Friday, April 25, 2008

Visiting the Beavers: An Arbor Day Update

Beavers are sort of an anti-Arbor Day subject since they take trees down and Arbor Day, started in 1872, is a day to celebrate trees. With all the beaver activity, we really do need to think about planting more!

Last December the beavers were busy felling trees for food at Stoneridge Pond. Small trees were also disappearing and it became apparent that they were building a lodge with them.

Lately everyone who visits the pond is talking about how you can actually see them living in the storm water management structure. These two are asleep each day in their little nest on the cement. They must have realized that a man-made structure was much sturdier than their lodge.

My family discovered the beavers home before I did, but soon people were stopping me on my run and excitedly passing along the word that you could see beavers. Aren’t they just so cute together? Every time I see them, they are laying on each other. I can’t run past with stopping to see them!

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Rockville Central Radio Recap: Science, Celtic Music, Rules, City Attorney

Another fine edition of Rockville Central Radio is complete! It was a marvelous show. Ruth from Animal Exchange called in to tell us about Science Day, Drew Powell phoned in and praised Rockville's new search engine and also talked a bit about the recent move to bring Our Fair City's city attorney in-house. Acclaimed dulcimer player Maggie Sansone and Scottish harpist Sue Richards were on too, and we played a bit of their music. (They'll be at the Fitzgerald Theater tonight!)

Listen next week -- noon on Friday. Simply go here and if you want to be heard call in to 646-200-3332!

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POTD: Growl



I am thinking of getting a new motorcycle, so I am thinking about growls. But what that has to do with these fine guards, I do not know. I think the leaf in the right foreground makes this picture.

On another subject: Don't forget to tune into Rockville Central Radio today at noon! Simply go here and listen. Better still, call in and ask questions at 646-200-3332!

We've got great musical guests planned, sports talk, and more.

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Thursday, April 24, 2008

This Week In Sports 4/24/08

From Tim Fauber, Events Contributor

Last Week saw the Wootton varsity Baseball team beat Blake 6-4 in a 7th inning rally. Impressive since Blake has been dominating this season.

Our new USL D2 soccer team, Real Maryland Monarchs, played their home opener in a downpour, losing to Western Mass Pioneers 1-0.Their next game is Saturday, April 26 7:30 pm against Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

BOYS BASEBALL
Friday 4/25/2008
Wootton at Damascus 3:30 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
Blake at Richard Montgomery 1:30 pm
Northwood at Rockville 1:30 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Kennedy at Rockville 3:30 pm
Richard Montgomery at Magruder 3:30 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Quince Orchard at Wootton 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Springbrook at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Rockville at Einstein 3:30 pm
Wootton at Whitman 7 pm


BOYS LACROSSE

Friday 4/25/2008
Blake at Wootton V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
Northwest at Richard Montgomery V 12 pm/ JV 10 am
Seneca Valley at Rockville V 12 pm/JV 10 am

Monday 4/28/2008
Wootton at Gaithersburg V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Richard Montgomery at Einstein V 7 pm/ JV 5:15 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Wootton at Sherwood V 5:15 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Richard Montgomery at Rockville V 5:15 pm

GIRLS LACROSSE
Friday 4/25/2008
Wootton at Blake V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
R. Montgomery at Northwest V 12 pm/JV 10 am
Rockville at Seneca Valley V 12 pm/JV 10 am

Monday 4/28/2008
Gaithersburg at Wootton V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Einstein at Richard Montgomery V 5:30 pm/ JV 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Wootton at Sherwood V 7:15 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Richard Montgomery at Rockville V 7:15 pm

GIRLS SOFTBALL

Friday 4/25/2008
Blake at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm
Wootton at Damascus 3:30 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
Northwood at Rockville 12:30 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Kennedy at Rockville 3:30 pm
Richard Montgomery at Magruder 3:30 pm
Wootton at Northwest 3:30 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Quince Orchard at Wootton 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Springbrook at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Rockville at Einstein 3:30 pm
Wootton at Whitman 3:30 pm

BOYS TENNIS (Last Week)

Friday 4/25/2008
B-CC at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm
Rockville at Einstein 3:30 pm
Wootton at Damascus 3:30 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Churchill at Rockville 3:30 pm
Richard Montgomery at Seneca Valley 3:30 pm
Watkins Mill at Wootton 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Northwest at Rockville 3:30 pm

TRACK AND FIELD (Last week)
Tuesday 4/29/2008
Richard Montgomery and Georgetown Prep at Northwood 3:30 pm

BOYS VOLLEY BALL

Friday 4/25/2008
Magruder at Wootton Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm Boys 5:15 pm
Richard Montgomery at Wheaton Coed 3:30 pm/ Boys 5:15 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Rockville at Churchill Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm
Wootton at Blair Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Springbrook at Richard Montgomery Coed 5:15 pm/ Boys 7 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Rockville at Wootton Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm

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Weekend to Weekend 4/24/08

Events In Rockville

Thursday, April 24

Martinis & Matisse, VisArts at Rockville, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Music from On Thin Ice. Have a Saki-tini while enjoying the exhibit Kimonos & Woodcut Collaboration. Make a Japanese-influenced charm and take home the martini glass. Tickets are $10 at the door. Cash bar.

Meet the Author: Susan Coll, Rockville Library, 7 PM. Susan Coll was a guest on our first radio show! She even read from her second novel, Rockville Pike. She’s a local author and will discuss all her novels including Acceptance and Karlmarx.com. A book sale and signing will follow. Her novels speak to our life here in the suburbs and enthusiastic discussion always ensues!

Nelly’s Echo Acoustic, Austin Grill Rockville, 8:30 PM. Nelson Emokpae is invited to come on down from Baltimore to play solo every month because everybody’s enjoying the music! It’s not “Just a Dream”!

Friday, April 25

Arbor Day Celebration, College Gardens Elementary School, 1:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to hear the Mayor and Council read a proclamation at this tree planting ceremony. For the 19th consecutive year, Rockville is named a Tree City USA.

A Celtic Celebration, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. Adults $15, Seniors/Students $13. What a wonderful chance to enjoy the Celtic spirit performed by DC’s award winning Celtic musicians. America’s premier hammered dulcimer player Maggie Sansone, is joined by Rob Greenway (Irish flute & guitar), Andrea Hoag (fiddle), Matt Bell (percussion), Paul Oorts (guitar, mandolin, musette accordion) and four-time Scottish harp champion and Rockville resident, Sue Richards. They’ll be joined by the Teelin School of Irish Dance.

20 for 7, Austin Grill Rockville, 9:30 PM. They dare anyone to pigeonhole their sound and they look a little scary so I’m not gonna try (only partially kidding). They hail from Baltimore, write their songs on the fly, and pound away at their sound.

Saturday, April 26

Maryvale’s Spring Fling, Maryvale Elementary School, 11 AM – 3:30 PM. Rain or shine. No admission but you’ll have to pay for the carnival games, Turbo Tubs of Fun Ride, Trackless Train, a moonbounce, and pony rides (12:30-3 PM). Pizza, salads, subs, & Carmen’s Italian ice for sale, plus a silent auction. They’ll also be free things like fire safety, kid’s fingerprinting, and McGruff the Crime Dog! You will not want to miss the student bands!! Middle school bands: Medow & 32 Below, along with elementary stars from Olney: Crash. This is not your ordinary school event and everyone is invited!!

Earth Day Celebration, Parking Lot at 850 Hungerford Drive, 11 AM – 3 PM. The MoCo Division of Solid Waste Services invites everyone to celebrate. My family went last year and had the best time. We took the bus to the award-winning recycling center. I ALWAYS wanted to go into the recycling center! It’s loud. There are belts every which way. But atlas, our recycling from the City does not go to this facility. Make earth-friendly crafts, bring confidential paper for off-site shredding, and get rid of household electronics for recycling (cell phones, digital cameras, VCRs, stereos, & telephones). Discover environmentally friendly home materials and landscaping options. I know it’s in a parking lot but it’s fun!

Spring Festival, Croydon Creek Nature, Center 1 PM – 4 PM. Celebrate the 6th Anniversary of the Nature Center. Native plant sale, nature games, crafts, raptors, and woodland hikes for the whole family.

Konark Dance School and MKK-USA, Inc., F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 3 PM. $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, & children under 7 free. Professional dancers from India and Konark’s Panine-Ganguly present classical Indian dance.

Ty Braddock, Austin Grill Rockville, 9:00 PM. He’s DC’s “Mr. Honky Tonk” and he’s back to play for us here in Rockville.

Sunday, April 27

Rockville Science Day, Montgomery College – Rockville Campus, 12 noon – 5 PM. Free parking and admission. Our family has been going since the pre-school years. Something for adults and kids because there are rockets, reptiles, robots, gems, scientists, engineers, shuttle simulator, and hands-on experiments of all kinds. Every year there is something new. The Discover Genomics bus is very popular so line up early. (Last year we tried 3 times and I gave my spot to a kid so she could see the DNA demonstration.) The Rockville Kiwanis are selling hot dogs so come hungry!

Monday, April 28

Beall Elementary School Fundraiser by The West End, Austin Grill Rockville, 5 PM – closing Say you’re there for Beall and part of your dinner tab will go toward the 2nd Annual Beall Anthology. Best of all, The West End will be playing at 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Bring the whole family!

Thursday, May 1

Registration Deadline. If you live in East Rockville, this is the last day to register the address of your Yard Sale for the East Rockville Civic Association’s “Authentic Trea$ures & Tra$h Neighborhood Yard Sale to be held on Saturday, May 17th from 8 AM – 1 PM. Email chas_hausheer@hotmail.com

Twinbrook: The Quintessential Postwar American Suburb, Twinbrook Library, 7:30 PM – 8:45 PM. Graduate students from George Washington University will explain about the developer Joseph Geeraert, the design/remodeling/landscaping of the houses, and the people who bought them. Twinbrook was the largest suburb built in Rockville right after WWII.

Friday, May 2

Family Fun Night, Welsh Park, 3 PM – 10 PM. An extreme time is planned for the Rockville Sk8Park with a family movie, free skateboarding, extreme demos, and a moon bounce. (Located behind the Swim Center.) Free but donations are appreciated. Food & beverages for sale. All proceeds support the Rockville Recreation Fund.

Rockville Rooftop Terrace Grand Opening, VisArts Arts and Innovations Center, 5 PM – 8 PM with ribbon cutting at 5:30 PM. The Mayor and Council invite you to celebrate by taking yourself to the top of Town Center. This is the also the first of the “First Fridays Deck Parties” that the City sponsors each month during the warmer weather. Thanks to sponsor Gordon Biersch for sending me the band lineup for the summer. I am SO excited! We’re going to start with Sons of Pirates this month and I’m going to ALL of them!

All My Sons by Rockville Little Theatre, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. $16/adults, $14/seniors & students. Arthur Miller play which opened on Broadway in 1947 and was eventually made into a film and TV movie. Based on a true story of a woman who informed on her father for selling faulty parts to the US during WWII.

Saturday, May 3

Annual Spring Bazaar and Yard Sale, Rockville Senior Center, 9 AM – 2 PM. More than 30 vendors. Low-cost items, crafts, plants, computers and homemade treats to eat. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit organization which supports the Senior Center. Don’t forget to get the raffle tickets because the prize is good, old fashioned cash – 1st $500, 2nd $250, and also themed gift baskets.

Community Yard Sale, Welsh Park, 9 AM – Noon. You can stop by both Sales! Shop and support the Rockville Recreation Fund.

Cinco de Mayo Fest, Austin Grill Rockville, 11 AM ‘til late. Music on the indoor and OUTDOOR stages. Take the kids to a big Tex-Mex brunch with upbeat kid’s music from 11-noon. Then the outdoor stage starts up the rock, alt-country & pop with The Guzzlers, Justin Trawick Group, Everyone But Pete, and Justin Jones & the Driving Rain. At 9:30 PM J.B. Beverley & the Wayward Drifters play back inside. AN ALL DAY LINEUP! These people know how to throw a party!

All My Sons by Rockville Little Theatre, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 8 PM. $16/adults, $14/seniors & students. Arthur Miller play which opened on Broadway in 1947 and was eventually made into a film and TV movie. Based on a true story of a woman who informed on her father for selling faulty parts to the US during WWII.

Sunday, May 4

All My Sons by Rockville Little Theatre, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM. $16/adults, $14/seniors & students. Arthur Miller play which opened on Broadway in 1947 and was eventually made into a film and TV movie. Based on a true story of a woman who informed on her father for selling faulty parts to the US during WWII.

Recuperate. Can you believe how many things there are to do in Rockville?!! Everybody must be going to at least one, right?

Email the information for any fun, educational or community events to be included in Weekend to Weekend. Businesses are invited to send along specials and discounts. Include links! We will publish event listings occurring in & around our coverage area (map) on Thursdays. The inclusion of events and specials is at our discretion.

If you attend an event, we invite you to write a contributor review. Just
send it in and we will consider it. Rules: Event is in Rockville; fairly recent; article is your work; you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. Try to keep it under 500 words; we will edit for length. Include a photo if you have one!



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POTD: Slip Slidin' Away



(With apologies to You Know Who.) This remarkable pic is by Rockville Central friend Eric Jensen. It is hard to imagine better weather for a shot like this! Here's what Eric says: "It felt like summer on Saturday and some Rockville kids took advantage of the warm weather with a backyard sprinkler and Slip n' Slide."

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Animal Exchange is Best for Pets

Our family has led a barren existence without a pet. One of my sons is allergic to cats and dogs and we never thought beyond either of these choices. Occasionally different pet ideas were floated by family members with no real consensus. It was time to explore our pet options with an expert, so we visited the Animal Exchange.

Ruth Hanessian has been a knowledgeable shop owner in Rockville for 28 years. Located in the row of stores next to Giant, her shop is filled with everything you could need for a pet. For many years Ruth has been encouraging a cottage industry in local homes to supply her store with birds and small animals. Although Animal Exchange doesn’t sell cats or dogs, it does sell supplies, healthy food, and treats for them.

Even though we have allergies, I thought we might still be able to get a furry friend so we were directed to the back of the store. Although I was glad the mice and rats were in the tanks, the hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and chinchillas looked adorable. My family had been thinking about a rabbit and we found one with dark fur and blue eyes. We each took a turn holding this irresistible pet. However one of my sons was having trouble breathing. Ruth explained about pet allergies. Rabbits can cause asthmatic reactions even if you aren’t allergic to them.

At the Animal Exchange they are not just selling pets, but rather they are matching them to homes with people who want to learn proper pet care and have a good experience as a pet owner. This takes honesty and sound advice. Ruth has both in abundance.

The Animal Exchange specializes in exotic birds and people travel from all over Maryland and beyond to purchase them. The birds form a rainbow of blue, green, yellow, orange, and red as you gaze at cockatiels, parakeets, parrots, and cockatoos. The tiny finches are so quick and delightful. Ruth explained that the parrots, and even the parakeets, can learn to talk. It you get only one and spend time interacting with it, you can have an excellent companion. Someday I would like to have a bird fluttering around making cheerful sounds, but with such a selection it will be difficult to decide on just one.

Even though there were betta fish and hermit crabs, I knew that with two boys it was inevitable that we would wind up with a reptile. During our first visit, they held a bearded dragon while we learned about habitat, feeding, heat lamps, and basic care. Some leopard geckos were soon to arrive and we decided we would come back. This resulted in two more visits filled with enough information to know that we would do a good job of taking care of the new baby gecko, which came home with us on Sunday.

Whenever I put my hand in the tank, he comes over and places his hand onto mine like he’s holding it. He’s so cute and has a permanent smile on his face. I’m not really sure how it happened but I’m terribly fond of the little guy. He seems to have a predilection for me and climbs all the way up my arm into my long hair. Besides some fish, this is my first pet too.

He’s perfect for our family and we have Ruth to thank! Stop by with your questions about pets. She’ll help you find just the right one and teach you how to take the best care of it. Now when someone asks about a pet, I say “Go to the Animal Exchange!”

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Constitutional Crisis Averted: Rockville Has Rules

Correcting what appears to be a quarter-century of profligacy, the Mayor and Council have formally approved a set of rules under which to operate, according to our friend Warren Parish at the Gazette.

The City charter requires each Mayor and Council to "pass rules and by-laws for its own government while in session" -- an act that, according to City attorney Paul Glasgow, has not happened until last Monday's meeting.

The rules govern such mundane matters as how many votes are required for passage of motions -- in this case, it is a majority of the Mayor and Council (three votes) and not simply more "ayes" than "noes."

If a situation is not explicitly covered in Rockville's Rules, then Robert's Rules of Order will govern.

This issue came to a head after a motion by council member Piotr Gajewski failed passage on 2-0 vote with two abstentions and one absence. He looked into whether the vote had been interpreted correctly and discovered the quarter-century omission.

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POTD: Bummer.



You don't see such things too often in Our Fair City, thank goodness. But I was sorry to see this graffiti on a vehicle in my neighborhood.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Get Ready For Science Day!

(Note: re-posted due to erroneous day. He he.)

Rockville's Annual Science Day is coming this Saturday Sunday! You won't want to miss it.

The event, sponsored by City of Rockville, the Rockville
Consortium for Science
and Montgomery College, will be held on the college's Rockville campus (at Mannakee and the Pike) from 12-5 pm on Sunday, April 27.

There's lots to do, including building and launching a model rocket (pictured, from last year's Science Day, from the Consortium's website), checking out robots, extracting real DNA, and watching the release of homing pigeons. Here is a list of all the exhibitors.

Here's what the press release says:

“Science is fun and there is much to explore at Rockville Science Day,” said Councilmember Phyllis Marcuccio. “Kids and their parents can get up close and personal with reptiles, robots, gems and minerals and the always popular rockets.”


Many exhibitors will be on hand at this year’s Rockville Science Day to help youths and families enjoy a day of learning and fun. Local scientists, historians, engineers, and technology experts will provide hands-on science and technology activities. Attendants can participate in the space shuttle simulator, reptile wonders, the Discover Genomics bus, and the ever-popular rocket building and launching workshop.

Other activities will include hands-on learning about animals, getting to know gems and minerals, learning how robots operate, and solving physics challenges and conducting chemistry experiments. In addition, astronomers and biologists will provide demonstrations to help increase the understanding of planet Earth and raise awareness about the environment.


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Bain 74th In Boston Marathon

A common fixture among the top finishers in regional running races, Christopher C. Bain, 30, placed 74th in Monday's prestigious 112th Boston Marathon, with an impressive pace of 5:50 and an overall time of 2:32:43.

According to my search, Bain is the only person who listed a Rockville residence to crack the top 100. If anyone has better information, please let me know. (Thanks to Rockville Central reader Bill Bird for the tip about the Marathon's results search page).

This picture, from Washington Running Report, shows Bain in the Annapolis Ten Miler a few years ago.

I ran the Los Angeles Marathon once, and try as I might I only came within spitting distance of a four hour time (4:14 actually).

I am in awe of this neighbor!

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Christ Episcopal School A "Green School"

Christ Episcopal School has been certified as a Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education "Green School."

According to parent Eric Jensen, last year, parents, teachers and students created a Children’s Garden and Outdoor Classroom – an environment designed to develop children’s interest and appreciation of nature. This year, a new "Learning Pond" was installed in the school’s courtyard where students will be encouraged to watch, observe and learn by combining classroom concepts with real world activities. CES parents D’Anna Jensen and Bill Schillerstrom along with CES kindergarten teacher, Cathy Kashatus, led the effort to install the pond, creating a natural ecosystem for plants and wildlife. (Go here for more photos.)

“Our hope is that the pond and outdoor classroom will develop and expand our children’s love of nature and increase their desire to learn about the world around them," said parent D'Anna Jensen. "We want them to realize they can make a difference in the world and having an outdoor classroom is one step towards that goal."

Of interest is also the fact that working on the pond was the Eagle Scout project for Max Kashatus of Rockville's Boy Scout Troop 447.

On Friday, April 25, CES will hold a dedication service where students and teachers will take a contemplative walk through the Children’s Garden and Outdoor Classroom.

(Photo by Eric Jensen.)

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POTD: Prey



This is ONE way to recycle extra metal!

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Monday, April 21, 2008

High School Volleyball: RM Outlasts Wootton

Rockville Central readers have expressed enthusiasm for our new coverage of sports in Our Fair City. Among the writers has been John Hartranft, who is coach of Thomas Wootton High School's boys volleyball team.

He keeps a blog called Dig This! for the team, and wrote a stirring piece about last Friday's game between his team and Richard Montgomery High School.

It begins:

Sports memories -- and fantasies -- are constructed and revealed in different forms. For baseball fans, it's bottom of the ninth and two out with the base loaded. For football, it's the final two minute drill driving for a victory. In soccer, it's a tie score in overtime heading toward a shootout. Whatever sport you happen to enjoy playing, or watching, or cheering on your favorite team, you know when something special is happening on the field of play. Your hands sweat, your heart races, your emotions flip-flop with every turn and twist. And in the end, the difference between winning and losing can be measured by the widest grins, the weight in a pair of cupped hands supporting a bowed head, ene