Stories for December 2015

Classified Advertising December 30, 2015

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Editorial: Merry Christmas

The pages of the Connection have been full of holiday spirit for more than a month. Menorah lightings, group and individual efforts to help the needy, stories of giving, secular celebrations, religious celebrations.

Classified Advertising December 23, 2015

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Potomac: Santa and His Elves Ride into Potomac

Collecting toys for The Children’s Inn at NIH.

Santa came roaring into Potomac Village on Wednesday, Dec. 16 — not on a sleigh pulled by tiny reindeer — but on a Harley surrounded by elves and a bevy of police officers on motorcycles.

Potomac: Diener Students and Bullis Buddies Give Back

Project helps the homeless.

“It’s nice helping homeless people and it really gives me something to smile about,” said Bullis 5th grade student Dillon Malkani. He and his fellow classmates have served as “Bullis Buddies” since the beginning of the school year to students at The Diener School — a school which serves children with learning challenges.

Potomac Brief: Weichert Honors King

Sales associate Helen King of the Potomac office of Weichert, Realtors, was individually recognized for her industry success during the month of November.

Letter: Welcoming Refugees from Syria

Letter to the Editor

We are writing to you today to affirm Montgomery County, Maryland’s policy to be a welcoming community to refugees from around the world, including those from Syria. We are disheartened that many governors have expressed opposition to having Syrian refugees make new homes in their states.

Potomac Snapshot: Horse Show

Nina Dufour, Karen O'Connor, Christine Cadigan-Benonis and Brittany Klein at the NCAEL Horse Show.

Potomac Brief: Park Service OKs Removing Trees

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal) will move forward with hazardous tree maintenance at three locations in Montgomery County that include Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campground, Rileys Lockhouse Day Use Area and Marsden Tract Group Campground. The work will begin as soon as park contractors can be scheduled.

Potomac Brief: Bowers Recommends $2.4 Billion Budget

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Interim Superintendent Larry A. Bowers presented his recommended $2.4 billion Fiscal Year 2017 Operating Budget to the Board of Education on Dec. 8. The budget calls for a 4.5 percent increase in new spending.

Classified Advertising December 16, 2015

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Lessons in Charitable Giving

Conversations, modeling behavior and hands-on actions can help teach children about benevolence and compassion.

Matthew Mamalian’s holiday shopping list included some items that might seem atypical for a 12-year-old middle school student: shampoo, socks, soap and a few snacks.

Potomac: ‘Junior’ Proctor Dies at Home

Leonard Charles Proctor Jr. died Dec. 9, 2015 at his home in Derwood, Md.

Potomac: Celebrating the Life of Austin H. Kiplinger

“A life devoted to the people and passions he held most dear.”

There were very few empty seats left in the Kennedy Center’s spacious Concert Hall on Dec. 11, where nearly a thousand family members and friends gathered to celebrate the life of Austin Huntington “Kip” Kiplinger who died Nov. 20 following a brief bout with brain cancer.

Chloupek Retires from Potomac Community Center Friends Board

Recognizing more than two decades of commitment.

Twenty-five years ago, when Larry Chloupek joined the Friends of the Potomac Community Center (PCC) Board, basketball and baseball programs were popular among Potomac youngsters.

Potomac: Hunger Project Reaches 500,000 Milestone

One hundred volunteers came together at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center in Potomac to pack the 500,000th Washington Hebrew Congregation Hunger Project meal on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Potomac: Collecting Books for Stepping Stones Shelter

The Geneva Day School kindergarten class recently held a book drive with the goal of collecting 100 new children’s books for Stepping Stones Shelter in Rockville.

Potomac Snapshot: Collecting Toys

As part of Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department’s 35-year tradition, Santa Claus rode through the Cabin John, West Bethesda and Potomac communities. He and his firefighter elves are collecting toys for the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, the USMC Toys for Tots Program and the Children’s National Medical Center. See www.cipwfd.org.

Murders, Slavery and Family Feuds in Early Potomac

Potomac Community Village presents local historian Ralph Buglass.

A direct descendant of the Offutt family, whose acreage originally known as Offutt’s Crossing at the meeting of River and Falls Roads became Potomac Village in 1880, brings to life his colorful family history at the Potomac Community Village Potluck Dinner and Program on Dec. 17, 6 p.m., at the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road.

Potomac: Whitman Girls’ Talented Roster Returns

Vikings have won two of last three region titles.

The Whitman girls' basketball team opened the season with a loss to Neumann-Goretti.

Editorial: Safety Net for Holiday Celebrations

It’s an opportunity to talk about responsibility, alcohol and planning ahead.

The holiday party season is here, and we will almost all be celebrating in some way. Some ways will involve celebrations that include alcohol.

Ideas for Decking the Halls

Local designers create opulent holiday designs.

From traditional to glamorous, fresh to faux and high-end to old school, local tastemakers tell how they create dazzling holiday design extravaganzas.

Potomac: Garden Club Decorates Great Falls Tavern

Local club keeps 38-year tradition.

The Christmas Spirit descended on the Great Falls Tavern in the C&O Canal Park on Monday, Nov. 30 with 40 members of the Little Farms Garden Club volunteering their time and talents. Fresh live greens, red bows, Christmas wreaths, and holiday garlands provided the joy of the season to the historic Tavern.

Potomac Snapshot: Ready for Christmas

Stephanie Saas her son Grayson buy their tree at the Cabin John Fire Station Christmas Tree Sale last weekend. Volunteers Joel Levitt and Laila El-Hifnawi helped package the tree.

Potomac Snapshot: Students Triumph

Our Lady of Mercy School’s eighth grade students challenged the faculty and administration in the annual Turkey Bowl on Nov. 25. The students won 30-23.

Potomac Snapshot: Holiday Shopping

All kinds of crafts were for sale at the Clara Barton Holiday Craft Show on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Clara Barton Community Recreation Center. More than 50 local artists participated.

Potomac: ‘Jolly Fat Man’ Supports Veterans

Fundraising event marks 20th anniversary.

Yank yourself out of that warm bed, jump into your running gear — and head to Bethesda’s Capital Crescent Trail on Dec. 12 to run or walk with the “Jolly Fat Man.”

Classified Advertising December 9, 2015

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Merry and Fit

Support groups help members maintain fitness during season of indulgence.

Just after 7:30 on a recent Sunday morning, the steady beat of Cold Play’s "Viva la Vida" pulsed through the warm, sleepy air.

Letter: Addressing School Overcrowding — Together

Letter to the Editor

In light of the capacity challenges Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has faced in recent years, we were encouraged to see that the school system’s proposed new capital budget not only requests increased funding but also includes a set of supplemental recommendations to address overcrowding.

Letter: Brickyard Industrial Solar Array: A Bad Idea

The Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) staff have proposed the construction of an industrial solar array on the Brickyard school site and two other school sites.

Column: It’s Not Easy Being Green

Or deciding what is the best “green.”

Solar – what’s not to love – but wait – a private utility-scale solar facility with over 7,000 panels on the Brickyard Road school site? Those of us who attended the MCPS public information session on Nov. 17 came away shaking our heads in disbelief.

Potomac: Coat Drive for Those in Need

Potomac community asked to donate gently used coats through Dec. 15.

Some members of the community are working to help local families stay warm this winter. The owners of RE/MAX Success in Potomac Village are organizing a coat drive that will run through Dec. 15.

Clara Barton Center To Host Holiday Craft Show

More than 50 local artisans to exhibit their work.

The 9th annual Clara Barton Center Holiday Craft Show is an opportunity to shop for imaginative holiday gifts.

Traditional Thanksgiving Day Fox Hunt at Montevideo

And recalling “Kip” Kiplinger.

“I opened my front door this morning and there was a fox on my front porch,” Irvin “Skip” Crawford said.

Classified Advertising December 2 , 2015

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