potomac · 4 potomac almanac december 8-14, 2010 20% off in-plant cleaning through dec. 18, 2010...

Potomac Almanac ❖ December 8-14, 2010 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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online at potomacalmanac.com

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Martinsburg, WV

PERMIT #86

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December 8-14, 2010 ❖ Volume XXIV, Number 49

Finding theRight Tree

News, Page 4

Brothers LaunchNew Restaurant

News, Page 3

Churchill HopingLeadership

ReplacesTalent Loss

Sports, Page 12

ArtfulAssortment

News, Page 3

Finding theRight Tree

News, Page 4

Brothers LaunchNew Restaurant

News, Page 3

Churchill HopingLeadership

ReplacesTalent Loss

Sports, Page 12

ArtfulAssortment

News, Page 3

Scott andAllison Suttlecome to theCabin John FireDepartmenteach year tochoose theirChristmas tree.

Scott andAllison Suttlecome to theCabin John FireDepartmenteach year tochoose theirChristmas tree.

2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 8-14, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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NewsPotomac Almanac Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

See www.potomacalmanac.com

By Colleen Healy

The Almanac

Stella Restaurant is the newest ventureof George and Stratton Liapis. Thebrothers owned and operated The

Lunch Box Carry-Out Shoppes in downtownWashington, D.C. for more than 30 yearsas well as Bullfeather’s of Capital Hill forthe last 17 years.

Dee Mandis, owner of Blue Ribbon Inte-rior Design, has been retained for the inte-rior design of the restaurant. RayNiederhausen, a graduate of Stratford Uni-versity with a degree in culinary arts, hasbeen named its executive chef. GeorgeLiapis feels “to build a restaurant in thiseconomy unless you are a major corpora-tion is insane. What you need to do is lookfor deals. Cost-wise you need to buy a res-

taurant at the right number. I can’t predictthe future, but you need to be able to talkto friends about investing and even underthe worst circumstances you need to be ableto assure them they will get their moneyback. You need to buy a restaurant right inthis market. You need to buy in the rightarea to have your business. With Stella’slocation you don’t have to drive to Bethesdaor valet your car. There is ample parkingand you are 10 minutes from home. Wewant our guests to go ‘Wow!’ when theywalk through the door. We know how totreat our guests.

“It will be like they are in my home andthey will be treated accordingly. There willbe a neighborhood restaurant right here.No other restaurant for miles around offersthis type of food. We have a well-balancedmenu. We will have 4-8 different species offresh whole fish. I am first generation Greek.We prepare our food like they do in the oldcountry: very simple with the freshest in-gredients and finest olive oil. We will pre-pare the healthiest food you can eat. My Owner George Liapis, Executive Chef Ray Niederhausen and owner

Stratton Liapis in front of their new restaurant, Stella.

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Potomac Brothers To Launch New RestaurantStella to open inTraville ShoppingCenter next month.

For the past year the former store-front occupied by The Surrey hasbecome an artist collaborative andart gallery. Each month The Art

Gallery of Potomac features a different lo-cal artist’s work. The inspiration for the gal-lery was an idea by eight local artists, whohave known each other for many years, to

An Artful AssortmentFinding one-of-a-kindgifts from local artists.

See Potomac Brothers, Page 7

A piece by sculptor Susan Aschenbach.

share a workspace and gallery together. Inaddition, the space features other Potomacartists and gives them a place and opportu-nity to show their work. Each artist has adistinctive style and background comingfrom countries such as South Africa, Argen-tina and Lebanon.

Resident artist Teri Cunningham feels thegift of artwork is “a unique, personal giftthat will last a lifetime and through the gen-erations. A painting by a local Potomac art-ist will enhance the meaning of the gift.Each of our resident artists has a special

style. We also offer private painting classesas holiday gifts.”

The Art Gallery of Potomac is open Thurs-day-Sunday 12-4 and is located at 10107River Road.

— Colleen Healy

One of Yolanda Prinsloo’s still lifepaintings.

Paintings by Claire Howard oftenfeature Poolsville countryside andBethany Beach scenes.

Cherry Dearie Smith specializes inchildren’s portraits in naturalsettings.

Plein air artist Teri Cunninghamoften paints scenes of the C&O canal.

Artist Anne Martinez specializesin pet and people portraits.

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HappyHolidays!

Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Depart-ment Station is selling Christmas trees atStation 10 located at 8001 River Road. Open7 days a week until they sell out, their hoursof operation are weekdays from 10 a.m. – 9p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

This year, the station is using a local treefarm and is selling Douglas Firs which arefresh cut. Tree prices are: Over 8 feet - $80,8 feet and under- $65, large wreaths- $30and small wreaths - $25. All purchases are

tax deductible and the money generatedfrom the Christmas tree lot goes towardapparatus, protective gear and other criti-cal equipment for the fire department.Firefighters and emergency medical tech-nicians will help shoppers choose a tree andthe department offers complimentary treedelivery. On chilly days there will also becomplimentary hot cocoa.

— Colleen Healy

Finding the Right Tree

Volunteers Ana Soule and Jessica Barrett and tie a Christmas treeonto a customer’s car roof.

News

Ana Soule, a volunteer from theCabin John Fire Department, helpscut a tree.

Volunteers from BoyScout Troop #447,from left, T.J. Bell,

Chuck Aubertin, andson Douglas

Aubertin, help out.

Photos by

Deborah Post

Stevens

/The Almanac

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•Beautiful efficient Heat

10%*

No Power? No Problem. Gas Logs on Sale for Immediate Installation

12/18/10 PA

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OUR LADY OF MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCHRev. Msgr. William J. English, Pastor

9200 Kentsdale Drive ~ Potomac, Maryland 20854Phone: 301-365-1415 Website; www.olom.org

Invites you to join us as we prepare for Christmas

Advent Penance ServiceDecember 14, 7:30pm

Sacrament of PenanceDecember 18, 9:30am-5:00pm

(available all day)

Christmas Eve Mass4:00pm* 6:00pm 8:00pm 10:00pm

*Church & McAuley Hall

Christmas Day Mass8:30am 10:45am 12:30pm

New Year’s DaySaturday, January 1, 2011

9:00am and 11:00am5:00pm Vigil Mass

By Sharon Allen Gilder

For The Almanac

The Benjamin Franklin Room atPotomac’s Bolger Center waspurring with warm and fuzzyfeelings last month as nearly

100 animal lovers gathered for Friends ofMontgomery County Animals’ (FMCA) an-nual luncheon fundraiser replete with aCAbi fashion show and numerous vendorboutiques. Large projection screens sport-ing photos of cats ready to find a foreverhome embraced both sides of the ballroom.

FMCA, established in 1974, is an all-vol-unteer non-profit that recruits foster fami-lies for cats and dogs, runs successful trap-spay/neuter-release (TNR) programs, andsupports humane efforts throughout theCounty in harmony with their motto: “dig-nity for animals.”

Fundraising in the current economic con-ditions has been a challenge for the organi-zation and it is not alone. According to aCNN report, the 100 largest charities in theUnited States have suffered an 11 percentdecrease in donations and donations from

the wealthiest Americans have decreased by34 percent.

Claire Proffitt, FMCA president, notedthat the organization experienced a newlow in TNR responses and adoptions. “Wechipped away at the animal overpopulationproblem by supporting 34 TNR’s and we

placed 142 kittens and cats, but that is notnearly enough.”

Because of the economic uncertainty,more attention has been focused on crueltyand abandonment cases and helping peoplein need keep their cats and dogs by assist-ing with veterinary bills.

Artist Vera Michelle Elliott brought hertalents to the event with 20 percent of thesales of her dog portraits going to FMCA’sprojects. She credits her mother for her loveof canines. “My mom breeds dogs and I’vealways liked them and have been raised withthem. They’re like siblings. They understandyou when nobody else does. They have apower. Dogs are like, ‘Just love me.’” she said.

Potomac resident Connie Fike, a memberfor 10 years, said she supports FMCA’swhole mission. “Rather than euthanize ani-mals, get people to adopt them. It’s not justwhat they’re doing for the animals, but whatthe animals do for you. You feel somethingpositive flowing back.”

A recent article in the group’s newsletterby board member Sue Recher states, “Thenumber of animals FMCA can place is afunction of the number of foster homesavailable.”

Proffitt concluded her statements with aplea for foster homes. “Not only have thenumber of foster homes decreased, but twoof our main foster counselors have beenfighting breast cancer and another corevolunteer has undergone multiple serioussurgeries. We need foster homes. You pro-vide the housing, food and love. FMCA takescare of the vet bills.”

For more information visit: www.friendsofmontgomerycountyanimals.org

Fro left: CAbi commentator Charlie Wilson with models, Melanie Will-iams, CAbi consultant Lori Veirs, Ellie Brown, Lisa Gatons, SusanCameron, Laura Salisbury, Katie Fechko, Kris Veirs, Janet Fenton, AnnRichardson, Pam Dawson, Arianne Tavakolian and Deb McDonald.

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Downturned Economy Not the Cat’s Meow… Humane non-profitfeeling the impact.

News


News

By Susan Belford

The Almanaca

Monkey bars and jungle gyms canbe a wonderful source of exer-cise and enjoyment for children— but when parents see their

children’s hands aching and covered with blis-ters after visiting a playground, they are morti-fied and often torn because they want their chil-dren to play and keep fit, but not come backhome in pain.

Stephen and Alice Dwyer of Potomac experi-enced this same conundrum. They wanted theirthree children to actively playoutside, but when the young-sters returned with smartingand throbbing hands, they re-alized they needed some typeof glove to protect their hands.A search of the internet re-vealed that no such gloves ex-isted. Because of this need —and through their ingenuity —Kidskins were invented. Theseare jungle gym and fitnessgloves for children. They pro-tect hands from chafing, blis-ters, friction burns, and splin-ters as well as from hot orfreezing metal. These glovesare also helpful when catchingand gripping a football and forpreventing asphalt burns from bicycle, rollerblade or skateboard falls.

“Kidskins is the direct result of needing aproduct that couldn’t be found,” said Dwyer.“After market research with neighbors, friendsand parents of our kid’s friends, we decided wewould design and manufacture them ourselves.This turned out to be a much more dif-ficult project than weever imag-ined — butwe have beensuccessful inproducing aquality prod-uct which to-tally meets therequirements ofchildren andtheir parents. Wehave the glovesfor sale on-lineand they will soonbe offered atKidville inBethesda. There isdefinitely a need outthere — we have had incredible success as soonas the gloves hit the market.”

Dwyer, an attorney and his wife, vice presi-dent for a non-profit, are managing this upstartbusiness with direct input from their daughter,Mira, age 9 and sons Nathaniel and Mick, ages11 and 6.

“We test everything on them and their

friends,” said Dwyer. “My daughter helped draftthe palm designs — and she is the one who cameup with the idea of the Riptags to personalizeeach pair of gloves.” He also consulted his fra-ternity brother, Joe Patil, an engineer living inYork, Pa. Patil helped design the gloves and is apartner in the new company which is namedPrexis, LLC, a name selected by their daughter.The gloves are fashioned from material made ofnylon, polyurethane, neoprene and spandex.They are available in purple/pink as well as red/black and are geared for children ages 3-12. Theycome in small, medium and large. The Riptagsare attached with Velcro and include messagessuch as: Peace, Smile, and I Love Dogs. Thegloves sell for $19.95 a pair, and carry a money-back guarantee.

ONE OF THE MAJOR difficulties Dwyer en-countered in seeing his ideato fruition was finding amanufacturer. In the begin-ning, he wanted to be certainthe gloves could be producedin the U.S.; however, he soonrealized he would have tooutsource the manufactur-ing. He located Joe McGarry,owner of “Gloves On Line.”McGarry had fabricated ev-ery kind of glove for over 30years — but had never seenanything like the glovesDwyer was proposing. Next,prototypes were created.Dwyer wanted to be certainthe gloves were easy to pullon and off, comfortable,

lightweight, durable, flexible — and washable.They had to be able to grip the bars of a junglegym or monkey bars effectively. And, they hadto be attractive and look “cool” for youngsters.

Not only are they for playground equipmentuse, these gloves can be used for many activi-

ties: Skateboarding,roller skating, football,volleyball, soccer,gymnastics. One Ca-nadian mother re-cently called Dwyerto tell him that herchild had just stuckhis fingers to a fro-zen jungle gymrung, ripping theskin from his fin-gers. “We needyour fitnessgloves just assoon as you canship them,” shewrote.

Dwyer has plans forKidskins: “We propose to build the business byselling our gloves through local retailers, andparent blogs — we are already profiled on the‘DC Mommy’ blog. We will be debuting at a ma-jor trade show called ABC Kids next October inLas Vegas. We are also looking forward to devel-oping other products related to active kids.”

Kidskins — helping kids to “Get a Grip andPlay” — can be ordered fromwww.kidskinsonline.com.

Liquor Stores Open SundaysPotomac’s two county-run liquor stores, one in Potomac Village and one

in Cabin John Mall, are now open on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. as partof a six-month pilot program.

During this time, the county Department of Liquor Control will monitorcosts, revenues, customer satisfaction and community response, and im-pacts on privately-owned and operated licensed businesses. MontgomeryCounty currently allows Sunday alcohol sales in privately-owned beer andwine stores and on premise at licensed restaurants.

County Council Sworn InMontgomery County’s 17th Council, which was elected in November,

was sworn in at inauguration ceremonies Monday, Dec. 6 at Rockville HighSchool. The council met officially for the first time on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Potomac residents are represented by Roger Berliner, the councilmemberfor District 1, and the four at-large councilmembers, Marc Elrich, NancyFloreen, George Leventhal and Hans Riemer. All members of this Mont-gomery County Council are Democrats. The 17th Council includes return-ing Councilmembers Phil Andrews, Berliner, Elrich, Valerie Ervin, Floreen,Leventhal and Nancy Navarro. Craig Rice and Hans Riemer are beginningtheir first terms. The Council’s morning session included a discussion of areport that will be released at the session by the Council’s Office of Legis-lative Oversight on achieving a structurally balanced budget. Part I of thereport, discussed on Nov. 23, identified the driving forces behind the county’scontinuing budget problems. Part II of the report presents options thatcould be considered to address the ongoing problems. Reducing futuresalary increases; raising the employee share of health benefits, restructur-ing retirement benefits; reducing the size of the workforce; reducing debtservice; and increasing revenues are among the options Montgomery Countymight consider to address the “structural budget challenge.”

In May 2010, the council approved a $4.3 billion total county operatingbudget for Fiscal Year 2011 that was 4.5 percent less than the approvedbudget for FY10, the first decrease in a total budget since the adoption ofthe current county charter in 1968.

Changes for Rules onTying up Dogs

The Montgomery County Council’s Public Safety Committee on Thurs-day, Dec. 2, recommended changes to the county rules on tethered dogs.The committee’s recommendations aim to simultaneously provide adequateanti-cruelty protections for dogs and maintain a safe environment for resi-dents.

The Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Councilmember PhilAndrews and includes Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Marc Elrich,decided not to support aspects of County Executive Isiah Leggett’s originalproposal that tightened tethering regulations, which would have requiredthat dog owners stay outside within sight of any dog that was tied up.Because the committee deemed that requirement was unreasonable, it madeits own recommendations for how best to protect the public and the ani-mals. Dogs could only be tethered between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. for a maximumof two hours per day, and owners must use swivels at the ends of the tetherto avoid the dog’s entanglement

“Our main concern is that if a dog is tethered in a cruel or harmful way,it is not only detrimental to the dog’s well being, but it also jeopardizespublic safety,” Andrews said. “A dog that has been treated cruelly will havea bad temperament, which will consequently endanger the public.” In ad-dition to the provisions about staying within visual contact of a tethereddog, the regulations also define the safe transportation of dogs, the suffi-cient shelter parameters and the conditions under which dogs may be tiedto a stationary or immobile object.

In 2009, residents reported to Animal Control 116 cases related to teth-ering violations. Animal Control also found unlawful tethering violationsthrough calls related to other animal welfare violations. Outside dogs musthave shelters that allow them to stand up and turn around while inside,but still allow them to retain their body heat. Outdoor enclosures for dogsmust be at least 100 square feet, except that dogs over 80 pounds musthave at least 150 square feet. An additional 50 feet is required for eachadditional dog kept within the same enclosed area. Owners must maintainthe area in a sanitary condition and keep it free from debris or storedmaterial. The regulation also specifies that no cat may be tethered, chained,fastened, tied or restrained to a house, tree, fence or other object.

This Week in Potomac

Protecting Young HandsKidskins help children“Get a Grip and Play.”

Stephen Dwyer


LET’S TALKReal Estate

For professional advice on allaspects of buying and sellingreal estate, call:

MICHAEL MATESELong & Foster Realtors

[email protected].

byMichael Matese

Time is of theEssence

As with all things, there is adeadline on real estate offers andcontracts. “Time is of the essence”is a phrase you will see on everydocument you’re asked to sign.This means that all offers andresponses are to be done in a timelymanner, with due diligence given tothe time frame. If an offer isallowed to languish too long, it canfall by the way side and on mostoffers, there will be an actual dateand time after which the offerbecomes void.

Sometimes delays are unavoid-able. The Realtor is out of town,the seller is out of town, the repairsthat are requested can’t be done intime, but these can be handled withthe right addendum. But if you’recareless, you can lose your right toask for the seller to pay for neededrepairs, or to ask them to leave par-ticular items. Financing can alsobe a sticking point, with the sellerable to declare the sale void ifapproval isn’t given within a cer-tain time frame. That of itself isthe reason to be pre-approved byyour lender. It will be one less hur-dle towards closing the house in atimely fashion.

Use your Realtor’s skills as anegotiator and her knowledge ofcontracts to ensure that your dead-lines are noted and met.

From Page 3

News

kitchen will never see a micro-wave.”

In addition to fish, Stella will of-fer steakhouse steaks, chops, or-ganic chicken, a full lunch menuand the children’s menu will fea-ture fresh, whole turkey breast. Thebar will feature lobster guacamoleand lobster mac and cheese. Stellawill offer a full service bar, a vari-ety of domestic and imported beers,both by the bottle and tap, and adiverse wine list featuring winesfrom California, Italy, France, Ar-gentina, Greece. Wines by the glass

will range from $6-$14 a glass.Wines by the bottle will range from$25-$125 a bottle. However, thecore of their wine list will be be-tween $25-$55 per bottle. Stellawill offer a Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m.

The Liapis brothers say theirdress code will be business casualto casual. They say their restau-rant will be consistent, proactive,passionate, and their staff will al-ways have the right attitude when-ever their guests enter “our home.”

George Liapis hopes “Stella isembraced by the area. I think themenu is on target for the way

people eat today. We are good atpreparing different types of foodto appeal to different types ofpeople. We are not considered anexpensive restaurant. The winesare not expensively priced. That isvery important to me. Wine shouldbe a part of the meal. We hope togive great service with outstand-ing food with outstanding servicein an immaculate restaurant 24/

7, 365 and of course great value.We hope people come multipletimes. We don’t want Stella to bejust a special occasion place. Wewant them to come because thefood is outstanding.”

His brother and partner StrattonLiapis agrees: “We are excitedabout opening Stella. It is a pas-sion with us; we enjoy the busi-ness and enjoy seeing our custom-

ers and friends. We have lived inPotomac for 30 years.”

Chef Niederhausen seconded:“We love what we do and do whatwe love. That’s why we are here.”

Stella Restaurant will be open-ing in the Traville Shopping Cen-ter in North Potomac in early Janu-ary 2011. It will be located in theformer site of The Vyne Restaurantat 9755 Traville Gateway Drive.

Potomac Brothers To Launch New Restaurant

Helping the NeedyThe Holy Child Middle School organized a food drive forneedy families, filling more than 60 baskets/bags withfood for the Thanksgiving holiday. Eighth graders MelissaBarrios and Celine Corbie work on the baskets; the foodwas delivered to the McKenna Center.

Warm MealsGreen Acres School sixth graders Evan John, 12; AmaliaRizberg, 11, and Tim Carter, 11, help peel and chopvegetables to be included in a soup taken to St. Martin’sCatholic Church soup kitchen in Gaithersburg last month.

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PROFESSIONAL REPAIR AND RESTORATIONGreat Craftsmen Doing Exceptional Work

www.penhaven.com

Vintage and NewWriting Instruments,

Books, Pen Artand Accessories

301-929-0955

Same building as; Samuel S. Case,Cabinetmaker

Entertainment

To have community events listed free in The Potomac Almanac,send e-mail to [email protected]. Deadline isThursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and art-work encouraged. Call 703-778-9412.

NOW THROUGH DEC. 20.Holiday Food Collection. To benefit the Manna Food Center,

a nonprofit food bank providing food to low-incomehouseholds, food pantries, soup kitchens, group homes, andschools in Montgomery County. Bring non-perishable food toparticipating stores: Safeway, Chicken Out and PNC Bank,River and Falls Road in Potomac. Visit www.mannafood.org

NOW THROUGH DEC. 30International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature. Free.

Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 10a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 301-581-5200 orvisit www.strathmore.org.

Michael Bignell & Mikhail Kononov. Free. Explore Bignell’sworks in acrylic and Kononov’s works in oil. Gallery hours areMonday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;Wednesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.For more information call 301-581-5200 or visitwww.strathmore.org.

NOW THROUGH JAN. 1Festival of Lights. Free. Nightly indoor concerts at 7 p.m. and

8 p.m. They include Sandra Turley, the Harbor City MusicCompany Show Chorus and the McDonough High SchoolChamber Choir: “The Madrigal Lords and Ladies.” Bell choirs,flute ensembles, vocal choirs, dance troupes and other formsof holiday entertainment will be presented in the TempleVisitors’ Center’s theater. Open daily until 10 p.m. Lightsilluminated at dusk with nightly performances at 7 p.m. and 8p.m. At the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center at TheChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Grounds,9900 Stoneybrook Dr. Kensington. Visitwww.dctemplelights.lds.org.

Winter Lights Festival. A 3.5-mile drive through a holidaylight show at Seneca Creek Park with more than 350illuminated displays. (Closed Mondays and Dec. 24). Proceedsfrom the Festival benefit local charities. Call 301-258-6350 orvisit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

NOW THROUGH JAN. 9Holiday Art Show and Sale. Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.

to 6 p.m. The exhibition will feature works by resident artists,instructors and invited artists and will include glass, ceramics,jewelry, photography, painting, and more. In the PopcornGallery of Glen Echo Park. Call 301-634-2222 or visitglenechopark.org.

THURSDAY/DEC. 9Slow Blues and Swing Dance. 9 to 11:30 p.m. Admission is

$8. Slow blues lesson from 8:15 to 9 p.m.; dancing from 9 to11:30 p.m. With DJ Mike Marcotte and guests. At the BackRoom of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or go [email protected] or www.CapitalBlues.org.

Celebrate the Arts Night. 6 to 8 p.m. Students from PotomacElementary will showcase their artwork that was entered inthe National PTA Reflections Art Contest. The theme was“Together We Can”, and students were challenged to createvisual art, photography, dance choreography, film production,and musical composition with that theme in mind.

Gerald Clayton Trio. At 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28 (Stars Price$25.20). A rising star in the jazz world, at the young age of26, pianist Gerald Clayton has already racked up numerousawards, performed with greats like Kenny Barron, RoyHargrove and Clark Terry and garnered critical acclaim.DownBeat raves, “In a generation of wunderkinds, Claytonstands out for his nuanced touch, precise articulation and theway he constructs a narrative for his solos.” At the Mansion atStrathmore. Call 301-581-5109 or visit www.strathmore.org.

FRIDAY/DEC. 10Contra Dance. 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Admission is $9. There is a

Contra dance lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. followed by thecalled dance to live music from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. SarahVanNorstrand calls to the Glen Echo Open Band. At theSpanish Ballroom of Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., GlenEcho. Email: [email protected]

La Divina Milonga Party. 8:30 p.m. to midnight. Admission is$15. The evening will include a lesson for Argentine Tangobeginners and up from 8:30-9 p.m. The lesson is followed by aDance Party to recorded music from 9 p.m. - Midnight withTeacher and DJ Fabio Bonini, playing Traditional Tango,Milongas, Waltz and Tango Nuevo. The $15 admissionincludes the lesson and Dance Party. At the Ballroom Annex atGlen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Phone: 703-798-1071.

SATURDAY/DEC. 11Family Gingerbread House Workshop. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Make a gingerbread house at Thomas Farm CommunityCenter, 700 Fallsgrove Drive, Rockville. All materialsincluded. Cost: $35 per house. Registration required. Call240-314-8620.

Used Book Sale. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Most hardback books andlarge paperbacks are $1; regular paperbacks are $.50. All

books are donated by the local community for the benefit ofthe library. At Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive,Potomac. Call 240-777-0690.

Pancakes with Santa. All-you-can-eat-pancakes with Santa. AtCabin John Volunteer Fire Department, Station 10, 8001 RiverRoad.

Swing Dance. 8 p.m. – midnight. Admission is $15. With theBoilermaker Jazz Band. The beginner lesson with the JamCellar crew starts at 8 p.m. and is included with youradmission. The dance runs from 9 p.m. until midnight. At theSpanish Ballroom at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., GlenEcho. Email: [email protected]

Bullis School Festival of Light. 6 p.m. Free. This year’stheme, “A Holiday to Remember,” will celebrate the seasonwith vibrant performances by the school’s Upper School jazz,string and concert bands along with choral performances froma variety of ensembles and choirs. At Blair Family Center forthe Arts, 10601 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-634-3677 orwww.bullis.org.

DEC. 11-12“Handel’s Messiah.” Performed by the National Philharmonic

Chorale. Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 12 at 3p.m. The concert will feature the National Philharmonic’snearly 200 voice all-volunteer Chorale, as well as soloistsAudrey Elizabeth Luna (soprano); Yvette Smith (mezzo-soprano); Don Bernardini (tenor); and Christòpheren Nomura(baritone). At the Music Center at Strathmore. Visitnationalphilharmonic.org or call the box office at 301-581-5100. Tickets are $32-$79; kids 7-17 are free.

NOW THROUGH DEC. 12“The Nutcracker.” Presented annually since 1974 by the

Rockville Civic Ballet, under the direction of Claudia Mangan,the show is a community favorite. Performances are Saturday,Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. Atthe F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, Rockville Civic Center Park,603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. Tickets are $16/adults; $12/children (12 years and younger), and $12/seniors. Grouprates available. For tickets call the box office at 240-314-8690between 2 and 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, or visitwww.rockvillemd.gov/arts.

SUNDAY/DEC. 1219th Century Christmas. 1 to 4 p.m. Join Chesapeake and

Ohio Canal National Historical Park staff and volunteers andthe C&O Canal Trust at Lockhouse 22 for an afternoon of 19thCentury Christmas along the Canal. Enjoy 19th century

Junie B. is a star … in her dreams.

NOW THROUGH JAN. 9Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! Saturdays

and Sundays at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Some Saturday 11a.m. performances. Single ticket prices range from$10-$22, with group rates available. It’s holiday timein Room One and that means drama! Tattletale Maykeeps picking on Junie B., and things get even worsewhen Junie B. draws May’s name for Secret Santa. Shehatches a plan to give May a lump of coal, whilegetting an awesome Squeeze-A-Burp for herself. WillJunie B. have a last-minute change of heart and showher true holiday spirit? Just like its heroine, the showhas laughs, verve and energy to spare! At ImaginationStage 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. Visitwww.imaginationstage.org or call 301-280-1660.

See Entertainment, Page 9

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HOW TO GET YOURORGANIZATION’S SPECIALEVENTS IN THE ALMANACCalendar ListingsThe Potomac Almanac contains a Calendar of UpcomingEvents every week. While we cannot guarantee that everyevent we receive information about will be listed, here isthe information we need for your upcoming event to beconsidered for the Calendar. We welcome photographs ofsimilar events held previously, which sometimes appearwith Calendar items.

Name of Event:Day of the Week, Date and Time:Name of the Place Event will Be Held:Address of the Place Event Will Be Held:Name and Phone Number for More Information:Three Sentences Describing the Event:

Please submit your calendar information at leasttwo weeks before your event. Clear photographs fromsimilar previous events are always welcome.All events should be open to the public. We givefirst priority to free events. E-mail listings to:

[email protected] mail to:Calendar, Potomac Almanac1606 King StreetAlexandria, VA 22314.

For more information, call 703-778-9410.

www.potomacalmanac.com


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From Page 8

Fine Arts

holiday music and carols performed by volunteers dressed in mid-1800’s apparel and tour historic Lockhouse 22, featuring 19th-century era furnishings and holiday decorations. TheLockhouse 22/Pennyfield area of the C&O Canal NationalHistorical Park is located at the end of Pennyfield Lock Roadoff River Road near Potomac. Call the Great Falls TavernVisitor Center at 301-767-3714.

“Jaffa” (Kalat Hayam) Film. 10 a.m. Tickets are $15. Amovie set in an Israeli seaside town, about the lives of twofamilies, working at Reuven’s garage. In Hebrew and Arabicwith English subtitles. At Cinema Art Bethesda, 7235Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. Visit http://CinemaArtBethesda.org or call 301-365-3679.

Jingle Bell Jog 8K. Starts at 9 a.m., at the Rockville SeniorCenter, 1150 Carnation Drive. See www.mcrrc.org.

Open Door Reading. 2 p.m. Free. Novelist Israel Heller readsfrom Death In McMurdo, and Kathryn Johnson reads fromThe Gentleman Poet: A Novel of Love, Danger, andShakespeare’s The Tempest. At The Writer’s Center, 4508Walsh Street, Bethesda. Call 301-654-8664, or visitwww.writer.org.

Zydeco Dance. 3:30 to 6 p.m. Admission is $15. IntroductoryZydeco dance lesson from 3 to 3:30 p.m.; dancing from 3:30to 6 p.m. With the band Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe. Atthe Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.,Glen Echo. Call Michael Hart at 301-762-6730 or go towww.DancingbytheBayou.com.

Contra and Square Dance. 7 to 10:30 p.m. Admission: $12nonmembers/$9 FSGW members. There is a lesson is at 7p.m., followed by dances with Floor Play from 7:30 to 10:30p.m. The evening can include square dances, mixers, waltzesand other couple dances. At the Spanish Ballroom at GlenEcho Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. fsgw.org.

Tribute to Frankie Valli. 7 p.m. Featuring The UnexpectedBoys. At Woodmont Country Club, 1201 Rockville Pike,Rockville. Funds raised will benefit JSSA’s (Jewish SocialService Agency) Employment and Career Services. For tickets,call or email Lesley Schrier at JSSA, 301-610-8342 [email protected].

Canal Stewards Cleanup Day. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Help theConservancy clean up and beautify the land and watersurrounding Lock 8, and along miles 8 and 9 of the C&OCanal towpath. This monthly clean-up day is open to all ages,and is part of the Canal Steward Program, engagingvolunteers in a long-term relationship in which they becomethe caretakers of a designated site within the C&O Canal

National Historical Park. At River Center at Lock 8, 7906Riverside Dr., Cabin John. Visit www.potomac.org, or contactDeanna Tricarico at [email protected], or 301-608-1188x204.

MONDAY/DEC. 13Scandinavian Christmas. 7:30 p.m. With Andrea Hoag,

Loretta Kelley, and Charlie Pilzer. Tickets are $15/advance;$20/door. At IMT at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Call 301-754-3611 and visitwww.imtfolk.org.

TUESDAY/DEC. 14Joe Jencks and Gathering Time. 8 p.m. Tickets are $18 at

the door, $15 in advance at FocusMusic.org. At theUnitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, 100 Welsh ParkDrive, Rockville. Contact David Spitzer [email protected] or 301-275-7459.

Day at the J. From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Featuring seatedexercise, a three-course hot lunch, a discussion group and afilm, “My Name is Khan,” about a Muslim man withAsperger’s syndrome on a quest to recapture the heart ofthe wife who became estranged from him after Sept. 11. Atthe Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125Montrose Road, Rockville. Lunch $5. Bus transportationfrom selected sites $5.

THURSDAY, DEC. 16Open Rehearsals. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Free. Encore Choral for

singers 55-plus. Calling all former high school and collegechoristers, church, synagogue and community choralsingers. Be a part of the Encore Chorale conducted byJeanne Kelly, past conductor of the United States NavalAcademy Women’s Glee Club, Georgetown UniversityConcert Choir and Senior Singers’ Chorales of the LevineSchool of Music. Encore Choral of WashingtonConservatory of Music at Glen Echo Park. At the SouthArcade, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Bethesda. Call Jeanne Kellyat 301-261-5747 or [email protected].

Slow Blues and Swing Dance. 9 to 11:30 p.m. Admissionis $8. Slow blues lesson from 8:15 to 9 p.m.; dancing from9 to 11:30 p.m. With DJ Mike Marcotte and guests. At theBack Room of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., GlenEcho. Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or go [email protected] or www.CapitalBlues.org.

NOW THROUGH JAN. 9Holiday Art Show and Sale.

Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to6 p.m. Browse and buy fineartworks at Glen Echo Park’sannual Holiday Art Show and Sale,presented by the Glen Echo ParkPartnership for Arts and Culture.The exhibition will feature worksby resident artists, instructors andinvited artists and will includeglass, ceramics, jewelry,photographs, paintings, and more.In the Popcorn Gallery. Additionalholiday hours on weekdays andweekends will be posted atwww.glenechopark.org. The ArtShow will be open for the Winter’sEve event on Saturday, Dec. 11from 6 to 9 p.m. Call 301-634-2222or visit glenechopark.org.

NOW THROUGH DEC. 28”The Nature of Things.” Contemporary works by Nebiur

Arellano, Anita Bretzfeld, Jo Fleming, Mina Oka Hanig,

Geri Smith, and Novie Trump. At theDennis and Phillip Ratner Museum,10001 Old Georgetown Road,Bethesda. Call 301-897-1518.

NOW THROUGH DEC. 19Annual Members Show. Saturdayand Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. The YellowBarn Studio, Glen Echo Park’s residentpainting and drawing studio, presentsits 16th annual juried Friends of theYellow Barn Members Show. Call 301-371-5593, or visityellowbarnstudio.com.

NOW THROUGH DEC. 31Holiday Show. Featuring pottery,jewelry, wearable art, paintings, prints,and photos—small and large, sculptureand mobiles. The Gallery will be filledwith beautiful works of original designthat make great holiday gifts. At

Waverly Street Gallery, 4600 East-West Highway, Bethesda.Call 301-951-9441. Contact Jean [email protected] or call 301-340-3198. Visitwww.waverlystreetgallery.com

DEC. 8 THROUGH FEB. 8Painting with Fire. The Unique Art of

Peter Kephart. Artist’s reception isWednesday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. InZenith’s Gallery, Chevy Chase Pavilion,Gallery on level 2 next to Embassy SuitesHotel. www.zenithgallery.com

Entertainment


Profiles in Real Estate – Diann Gottron

Potomac For information about appearing on this page,contact Deb Funk at 703-778-9444 [email protected] ESTATE

Diann Gottron has lived with her family in MontgomeryCounty for 50 years. She is a former teacher in theMontgomery County Public Schools prior to her recognizablename for 33 years in the real estate industry.

Having a family team, Diann concentrates on listing herhomes whereas her daughter, Denise, specializes in buyer bro-kering and renting. Her husband, Richard, handles all thehome inspections, including lead and mold.

Patience and perseverance are Diann’s middle name. Withher warm and caring personality, she stays in close communi-cation with her sellers and buyers. She also has on immediatehand painters, landscapers, floor and carpet specialists, andexpert repairmen in order to maximize the curb appeal, firstimpression and visualization of her homes.

As we all know, this year has been a difficult year butwith proper pricing and marketing aggressively, herhomes are sold. This includes open houses, luncheonsfor agents, advertising in local magazines and newspapersincluding the Washington Post, Bethesda Magazine, TheWashingtonian, The Potomac Almanac, The Gazette, TheRegency Record and Rad Magazine.

Diann’s record in real estate is exceptional due to herattention to her client’s needs.

For many years, she has been in the top 1% of realestate nationwide. She loves her profession and it showsdown to every minute detail whether it be in Potomac,North Potomac, Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring orChevy Chase.

Potomac, MD/Riverside TerraceBrand-new and beauti-ful describes this sen-sational “Arts andCrafts” home in a pre-mier location easilyaccessible to Bethesda,Potomac, Virginia andWashington, D.C. Over8800 square feet of fin-ished space on 4 levelsusing the highest qual-ity materials enhance awonderful “easy-to-live-in floor plan.”

On the Market

Even a 3-car garage. 10617 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac, MD 20854.

For more information, contact Marsha Schuman, 301-299-9598,Washington Fine Properties Potomac Village Office, 301-983-6400,

[email protected], www.wfp.com/marshaschuman.Offered at $2,195,000.

Beauty, Warmth and ValueThis unique home offers a dramatic entry foyer, both formal and informal liv-ing spaces, four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half bathroom,recently renovated gourmet kitchen and master bath, library with paneledwalls, two fireplaces, heated porcelain tiled kitchen and entry, expansive familyroom with brick fireplace and French doorsleading to deck, and spacious walk-out lower level with recreation room, full bath, office and storage space. Lovelymoldings, recessed lighting, granite, travertine and hardwood floors and sky-lights. Gorgeous views of the outdoors throughout house. Property is just min-utes to Potomac Village. 11621 Swains Lock Terrace, Potomac, MD 20854.

For more information contact Yasmin Abadian, Long and FosterPotomac Village Office 301-983-0060, Cell 301-983-1212,

www.Yasmin-Homes.com.This house is priced at $1,200,000.

Diann B. GottronLong & Foster RealtorsCell: (301) 523-1811

Office: (301) 469-4700Email: [email protected]

PotomacThis excellent valuecustom home sits onquiet cul-de-sac streetin close-in Potomac inChurchill H.S. district.Upon entering thishome, you will see abeautiful foyer with cir-cular stairs and cozyliving room, and diningroom, lovely tablespace kitchen withgranite and the familyroom with gas fire-place. The main floor has a laundry room with back door opening to gorgeouslandscaped grounds (.29 ac) with heated free-form private pool. This threelevel home has four bedrooms upstairs and three full baths plus a powderroom. There are closets galore and a fully finished lower level with wet barand steps leading up to door to exit. Over 3,500 sq. Ft. Open Sunday,December 5th. 10517 Tyler Terrace, Potomac, MD 20854

For more information contact Diann Gottron,Long and Foster Cabin John Office,

301-340-2347, Office: 301-4694700, [email protected] at $799,000.


For an Open House Listing Form,call Deb Funk at 703-778-9444 or e-mail

[email protected]

All listings due by Monday at 3 P.M.

OPEN HOUSESIN POTOMAC SAT./SUN. DEC. 11 & 12

Call Specific Agents to Confirm Dates & Times.

When you visit one of these Open Houses, tell the Realtor you saw it in thisConnection Newspaper. For more real estate listings and open houses, visit

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com & click the Real Estate links on the right side.

Penthouse Unit at The Wisconsin5809 Nickolson Lane #1610, Rockville

$499,900 • Open Sunday 1-4 pmDale Gold, Weichert Realty, 301-718-4080

Potomac (20854)10517 Tyler Terrace ................... $799,000......Sun 1-4.............Diann Gottron ........... Long & Foster .................301-340-2347

11116 Korman Dr.......................$849,000......Sun 1-4.............Homi Irani ................Coldwell Banker .............. 301-996-1695

12000 Glen Mill Rd....................$899,000......Sun 1-4.............Leslie Friedson..........Long & Foster .................301-455-4506

8309 Turnberry Ct......................$949,000......Sun 1-4.............Val Puddington ......... Coldwell Banker .............. 301-983-9000

9800 Brookford Road.................$979,900......Sun 2-4.............Meg Percesepe..........Washington Fine Prop.....240-441-8434

11 Mercy Ct ............................... $1,249,500...Sun 1-4.............Yasmin Abadian ........ Long & Foster ................301-983-0060

9316 Crimson Leaf Terr..............$1,299,000...Sun 1-4.............Jamie Coley .............. Long & Foster ................202-669-1331

11104 Falls Rd` ......................... $1,399,900...Sat 1-4..............Rhonda Dolan ...........Long & Foster .................301-975-9500

Bethesda (20817)7400 Lakeview Dr #N4040 ......... $199,000......Sun 2-5.............Jim Thomas..............Re/Max 2000...................301-881-1700

North Potomac (20878)11920 Darnestown Rd #V-4-C...$310,000......Sun 12-3...........Bill Jamison..............C. H. Jamison, Inc...........301-428-8200

114 Barnesfield Ct #219.............$320,000......Sun 1-4.............Carmen Jones Mitchell...Long & Foster .................301-548-9700

13116 Chestnut Oak Dr..............$789,900......Sun 1-4.............Cathy McNair ............ Long & Foster .................301-215-6444

Rockville (20850, 20852)11750 Old Georgetown Rd #2208...$338,720......Sat/Sun 11-6 ....Bob Lucido................Toll MD...........................410-979-6024

11750 Old Georgetown Rd #2316...$393,395......Sat/Sun 11-6 ....Bob Lucido................Toll MD...........................410-979-6024




5809 Nickolson Ln #1610 .......... $499,900......Sun 1-4.............Dale Gold..................Weichert ......................... 301-718-4080


4842 Cloister Dr.........................$599,900......Sun 1-4.............Eric Venit .................. Prudential Carruthers......301-977-0336

611 Crooked Creek Dr................$899,999......Sun 1-4 ............Michelle Meyer..........Coldwell Banker .............. 301-983-0200

News

Westfield Montgomery Shopping Mall is display-ing trees decorated by area Girl Scouts through Dec.10. Each tree has its own theme decided upon bythe individual troop. The trees are on display in themall and customers can purchase raffle tickets to winthe trees, with all proceeds benefiting the Girl Scoutsand the Prevention of Blindness Society.

Girl Scouts representing troops from Potomac El-

ementary, Seven Lock Elementary, Carderock Elemen-tary, Hoover Middle School, Pyle Middle School,Churchill Elementary, Our Lady of Mercy, NorwoodSchool, McLean School and Connelly School of theHoly Child decorated trees donated by Benkhe Nurs-ery in Potomac, with hand-made ornaments theyhave been crafting in their troop meetings over thelast several months.

Decorated Trees To Raise Funds

Tree theme “Our Hearts are Connected”with Sonya Bernstein, 6th Grade, HooverMiddle School and Jenna Berinstein, 5thGrade, Potomac Elementary School.

Jessica Bassett and Kennedy Davidison,6th graders from Troop 3310 at McLeanSchool with the tree theme “Pearls andBeads.”

Tree theme “ACheery RedChristmas” bysecond gradersfrom Troop 272at PotomacElementarySchool. Backrow: SamanthaScardelletti,Alison Epstein,JillianScardelletti,Alexa Gold,JanineJunaideen. FrontRow: KylieBloise, Ava Fiallo,Maeve McGuire,and GiannaScardelletti.

Brownies from Troop 4827at Seven Locks Elementary

School (tree theme — “Ared white and blue Ameri-

can Christmas”)Amy Weitzman, Brianna

Brown, Caroline Tydings,Margaux Saidy, Miranda

Hill, Parker Hill from Troop4827 — all second gradersfrom Seven Locks Elemen-

tary School — with the treetheme - “A red white and

blue American Christmas.”

Photos by Joanna Caputi


SportsPotomac Almanac Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]

See www.potomacalmanac.com

Potomac AreaSophomore SelectedTo All-IACFootball Team

A Potomac high school sophomore, ChrisFraser, was selected for the All-IAC team asits punter for the 2010 football season. TheIAC football conference includes Landonand Bullis, among other high schools. At 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, Fraser was the onlyplayer on the St. Albans High School cham-pionship team to be selected from the jun-ior or sophomore classes.

Fraser’s longest punt of the season wasmore than 60 yards and more than once heplaced the ball inside the opponent’s 10-yard line. When St. Albans senior place

with a time of 1 minute, 55.73 seconds.Charlotte Meyer (200 free, 1:59.97), SarahKannan (200 IM, 2:17.18 and 100 breast,1:12.16), Katie Mahaffie (50 free, 26.19),Mica Hinga (diving, 117.05), Audrey Gould(100 fly, 1:04.44), Pellegrini (100 back,1:06.34) and the 400 free relay team(Gould, Rachel Bouvier, Pellegrini,Mahaffie, 4:09.53) were winners.

In boys action, Drew Szparaga finishedfirst in the boys 200 free with at ime of2:06.41. Ben Geithner (50 free, 25.25), NickCohen (diving, 102.35), Steven Goldberg(100 fly, 59.88), Stephan Rodan (100 free,57.66), Sam Pastoriza (100 breast, 1:09.59)and the 400 free relay team (AlexanderAnders, Adam Goode, Rodan, MaxDubrovsky, 3:54.78) were winners.

Whitman will face Sherwood at 11:30a.m. on Dec. 11 at the Montgomery AquaticCenter.

By Brian Kimm

The Almanac

As the players jogged around thecourt and began their warm up,head coach Kate McMahon said,“Tomorrow, when we come out,

we’re going to be an organized team.”Entering its season opener on Dec. 7 at

Kennedy, the philosophy of the Churchillgirls basketball team is simple: Defense winschampionships. Second-year head coachMcMahon is focusedon emphasizing theintangibles of thegame, which she be-lieves, along withthe players, shouldtake them beyondthe regionalquarterfinals thisseason.

Preseason prac-tices have beenmostly “defensivedrills and extra run-ning,” laughed se-nior captain Leeda Jewayni.

“We are really going to count on leader-ship,” McMahon said. She stresses effort andhustle in every drill and is counting on herteam leaders, such as Jewayni, to help reit-erate it to the rest of the team.

Churchill will have to overcome the de-parture of one of their best players, AshleyNelson, a talented guard and 3-point shooter,to The Bullis School. Churchill’s response?Concentrating on making its defense betterand relying much on low-post play.

“We’ll be playing more inside-outside,”

said McMahon of their offensive strategywithout their star shooter.

“Ashley was always there,” junior centerSarafina Arthur-Williams said, “but we haveto keep our confidence up.”

Alongside Jewayni and fellow senior cap-tain, guard/forward Giulia Giannangeli, theBulldogs will be looking to Arthur-Williams

Churchill Hoping Leadership Replaces Talent LossAshley Nelson,Bulldogs’ top offensivethreat from last season,transfers to Bullis.

for her leadership, as well as her big playin the paint at both ends of the court.McMahon hopes that her center will pro-vide the team with a critical reboundingpresence throughout the season.

“Our rebounding has to be on,” contin-ued Arthur-Williams, for the bulldogs to besuccessful this year.

Though following the one-game-at-a-timeformula, both players and coaches admitthey have the Wootton games (Jan. 4 and28) in their sights. Churchill is also hopingto improve upon their quarterfinal exit lastseason and make it deeper into thepostseason. Churchill will host Watkins Millat 7 p.m. on Dec. 13.

Leeda Jewayni will be one of Churchill’s top scoringthreats during the 2010-11 season.

Sarafina Arthur-Williams is a force in the paint for theBulldogs.

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Sports Briefs

Chris Fraser

“We arereally goingto count onleadership.”— Churchill head

girls basketballcoach

Kate McMahon

kicker, Chris Smith, was injured, Fraser’skickoff landed at the 5-yard line and hemade his one extra point attempt. Consult-ant to NFL kickers, Brad Hoffman said thatFraser’s placekicking skills exceed his punt-ing abilities.

Whitman SwimmingScrimmagesSeneca Valley

The Whitman swim and dive team scrim-maged Seneca Valley on Saturday at theGaithersburg Aqutic Center. The Vikings hadproduced the first-place finisher in 16 of 20events.

In girls action, the 200 medley relay teamof Charlotte Meyer, Lisa Deng, KatieMahaffie and Sophie Pellegrini finished first


St. Albans School Admissions Open House

Our Upper SchoolAdmissions Open House

(for applicants to grades 9–11)will be held on Sunday,

December 12, from 1-3 P.M.

St. Albans SchoolMassachusetts & Wisconsin Avenues, NW

Washington, DC 20016-5095(Located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral)

Please visit www.stalbansschool.org/admissionsor call the Admissions Office at 202-537-6440

for more information. No reservationsnecessary to attend the Open House.

St. Albans School welcomes students of all cultural, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds to joinus for our 101st year in 2010-2011. We are an independent, college preparatory school for boys in grades

4-12, and for boarding students in grades 9-12. Visit www.stalbansschool.org formore information about St. Albans School Today!

Schools

By Danielle Collins

For the Almanac

The holiday season:cookies baking in theoven, latkes sizzlingin the frying pan, and

the fire crackling as the logs burnlow. Some make their annual pil-grimage to the mall for gifts, some

pull out boxes fromthe attic filled withdecorations, andothers retire to thecouch to watch agood old-fashionedmovie. (Whodoesn’t love“Miracle on 34th

Street” or “TheGrinch”?) The holidays are a timeto turn up the music, visit withloved ones and loosen our pantsafter the second helping of holi-day food. My parents lovingly re-fer to me as a “Cashew,” (Catholicfather and Jewish mother); I amlucky to celebrate both Hannukahand Christmas. It’s hard not to getin the spirit when 97.1 F.M. beginsplaying Christmas music beforeThanksgiving. But whatever holi-day you celebrate or whatever tra-dition your family holds, it is safeto say that the holidays are an un-forgettable time of year.

Some Churchill students alsocelebrate Christmas andHannukah, citing both holidays asunique experiences. David Cohen,a sophomore, says, “I am luckyenough to celebrate Hannukahand Christmas. I love spendingboth holidays with my family, andit is cool to get extra presents! Myfamily is very spirited at Christ-mas, and we always go carolingand light our house up with tonsof Christmas lights. We have a tra-dition of decorating the tree to-gether and opening presents to-gether Christmas morning. ForHannukah, we light the menorah,say the blessing, and play dreidelgames for chocolate gelt.”

As for freshman Jennifer Hol-stein, “My mom is Jewish and mydad is Christian so I get to cel-ebrate both Hannukah and Christ-mas. Holidays are a really specialtime of year, and it is wonderfulto experience both holidays. I loveto eat all the awesome food dur-ing the holidays. For Hannukah Ilove latkes, and for Christmas, Ilove the desserts.”

Shira Rodman looks forward toher special Hannukah traditions,saying, “Every year at holiday timeI go to Buffalo with my family tosee our relatives. We do a big holi-day dinner with my mom’s familyfor Hannukah, and I love the sweetpotatoes my mom makes. When

we celebrate with my dad’s side,we all hang out and bond and playbig games of Taboo. It’s a reallyfun holiday experience with myfamily.”

As for Marc Eastman, Christmasis a time to remember. He saysthat, “Every year for Christmas, mymom makes special holiday cook-ies as a dessert and we eat themChristmas Eve. It is a great familytradition for us. On Christmasmorning, I wake my parents reallyearly to see what is in my stockingand open all of my presents.”

Christian Carty loves the holidayseason and looks forward to hisannual Christmas traditions be-cause “having family around is re-ally special and spirited. One of ourfamily traditions is going to mid-night mass, and on Christmas Eve,my cousins and grandmotherscome to my house to stay. We allwrap each other’s gifts in the base-ment. The next morning, we all godownstairs and open our stockings.Then, the whole family prepares abig breakfast together. The kidsplay with their new toys and the

adults go back into the kitchen andcook for most of the day.”

Senior Meghan O’Lone cel-ebrates Christmas “with all of myfamily who live in Maryland. Wego to St. Elizabeth’s every year tobuy our Christmas tree, and eachone comes with a birth certificateof the tree that gives it a funnyname! My dad puts on a Christ-mas carol CD and we decorate thetree together. The rest of our houseis decorated with lights andcandles and little Christmasthings. My family also does a bigSecret Santa, but we all usuallyfind out who everyone’s secretbuddy is beforehand!”

And as for me, the holidays can-not come soon enough. I eagerlyawait my family’s annual trip tomy grandparents’ house in DeepCreek Lake. Nothing is better thansitting around the fire playingcards and stuffing myself with hamand my mother’s holiday poundcake. So to everyone getting in theholiday spirit, I wish you happyshopping, hearty eating and goodtimes with family and friends!

Christian Carty in front of a Christmas tree.

The Holidays Are Here

Collins


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I received a $25 check in the mail today. Itwas sent to me by my bank, the bank withwhom I’ve had a long-standing (through theirname-changing) relationship. A bank however,with whom I’ve had minimal interaction, otherthan maintaining a checking account and beingthe recipient of any number of direct mailsolicitations. I have no savings account, nomoney market account, no IRA account, nohome equity and/or second trust and no per-sonal loans; I may have a credit card (that Idon’t use) but it serves as a back-up/overdraftaccount which I most definitely have.Although, with the passage – and implementa-tion recently of the new banking legislation,I’m not exactly sure what it is I still have,and/or what it is I’ll be charged the next time acheck presents itself without proper support.So you can imagine my surprise (or perhapsyou can’t), when I received a plain white busi-ness envelope from my bank which containedthis mystery money and a brief explanation forits being sent – to me: some refund of a fee Idon’t remember paying and/or even caringabout.

My reaction was to say aloud somethinglike: “The bank made an error in my favor?Wow! That never happens.” As soon as I saidthat ‘bank error’ line, I was transported – figu-ratively speaking, since I wasn’t in a hot tub atthe time, back some 45 years to those youthfuldays of playing board games, “Monopoly,” spe-cifically, on our back porch on Athelstane Roadin Newton Centre, Ma., where my brother andI would play for hours on end (I always chosethe dog, he chose the iron) until one playerhad all the money and/or all the property andthe other player was unable to pay for landingon their Hotel/Utility/Railroad.

There I was, “Taking a ‘Chance’ on ‘Comm-unity’s Chest’ (as I always intentionally mispro-nounced them) to see what fortune – or misfor-tune – would befall me: “Advance Token toBoardwalk,” “Take a Ride on the Reading,”“Elected Chairman of the Board, Pay EachPlayer $50,” “Pay School Tax of $150,” “YouHave Won Second Prize in a Beauty Contest,Collect $10,” and of course, “Bank Error inyour Favor, Collect $200;” that was as much“found money” as there was in “Monopoly.”Granted, the check I received in the mail wasonly for $25, but collecting money out of theblue like that, when you’re not expecting any –and having done nothing to deserve it, madethat $25 feel like $200. It was as if “Comm-unity’s Chest” had advised me to “Advance ToGo” and “Collect $200,” or even better, I hadlanded on “Free Parking” and collected the“kitty,” as we called the money paid to thegame/placed in the center of the board.

As much as anything though, receiving that$25 check and remembering “Monopoly” andthe simpler, much less complicated days of myboard game-playing youth, brought a smile tomy face and a slew of wonderful memories tomy mind. I had a happy childhood and it allcame rushing back to me when I read theexplanation for the check: “Bank error,” arefund of a fee or overcharge, or something tothat effect. It was a warm and fuzzy moment,that’s for sure; one which always included milkand cookies because if my brother and I werein the house playing a game like that, therewas always milk and cookies; my mother sawto that.

She (I can still hear my father admonishingmy brother and I: “Don’t call your mother‘she’”) was determined to make sure mybrother and I drank our eight glasses of milkevery day; the medical prescription in the 50sand 60s to guarantee children consumedenough calcium in order to develop strongbones. And to make sure we drank our milk,we needed to eat something for it to washdown and cookies were the obvious choice:Oreos (before there was “Double Stuf”), ChipsAhoy or some other kind of chocolate chipcookie and Keebler’s Fudge Town or FudgeStripes; these were the most popular, therewere others. And though it was a board gamewe were playing, we weren’t bored. We were“Monopolized.” It made us happy and it madeour parents happy. No wonder it’s a fondmemory, everybody was happy and the livingwas good, so far as we knew.

Ah, the innocence of youth. There’s norecapturing it, but it was sure nice remember-ing it.

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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

“Bank Error in My Favor”

CLASSIFIEDDEADLINESZones 1, 5, 6............................Mon @ noonZones 2, 3, 4 ...........................Tues @ noon

E-mail ad with zone choices to:[email protected]

or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411

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E-mail ad with zone choices to:[email protected] or call Barbara @ 703-778-9413

ZONESZone 1: The Reston Connection The Oak Hill/Herndon ConnectionZone 2: The Springfield Connection The Burke Connection The Fairfax Connection The Fairfax Station/Clifton/

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Ad Deadline: Tuesday 11 a.m. • 301-983-1900


POTOMACALMANAC

www.PotomacAlmanac.com

Newspaper of PotomacA Connection Newspaper

An independent, locally ownedweekly newspaper

delivered to homes and businesses.1606 King Street

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

PUBLISHERMary Kimm

[email protected]

EDITORIALPHONE: 703-821-5050

E-MAIL:[email protected]

EDITORSteven Mauren, 703-778-9415

[email protected]

SPORTS EDITORJon Roetman,703-224-3015

[email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITORSteve Hibbard, 703-778-9412

[email protected]

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERLouise Krafft

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSCissy Finley Grant, Carole Dell,

Kenny Lourie

Art/Design:Geovani Flores, Laurence Foong,

John Heinly, Wayne Shipp,John Smith

Production Manager:Jean Card

ADVERTISINGPHONE: 703-821-5050

FAX: 703-518-4632

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESDisplay Advertising:

Kenny Lourie [email protected]

Employment:Barbara Parkinson

[email protected] Smith 703-778-9411

Classified [email protected]

Potomac Almanac is published byConnection Newspapers, L.L.C.

Peter LabovitzPresident/CEO

Mary KimmPublisher/Chief Operating

Officer703-778-9433

[email protected]

Jerry VernonExecutive Vice President

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Wesley DeBrosseController

Debbie FunkNational Sales703-778-9444

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Jeanne TheismannSpecial Assistant to the Publisher

[email protected]

2000, 2001, 2002,2003, 2004

First Place AwardPublic Service

MDDC Press Association

1998, 2001, 2002, 2003Newspaperof the Year

An Award-winning Newspaperin Writing, Photography, Editing,

Graphics and Design

People

Coat DriveBells Mill Elementary third-gradeBrownie Troop 1639 sponsored acoat drive at the school last month.The girls donated more than 100coats/jackets to A Wider Circle, acharity whose mission is to helpchildren and adults lift themselvesout of poverty. The Brownies had afield trip to the center in SilverSpring on Wednesday, Dec. 1, tobring in many of the coats. They hada tour of the center by Director ofEducation Lauren Snow, and createdcards for the coat recipients. TroopLeaders Laura Papageorge and NinaPrice thank the Bells Mill communityand parent coordinator Traci Levinefor their time and donations.

Crafts — including jewelry, beads, fiber arts, soaps, Christmas items,wood crafts, prints, metalwork, ceramics, glass, oils, watercolors,

photographs — filled the Clara Barton Community Center in Cabin John on Sunday.

Michael Higgs, artist andeducator.

Holiday Show Photos by

Deborah Post Stevens/

The Almanac

Chanukah BoutiqueJoanne Brody Spielman ofWhichcraft Gallery is a co-chair ofthe B’nai Tzedek Chanukah Bou-tique event, held last month.

Deborah Grodie of Dor L’Dor SpiritualJewelry shows various pieces of jewelryto Meridith Beckhardt.

Shayna Fleischer, 2, holds on toher “Bert” from Andrea’s BeyondBalloons.

Photos by Harvey Levine/The Almanac

potomac · 4 potomac almanac december 8-14, 2010 20% off in-plant cleaning through dec. 18, 2010...

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