Friday, May 17, 2013
Gaithersburg news in brief.
The city of Gaithersburg released the following news: Gaithersburg Announces New “Green Streets” The city of Gaithersburg announces the selection of three roads for Green Street construction: Construction will begin on May 22, 2013, weather permitting. After completion, each project will be thoroughly evaluated for effectiveness; the results will be incorporated in future projects. More information is available on the city of Gaithersburg website. Gaithersburg Water Park Opens for Season on May 25 Splash into summer at the Gaithersburg Water Park. The season begins at noon on Saturday, May 25, and continues through Labor Day. It is located within Bohrer Park near the Skate Park, Miniature Golf Course and Activity Center at 512 South …
The Gaithersburg Book Festival founder and City Councilman Jud Ashman talks to Patch about the fourth annual event.
The fourth annual Gaithersburg Book Festival is Saturday, May 18 and City Councilman Jud Ashman—the festival's founder and chairperson—took some time to talk with Patch about the event and its evolution. On Thursday, Ashman answered questions about the event's new format, local authors, and featured authors. Part II of the interview continues below: Gaithersburg Patch: The event has been packed in year's past. What kind of attendance numbers do you anticipate? Jud Ashman: My goal has always been to top 20,000 attendees, and I'm hoping we do that on Saturday. Patch: What books are you reading now? What recent reads have you really enjoyed? Ashman: I just read "Judging a Book by Its Lover," by GBF author Lauren Leto. It was a clever and …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The restaurant announced in a Facebook post that its 90th year will also be its last.
O'Donnell's Sea Grill—currently celebrating its 90th year in the DC-metropolitan area—announced on its Facebook page this year will also be its last: Dear Friend/Customer of O’Donnell’s Sea Grill: We have proudly been serving the Washington D.C. metropolitan area for 90 years – and are celebrating our anniversary this year with joy and excitement. It is in this same year, that we have made the purposeful decision to officially close our doors and exit on a most high note. The restaurant has not announced an official closing date, according to The Town Courier. Customers took to the comments section to weigh in on the announcement. "This is very sad news! O'Donnells has been part of my family's history for 4 generations," Vicky Waldron …
Gazette: The existing Midcounty Highway would be widened from four lanes to five lanes from Goshen Road to Montgomery Village Avenue.
The preferred plan for expanding the MidCounty Highway will have a direct impact on Gaithersburg, The Gazette reported. Of the six remaining options for the MidCounty Highway project, also known as M-83, the option preferred by county officials would widen the existing highway—Route 124—from four lanes to five lanes from Goshen Road to Montgomery Village Avenue, according to the report. Additionally, new roads would be constructed behind Watkins Mill Elementary School and connect with the end of Middlebrook Road near Grassy Knoll Terrace, on the east side of Md. 355, according to The Gazette. Middlebrook Road would be widened to seven lanes between Route 355 and the extension. Read the full story on The Gazette. View the full presentation …
The Gaithersburg Book Festival founder and City Councilman Jud Ashman talks to Patch about the fourth annual event.
The fourth annual Gaithersburg Book Festival is Saturday, May 18 and City Councilman Jud Ashman—the festival's founder and chairperson—took some time to talk with Patch about the event and its evolution. Gaithersburg Patch: We're into the fourth year of the GBF and it's made some big changes—especially in terms of the format. Can you tell us about them and how you think they make a great event even better? Jud Ashman: We're moving to a more panel-oriented format, where people not only have a chance to see their favorite authors, but meet new ones who write in a similar genre or about related topics. I'm really excited to see how it goes! So we have the same high-quality writers, but an enhanced way of introducing them to you. Patch: There…
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The systemwide proposal to provide more central office support to struggling schools begins with a 10-school pilot, according to county schools officials.
Three schools in Montgomery Village—Watkins Mill Elementary, Montgomery Village Middle, and Watkins Mill High—were picked to help pilot a new program from Montgomery County Public Schools that will provide an extra layer of central office support to underperforming schools. Officials culled various data to determine the schools that needed help, including key measures at certain grade levels, like whether students are reading as they should by 3rd grade and whether 5th and 8th graders have the reading and math skills that prepare them for the next level. Watkins Mill High School principal Scott Murphy told Patch the innovation program is welcomed at his school. "I really think it's a good thing," Murphy said. "I'm really excited about the…
Karen Yaffe Lottes and Dorothy Pugh, authors of "In Search of Maryland Ghosts," are featured authors at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.
Editor's Note: This Q&A is part of a series conducted by the Gaithersburg Book Festival. It orginally appeared on the GBF website. Karen is a historian and museum educator. She worked for many years as education director for the Montgomery County Historical Society (MCHS) and is currently a museum consultant. She has developed site-specific and county-wide local history programs, including “In Search of Ghosts,” one of the first history-based Halloween programs in the Washington, DC, area. This is Karen’s first book, although she has published extensively on the history of Montgomery County, Md., in MCHS publications as well as in local newspapers. She lives in historic Washington Grove with her family and several furry companions. Dorothy…
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Police said the Damascus resident ran one man down with his car, targeted another.
A Damascus man has pleaded guilty to second-degree depraved heart murder in connection to the December hit-and-run death of a Potomac man in Gaithersburg, the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office said. "Depraved heart murder is the reckless action and wonton disregard for human life that a defendant takes or has towards another," according to a release from the State's Attorney's office. Fernando Josue Valenzuela, 20, of the unit block of Valley Park Court in Damascus, faces up to 20 years in prison. Under the plea agreement, he will not be tried on the original charges of one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. In March, Valenzuela was charged in the death of Billie Jay Genies, 34, of the …
Gazette: The company that administers Advanced Placement exams decided Monday that the improper video will not invalidate the exam for 274 students.
Quince Orchard High School faculty, parents and 274 Advanced Placement psychology students can breathe a sigh of relief. After an improper cellphone video taken at the testing center for Quince Orchard's exam was posted on Twitter, the school awaited word from Educational Testing Service—the company that handles test administration and security—as to whether the exam would count. The school found out Monday it would, The Gazette reported. Quince Orchard Principal Carole Working told The Gazette she and her students felt “an enormous sense of relief” upon hearing the news. A spokesperson for Educational Testing Service said they would be speaking with the individual student who took the video, but could not further discuss the situation, …
Larry Matthews is the author of the Dave Haggard thriller series about a radio reporter with a taste for investigative journalism.
Editor's Note: This Q&A is part of a series conducted by the Gaithersburg Book Festival. It orginally appeared on the GBF website. Larry Matthews is a former broadcast journalist whose 30+ years as a reporter, anchor, news director, producer and editor provide the background material for many of his books. “Brass Knuckles” is the second book in his Dave Haggard thriller series about a radio reporter with a taste for investigative journalism. The series takes place in Washington, DC, where Larry worked for major radio stations, ABC Radio, and National Public Radio. Larry is also the author of a memoir, “I Used To Be In Radio,” and two other books of fiction, “Healing Charles” and its sequel, “Saving Charles.” He lives in Gaithersburg. GBF…
Joe Short
2:28 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
This will be a great market for the city be sure to check out this one and others at http://www.swapmadness.com more ›