)
• Fallsmead ES (link map)
• Lakewood ES (link map)
• Travilah ES (link map)

Not sure what public school you belong in? Here's a school locator tool to find out (you'll have to agree to some terms before you
use it).

List of Independent Schools in Rockville:

• Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School *
• The Childrens Learning Center
• Christ Episcopal School *
• The Frost School
• Green Acres School *
• Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy
• Montrose Christian School
• St. Elizabeth Elementary School
• St. Jude Catholic School
• St. Mary's Elementary School

(*=members of NAIS)

Other Public Schools:

• Carl Sandburg
• Mark Twain

(Thank you to Christina Giunsburg for pointing those out.)

Independent Special Needs Schools:

• Ivymount School
• Katherine Thomas School
• Lourie Center School
• The Ridge School

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POTD: For The Birds

(With apologies to Juliana Hatfield.) I love this little birdhouse. It's near Peg Sante Park.

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Twinbrook Plan Hearings Set

The controversial Twinbrook Neighborhood Plan will be going to the public for two more "input" sessions, slated for October 10 and November 14, according to the City. Both meetings will be at City Hall, both at 7:00 pm.


In February, the Planning Commission considered the Twinbrook Plan and decided they needed to hear more from the affected residents. There were meetings in April and May. In June the Planning Commission chair opined that one of the residents who had been vocal on the issue was "a bit of a whine." Nevertheless, the Planning Commission plans to steel itself to hear from the people twice more.

According to the City:

The Plan reflects the community’s desire to maintain and enhance the historic residential character of Twinbrook, while also guiding the future of land currently zoned for commercial and industrial uses. The Plan covers Planning Areas 7 (Twinbrook Forest and Northeast Rockville) and 8 (Twinbrook). The two planning areas are located in the southeastern section of the City and are bounded by the CSX and Metro railroad tracks to the southwest, First Street/Norbeck Road to the northwest and the City’s eastern boundary along Rock Creek Park and Twinbrook.

No, I couldn't keep straight where the boundaries are, either. So I found a map.

Curious to see what all the fuss is about? Read the plan at this link. If you are feeling old-school, copies are also available at the Rockville and Twinbrook (natch) public libraries. Also, here is a pretty sparse FAQ.

If you have comments on the plan, send them in writing to: Steve Johnson, Chair, Rockville Planning Commission, 111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD, 20850. If you want to testify at either meeting, you will need to call the Department of Community Planning and Development Services at 240-314-8200 by 4 p.m. the day of the hearing to get on the list.

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POTD: Hanging Around

Well, you don't see that every day. Yes, it's a wetsuit.

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Rockshire Nails Candidate Positions

In the time running up to their September 25th Mayor and City Council candidate forum, the Rockshire Association circulated a number of questions to the candidates and asked them to respond in writing and in as much detail as they wished.

Randy Alton and Lem Mihalko (and, perhaps, others?) then compiled the answers into one (long) document and it is posted at their website. (Thank you to Christina Ginsberg for passing this information along.)

Rockshire asked 6 questions (I've edited for length):

• Do you support once a week refuse and recycling pick-up or twice a week pick-up? Explain your response in detail. . . . There has been discussion that the refuse and recycling [controversy] has put one neighborhood against another. Do you agree with this statement? Where do you see the City going in the next 5 years regarding this issue and what are your recommendations?
  
  
• Citizen Forum provides the opportunity for citizens to bring concerns to the Mayor and Council. Over the years, this format has changed. Would your administration maintain the current format?
  
  
• Previous elections have focused on the redevelopment of Town Center as a priority. Should Town Center continue as the main focal point? If not, in your opinion, what should be the main focal point?
  
  
• Wootton Parkway was pulled from the City of Rockville’s Master Plan to widen the road to four lanes. Do you agree or disagree with this decision? [D]o you support a Gude Drive Interchange off 270? [D]o you support the ICC?
  
  
• Pedestrian Safety, including traffic enforcement is sometimes outside the City of Rockville’s jurisdiction on county and state roads that are adjacent to our municipality. How would you solve this problem? What other pedestrian safety measures would you recommend and implement? In your opinion, what are the top 5 pedestrian ‘hot spots’ in the City?
  
  
• RORZOR has many implications for the City in terms of new zoning proposals. The Rockville Planning Commission will be making recommendations to the new Mayor and Council. Explain RORZOR and outline the process you would recommend for citizen input including a general timeline for consideration and recommendations to staff?

Finally, each candidate was asked to rank a series of 14 quality of life issues (e.g., meighborhood crime, traffic safety, environmentla concerns, etc.) in descending order.

This document is probably the best resource to know all the candidates' stated positions on the handful of key issues. If you don't read anything else between now and November 6th (on which date you should be voting), read it.

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