newcomers - connection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com

2019-2020

Newcomers& Community Guide

The Potomac Hunt Races, a sporting and social event, will be Sunday, May 17, 2020. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at 14401B

Partnership Road, Poolesville. Held in the heart of Montgomery County’s horse country, the Potomac Hunt

Races is an annual tradition, celebrating the sport of steeplechase racing. See www.potomachuntraces.com

August 28 - September 3, 2019

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Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.

Requested in home 8-29-19

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322

online at potomacalmanac.com

2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Friedson Figures

By Andrew Friedson

County Councilmember

District 1

These first nine months asDistrict 1’s CountyCouncilmember have

been a tremendous thrill. My pri-mary focus continues to be provid-ing responsive and effective con-stituent service, which is why I’vefocused on showing up whereverand whenever I can to hear di-rectly from you.

Most often, we hear about theeveryday quality of life issueswhich are the lifeblood of localgovernment. Maintaining thathigh quality of life requires that welook both outward, by growing athriving private-sector economy,and inward, with fiscally respon-sible budgeting.

Looking outward, we need togrow the tax base so we don’t con-tinuously resort to raising taxrates. The first step to improvingour economic competitiveness is toview employers as partners, notjust revenue generators. That’swhy my top legislative priority thisyear is a bill to require an Eco-nomic Impact Statement on allcounty legislation. Bill 10-19 en-sures that we consider the fullimpact of everything we do at theCouncil, not just on the Countybudget, but on the budgets of

Montgomery County families andbusinesses. We have far more todo to enhance our business repu-tation.

This bill’s unanimous passagerepresents an important step in theright direction.

Looking inward, I’ve been ableto use my background in fiscal andeconomic policy and restructuringpublic agencies at the state levelto hit the ground running, askingtough questions, and pushing forincreased transparency, account-ability, and fiscal responsibility.

That’s why I spoke out duringthe budget process for long-termsustainability, including my strongopposition to balancing the bud-get with an $89.6 million diver-sion from the public employeehealth benefits trust. Using one-time savings to fund ongoing ex-penses is the definition of unsus-tainable. Fulfilling health care ob-ligations for our public servantsisn’t an option, it’s an obligation,and the $302.8 million in aggre-gate diversions over the past fiveyears will only cost us significantlymore later. While we lost the voteduring this budget season, thepublic conversation led to a strongcommitment from my colleaguesto look at strengthening our fiscalpolicies moving forward.Fiscal responsibility shouldn’t be

Councilmember Andrew Friedson

Ensuring A SustainableFiscal Future

See Fiscal Future, Page 5

Potomac Almanac ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Newcomers & Community Guide

By Ginny Barnes

Potomac has changed in the 40-plus years I’ve lived here in theGlen, but not drastically like somany other parts of Montgomery

County. Rich in natural and cultural history,it still maintains a semi-rural feel in keep-ing with our role as the transition from ur-ban down county to the Agricultural Re-serve on our NW border. It still looks like avillage.

Because our Subregion Master Plan isbased on water quality protection and theecological resources required to ensure it,we benefit from low density zoning, abun-dant tree canopy, rustic roads and streamsthat find their way to the Potomac River,source of the public drinking water supplyfor millions of residents.

We are rich in park lands. First and fore-most, the C&O Canal National Historic Parkis a local treasure. The Great Falls is sort ofour Grand Canyon. Certainly it is a naturalmarvel enjoyed by thousands of visitorseach year. The canal is a 19th century trans-portation engineering feat allowing us ac-cess to 184+ linear miles of walking or bik-ing from Georgetown to Cumberland alongthe towpath. Such a long riparian corridorsupports abundant wildlife and diversehabitats. In addition to the National Park,numerous tributary watersheds are StreamValley Parks with names like MuddyBranch, Cabin John Creek, Watts and PineyBranch. They create the landscape of ourregion. Potomac also has a few uniqueparks that hold rare geologic wonders likethe Serpentine Barrens Conservation Parkand River Road Shale Barrens.

One of the largest County ConservationParks is the 630 acre+ Blockhouse PointPark on River Road which adjoins both theMuddy Branch Stream Valley Park and the

C&O Canal National Park.Named for the Civil War complex created

there, it is considered a Best Natural Areawith outstanding mature upland forest,palustrine wetlands, floodplain forest, atleast nine species of rare, threatened, en-dangered and watchlist plants, a diversityof wildlife, historic civil war ruins of Na-tional significance, rock outcroppings andspectacular views of the Potomac River.Existing trails through Blockhouse PointPark are vestiges of a transportation systemthat supplied materials and supplies totroops stationed there.

Winter is an excellent time to hike inBlockhouse. Several trails lead to bluffsoverlooking the River, canal and towpath.With trees bare and a clear day, you canglimpse the foothills of the Blue Ridgemountains and imagine why this piece ofgeography was so essential to protectingnearby Washington DC during the Civil War.

For the last three years, on Jan. 1, I’vejoined a group of varied tree lovers frombotanists and artists to landscape design-ers who meet to start the New Year in thissacred place. The second year (2018) wasa distinct challenge as the winter beganharshly and it was 13 degrees when westarted our hike. With the right clothes anda sometimes brisk pace, the reward an houror so later of arriving to stand on whitequartz outcroppings and look down on athin ribbon of canal and towpath unwind-ing below was uplifting. Reading a poemor two aloud, listening to the river rush to-ward DC and breathing air created by a liv-ing forest is an excellent way to start anyyear.

Ginny Barnes on the NewYear’s Day walk a Block-house Point hugging treefriend, a Shagbark Hickory.

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As your local, weekly newspaper, thePotomac Almanac’s mission is to deliver thelocal news you need, to help make sense ofwhat is happening in your community, toadvocate for community good, to provide aforum for dialogue on local concerns, andto record achievements, milestones andevents in the community and people’s lives.

We invite newcomers and long-time resi-dents alike to let us know how we’re doingand let us know what is going on in yourpart of the community. If you have ques-tions or ideas, send us an email. We inviteyou to send letters to the editor or to sendan email with feedback about our coverage.

We want to know if someone in your fam-ily or your community published a book,started a business, became an Eagle Scout,raised money for a good cause, accom-plished some feat like running a marathon,supporting a cause or having art includedin an art show. We publish photos and notes

about personal milestones and communityevents, including births, engagements, wed-dings, anniversaries, awards and obituar-ies.

We are also interested in events at yourchurch, mosque, synagogue, communitycenter, pool, school, club, etc. Email us anote about the event, being sure to includewhen and where the photo was taken andthe names of all the people who are in aphoto.

We also publish notes about news andevents from local businesses. Notes aboutopenings, new employees and anniversariesare welcome. It is especially important tous to let people know about events aheadof time in our calendar of events. We ap-preciate getting notice at least two weeksahead of the event, and we encourage pho-tos.

The Almanac is one of 15 papers pub-lished by the independent, locally owned

Local Media Connection LLC, serving thesuburbs of Metropolitan Washington inNorthern Virginia and Potomac, Md.

Our flagship paper, the Alexandria Ga-zette Packet, is one of the oldest continu-ously publishing papers in the country, be-ginning publication in 1784.

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There are a few placesin Potomac where resi-dents gather to meet,eat, learn and exercise,

some could be called“Quintessentially Potomac.”

Though examples abound such asSprinkles for ice cream treats, dogwalking along the C&O Canal,water sports on the Potomac River,watching the new elementaryschool going up or trailing groups

Quintessentially Potomacof bicyclists along River Road orMacArthur Boulevard, the Alma-nac pictured four that manyPotomac residents can identifywith.

— Peggy McEwan

Jamie Maxwell enjoys a leisurely morningwith coffee and the newspaper in theoutdoor seating court outside ofStarbucks. Residents are welcome to meetfriends, sip coffee or other drinks and eatfrom one of the five eating establishmentsin the shopping center on the southeastcorner of River and Falls roads.

Carol Dietzel, a member of Potomac Gar-den Club, plants herbs in a newly estab-lished herb garden in front of the PotomacLibrary. The garden is a joint venturebetween the garden club and Friends ofthe Library Potomac Chapter. For informa-tion on Joining either group, inquire at thelibrary information desk.

Park Ranger Mara Woollard demonstrates blowing aboat horn to summon the lock keeper at Great FallsTavern on the C& O Canal. Canal boat captains often hadto get the attention of lock keepers as they traveledalong the waterway, especially when the lock keeperalso ran a tavern and restaurant for visitors to GreatFalls, Woollard said.

Andy Goldstein, general manager of Potomac Pizza,shows off one of the restaurant’s famous offerings, thistime a half cheese, half Hawaiian pizza. Potomac Pizza isbilled as a family restaurant, a visit shows patrons of allage groups. They have a full menu of lunch and dinneritems in addition to pizza.

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lostdogandcatrescue.org

lost (adj): 1. unable to findthe way. 2. not appreciatedor understood. 3. no longer

owned or known

AdoptDonate

VolunteerVolunteers needed for

adoption events,fostering,

transportation,adoption center

caretaking and more.

Newcomers

Fiscal FutureFrom Page 2

about only how much is spent, butalso how it’s being spent. I’m work-ing on redoubling the Council’scommitment to fiscal oversightwith Council President NancyNavarro and Council Vice Presi-dent Sidney Katz to introduce leg-islation that would require a regu-lar financial review by the Inspec-tor General of all county depart-ments. The cost of the bill in pub-lic dollars pales in comparison toits importance in maintaining pub-lic trust, ensuring your tax dollarsare being invested efficiently, ef-fectively, and appropriately. I amoptimistic we will pass the bill thisfall.

We undoubtedly face significantfiscal challenges, but we also havetremendous assets to match them.After these first nine months onthe Council, I am convinced morethan ever that we have all the re-sources we need to ensure a sus-tainable future. Together, we canturn that potential into progress.

First in a monthly column fromCouncilmember Friedson.

See Bulletin, Page 13

Submit civic/community announce-ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least twoweeks before event.

THURSDAY/AUG. 29Fourth Annual Overdose and

Prevention Vigil. 7 p.m. in theExecutive Office Building cafeteria,101 Monroe St., Rockville. The publicis invited to attend the fourth annualOverdose and Prevention Vigilcommemorating InternationalOverdose Awareness Day, a globalevent, aimed at raising awareness ofoverdose and reducing the stigma ofdrug related deaths. A resource fairfeaturing substance abuse preventionand treatment information will beheld at 5:30 p.m. The event is hostedby S.O.U.L. (Surviving Our UltimateLoss), a support group for familieswho have lost a child to a fataloverdose, in partnership with theDepartment of Health and HumanServices, the Circuit Court’s AdultDrug Court and the City of Rockville.Call 240-777-1400.

WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 4Potomac Rotary Gatherings. 7:15-

8:30 a.m. at Founding FarmersMoCo, 12505 Park Potomac Ave.,Potomac. Rotary Club of Potomacmeets for breakfast first and thirdWednesday of each month and aHappy Hour at Sugo Pizzeria, 5-7p.m., on the last Wednesday. Learnhow to serve humanity globally.Individuals pay for their ownbreakfast. No admission fee. Visitwww.PotomacRotary.org for more.

SUNDAY/SEPT. 15Submission Deadline. Montgomery

was the first county in the nation todeclare a “climate emergency.”Earlier this summer, three technicalworkgroups — on buildings, cleanenergy and transportation — were

Bulletin Board


By Peggy McEwan

Potomac Almanac

Grace Chen said shethat she was in sev-enth grade when shefirst decided she

would like to help the elderly.She connected with Potomac

Community Village, a non-profitnetwork of neighbors and friendsjoined together to allow Potomacseniors to age in place by creatingsocial connections and providingvolunteer services such as trans-portation, computer assistanceand simple home repairs.

Grace’s first work with seniorswas to help seniors with their com-puters and cell phones.

Now a rising senior at WinstonChurchill High School, she is amember of the organization’sboard.

On Aug. 20, she organized thegroup’s first Intergenerational af-ternoon of games, cards and craftsat Potomac Community RecreationCenter.

About 20 Potomac CommunityVillage members attended, alongwith seven teenagers.

“The idea is to help seniors leadhappier, healthier lives while con-nected to the community,” DitaSmith, volunteer chair at PotomacCommunity Village said. “That’sthe idea of the youth of the com-munity.”

The two groups became morecomfortable as the afternoon wenton with conversation, games andlots of laughter.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” saidJoseph Ekren, a rising freshman atChurchill. “I like being able to talk

to everybody.”Joseph said he and the seniors

he spoke with talked about whathe was learning in school, sports,and their families.

Don Moldover said he andChurchill sophomore PhilippeEgoume talked about their rootsand backgrounds. With his Jewishheritage, Moldover said his people

Teens Join Seniors for Cards, Games and Conversation

Standing, left, Grace Chen, Churchill student and Potomac CommunityVillage board member and event organizer; (right) Dita Smith Boardmember. Seated, Vic Cohen Board treasurer. Teens and seniors chatting.

migrated through many counties.Philippe came to the United Statesfrom Cameroon.

They also had sports in common.Moldover said he plays golf occa-sionally, Philippe plays soccer andis interested in wrestling atChurchill this year.

“This is a good idea,” saidPotomac Community Village mem-

ber Lisa Wang. “The young peopleneed to learn from the older, a lotdon’t have grandparents. It’s mu-tually beneficial.”

Soon everyone pulled them-selves away from the talk andgames to clean up from lunch,planning to get together again forsure.

Potomac Community Village

meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thurs-day of the month at the PotomacCommunity Center, 11315 FallsRoad. The Sept. 26 meeting willfeature Donna Eichelberger fromGraceful Transitions on the topicof “Downsizing Your Home.”

For more information, call 240-221-1370 or visitPotomacCommunityVillage.org.

Winston Churchill High School sophomore PhilippeEgoume, right, and Potomac Village Community memberDon Moldover talk over lunch at Potomac CommunityRecreation Center last week.

Members of Potomac Community Village and stu-dents from Churchill High School and Cabin JohnMiddle School meet for an afternoon of games andcrafts last week.

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By Peggy McEwan

Potomac Almanac

Newcomers to the Potomacarea, meet the Potomac Com-munity Recreation Center.One frequent visitor called

the Recreation Center “the most happen-ing place in the County.”

Pam Yerg, President of Friends of thePotomac Community Center agrees.

“I think it is the most active communitycenter in Montgomery County,” she said.“There are 200 center-based recreation pro-grams serving 60,000 Potomac neighbors.It’s amazing how many programs they of-fer, for both young and old.”

The Fall Montgomery County Guide lists47 classes for Potomac Community Recre-ation Center, but there is actually more hap-pening in the space on Falls Road that oncehoused an elementary school. Civic groupshold meetings there and it is home of anActive Adult Program for those 55 and olderthat meets Tuesday through Friday from 10a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yerg said she thinks the most popular pro-gram is Tai Chi.

“Pickleball is really popular, Bone Build-ers is really popular, and the Fitness Centeris always packed – it’s well-equipped,” shesaid.

Then she remembered the Club Friday

program for school aged children.“It gives kids an opportunity to have so-

cialization, music, activities and games anda safe place to gather,” she said.

Potomac Community Center is one of 21recreation centers in the county, and likethe others, offers a variety of programs forall ages.

It is also a place to just drop in and par-ticipate in a favorite activity.

Bernie said she comes to the center al-most every day, Monday through Friday. “Ilike to play ping pong,” she said. “That’swhy I come here all the time.” There aretwo ping pong tables in the main lobby ofthe center. It’s first come first serve for theiruse, Bernie explained, but play time is lim-ited when others are waiting. The centerrecently hosted the Maryland Senior Olym-pics ping pong games.

There are also pool tables, along with aseating area, a television and coin operatedrides for little children.

Amy Xu, 13, and her sister Ellie, 9, wereplaying pool for only the second time onFriday. Their first time was Thursday.

Amy said she wanted to learn the gamebecause some of her friends play, and shewould like to join them.

Ellie was there to help with moral sup-port.

Other parts of the center include two largemeeting rooms and a gym, plus a health

Potomac Community Recreation Center Lives Up To Its Name

On Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, from 2 -6 p.m., The Potomac CommunityCenter will celebrate its 30 year

Anniversary: PCC Celebrates Community.We hope you will join us in recognizing theyears of commitment to our communityshown by the estimated 200 center-basedMontgomery County Recreation programs,Club Friday, Summer Camps and RecreationLeagues, and countless public and privateevents provided every year to

60,000+ Potomac neighbors.This HUGE Celebration on Oct. 6 will fea-

ture exciting interactive demos and activi-ties that showcase the many sports and rec-reational programs that PCC provides, aswell as fun, festival activities such as abounce house, obstacle course and bounceslide, touch a truck,

Celebrating the Center’s 30 YearsMessage from Friends of the Center

petting zoo, carnival games, fabulousmusic with live bands and DJ.

The event is FREE as a thank you fromthe Potomac Community Center to ourfriends and neighbors and is sponsored by“Friends of the PCC” – a non-profit advi-sory board composed of volunteers from ourcommunity dedicated to the success of PCCin serving our neighbors. Food and com-memorative tee shirts will be available forpurchase.

To assure the success of this event weneed sponsors to help support the costs in-volved in putting on this event.

Please consider making a donation in oneof the following levels, or consider makingan in-kind or other donation to assist us inproviding food and prizes. contact “Friends”President Pam Yerg at [email protected]

club and two classrooms.The Potomac Community Recreation Cen-

ter will celebrate its 30th anniversary onSunday, Oct. 6. Visit the center’s websitewww.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/facili-ties/recreationcenters/potomac.html forinformation as the date nears.

Potomac Community Recreation Centeris located at 11315 Falls Road. Call 240-777-6960

Hours of operation are Monday to Thurs-day: from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sundayfrom 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Amy Xu,13, left, and her sister Ellie, 9, practice pool at Potomac Commu-nity Recreation Center Friday.

Michael Driscoll, 12, and his father Ken Driscoll practice shots on thebasketball court at Potomac Community Recreation Center.

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8 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2019 Potomac Almanac ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2019 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

C.P. HuntingtonMiniature Train

22Buck BranchNeighborhood Park

8704 Bells Mill RoadPlayground, lighted ballfield, and

lighted tennis courts. Acquired in 1986

40Highland StoneNeighborhood Park

8716 Post Oak RoadPlayground, gazebo, short walking path;

acquired in 1975

24Heritage FarmNeighborhood Park

9520 Hall RoadPlayground, soccer field, softball

field, two tennis courts, and picnic area.30 acres acquired in 1970

25Potomac CommunityNeighborhood Park

11301 Falls Rd., acquired in 1976Playground, lighted ballfield, and

lighted tennis courts.

26Fox Hills WestNeighborhood Park

12710 North Commons Way,acquired in 1969

Two-acre park includes playground,tennis courts, multi-use field andgazebo.

27BedfordshireNeighborhood Park

11416 Bedfordshire Ave.This 7.8-acre park acquired in 1968

includes a playground and multi-usefield.

29GregerscroftNeighborhood Park

12021 Gregerscroft Rd.Acquired in 1969

One-acre park with playground, pic-nic area, and open space with a naturalsurface trail. Wooded and near WattsBranch Stream Valley Park.

Neighborhood ParksPotomac has many small neighborhood that offer hiking trails, basketball and

tennis courts, playgrounds and sports fields, picnic areas, paths suitable for tricyclesand more.

23Avenel Local Park10551 Oaklyn Drive

Playground, softball field, three soc-cer fields and tennis courts. Pathssuitable for bikes or children’s tricycles.The 20.7-acre park was established in1989.

28Glen Hills Local Park12511 Circle Drive

This 25.2-acre park, land acquired in1966, features a playground, two soft-ball fields, overlay football field, twolighted tennis courts and a picnic area.

30Tilden WoodsLocal Park

6800 Tilden LaneAcquired in 1961

Seven-acre park with playground,ballfield, lighted tennis courts, basket-ball courts and picnic area.

31Seven LocksLocal Park

6922 Seven Locks Road, Cabin JohnAcquire in 1974

11.6 acres with playground, openshelter, soccer field, and lighted tenniscourts.

32Cabin JohnLocal Park

7401 MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin JohnSix-acre park established in 1933 in-

cludes playground, multi-use field,softball field, lighted tennis court, bas-ketball courts, and picnic area.

41GreenbriarLocal Park

12525 Glen RoadMore than 16 acres of this 25 acre

park, developed in 2016 on land ac-quired in 1992, is undisturbed. Featuresof the park include a regulation soccer/football field with spectator areas, asingle basketball/multi-use court, asingle grass volleyball court, a multi-age, interpretive playground, an asphaltloop path and pedestrian connections,entrance features, a picnic shelter, twostone pergolas, a parking area with 70spaces. The park also preserves largeportions of the site adjacent to thestream valley.

42Beverly FarmsLocal Park

8505 Post Oak Road, PotomacLand acquired in 1965

Beverly Farms Local Park is on 9.4acres located behind the Beverly FarmsElementary School. The park featurestwo playgrounds, a softball field, a base-ball field, and a multi-use field. Thereare also two lighted tennis courts and apicnic area.

10Falls RoadLocal Park

12600 Falls RoadIncluding Hadley’s PlaygroundSee 19

Local ParksLocal parks serve a wider area and offer more facilities.

Blockhouse Point Conservation Park

1CarderockRecreation Area

www.recreation.gov, search “CarderockRecreation Area Pavilion”

Reach this 200-acre part of the parkfrom the Clara Barton Parkway at theNaval Surface Warfare exit.

2Old Angler’s Inn AccessAcross from 10801 MacArthur Blvd.

Between Carderock and Great Falls,you can also get across the canal to thetowpath and the River across from OldAngler’s Inn on MacArthur Boulevard.

3BILLY GOAT TRAILAccess from the Old Angler’s site or

from the Great Falls Tavern VisitorsCenter or Carderock. The loop betweenthe C&O Canal and Potomac River is lessthan five miles long but has steep androcky sections.

4Great Falls TavernVisitor Center andOlmsted Overlook

11710 MacArthur Blvd.301-767-3714

5Swain’s LockSwain’s Lock Road (off River Road)

6Pennyfield LockPennyfield Road (off River Road)

7 Lockhouse 8

8Blockhouse PointConservation Park

14750 River Road, Darnestown, MD20854

www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/blockhouse-point-conservation-park-trails/

9Violette’s LockViolette’s Lock Road (off RiverRoad)

10Riley’s LockRiley’s Lock Road (off RiverRoad)

11AdventureConservation Park

10801 Glen Road, PotomacThis 14-acre neighborhood conserva-

tion area established in 1969, includesareas set aside for bird-banding.

12Falls RoadGolf Course

10800 Falls Rd.301-299-5156www.montgomerycountygolf.com

Falls Road Golf Course was com-pleted in 1961 on 150 acres of former

farmland, and includes an 18-holecourse renovated in 2003, plus a club-house and driving range. Reserve teetimes online.

13Cabin JohnRegional Park

7400 Tuckerman Lanewww.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-

trails/cabin-john-regional-park/

This 528-acre park centrally locatedoffers an Adventure playground, minia-ture train rides, dog park, picnic areas,campgrounds, nature center, a Tai Chicourt, hiking and nature trails.

Shirley Povich Field, one of severalball fields, is home to the Bethesda BigTrain team and the Georgetown Univer-sity baseball team, and seats 750.

Other sports facilities include alighted baseball field, five softball fields(one lighted), four lighted tennis prac-tice walls, nine lighted tennis courts, apee-wee soccer field, four single wallhandball courts and one volleyballcourt.

14Locust GroveNature Center

7777 Democracy Boulevard301-765-8660www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-

trails/cabin-john-regional-park/Hike the upper meadow of the Locust

Grove Nature Center and look for mon-arch butterflies and caterpillars, listenfor wrens and bluebirds, or watch forbox turtles crossing the path in the earlymorning. Wander to the Lower Meadowand watch bats in the late afternoon, situnder the shade of a 200-year-old sy-camore and spot minnows, crayfish,bathing birds or beaver activity in theCabin John Creek. Locust Grove offersprograms featuring local natural andcultural history for children, teens andadults.

15Robert C. McDonellCampground

7701 Tuckerman Lanewww.montgomeryparks.org for permits

16Ice Skating Rink

Cabin John Ice Skating Rink10610 Westlake Drive301-765-8620

Ice skating in August? Yes indeed. Anassortment of programs including les-sons and rental times. Sessions areavailable for the general public, adultsonly and family time. Rental skates anda snack bar are located within the facil-ity. Call for schedules and fees. http://www.cabinjohnice.org/

17Pauline Betz AddieTennis Center

7801 Democracy Boulevard301-765-8650

Features six indoor tennis courts, alounge area, and two locker rooms withshowers. Professional on-site racquetrestringing and regripping is also avail-able. Private and group lessons andseasonal court rentals.

18C.P. HuntingtonMiniature Train

7410 Tuckerman Lane301-765-8670 Train Information

The miniature train is a replica of an1863 C.P. Huntington, a locomotivepurchased by the Southern Pacific Rail-road, with five passenger cars, andcarries visitors on a ten-minute, two-mile ride thorugh the park. Party roomavailableOpen 10a.m.-6p.m. seven days a week

June 1-Sept. 3, plus weekends inMay, September and October.

Dog Park10900 Westlake Drive

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Located near the miniature train, thishalf-acre dog park is enclosed with a 6-foot chain link fence, allowing dogs torun and exercise off-leash. The facility isopen 9-5 p.m. Dog-park users are en-couraged to use the Westlake Driveparking lot. Please remember that alldogs should be on a leash before enter-ing and exiting the park.

Tai Chi Court7400 Tuckerman Lane

The Tai Chi Court at Cabin John Re-gional Park is the first Tai Chi court inMontgomery County and joins only fewof its kind in the nation. Built througha public/private partnership between M-NCPPC, Montgomery Parks and the WuWei Tai Chi Club, the Tai Chi court is a48-foot-diameter circle of flagstone in-corporating the shape of a yin/yangsymbol and surrounded by benches in aserene natural setting. It is located nearthe dog park and miniature train atCabin John Regional Park.

Potomac is home to a remarkable diversity of parks — na-tional parks, state parkland, county parks, conservationparks, equestrian parks, parks with adaptive playgrounds,parks with trains, dog parks, parks with ice skating rinks,

parks that offer access to the Potomac River where the water is flatand inviting and parks that offer access to the Potomac River wherethe water can be deadly. Here, in an annual tradition, is our guide tomuch of what Potomac’s parks have to offer.

Potomac AlmanacGuide to Parks


33PotomacCommunity Center

11315 Falls Road240-777-6960www.montgomerycounty.gov/rec

This is Montgomery County’s busiestcommunity center, providing a varietyof recreation activities for all ages suchas open gym, arts and crafts, exercise/leisure classes, group support meetingsand socials, senior adult activitiesthrough the Potomac neighborhood,Senior program, area and county-widesports programs, summer camps, pro-grams for individuals with specialneeds, children and adult holiday par-ties, volunteer opportunities and more.Facilities include a gymnasium, exerciseroom, meeting rooms, art room, loungearea, community room and social hall.The outdoor area includes two baseballfields, lighted basketball and tenniscourts, and a former in-line hockey rink.The Center offers table tennis, billiardsand foosball, a gymnasium, weightroom, social room, meeting rooms, andhundreds of classes through the Mont-gomery County Recreation Department.The Montgomery County RecreationDept., along with the Friends of thePCC, Inc. has opened the outside inlinerink for children and adults with specialneeds.

19Hadley’s Playgroundat Falls Road Local Park

12600 Falls Rd.

Falls Road Local Park, which show-cases the award-winning Hadley’s Park,allows all kids to play together. In 1986,the park system acquired the 20-acrepark, including soccer, baseball andother sports fields. Hadley’s Park, and itsaccessible theme, equipment, designand surface, have been emulated byapproximately 250 playgrounds acrossthe country. The park is the brainchildof a Potomac family whose daughter,Hadley, uses a wheel chair. The familyenvisioned an accessible playground af-ter watching her daughter’s wheelchairget stuck in playground mulch as sheplayed with her sibling and friends.

34Bette CarolThompson ScotlandCommunity Center7700 Scotland Drive301-777-8075

Now named the Bette Carol Thomp-son Scotland Community Center, therebuilt facility opened in November2014. A larger gymnasium and moderninteriors are a focal point. Upgrades tothe site include improved landscapingand parking, meeting green buildingand sustainability goals; energy guide-lines, and the Americans withDisabilities Act.

35Glen Echo Park7300 MacArthur Blvd.,Glen Echo

www.glenechopark.orgOriginally a Chautauqua retreat, then

an amusement park, Glen Echo NationalPark now hosts a variety of arts, envi-ronmental and history programs.

Classes are offered in pottery, paint-ing, photography, glass art,silversmithing, textiles and other arts, aswell as in dance, writing and music.

The famous 1921 Dentzel Carousel inthe center of the park has been givingrides to the public for 90 years.

Adventure Theatre (www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org, 301-634-2270) is oneof the area’s longest running children’s

theater companies, and the Puppet Co.Playhouse (www.thepuppetco.org) of-fers shows as well as was for children tobe involved.

36McKee BeshersWildlifeManagement Area

Located on River Road in WesternMontgomery County, McKee-BeshersWMA is a 2,000-acre tract in a mixtureof woodlands, fields, wooded bottom-land and managed wetlandimpoundments (green-tree reservoirs).The wildlife management area shares acommon boundary with the NationalPark Service Chesapeake and Ohio Ca-nal to the south and borders SenecaCreek State Park, a 1,200-acre publichunting area, on the east.

McKee-Beshers WMA provides habi-tat for a great diversity of wildlifespecies including deer, wild turkey, wa-terfowl, over 200 species of songbirds,and numerous reptiles and amphibians.Biologists deliberately flood forests dur-ing the fall and winter in “greentreereservoirs.” These attract colorful woodducks as well as other waterfowl whichmigrate through or spend the winterhere. Hikers will find trails for miles andmiles, meandering through the forests,fields and wetlands. Hunters enjoy thepursuit of white-tailed deer, wild turkey,woodcock, squirrels, waterfowl andmany other species.

Roads are maintained and suitable forhiking, nature photography, birding,hunting and other recreational activi-ties. Visitors to the management areashould be aware of biting insects, mos-quitoes and ticks from April-December.Area is wet most of the year, wear ap-propriate footwear.

37Serpentine BarrensConservationPark North

Piney Meeting House Road

38Serpentine BarrensConservationPark South

Glen RoadThe Serpentine Barrens Natural Area

is considered one of the most importantnatural areas in the county because of itsunique geology and plant community.Serpentine ecosystems are globally rareand occur intermittently in an arc eastof the Appalachian Mountains from Ala-bama to Maine. The trees are unusuallysmall relative to their age because of thechallenging growing conditions of ser-pentine soils. Therefore, forests appearto be early successional, but in realityare in a climax condition. Oaks as oldas 175 years old will have a diameter oftrees you would expect to be one or twodecades old.

More than 60 species of birds havebeen detected in the park, including asignificant number of forest interiordwelling species such as Louisiana wa-terthrush, scarlet tanager, ovenbird,pileated woodpecker, and barred owl.

39Callithea FarmSpecial Park

15000 River RoadCallithea Farm Park is a 97 acre prop-

erty located adjacent to the M-NCPPCequestrian trails at Blockhouse PointConservation Park and the C&O Canal.Horse boarding is available.

www.www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/callithea-farm-special-park

20PotomacHorse Center

14211 Quince Orchard Rd.301-208-0200potomachorse.com

County-owned and privately run, thislarge facility offers lessons at all levelsyear round, summer camp, birthdayparties and special events. Featuringriding classes for “Mini Mites” (5-8 yearold children) through adults of all lev-els. Classical Dressage, CombinedTraining, and a Hunter/Jumper pro-gram are available with riderscompeting under different trainers. Va-riety of activities with approximately 12horse shows a year, as well as clinics fea-turing many disciplines, and otherrecreational opportunities such as birth-day pony parties, individual pony rides,trail riding classes through woodedparkland, open houses, a summer horsecamp program, therapeutic horsebackriding, and more.

21Rockwood ManorEducational Centerand Special Park

11001 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac301-563-7510http://www.montgomeryparks.org/

parks-and-trails/rockwood-manor-park/

Built in the 1920s, the Manor was theformer country estate of CarolynGangwer Caughey. Set on 30 acres ofwoods and adjacent to the C&O Canal,Rockwood Manor offers a secluded andnaturally beautiful venue.

Rockwood Manor’s overnight lodg-ings are available for destinationweddings, multi-day business retreats ortraining sessions, family reunions, work-shops, weekend or weekday getawaysand other events.

Facilities for weddings, meetings,with overnight accommodations anddormitories for youth groups.


Enjoy the Potomac River &Compiled by Ken Moore and

Mary Kimm

The Almanac

Potomac is bordered by morethan 12 miles of the C&O CanalNational Historical Park,including the towpath and the

Potomac River. Living in Potomac pro-vides opportunities to enjoy the sightsand sounds of the river with outdooractivities ranging from an easy stroll to achallenging hike; a flat bike ride of a fewmiles to multi-day bike trip; rock climb-ing; world-class whitewater kayaking or agentle paddle on flatwater. Wildlife isabundant and birders flock to area. Alloutdoor areas of the C&O Canal NationalHistorical Park are open daylight hoursyear round. Visitors pay an entrance feeat the entrance to Great Falls TavernVisitors Center at Falls Road andMacArthur Boulevard, but access every-where else is free. Three-day pass for avehicle is $15; a person on foot is $7;annual pass is $30.See www.nps.gov/choh

Great Falls TavernVisitor Center andOlmsted Overlook

11710 MacArthur Blvd.301-767-3714

If you haven’t seen Great Falls, it’s time.Enter the C&O Canal National Histori-

cal Park here for up close views of GreatFalls by walking 0.2 miles over theOlmsted Island Bridges to the overlook atthe end. Bridges and boardwalks traversea rare floodplain terrace environment,ending with an observation deck over thespectacular views of the Falls and thehead of Mather Gorge.

You can sometimes borrow a bike toride for free here from the C&O CanalBike Loaner Program, weekends andholidays, weather permitting, 10-4.www.facebook.com/bikeloanerprogram

Accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.The tavern is open Wednesday through

Sunday from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.http://www.nps.gov/archive/choh/

Visitor/Centers/GreatFalls.html

ABOUT THE FALLS, from The GeologicStory of Great Falls and the PotomacRiver Gorge published by the U.S. Geo-logical Survey in 1980:

“In its seaward course, the PotomacRiver crosses many small rapids andcascades, but these are insignificant incomparison with the foaming fury ofGreat Falls, where the river drops 12meters in about 180 meters and is chan-neled into a narrow rock-walled gorgeless than 25 meters wide in places. In thesummer the flow may be less than 38,000liters a second, but during floods the flowcommonly reaches 40 million liters asecond. The average flow pouring overthe falls is 349,000 liters of water everysecond and in a year, more than 9.5trillion liters, enough water to flood theentire District of Columbia to a depth of55 meters, converting the WashingtonMonument into a tall lighthouse.”

Great Falls Mule Drawn Boat Rides:Take a trip back in time to the 1870s Ridealong the historic C&O Canal in a boatpulled by mules. Experience rising 8 feetin a lock. Hear park interpreters in periodclothing describe what life was like forthe families that lived and worked on thecanal. The boat is not operating in so farin 2019 but there is hope for later this

year. The boat formerly would run intoOctober, with a typical schedule onSaturday & Sunday - 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m.,3 p.m. Call ahead to confirm. 301-767-3714

The Gold Mine Trail can be accessed atthe top of the entrance to Great Falls, atthe intersection of Falls Road andMacArthur Boulevard, or near the GreatFalls Tavern Visitor’s center. Trails can beused for running with some steep in-clines. See the remains of an old buildingthat was used from 1900-1939 to minegold.

BILLY GOAT TRAILThousands hike the Billy Goat Trail

every year, with access from the OldAngler’s site or from the Great FallsTavern Visitors Center or Carderock. Theloop between the C&O Canal andPotomac River is less than five miles longbut has steep and rocky sections. Bringwater and wear good walking shoes. Noflip flops or ballet slippers. Allow plentyto time to stop and enjoy spectacularviews of the cliffs, Potomac River passingthrough the gorge and sensitive vegeta-tion and rare plants. This hike that ismarked by light blue trail blazes to keepvisitors from trampling on Bear Island’smany rare plants and sensitive vegetation.The trail can be rough and rocky withsteep climbs. But the trail is one of themost popular hikes in all of the metropoli-tan area, which can be done by people ofall ages.

The park service seeks volunteer trailstewards willing to hike parts of the trail,educate visitors at the trailheads, protectthe natural resources of Bear Island,ensure visitors are prepared for thestrenuous hike, share stories about thesensitive vegetation, and reduce tram-pling of the Bear Island’s many rareplants. Active trail stewards carry park

The canal boat at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Parkis not operating right now both for lack of water and damage from theJuly storms.

Potomac Almanac Guide to Potomac River

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Great Falls Tavern Visitor CenterCanal boat rides


radios for emergency communicationand receive basic first aid training to helpwith minor injuries. www.chohvip.org/billy_goats/

Carderock Recreation AreaReach this 200-acre part of the park

from the Clara Barton Parkway at theNaval Surface Warfare exit. Rock climbersvisit Carderock daily for its famous cliffs.The recreation area includes playingfields, a large picnic pavilion available byreservation and access to the PotomacRiver and the Billy Goat Trail.www.recreation.gov

Get involved on the river by joining theBike Patrol, becoming a Billy Goat TrailSteward, or volunteering to help run theCanal Boat, or serving as a docent at theRiver Center at Lockhouse 8.www.chohvip.org

Old Angler’s Inn AccessAcross from 10801 MacArthur Blvd.Between Carderock and Great Falls, you

can also get across the canal to thetowpath and the River across from OldAngler’s Inn on MacArthur Boulevard. Apopular spot for kayakers and stand-uppaddleboarders, and a great spot to findoutdoor adventure companies teachingbeginning to advanced paddleboarding,kayaking and canoeing. Hiking enthusi-asts have quick access to the Billy GoatTrail from here, or those who simply wantto take an evening stroll or bike ridealong the Berma Road or aroundWidewater, the area of the canal used forturning large boats around.

Swain’s LockSwain’s Lock Road (off River Road)

Campsites are available at Swain’s Lock,one of the largest of the canal lockhouses.The lockhouse is named for Jess Swain, alock-keeper in the early 1900s whosefather helped in the excavation andconstruction of the canal. After running aboat rental and refreshment stand atSwain’s Lock for almost a century, thefamily ceased operations in 2006.

The Swain’s Lockhouse is newly reno-vated now part of the Canal Quartersprogram, and can be reserved for over-night stay for a fee. See canaltrust.org/programs/canal-quarters

Pennyfield LockPennyfield Road (off River Road)The three-mile walk from Pennyfield

Lock to Violette’s Lock takes you throughmany kinds of bird habitat and aroundBlockhouse Point. Pennyfield Lock wasPresident Grover Cleveland’s favoritedestination when he went on fishingexcursions, according to the PotomacMaster Plan. The Pennyfield Lockhouse,built in 1879 inland from the lock house,

was the home of lock-keeper Charles W.Pennyfield.

Pennyfield Lock is also home to alockhouse built in 1830 that you can rentby the night. The Canal Quarters Interpre-tive Program invites visitors to stay in ahistoric lockhouse for a day and night tolearn about the living conditions of alockkeeper’s family.www.canalquarters.org/

Blockhouse PointConservation Park

14750 River Road,Darnestown, MD 20854www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-

trails/blockhouse-point-conservation-park-trails/

Those who know this 630 acres of landcall Blockhouse Point the jewel ofPotomac. The natural and culturalresources at Blockhouse Point areamongst the most valuable in the country.

The park contains a variety of excep-tional and rare habitat, including matureupland forest, floodplain forest, wetlands,streams and river-rock outcrops. Ninespecies of threatened, endangered orwatchlist species of plants have beenidentified in the park, along with 25species of fish, nine species of amphib-ians, four species of reptiles, 39 species ofnesting birds and 10 species of mammals.

During the Civil War, the 19th RegimentMassachusetts Voluntary Infantry builtthree blockhouses in 1862 to guardViolette’s Lock and Pennyfield Lock,taking advantage of panoramic viewsfrom Blockhouse Point. Union sentrieskept watch for Confederate movementsacross the river and at area fords.

Montgomery County developed abrochure so people can walk the footstepsof Union Soldiers. Blockhouse Point is anarea to enjoy peace, solitude, and anexample of the natural and culturalresources of Potomac that rival the mostvaluable in the country.

http://www.montgomeryparks.org/uploads/2016/08/blockhouse_broch_web.pdf

Source: National Park Service http://

www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisitNewcomers & Community Guide

C&O Canal National Park

Mobile App to Help Explore ParkA mobile app, “C&O Canal Explorer,” can aid users in exploring the 184.5 miles and 20,000

acres of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The app is available for download on bothAndroid and Apple devices from their respective app stores.

The mobile app includes over 600 points of interest in the park mapped in a searchable for-mat, allowing users to find at a glance hiking trails, historic sites, trailheads, parking, and more.The app also calculates the distance from a user’s location to nearby amenities and points ofinterest, with the ability to view what lies both upstream and downstream of a current loca-tion.

The app was developed by the C&O Canal Trust, the official nonprofit partner of the Chesa-peake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which works in partnership with the NationalPark Service and local communities to raise funds to preserve the park for future generationsand to broaden support through programs that highlight the park’s historical, natural, and cul-tural heritage and recreational opportunities.

The app was developed in partnership with Cermak Technologies, Inc., with funding fromthe Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.

Future plans include the addition of merchants (hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, andshops) to the map and search features, as well as a downloadable map that will enable the appto work even when the users’ device is out of cellular range.

The app can be downloaded from the Google and Apple App Stores and here:www.canaltrust.org/plan/explorer-mobile-app/.

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Walkers and kayakers make use of the Chesapeake and Ohio CanalNational Historical Park.

Violette’s LockViolette’s Lock Road (off River Road)Violette’s Lock offers one of the more

beautiful views of the sunset over thePotomac River.

Riley’s LockRiley’s Lock Road (off River Road)Riley’s Lock features a boat ramp on

Seneca Creek, the busiest in MontgomeryCounty, that allows easy access to a quietand inviting part of the Potomac River forcanoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboardsand small motorboats. The Seneca CreekAqueduct, opened in 1833 and made ofred sandstone, allowed thousands ofcanal boats to move across Seneca Creekfrom 1833 to 1924, the year of the canal’sclosing. The aqueduct was protected byUnion garrisons during the Civil War.

Rileys Lockhouse is open most week-ends in Spring and Fall. Volunteers inperiod costume guide you through one ofthe C&O Canal’s original lockhouses toexplore the life of a lock-keeper. Call theprogram coordinator to confirm, 301-384-8584.


September 2019Potomac Village Farmers Market.

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2-6:30 p.m. atPotomac United Methodist Church,9908 S. Glen Road, at theintersection of Falls Rd. andDemocracy Blvd. Operates rain orshine, May through November. Visitwww.potomacvillagefarmersmarket.net

Labor Day Art Show. Aug. 31 -Sept. 2, 12-5 p.m. ClosingReception, Monday, Sept. 2, 4-6p.m. Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. EveryLabor Day at the Yellow Barninstructors, students, and membershold an exhibition. See http://www.yellowbarnstudio.com

Irish Music and Dance Showcase.Monday, Sept. 2, 1-6 p.m. at 7300MacArthur Blvd at the Bumper CarPavilion. Attend a day of Irish musicand dance presented by the GlenEcho Park Partnership for Arts andCulture and the Irish Inn at GlenEcho. Free. Visit glenechopark.org/irishmusicdance for more.

Labor Day Parade. Monday, Sept. 2,1-3 p.m. in the streets of Olde TowneGaithersburg. Celebrate Labor Daywith performances, antique cars,marching bands, and more. Free. Seehttps://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/special-events/labor-day-parade for more.

The Trawick Prize Exhibition.Sept. 4-28. Gallery B at 7700Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E. Thisexhibition features The Trawick Prizefinalists for the BethesdaContemporary Art Awards. Thisjuried art competition and exhibitionwas established in 2002, with the topthree winners receiving a total of$14,000 in prize money. Seewww.bethesda.org/bethesda/trawick-prize.

Parks Half Marathon. Sunday, Sept.8. 7-10 a.m. Shady Grove Metro,15903 Somerville Drive Rockville. Amarathon race that showcases theMontgomery County parks system.Sponsored by Montgomery CountyRoad Runners Club. Visitwww.mcrrc.org.

Park After Dark. Saturday, Sept.14, 6-10 p.m. at C&O Canal NationalHistorical Park – Great Falls Tavern,11710 MacArthur Blvd. Attendeesenjoy live music, food, libations,auction items, desserts, a campfireand more. The C&O Canal Trust’s 9thAnnual gala fundraiser is held underthe stars at Great Falls Tavern. Themoney will help resurface thetowpath. Visitwww.parkafterdark.org orwww.canaltrust.org.

Dance Party with Soul Crackers.Sept. 11, 2019, 8 p.m. to midnight,Glen Echo Park. 7300 MacArthurBlvd., in the historic SpanishBallroom. The “soul dance party”features Memphis & Motownsoul.with a blues dance lesson to getstarted. See https://glenechopark.org/soulcrackers

Taste in Potomac. Sept. 21, 2019, 7p.m. at Bethesda North MarriottHotel, 5701 Marinelli Dr., Rockville.The 12th annual Taste in Potomac isa community event that raises fundsto help children in foster care findadoptive families. Nearly 30 localrestaurants donate their fare for theenjoyment of guests. Seewww.adoptionstogether.org/events/tasteinpotomac.

Cabin John Kids Run. Sunday,Sept. 22, 9-10 a.m. at Cabin JohnRegional Park, 10900 WestlakeDrive, Bethesda. A mile run, half-mileyoung run and quarter mile youngrun are offered, and free for runners17 and under. Race day registration

only. Visit www.mcrrc.org/calendar.Out of the Darkness Community

Walk. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2019. 10a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the MarylandSoccerplex in Germantown, 18031Central Park Circle, Boyds, Md.20841 This walk, in conjunction withover 300 communities across thecountry this fall, benefits theAmerican Foundation for SuicidePrevention. See afsp.donordrive.com

Days End Farm Horse Rescue FallFestival. Saturday, Sept. 28, 11a.m.-4 p.m. at 1372 Woodbine Road,Woodbine. The event will include ahorse costume contest, children’spony rides, petting zoo, live music,face painting, and alumni horsesreturning. Admission is $2 for adults,free for children under 12. Proceedsgo to the rescue and rehabilitation ofhorses in DEFHR’s care. Visitwww.defhr.org

Potomac Library Book Sale. 10a.m.-1 p.m. at 10101 GlenoldenDrive, Potomac. Sponsored by theFriends of the Library, PotomacChapter. Monthly. The monthly BookSale at the Potomac Library is such alongstanding tradition that buyersand volunteers come from milesaround to take part. See https://www.folmc.org/chapters/potomac-chapter/potomac-programs

October 2019Potomac Day. Oct. 12, 2019, 8

a.m.-3 p.m. at 9812 Falls Road. ThePotomac Chamber of Commerceoffers this yearly festival everyOctober. Arts and entertainment forall ages, ranging from rides andfestival for children to a classic carshow and business fair. The highlightis the Potomac Day Parade at 10:30a.m., featuring hundreds of entrants,including bands, horses, classic cars,school groups, scoutingorganizations, and candidates forelected office. Seewww.potomacchamber.org

West Montgomery County CitizensAssociation. Oct. 9, 2020, atPotomac Community Center, 11315Falls Road, 7:15-9 p.m. WMCCAholds its general meetings from

stages of entertainment to Bethesda’sWoodmont Triangle. Localrestaurants and entertainment cometogether for the Annual Taste ofBethesda. Admission to the festival isfree, taste tickets are sold in bundlesof four for $5. Seewww.bethesda.org.

Rocktobierfest. Saturday, Oct. 5, 11a.m. to 5 p.m. Features two stages ofentertainment, including German androck music, German food, artisans,kids activities, and beverages for saleby local breweries. This annual eventattracts more than 5,000 people toRockville Town Center. See https://www.rockvillemd.gov/1952/Rocktobierfest for more.

Potomac Community CenterAnniversary. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019,2-6 p.m.,The Potomac CommunityCenter will celebrate its 30 yearAnniversary: PCC CelebratesCommunity, recognizing theestimated 200 center-basedMontgomery County Recreationprograms, Club Friday, SummerCamps and Recreation Leagues, andcountless public and private eventsprovided every year to 60,000-plusPotomac neighbors – young and old.Contact Pamela Yerg [email protected]

November 2019Veterans Day. Monday, Nov. 11,

2019, 11 a.m., Veterans Park,intersection of routes 28 and 355.Join Rockville’s Mayor and Council atthis annual ceremony. AmericanLegion Post 86 will lead the wreathlaying ceremony and their HonorGuard will present a twenty-one gunsalute. A reception will follow atAmerican Legion Post 86 located at2013 Veirs Mill Road.

Turkey Chase. at YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 9401 Old GeorgetownRoad. The Turkey Chase 10K Runbenefits the YMCA Bethesda-ChevyChase, the YMCAs Youth and FamilyServices and financial assistance andscholarship programs, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary ClubFoundation. About 10,000 runnersparticipate in Bethesda’s rolling hillroad race that has been running since1982. www.turkeychase.com/

Christmas Tree Sale. Cabin JohnPark Volunteer Fire Department,Station 10, 8001 River Road. Thelocal fire department has raisedfunds by providing the communitywith Christmas trees for more than30 years. Douglas Fir trees, from 5-14feet tall, and wreaths come from afamily run tree farm, Eliot’s TreeFarm, in Pennsylvania. They aredelivered the last weekend inNovember for freshness. Seewww.cjpvfd.org for more.

Winter Lights Festival. Nov. 29-Dec.31, 2019, closed Christmas Day.Seneca Creek Park, 11950 ClopperRoad, Gaithersburg. Winter Lights isa 3.5-mile drive through a holidaylight show at Seneca Creek Park withmore than 450 illuminated displays.Visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/special-events/winter-lights-festival

December 2019Santa on Fire Engines Toy

Collection. A procession of fireengines run by the Cabin John ParkVolunteer Fire Department, carrySanta on a tour of Potomacneighborhoods over the course ofseveral evenings in December,collecting unwrapped new toys forneedy children. See www.cjpvfd.org.

Save the Dates, A Year in Potomac

The Potomac Hunt Races, both a sporting and social event, will be Sunday, May 17,2020. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at 14401B Partnership Road, Poolesville. Held in the heart ofMontgomery County’s horse country, the Potomac Hunt Races is an annual tradition,celebrating the sport of steeplechase racing. See www.potomachuntraces.com

Potomac Village Farmers Market is a celebration of taste,beauty and community every Thursday from May toOctober, with some hardy vendors coming until Thanks-giving and beyond. 2-6:30 p.m. at Potomac United Meth-odist Church, 9908 S. Glen Road, at the intersection ofFalls Rd. and Democracy Blvd.

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October through May on the secondWednesday of each month. WestMontgomery was founded in 1947 asa forum for local issues. “With theC&O Canal National Historic Park onour doorstep and the AgriculturalReserve to our north, what we havealways provided becomes ever morevaluable to retaining environmental

quality as we face the threats broughton by climate change.”www.facebook.com/TheWMCCA/

Taste of Bethesda. Saturday, Oct. 5,11 a.m.-4 p.m. along Norfolk, St.Elmo, Cordell, Del Ray, and Auburnavenues, Woodmont Triangle.Bethesda’s famous food and musicfestival brings 60 restaurants and five

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See “A Year In Save the

Date,” Page 15



❖ Manna Food Center, Where DoYou Drop Off Food? Manna’s temporarywarehouse is located at 8341 BeechcraftAve, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. 301-424-1130, www.mannafood.org. Seewebsite for many ways to help

Manna Food Center, the main foodbank in Montgomery County, strives toeliminate hunger through food distribu-tion, education, and advocacy. Manaprovides food to 32,000 individualseach year and helps distribute rescuedfood to soup kitchens, food pantries andemergency shelters county-wide. Nearlyevery social service organization inMontgomery County relies on Manna toprovide food to their clients.

❖ Mercy Health Clinic ,www.mercyhealthclinic.org, 7 Metro-politan Court, Suite 1, Gaithersburg, MD20878, 240-773-0300

Mercy Health Clinic in MontgomeryCounty is a totally free clinic serving theuninsured of the community. It servesaround 2,000 patients annually throughthe efforts of more than 50 volunteerphysicians and over 100 medical andadministrative volunteers. “At Mercy,we believe that we all benefit when ev-eryone in our community has access tohealth care.”

❖ Interfaith Works ,www.iworksmc.org, 114 West Mont-gomery Ave., Rockville, MD 20850.

Interfaith Works provides shelter,food, and clothing to low-income andhomeless neighbors.

❖ Potomac Community Re-sources, http://pcr-inc.org/ 9200Kentsdale Drive, Potomac, MD 20854,301-365-0561.

Potomac Community Resources, Inc.promotes the full inclusion into commu-nity life of teens and adults withdevelopmental differences by providingover 35 therapeutic, recreational, social,educational, and respite care programs.Donations to PCR make a difference inthe lives of individuals with develop-mental differences and their families.Eighty-six percent of every dollar that isdonated goes directly to its programs.

❖ Montgomery County Coali-tion for the Homeless ,www.mcch.net, 600-B East Gude Drive,Rockville, MD 20850, 301-217-0314.

Montgomery County Coalition for theHomeless (MCCH), a community-basednonprofit organization, is a leading pro-vider of permanent housing,intermediate housing, emergency shel-

Give Locally in PotomacNonprofits with localmission seek help nowand through the year.

Potomac is one of the wealthiest communitiesin the nation. The average annual family income in Potomac is $275,715, with 55 per-

cent of married couple families in Potomacearning more than $200,000.

But close to 68,000 people (6.7 percent)in Montgomery County live below the pov-erty level. That’s $20,420 for a family of three.

These families may be on the brink of

homelessness, families who must choose betweenmedical bills, car repair, heat and food. Some of theseare children who may not be sure that they will havea meal between the meals they get in school.

The beginning of the school year can bring uncer-tainty and concern about having basic supplies,clothes and shoes, a far cry from the plenty that somany of us associate back to school shopping.

Hundreds of homeless students attend the publicschools, and their needs are greater.

We list many kinds of nonprofits: food banks,animals, arts, environment, housing; find whatappeals to you, and pitch in.

— Mary Kimm,

[email protected]

Editorial

Potomac: Where to Give Locallyter, and supportive services for peopleexperiencing homelessness. MCCH pro-grams serve 1,600 men, women andchildren each year, providing 60 percentof the emergency shelter beds in thecounty.

❖ ArtStream, www.art-stream.org,8401 Connecticut Ave. Ste 1230, ChevyChase, MD 20815, 301-565-4567

ArtStream performances feature adultactors with intellectual and develop-mental disabilities including autism andother social and behavioral needs. Ac-tors, volunteer mentors and theatreprofessionals work as a team to createoriginal performances for live audi-ences. Drama and life-skills classes,programs in military hospitals.ArtStream is based in Chevy Chase andholds programming throughout the re-gion.

❖ Shepherd’s Table,www.shepherdstable.org, 8210 DixonAve., Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-585-6463.

Shepherd’s Table is a nonprofit orga-nization in downtown Silver Spring,supported by volunteers, religious orga-nizations, government, businesses,foundations, and individual donors.Shepherd’s Table provides help topeople who are homeless or in need byproviding basic services, includingmeals, social services, medical support,clothing, and other assistance.

❖ Fisher House ,www.fisherhouse.org, Fisher HouseFoundation, Inc., 12300 TwinbrookPkwy, Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852,301-294-8560, [email protected]

The Fisher House program supportsmembers of the military and their fami-lies when they travel great distances forspecialized medical care. Fisher HouseFoundation donates “comfort homes,”including at Walter Reed in Bethesda,built on the grounds of major militaryand Veterans medical centers. Thesehomes enable family members to beclose to a loved one at the most stress-ful times.

❖ Friends in Action ,www.iworksmc.org/friends-in-action,114 West Montgomery Ave., Rockville,MD 20850, 301-762-8682.

Friends In Action recruits and trainsa network of people from all faiths andethnic backgrounds. Volunteermentoring teams are linked for one yearin a supportive relationship to a needyfamily in their community. The goal of

the program is to help the family iden-tify their strengths and developattainable and manageable goals thatguide them toward financial indepen-dence and personal well being.

❖ Montgomery Countryside Al-liance, P.O Box 24, Poolesville, MD20837, 301-461-9831,w w w . m o c o a l l i a n c e . o r g ,[email protected]

Montgomery Countryside Alliancepromotes sound economic, land-use andtransportation policies that preserve thenatural environment, open spaces andrural lands in Montgomery County’sAgricultural Reserve for the benefit ofall Washington Metropolitan area resi-dents.

❖ Spirit Club, 10417-B Metropoli-tan Ave. Kensington, MD 20895,03-883-4364, spirit-club.com

Spirit Club Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organization organized to ensurethat people with disabilities and otherhealth-related challenges have the op-portunity to exercise and learn aboutfitness and nutrition in an integratedsetting.

❖ MCPAW (Montgomery CountyPartners for Animal Well-Being) is thenon-profit partner of the MontgomeryCounty Animal Services and AdoptionCenter (MCASAC) working throughMCASAC to keep homeless pets healthyand happy while awaiting adoption.

Goals are: Reduce the number of ani-mals that come to MCASAC; Pamper,protect and provide emergency veteri-nary care for animals inside MCASAC;Educate and engage the community incauses for animal welfare. http://www.mcpaw.org/

❖ C&O Canal Trust .www.canaltrust.org

By giving to the C&O Canal Trust, youwill be joining a growing movement ofcitizens across the country who are tak-ing personal responsibility for the futureof “America’s best idea” — our nationalparks. Give thanks for the C&O Canalyou enjoy today, and invest in its future.

❖ Potomac Riverkeeper Net-work works to protect the public’s rightto clean water in our rivers and streams;to stop pollution to promote safe drink-ing water; to protect healthy riverhabitats; and to enhance public use andenjoyment.

3070 M Street, NW, Washington, DC20007. 202-888-2037

www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org

Bulletin Board

From Page 5

formed to help identify strategies. TheCounty is now seeking volunteers toserve on workgroups focused oncommunity engagement/education

and climate adaptation/sequestration. Interested individualsshould have demonstrable expertiserelated to the workgroup topics,including identifying economic and

equity challenges and opportunitiesthat might arise in meeting thesegoals. Submit an expression ofinterest, cover letter and resume [email protected].



Submit entertainment announce-ments atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.

ONGOINGSummer Read and Learn Begins.

This year’s theme for TheMontgomery County Public Libraries’(MCPL) 2019 Summer Read andLearn Program is “A Universe ofStories,” encouraging children of allages to dream big, believe inthemselves, and create their ownstories. Space is featured incelebration of the 50th anniversary ofthe moon landing. Children fromnewborn to 12 years old and teens,13-17 years of age, are invited to signup online or at any branch throughAug. 31. Participants who read and/or take part in fun learning activitiescan earn prizes (while supplies last);vouchers to a Friends of the Library,Montgomery County (FOLMC)bookstore; or raffle entries. Visitwww.montgomerycountymd.gov/library.

Wings of Fancy. Exhibit hoursthrough Aug. 31 are 10 a.m.-1 p.m.weekdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m.weekends. Hours will be 10 a.m.-5p.m. daily Sept. 1-22 at BrooksideGardens South Conservatory, 1800Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. A livebutterfly and caterpillar exhibit.Visitors will be surrounded byhundreds of live butterflies fromNorth America, Costa Rica, Africaand Asia. Learn about theirmetamorphosis, the role butterfliesplay in healthy ecosystems, and howto ensure these insects thrive. Call301-962-1400 or visitwww.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens.

Maryland Renaissance Festival.Crownsville, Md. The MarylandRenaissance Festival celebrates its43rd season with nine weekends ofthrills, feasting, handmade crafts,entertainment and merriment. The27-acre Village of Revel Grove comesto life each autumn with more than200 professional performers on 10stages in the forests and glades withover 140 artisans exhibiting crafts intheir own renaissance shops, fivetaverns featuring cool libations, and42 food and beverage emporiums.Tickets through Sept. 8, $9-$20;tickets Sept. 14-Oct. 20, $12-$27.Group and multi-day discountsavailable. Children under 7, free.Visitwww.marylandrenaissancefestival.comfor more.

THROUGH SEPT. 2Maryland State Fair. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

at the Maryland State Fair Groundsin Timonium. Celebrating its 138thyear, MY Maryland State Fairrecognizes the enduring appeal ofMaryland’s citizens, students, and 4-H and FFA members to share theirtalents and compete for ribbons,prizes and bragging rights. The Fair’sbuildings, barns and stages providespace for thousands of fairgoers toappreciate the exhibits, learn fromthe exhibitors, and consider enteringa future fair. The Fair will alsofeature the thrills and chills, sights,sounds and aromas of numerousMidway and Kidde Land rides,games, and food provided byDeggeller Attractions. For those witha more local palate, the MarylandFoods Pavilion, Dairy Bar, andChesapeake Craft Brew & WineGarden, will showcase fresh from thefarm and Chesapeake Bay food anddrinks. Visitwww.marylandstatefair.com.

THURSDAY/AUG. 29Community Conversation. 7 p.m. at

Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden

Drive, Potomac. Councilmember WillJawando will host a communityconversation to discuss the fiscal year2020 budget, the state of theCounty’s library system and listen toconcerns from community memberson County issues. Free. RSVP toWalton Harris [email protected] at 240-777-7945.

AUG. 30-OCT. 6Double Vision. Gallery hours at

Photoworks at Glen Echo Park.Photoworks presents “Double Vision”a faculty/student exhibit showcasingthe excellence of the classes atPhotoworks. For this exhibit, eachfaculty member chose student workthat best represented their class.There are 38 photographersrepresented. An opening reception isplanned for Friday, Aug. 30, 6-8 p.m.Visit glenechophotoworks.org/ formore.

SATURDAY/AUG. 31Kensington Parkrun. 9-10:15 a.m. at

Rock Creek Trail at Beach Drive andCedar Lane. Kensington parkrun is afree, weekly, timed 5K run/walk onRock Creek Trail and is part of thelarger parkrun global community ofmore than 1300 events intended tobuild healthy and well-connectedcommunities. All ages and abilitieswelcome. Register before first time.Visit parkrun.us/kensington or [email protected] withquestions.

Open House for Classes. Noon-4p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Join thefree Open House for Classes andexplore the many classes andworkshops offered at Glen Echo Park.Participate in a free workshop, meetinstructors, tour the Park, and trysomething new. Visit Resident Artists’studios, view demonstrations, andenjoy theater performances andfamily programs. Visitwww.glenechopark.org or call 301-320-1400.

Bands on the Boardwalk. 6-9 p.m.on the Rio Lakefront at 209Boardwalk Place, Gaithersburg. SeeAmong the Stars live on theBoardwalk Stage. Live music everySaturday through September. Visitwww.riolakefront.com/events/concerts-on-the-boardwalk/ for more.

SATURDAY/AUG. 31-MONDAY/SEPT. 249th Annual Labor Day Art Show.

Noon-6 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. TheLabor Day Art Show is an annualtradition that brings the communitytogether to appreciate local artistsand their work. Original artworkfrom over 200 artists is on displayand for sale, in media includingpainting, drawing, photography,jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber arts,sculpture, furniture, and works onpaper. A member and donor previewwill take place in the Ballroom BackRoom, Friday, Aug. 30, 6-7:30 p.m. Itwill be followed by a publicreception, 7:30-9 p.m.; lightrefreshments will be served. Visitwww.glenechopark.org or call 301-320-1400.

SUNDAY/SEPT. 1Waltz Dance. 3:30-6 p.m. at the

Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Introductory Waltz Workshop from2:45-3:30 p.m. Featuring theensemble Latter Day Lizards playinga lively mix of folk waltzes with afew other couple dances, includingHambo, Schottische, Swing, Tango,and Polka. Admission is $13, $5 forfull-time students with student ID.No partner required. Call Joan Kouryat 202-238-0230 or Glen Echo Parkat 301-634-2222, or visitwww.WaltzTimeDances.org.

MONDAY/SEPT. 2Culkin School Dancers. 1-5 p.m. at

Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. Come to Glen Parkon Labor Day to enjoy an afternoon

of Irish music and danceperformances. Presented by the GlenEcho Park Partnership for Arts andCulture and the Irish Inn at GlenEcho, the Irish Music & DanceShowcase features a wide variety ofarea performers. Free, open to thepublic.Visit www.glenechopark.org orcall 301-320-1400.

TUESDAY/SEPT. 3Read to a Dog. 4:30 p.m. at Potomac

Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive,Potomac. School-age children,especially beginners learning to readand those who want to improve theirconfidence in reading skills, areinvited to practice reading aloud inshort (10-15 minute) semi-privatesessions. Call 240-777-0694.

THURSDAY/SEPT. 5Senior Forum and Resource Fair.

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the PotomacCommunity Center, 11315 Falls Road,

Potomac. Featuring presentationsfrom experts on wellness and brainfitness, ways to prevent falls,detecting and avoiding financialabuse and more. Service providers toseniors will showcase additionaltopics

such as fire prevention and public safety,healthy hearing, transportation,lifelong learning and more. PotomacCommunity Village will staff a tablecontaining information about theorganization. A light breakfast will beserved. Free and open to all. Call240-221-1370 or visitwww.PotomacCommunityVillage.orgfor more.

Bilingual Storytime. 10:30 a.m. atPotomac Library, 10101 GlenoldenDrive, Potomac. Bilingual storytimejust for toddlers and preschoolers.Stories in Chinese and English, songsand rhymes, too! 25-30 minuteprograms. Call 240-777-0694.

Stay and Play. 11 a.m. at PotomacLibrary, 10101 Glenolden Drive,Potomac. Join for an open playprogram. The Potomac Library willprovide the toys and music – families

bring the smiles. This program is forchildren aged 0-6 years old alongwith their families. Call 240-777-0694.

Live Music: Marcia Ball. 8 p.m. atAMP by Strathmore, 11810 GrandPark Ave., North Bethesda. Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist,songwriter and vocalist Marcia Ball –the official 2018 Texas StateMusician – will perform. $35-$55.Visit www.ampbystrathmore.com orcall 301-581-5100.

FRIDAY/SEPT. 6Nando’s Fiery Friday Night

Concerts. 6:30-8:30 on the RioLakefront at 209 Boardwalk Place,Gaithersburg. Dine al fresco and seeRobert AX Adams and Friends live onthe Boardwalk Stage (near UnionJack’s). Visit www.riolakefront.com/events/nandos-fiery-friday-night-concerts/ for more.

Casual Concerts at Glen Echo. 7:30p.m. at Washington Conservatory ofMusic at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Bethesda. MikeKligerman – The Many Moods of theMighty Ukulele. Each concert datewill correspond with an Art Walk inthe Park, an evening of open studiosand artist talks organized by the GlenEcho Park Partnership for Arts andCulture. Admission is free, anddonations are welcome at the door.Visit washingtonconservatory.org orcall 301-634-2250.

SEPT. 6-25Two Exhibit Opening for

September. Artists & MakersStudios on Parklawn Drive inRockville hosts two artists in threegalleries for the month of September.Master artist Robert Stark of UnionDale, Pennsylvania – who divides histime between Susquehanna Studio inPennsylvania and Albuquerque, NewMexico – will fill two galleries atParklawn. Rosa Inés Vera hasexhibited throughout the DMV andinternationally, and her work willoccupy the third Parklawn Gallery.These exhibits will open for FirstFriday festivities on Sept. 6, 6-9 p.m.and will showcase artists openstudios for browsing, along withmusical entertainment, as well as agallery talk with Robert Start, 7 p.m.A Gallery Talk for “Inside, Outside”at Parklawn with invited speakerJorge Gastelumendi who is theGlobal Director of Water and EnergyPolicy at The Nature Conservancy, isplanned for Sept. 14, 3-4 p.m. Visitartistsandmakersstudios.com/ formore.

SEPT. 6-OCT. 6Visual Poetry. At the Popcorn Gallery

at Glen Echo Park. PhotoworksGallery announces a newcollaborative exhibit in the PopcornGallery that will feature work thatchallenged the photographers toponder the poetry in their imagesand to assign words to the photos inthe exhibit. An opening reception isplanned for Friday, Sept. 6, 6-8 p.m.with a live reading from Poet E.Ethelbert Miller at 7. Visitglenechophotoworks.org/ for more.

SATURDAY/SEPT. 7Kensington Parkrun. 9-10:15 a.m. at

Rock Creek Trail at Beach Drive andCedar Lane. Kensington parkrun is afree, weekly, timed 5K run/walk onRock Creek Trail and is part of thelarger parkrun global community ofmore than 1300 events intended tobuild healthy and well-connectedcommunities. All ages and abilitieswelcome. Register before first time.Visit parkrun.us/kensington or [email protected] withquestions.

Entertainment

Maryland State FairCelebrating its 138th year, MY Maryland State Fair recognizes the enduring appeal of Maryland’s citizens, students, and

4-H and FFA members to share their talents and compete for ribbons, prizes and bragging rights. The Fair’s buildings, barnsand stages provide space for thousands of fairgoers to appreciate the exhibits, learn from the exhibitors, and consider enter-ing a future fair. The Fair will also feature the thrills and chills, sights, sounds and aromas of numerous Midway and KiddeLand rides, games, and food provided by Deggeller Attractions. For those with a more local palate, the Maryland Foods Pa-vilion, Dairy Bar, and Chesapeake Craft Brew & Wine Garden, will showcase fresh from the farm and Chesapeake Bay foodand drinks. The fair runs Aug. 23-Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at the Maryland State Fair Grounds in Timonium. Visitwww.marylandstatefair.com.

Pho

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by Jim

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Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

The most recent near-having-to-think-about-death experience I wrote about last week (“Barbosoul”) was quite a shock to my system.

In spite of all the ups and downs and all-arounds I’ve experienced over the past 10 and a half not-fun-

the place I went to last week. Certainly I’ve thought

patient having been given a “terminal” diagnosis.

together to equal four. It had always equaled three

don’t. Sometimes I’m not sure what I mean.) But last week’s column was different. I went there.

It’s not as if I haven’t experienced pain before.

mediastinum) where my non-small-cell-lung-cancer-stage-IV tumors take up primary residence. Some-

had grown over tumors. Any of which I would never know until my

oncologist discussed with Team Lourie the radiolo-

these assessments were never given with any kind of

was hopeful. Never too high and never too low.

in the identical (so far as I knew) place where my

rolling like I had never rolled before – and without any kind of mat to soften the fall.

Aside from experiencing headaches/pain in

progression (in 30 percent of lung cancer patients the

area as 10 and a half years ago likewise scares out the daylights living inside of me.

zero knowledge in the right hands (mine) become a dangerous thing. Why else would I be experiencing pain in my left side by my rib cage if it wasn’t the

As those of you who read to the end of last week’s

that’s my cycle: bi-weekly immunotherapy followed by bi-monthly scans of my neck down to my lower

-

future. -

ference/suggestion made by my oncologist in our last

that’s the problem with inferences/suggestions made in the medical “whirled.”

research supporting recommendations upon which

the late Washington Redskins’ owner Jack Kent Cooke commenting on some football rumor I can’t remember.

the oncologist’s mouth to the patient’s estate planner. It’s more like a roller coaster – without the safety bar

I feel like I’ve dodged a bullet. It reminds me of my elementary school gym classes when we played a game called “Bombardment” where dodge balls were thrown across the gym from one half of the class at

you were out.

Side-Splitting But Not Very FunnyPOTOMAC

ALMANACwww.PotomacAlmanac.com

Newspaper of PotomacA Connection Newspaper

An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered

to homes and businesses.

1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314

Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to

connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe

EDITOR & PUBLISHERMary Kimm

[email protected]@MaryKimm

EDITORIALPHONE: 703-778-9415

E-MAIL:[email protected]

EDITORSteven Mauren, 703-778-9415

[email protected]

PRODUCTION EDITORJean Card

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSusan Belford, Carole Dell,

Cissy Finley Grant, Carole Funger,Colleen Healy, Kenny Lourie,Peggy McEwan, Ken Moore

ContributingPhotographers

Harvey Levine, Deborah Stevens

Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,

Ali KhalighProduction Manager

Geovani Flores

ADVERTISINGFor advertising information

[email protected]

Display Advertising:Kenny Lourie 301-325-1398

[email protected]

Debbie FunkNational Sales & Real Estate

[email protected]

David GriffinMarketing Assistant

[email protected]

Jerry VernonExecutive Vice President

[email protected]

[email protected]

Potomac Almanac is publishedby Local Media Connection LLC

Five Time First PlaceAward-WinnerPublic Service

MDDC Press Association

Four TimeNewspaper of the Year

An Award-winning Newspaperin Writing, Photography, Editing,

Graphics and Design

Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland. Saturday, Dec.17, 1-4 p.m., Veterans Park in downtown Bethesda.Celebrate the holiday season from Veterans Park indowntown Bethesda with a variety ofperformances, live ice sculpting, a visit from SantaClaus and more. See www.bethesda.org.

January 2020Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Rockville’s 48th

annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration willinclude multicultural performances, awards and akeynote speech. The celebration is free and open toall ages. A reception will follow. See https://www.rockvillemd.gov/519/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Day for details.

February 2020Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival. Feb. 14-16, 2020,

1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville. The festivalprovides live musical performances, workshops andseminars. See www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org.

Play In A Day. Six professional area theatrecompanies write, direct, rehearse and performoriginal plays based on similar themes in 24 hours.The plays are presented at the annual Play In ADay, held in 2019 in February. Seewww.bethesda.org.

April 2020Pike’s Peek 10K. This 10K course is designed for

speed, starting near the Shady Grove Metro Stationand running straight down Rockville Pike to thefinish on Rose Avenue in Pike & Rose. Seewww.pikespeek10k.org.

The Annual C&O Canal Pride Days. April to May.This is a joint effort between the park and C&OCanal Trust that brings hundreds of volunteers intothe park to conduct maintenance projects. Work atC&O Canal National Historical Park at Great Falls(Maryland) and other sites along the PotomacRiver and C&O Canal towpath. Canal Pride Dayshas projects for every age and skill level—everyoneis welcomed to help. Check the Canal Trust websitein early spring 2020 for locations and events. Seewww.canaltrust.org, or see the park website atwww.nps.gov/choh for more.

Potomac Watershed Cleanup. This volunteerevent is sponsored annually by Alice FergusonFoundation in April. Since it began thirty yearsago, the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup hasmobilized more than 150,000 volunteers to removemore than 7 million pounds of trash along thePotomac River. At the 2019 cleanup, volunteerscollected 862 tires, 11,034 plastic bags, 9,726plastic straws and 6,871 cigarettes across theregion.Volunteers help at many sites along thePotomac River in Potomac. Seewww.fergusonfoundation.org.

1921 Dentzel Carousel. After repairs in the 2019season, Glen Echo Park’s historic 1921 DentzelCarousel is scheduled to reopen in spring 2020.See www.glenechopark.org/carousel for updates.

May 2020Potomac Horse Center Annual Spring Open

House. 14211 Quince Orchard Rd., NorthPotomac. Since the Fall of 1994, The PotomacHorse Center has hosted open houses for the localcommunity. We offer Horse & Pony rides, hayrides, a moon bounce, barn tours, personalizedhorseshoes, riding demonstrations, food and more.See www.PotomacHorse.com.

Greek Orthodox Spring Festival. Greek OrthodoxChurch of St. George, 7701 Bradley Blvd.,Bethesda. The annual festival includes traditionalGreek cuisine, outdoor/indoor dining, Greekdancing, church tours and Greek pastries. Call 301-469-7990 or visit www.stgeorge.org

The Potomac Hunt Races. Sunday, May 17,2020. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at 14401B Partnership Road,Poolesville. Held in the heart of MontgomeryCounty’s horse country, the Potomac Hunt Races isan annual tradition, celebrating the sport ofsteeplechase racing. Seewww.potomachuntraces.com.

SerbFest. Saint Luke Serbian Orthodox Church,10660 River Road, Potomac. Serbian dishes,beverages, dance and music performances, giftsand boutique items and family-friendly activities.Visit www.serbfestdc.com for more.

The Landon Azalea Garden Festival. Perkins

Garden and the Landon campus, 6101 Wilson Lane,Bethesda. The annual festival dates back to the mid-1950s when Landon’s founders, Paul and Mary LeeBanfield opened the newly acquired azalea gardento the public. See www.landon.net.

Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade. Monday,May 25, 2020, Rockville Town Center. MemorialDay festival and parade with concerts, children’scrafts and games. Marching bands, drill and pompom units and floats take to Rockville’s streets aftera solemn ceremony featuring a wreath laying andmilitary salute. See https://www.rockvillemd.gov/406/Special-Events for more.

Bethesda Summer Concert Series. Last year’s freeThursday concerts took place in May and June atVeterans Park, at the corner of Norfolk andWoodmont avenues. See www.bethesda.org.

June 2020Imagination Bethesda. Last year’s event held

June 1, 2019. Free family fun day. Celebratechildren, art, and all things fun at ImaginationBethesda at the annual children’s street festival.Activity tents line the streets, face painters bringbutterflies and pirates to life, a stage of liveentertainment will have the whole street dancing,and more. See www.bethesda.org.

The Bethesda Big Train baseball season isunderway at Shirley Povich Field in Cabin JohnRegional Park, 10600 Westlake Drive. The Big Trainplays in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League,a wooden-bat collegiate league that has sentathletes to Major League Baseball. Seewww.bigtrain.org.

Glen Echo Park’s Summer Concert Series beginsin June on Thursday evenings in the Bumper CarPavilion. Free. See www.glenechopark.org. 301-634-2222.

Pride Day. Rockville celebrates its LGBTQ communityat the fourth annual Rockville Pride festival.Presented by the City of Rockville’s Human RightsCommission, will take place in Rockville TownSquare. It will feature live intergenerationalperformances, educational booths, dialogue, crafts,face painting, airbrush tattoos and a moon bounce.See www.rockvillemd.gov/2276/Rockville-Pride

July 2020Autism Speaks 5K on the 4th of July. The annual

Fourth of July Autism Speaks Annual 5K run andone-mile walk through Potomac neighborhoodssupport Autism Speaks’ mission to promotesolutions, across the spectrum for individuals withautism and their families. The race begins and endsnear the Potomac Library in Potomac Village, 10101Glenolden Drive. In 2020, the race will celebrate its20th anniversary. See www.autismspeaks.org

Rockville’s Independence Day Celebration. July4, 7:15 p.m. Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park, 1800Piccard Drive in King Farm, Rockville. Activitiesinclude live music and food. Call 240-314-5022. Seewww.rockvillemd.gov/663/Independence-Day

Bethesda Outdoor Movies. Annual outdoor movieseries at corner of Norfolk and Auburn avenues. Seewww.bethesda.org for movie schedule.

Farm Tour & Harvest Sale. Various times atvarious locations in Montgomery County.Montgomery County celebrates its agriculturalheritage by promoting local farms. Visitwww.montgomercountrymd.gov/agservices/agfarmtour.html for a full schedule.

Riley’s Rumble Half-Marathon. Riley’s RumbleHalf Marathon & 8K.See www.mcrrc.org

August 2020Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is a

favorite destination each August. Seewww.mcagfair.com. The 2020 Fair will be the 72ndannual fair.

Great Falls Kayak Race. Great FallsTavern VisitorCenter, 11701 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac. Watchtop kayakers from around the nation drop nearly 60vertical feet in a sub-60 second sprint down GreatFalls rapids. Only experts may compete, but theentire paddling community is welcome to watchand volunteer. Next year’s event will be the 32ndannual race. See www.potomacfest.com or greatfallsfoundation.org.

Movies in the Parks. Wednesdays in Rockville parksduring August. Movies begin at dusk (approximately8 p.m.) and are free. Last year, more than 300guests attended each week. Last year vendor salesbenefitted the Rockville Recreation and ParksFoundation. See https://www.rockvillemd.gov/1755/Movies-in-the-Parks for details.

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