Stories for August 2012

Organic farmer Nick Maravell is farming along Brickyard Road on an expired lease. Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr made parameters clear in a letter he sent to Maravell on Aug. 17.

Potomac’s Got Talent

Potomac Community Center gears up for its flagship events to start new school year.

The Potomac Community Center will kickoff the new with Potomac’s Got Talent, a new talent show to be held in conjunction with the Potomac Family Fun Fest on Friday, Sept. 28.

This Week in Potomac: Aug.29, 2012

This week in Potomac: First Day of School, Montgomery’s Gold, Flora Singer Elementary, Safety Tips, Honoring Fallen Ranger, Fall Recreation, Great Falls Stewards, Park After Dark, Democracy in Action, Fluent Election Judges, C&O Canal 5K, Get Involved: County Committees and Honoring WWII Veterans.

Letter: Separate and Unequal - II

Your editorial in the titled "Separate and Unequal ?" [The Connection, July 25-31, 2012], addressed the "eye-popping" disparately low admission of Black and Latino students to Thomas Jefferson High School, and the complaint that this was "in voilation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin."

Trawick Prize Announces 2012 Finalists

$14,000 in Prize Money Will be Awarded during September Exhibit

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and the Bethesda Urban Partnership will unveil the work of the finalists for The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards in a group exhibition taking place Sept. 1-29, 2012.

Back to School Day

School buses unload students on the first day back to school.

‘Taste’ Benefits Adoptions Together

Annual event seeks to further “forever families” mission.

This event offers a one-of-a-kind chance to taste delectable dishes from every restaurant in Potomac and bid on items in both the silent auction and the live auction — all to help children find “forever families.”

New Orange Leaf Draws Crowd

Ribbon-cutting ceremony welcomes Orange Leaf to Cabin John.

“Awesome,” said Jacob Fienberg. “The swirl is just so creamy and good,” said Jack Feldman as he licks his spoon. “It doesn’t really taste like yogurt. It tastes like ice cream,” said Max Miller.

Jade Billows Closes

“I was crying as I ate my last salt and pepper shrimp right before Jade Billows closed,” lamented Potomac’s Debbie Goldberg.

Column: Diagnosed But Not Sick

Having/being diagnosed with cancer/a terminal disease is neither fun nor funny; however, unless I find some humor or wishful thinking in how I approach this situation, I don’t suppose I’ll be approaching it much longer. To me, it’s always been mind over matter, and even though these matters are rather serious, I still don’t mind.

How To Register, Vote and Vote Early

Election Day is Nov. 6, but you can vote as early as Sept. 21.

How important is it for Virginia voters to turn out on or before Nov. 6? As a critical “battleground” state, Virginia will be key in determining who will be the next President of the United States. Who will represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate is also too close to call. Since polling shows that there are very few undecided voters in the Commonwealth, every eligible voter will want to be sure to cast a ballot.

Opinion: Mindless Slashing

Automatic cuts set to kick in January would harm Northern Virginia more than any other region.

While reducing the federal deficit is critical to the nation's economic health in the long run, the knee jerk, slash and burn method based only on cuts that is coming at us like a freight train will do immense damage to the economy nationally. But no place would feel the pain more intensely than Northern Virginia.

Potomac Entertainment Calendar, Aug. 22, 2012

Email community entertainment events to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon. Photos and artwork encouraged.

How To Vote in Maryland, What's on the Ballot?

To vote in the general election on Nov. 6, you must be registered to vote at your current address by Oct. 16.

Editorial: About the Almanac, a Connection Newspaper

The paper you're reading, the Potomac Almanac is one of 15 papers published by the independent, locally owned Local Media Connection LLC, serving the suburbs of Metropolitan Washington in Northern Virginia and Potomac.

Rotary Hosts Speaker on Swat Relief Initiative

The Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club's speaker at the Normandie Farm Restaurant for Thursday, Aug. 30 is Zebu Jilani, president of the Swat Relief Initiative.

Viewpoints: What’s Best about Living in Potomac?

We live in one of the most beautiful areas of the United States — and Potomac Village is no exception.

Get To Know Elected Officials

Potomac History by the Numbers

Get Involved: West Montgomery County Citizens Association

Potomac’s umbrella citizens association.

In 1964, the Montgomery County Council adopted the General Plan "On Wedges and Corridors." This plan established land use guidelines for the County and set the standard for local and area master plans. The General Plan "envisioned the Potomac Subregion as a low density residential wedge area, which would complement the developed I-270 corridor."

State Senator Shares Places-to-See

Q&A With Chap Petersen

Virginia State Senator Chap Petersen (D-34) represents central and western Fairfax in the Virginia State Senate. He grew up and lives in Fairfax City.

Don’t Miss: 2012-2013 Potomac Event Highlights

2012-2013 Potomac Event Highlights

30th Annual Potomac Day Celebrates Community Spirit

Call for former “Citizens of the Year” to return for this special celebration.

Potomac Day is the most anticipated event in Potomac Village in the fall. Residents look forward to the grand parade, pony rides, petting zoo, pizza, classic car show, business fair and children’s festival.

Why I Love Potomac

Close to Washington D.C. but with lush green neighborhoods edged by parks and trails through stream valleys leading to our most well known natural attraction, the C&O Canal National Historic Park, which stretches a ribbon of green 184 miles along the Potomac River edged by a tow- path trail that runs from Cumberland to Georgetown.

Welcome Newcomers, Enjoy Potomac’s Beauty

If you are a newcomer to Potomac, you are in for a real treat — as living there for 20-plus years showed me every day.

Classified Advertising Aug. 22, 2012

Read the latest Home and Garden, Employment and Classifieds here!

Column: Life in the Cancer Lane

Having been there and done that now for three and a half years certainly helps. And however familiar it may be and/or has become, it doesn’t exactly help to pass the time or affect the results, unfortunately. Cancer sucks! That much is clear. Now and in the future.

Nearly 800 Jobs Added to the Local Economy

Information technology firms and professional service companies see growth.

Information technology firms continue to do well in a sluggish economy, according to a new report from the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). During the second quarter of 2012, the FCEDA provided services and resources to 33 businesses that are adding almost 800 jobs in Fairfax County. Most of these businesses are in the information technology and professional services sectors and four are foreign-based firms using a Fairfax County location to expand in North America.

Minority-Owned Businesses Prosper in Fairfax County

Companies generate more than $1 billion in revenue and provide more than 1,000 jobs.

Businesses owned by Hispanics, African-Americans and women shine in Fairfax County, according to the latest national rankings for largest or fastest-growing companies. "Fairfax County is proud to be a community in which companies of all descriptions can and do succeed to a greater extent than in the rest of the region, the state or the country," said Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, which supports and monitors the growth of local businesses. Eleven Fairfax County-based companies are among the 500 largest Hispanic-owned businesses in the nation based on revenue — more than the total in 40 states, according to a recent report by HispanicBusiness.com. The Fairfax County companies are among 22 from Virginia on the 2012 Hispanic Business 500 list.

Time for School

Advice on how to transition from a laid-back summer to a hectic academic year.

When Ellen Feldman’s 5-year-old son started school for last fall, one of the biggest adjustments for the single mother of two was having to adhere to a schedule. “All of a sudden we went from being able to do things on our own time frame to having to wake up and be at a certain place at a certain time,” said Feldman. “Sending my son off to school for the first time was exciting, but also difficult.”

Editorial: Starting School Prepared

First day of school is Sept. 4; local nonprofits provide school supplies and weekend food.

With school beginning in a few weeks, area charitable organizations have been collecting contributions of new backpacks, calculators, other school supplies, money and gift cards and winter coats to help the tens of thousands of truly needy Northern Virginia students.

Classified Advertising Aug. 15, 2012

Read the latest Classified, Home and Garden and Employment!

The Week in Potomac, Aug. 15, 2012

The Week in Potomac: No Referendum?; Honoring WWII Veterans; November Ballot Charter ; Zoning Rewrite Project; Repairs at Angler’s; Fall Recreation; Great Falls Stewards; C&O Canal 5K; Honoring Fallen Ranger; Park After Dark; Democracy in Action; Fluent Election Judges; Get Involved: County Committees

Bethesda Country Club To Host Wounded Warrior Tournament

Annual event returns Aug. 20.

In 2005, Jim Estes, director of golf at Olney Golf Park began teaching injured servicemen and women to play golf — many of them amputees, many with prostheses. He took the job so seriously that he practiced raising his right leg and hitting the ball off his left leg for hours as he tried to figure out the best way for one-legged people to hit the ball.

Pies Tackles National Competition

Local golfer qualifies for USGA Men’s Amateur Golf Tournament.

The U.S. Golf Association Men’s Amateur Golf Tournament is the most prestigious golf tournament for amateurs in the United States — and Potomac’s Rusty Pies qualified for the second year in a row. The tournament will be held Aug. 13 - 19 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Residents Blast Pepco

‘It Wasn’t a Sustainable Place To Live’

The Maryland Public Service Commission held the first of eight public hearings across the state this month to ask residents about experiences during the June 29 Derecho Storm. More than 200 citizens attended the public hearing at Montgomery County Council headquarters in Rockville Tuesday, Aug. 7.

Organic Farmer Sent Packing?

Judge Robert A. Greenberg of Circuit Court issues stay Tuesday, effects unclear.

Editor’s note: As the Almanac headed to press on Tuesday, the effects of two court proceedings and the governor’s opinion cast uncertainty over county plans to take control of the Brickyard organic farm on Aug. 16 to turn it into soccer fields. This story was written Tuesday before the conclusion of the hearings.

Column: A Pill a Day…

Hopefully will keep the cancer at bay. (I’d say “away,” but let’s be realistic, three and a half years past a NSCLC diagnosis, there is no way, generally speaking, that stage IV lung cancer disappears into the ether; it’s classified as stage IV for a reason.

Shim, Weiss Lead Churchill Field Hockey in 2012

Bulldogs looking to build on 2011 region runner-up finish.

The Churchill field hockey team looks reached the 4A West Region championship game last season.

Classified Advertising Aug. 8, 2012

Read the lastest Classified, Employment and Home and Garden ads!

Potomac Calendar Events 8/8/12

Potomac Calendar Events

Potomac Business Notes 8/8/12

Potomac Business Notes

FIELD NOTES

Tyler Abell’s Merry-Go-Round Afternoon

Tyler turning 80? No way. But, here we were, at a birthday party featuring everything but a performing horse, although there were plenty in the pastures, and there he was, Tyler wearing a cap with the number 80 and the letters WFM — had to be a radio station.

Roller Rink Adapting

A recreation site for people with disabilities.

Pam Yerg has been looking at the dormant roller hockey rink at the Potomac Community Center with vision. “We believe it holds huge potential value as a multi-sport facility for use by people in our county with disabilities,” she said.

Will Maravell Go or Stay?

Organic farmer told to vacate land Aug. 15; challenge to occur in Montgomery County Circuit Court Aug. 14.

The county told Nick Maravell that he must vacate Brickyard Road by Aug. 15 so it can move forward with plans for soccer fields. Maravell asked to stay.

Letter: Simply Irreplaceable

Thoughts on the Brickyard school site.

Military Notes: Potomac 8/8/12

Military Notes

New Restaurant To Open at Cabin John Shopping Center

Owner of Grilled Oyster Company cites “good location.”

Raw, freshly shucked oysters, Chesapeake Bay crab dishes, grilled clams, local farm chopped salad, prime rib, blackened chicken wings — these menu items and much more will be featured at the newest restaurant in the Cabin John Shopping Center.

This Week in Potomac 8/8/12

This Week in Potomac

Potomac School Notes 8/8/12

Potomac School Notes

PETS for ADOPTION 7/25/12

PETS for ADOPTION

Column: Derive to Survive

Now that I can taste food again, or rather have food taste like normal again, my attitude is much improved.

Potomac Real Estate: June 2012 Sales, $1.1 million to $1.5 million

In June 2012, 56 Potomac homes sold between $2,910,000-$475,000.

Potomac Real Estate: June 2012 Sales, $1.1 million to $1.5 million

Classified Advertising (Aug. 1, 2012)

Read the lastest Employment, Home and Garden and Classified ads!

County To Take Over Land; Lawsuits Upcoming

Organic farmer told to vacate Brickyard Road by Aug. 15; county to take possession the next day.

The tongue lashing began in the form of a footnote — the ninth footnote — on page 11 of the State Board of Education’s legal opinion.

Working in Advance

In preparation for the Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church’s 29th Middle Eastern Bazaar Sept. 21-23, church members gathered last week to create spinach pies.

Potomac Calendar Events 8/1/12

Calendar Events

July Concert with ‘The Blues Man’

Blues Concert

Obituary: Meredith G. Williams, Jr.

Meredith G. Williams, Jr., CDR USNR retired, died on June 29, 2012 at the age of 88. Born in Weymouth, Mass. he has resided in the Washington, D.C. area since 1956.

From Interpreter to Palm Reader to Painter

Liz Gerstein displays her artwork and analyzes handwriting.

Liz Gerstein is a master at reinventing herself. Throughout her life, she has followed her interests and passions to see where they lead her.

Former Churchill Grad Offers Naturopathic Remedies

Kevin Passero emphasizes natural means of healing.

When he graduated from the University of Colorado in Environmental Science, Kevin Passero was unsure about his career path.

Gutstein, Duber Wed

Peri Blair Gutstein and Brant Edwin Duber were married on May 27, 2012 by Rabbi Jonathan Stein at the Pierre Hotel in New York.

Fatherhood in the 21st Century

Potomac psychiatrist creates program to help men become better fathers.

During more than 30 years as a psychiatrist specializing in children and adolescents, Dr. Bruce Pfeffer has witnessed the impact that fathers can have on the lives of their children.

Column: Choosing My Words, Respectively

It has been brought to my attention by some regular Kenny-column readers – who are friends, too, and whose opinions I value, that my most recent batch of “cancer columns” (as I call them) were not funny; in fact, they were more depressing and negative than anything, and not nearly as uplifting and hopeful as many of my previous columns have been.

Getting a Body Like an Olympian

Local fitness gurus offer gold medal advice for achieving a toned, muscular body.

Muscular legs, toned abs and buffed biceps are hard to miss in London this week, but is it possible for the average sports fan to achieve a body like an Olympian? Local fitness experts say "maybe."

Taking Care of One’s Teeth

American Dental Association says many Americans don’t know basic oral care.

Here’s a pop quiz: How often should a person replace their toothbrush? "Once a year," said Terrie Andrews of McLean.

Beating Bad Breath

Dental experts offer solutions for chronic halitosis.

When Amanda Welch’s boyfriend asked her to marry him last spring, she accepted his proposal on one condition: that he find a cure for his bad breath.

Editorial: Readers Respond on TJ Admissions

"Stop making smart 8th graders feel inferior because they are not admitted."

Readers responded to last week's editorial, which cited a civil rights complaint about the apparent lack of access to gifted and talented programs and admission to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.