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Santa’s Busy SeasonNews, Page 3

Maya Mahta visits with Santa at the holiday party at Cabin John Village on Dec. 2.

December 6-12, 2017

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HolidayGift Guide

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WellbeingPage 5

Spirit of Christmas Descends On Great Falls TavernNews, Page 3

Church Youth Group To Present Living Nativity News, 0

2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 6-12, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Gift Guide

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

Now that Thanksgiving, BlackFriday and Cyber Monday areover — it’s time for the hands-on “real” holiday shopping to

begin. If you are looking for a retail experi-ence where you can examine, touch, feeland try-on, look no further than PotomacVillage. These stores offer free parking, alack of holiday crowds and full attentionfrom personable salespeople who want toget to know you. You can drive five or 10minutes and be able to check off everyoneon your list.

The Market at River Falls, owned byPotomac residents Yasmin Abadian andJames McWhorter, offers a variety of giftsfor all those “impossible-to-buy-for” peopleon your list. The nicest touch is that manyof the Market offerings come from localpurveyors. Give a bottle of “Silver Spring”wine, a Rockland Farm wine fromPoolesville or an Urban Winery bottle fromDorchester County, Md. Please your foodiefriends or relatives with locally curedsalamis, cookies by Whisked from DC, beerfrom DC Brau, honey from Potomac orMichele’s Granola from Frederick.

For a hostess gift, take Fisher Popcorn ina decorated tin which features scenes fromthe State of Maryland —the Bay Bridge,Maryland State House, Preakness, sailboatson the Chesapeake, a Baltimore Oriole,Black-Eyed Susan and the Maryland Flag.Another exceptional gift is a jar of Annie’sSugar Scrub in lavender or citrus.

The best gift of all is one that your friendsor family will never forget — a gift certifi-cate for a bountiful Crab Cake dinner forfour from the Market at River Falls. Thinkof how they will appreciate this gift as theydine on crab cakes, soup, salads and sides,a French baguette and pie — all for $100.

Your next stop is to find gifts for thepeople in your life who love water sportssuch as canoeing, kayaking and stand-uppaddleboarding — or would love to learn.Just amble across Falls Road to PotomacPaddlesports. This store will provide youwith gear and stocking stuffers for those

people who love paddling the C&O Canal,Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay and be-yond.

Manager James Buck will be happy toguide you if you are unsure about what topurchase. Some of the gifts you might con-sider purchasing for your water-lovers arekayaks or paddle boards, wetsuits, helmets,layering pieces, footwear, safety equipmentand paddling t-shirts. Stocking stuffers arealso available – items such as nose clips,eyeglass holders, gloves, baseball hats andmore.

If you want to give a gift that “keeps ongiving,” buy a package of classes forWhitewater Kayaking, Stand-UpPaddleboarding, Sea Kayak Touring,Flatwater Kayaking, or Whitewater Rafting.Potomac Paddlesports also offers teencamps — an activity that will change yourteen’s perspective and life forever. They alsofeature guided whitewater trips — a greatway to commune with nature — or howabout some winter indoor kayak rolling ses-sions? Potomac Paddlesports’ specialty isprofessional instruction and their coachedsessions are designed to “help you developyour skills quickly so you can paddle withfinesse and confidence.” All equipment isprovided.

Potomac Paddlesports also offers moon-light paddles, fall foliage tours, birthdayparties, corporate outings and you can even

plan your wedding here; one unique wed-ding venue is to get married on a river is-land.

The next stop for your outdoor enthusi-ast should be Big Wheel Bikes where man-ager David Zovko will help you and yourfamily select the best bikes for the money.Every type of bike is available in this store— racing, electric, high performance,children’s bikes for all age ranges and moun-tain bikes. This is the place to get the bestfit for a comfortable experience and to learnabout the sport of biking, bike trails, main-tenance and necessary equipment. Bikes runfrom $369 and up.

Besides finding the perfect bike, the perksof purchasing your bike at Big Wheel Bikesare free assembly, free service for a year —and you can try it before you buy it. Zovkowill also make certain that themanufacturer’s warranty is honored too.

Gifts at Big Wheel Bikes for your bikerinclude repair kits, nutrition bars, bike lightsand safety equipment, gloves, water bottles,bells, comfy seats and bike clothing. Zovkowill give you expert advice since he is anavid biker — and, if they don’t carry what-ever you would like to buy, he will order itfor pick up in a day or two.

Potomac Petals and Plants at 9545 RiverRoad is a garden center transformed into aone-of-a-kind gift store, featuring roomsfilled to the brim with an array of Christ-

mas decorations, Chanukah décor, jewelry,scarves, handsome wreaths — and even liveparakeets and canaries for the bird-lover inyour life.

Winter Wonderland is everywhere youlook. Displays of Christmas elves, orna-ments, surfer, hunter, fisherman and HarleySantas, specialized nutcrackers, gifts foryour favorite puppy or kitten, a variety ofholiday napkins, table décor and decora-tions — all are displayed on holiday tablesand trees. As you wander through the store,you will also find a table of Chanukah giftswhich includes Jonathan Adler Menorahs,candles, servers, glasses, dreidels – and evena lighted Chanukah bear. The blue andwhite items provide gifts and decorationsfor your home as you enter the season oflight.

Kavelle Bajaj purchased the store in 2015— and has added a wealth of unique giftitems. She and Linda Ridenour enjoy pro-viding décor items and advice for choosingexactly the right gift. Anklets, hairclips, toerings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces arefeatured in their jewelry collection. Othergift items include Nest candles and fra-grances, limited edition prints, tea towels,milled soaps in the shape of a Scottie, Pugor Westie, and a collection of toys and booksfor children.

“I want people to get excited when theycome here to shop,” said Bajaj. “Tour agen-cies have added us to their ‘must-visit placesin D.C.’ because we have such an extensivecollection of unusual gifts.”

Fresh flower arrangements are a thought-ful gift and Potomac Petals and Plants is theplace to order these and to purchase freshor silk flower arrangements for your homeor holiday table. There are garlands, cen-terpieces and a collection of live orchids inthe area. The wreaths and floral arrange-ments created by Linda Hobbins make giftsfor anyone who loves flowers, holiday décorand nature.

“I get great joy from crafting holidaywreaths and arrangements with beautifulseasonal flowers and decorations as well aswith dried flowers,” said Hobbins.

Shop Potomac Village for Hard-to-Find Holiday GiftsJust a shortdrive from home.

The Market at River Falls offers a variety of gifts.

For the people in your life wholove water sports such as canoe-ing, kayaking and stand-uppaddleboarding, visit PotomacPaddlesports.

Every type of bike is available at Big Wheel Bikes —racing, electric, high performance, children’s bikesfor all age ranges and mountain bikes.

Potomac Petals and Plants is agarden center transformed intoa one-of-a-kind gift store.

Shelves of Santas atPotomac Petals andPlants.

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Potomac Almanac ❖ December 6-12, 2017 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

By Peggy McEwan

The Almanac

Again this year, Cabin John Park Volunteer FireDepartment will host Santa Claus for a tourof the Potomac community. Santa has quite

a busy schedule this time of year but will be wavingto all from atop a shiny fire engine decorated for theholidays and accompanied by firefighter “elves.” Heis also accepting presents for children that CJPVFDmembers will donate to the National Center for Chil-dren and Families and the United States Marine CorpsToys for Tots program.New toys may be brought out to Santa as he passesby on the fire truck or dropped off at either CabinJohn Park Fire Station 10, 8001 River Road or Sta-tion 30, 9404 Falls Road.

Everyone is invited to join Santa at noon Sunday,Dec. 24 when he delivers toys at the National Centerfor Children and Families, 6301 Greentree Road,Bethesda.

Santa’s nightly run will go from 6-9 p.m. accord-ing to this schedule:

Friday, Dec. 8 — Fox Meadow; River Oaks Farm;Potomac Farm Estates; Potomac Hills; Potomac Manors;Great Falls Estates; Potomac Falls Estates

Saturday, Dec. 9 — Mountain Gate; Eagle Rock; NatelliWoods* Potomac Ranch; River Falls; Fawsett Farms

Sunday, Dec. 10 — Cabin John; Cabin John Park; Ever-green* Congressional Country Club Estates

Tuesday, Dec. 12 (Also First Make Up Night) —Arrowood; Bradley Hills Grove

Wednesday, Dec. 13 — Seven Locks Hills; Burning Tree

Santa Claus Is Coming to TownCabin John Park VFD provides present-collecting elves.

Santa waves from a Cabin John Park Volunteer FireDepartment fire truck. See Santa Claus, Page 8

NewsPotomac Almanac Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

See www.potomacalmanac.com

By Susan Belford

The Almanac

The smell of pine boughs, thebeauty of fresh-cut greens anda vision of garlands and wreathsdecorated with red bows and

ribbons transformed the historical GreatFalls Tavern into a Christmas wonderlandon a sunny Dec. 4 morning. The C&O Na-tional Canal Park landmark was garnishedby the Little Farms Garden Club — an eventwhich has drawn 30-40 members annuallysince 1978.

“The group meets to decorate no matterwhether it is raining, snowing or blowing,”said Tavern decorator extraordinaire andorganizer Traci Hoffman. “We create all thedecorations — the swags, garlands, bowsand wreaths from the greenery that is de-livered. Each year the decorations areunique to the greens that we are given. Weare pleased that we can share the joy of theseason by making this lovely historical tav-ern even more beautiful.”

The greens are delivered on the morningof the Little Falls Garden Club decoratingevent by a “Secret Santa” — no one wouldreveal the source or if the greens came viasleigh, truck or horseback. Club PresidentJean Mullan said that all members aresworn to secrecy. “We are so fortunate tohave the help of National Park ServiceRanger Mark Myers to brave the ladders andheights required to deck the Tavern. Wecould not make it such a beautiful Christ

Little Farms GardenClub decorateshistoric building.

Spirit of Christmas Descends on Great Falls Tavern

See Decorating, Page 8

Members of the Little Farms Garden Club turned the Great Falls Taverninto a Christmas wonderland.

Piper Larson and Betty Lee addtheir touch to a Great FallsTavern window.

National Park Service Ranger MarkMyers helps with the decorating.

Photos by Deborah Stevens/The Almanac


Opinion

❖ Manna Food Center, 9311 Gaither Road,Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 301-424-1130,www.mannafood.org.

Manna Food Center, the main food bank in Mont-gomery County, strives to eliminate hunger throughfood distribution, education, and advocacy. Manna hasdistributed more than 43 million pounds of food tomore than 2.7 million individuals. Manna providedfood to 5 percent of Montgomery County residents thispast year.

❖ Mercy Health Clinic, www.mercyhealthclinic.org,7 Metropolitan Court, Suite 1, Gaithersburg, MD20878.

Mercy Health Clinic is a free, community-based vol-unteer organization providing quality healthcare touninsured, low-income residents of MontgomeryCounty. The clinic, located in Gaithersburg, dependson the expertise of volunteers, healthcare profession-als and support from community partners to providequality care to those in need. The clinic is staffed withmedical professionals including family practice physi-cians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, nursepractitioners, nurse assistants, translators and behav-ioral health counselors.

❖ Interfaith Works, www.iworksmc.org, 114 WestMontgomery Ave., Rockville, MD 20850.

Interfaith Works provides shelter, food, and cloth-ing to low-income and homeless neighbors.

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

Potomac Community Resources, Inc. (PCR) providestherapeutic, recreational, social, and respite care pro-grams for teens and adults with developmental

differences, as well as information about communityresources for families.

❖ Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless,www.mcch.net, 600-B East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD20850, 301-217-0314.

Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless(MCCH), a community-based nonprofit organization,is a leading provider of permanent housing, interme-diate housing, emergency shelter, and supportiveservices for people experiencing homelessness. MCCHprograms serve 1,600 men, women and children eachyear, providing 60 percent of the emergency shelterbeds in the county.

❖ ArtStream, www.art-stream.org, 8401 Connecti-cut Ave. Ste 1230, Chevy Chase, MD 20815,301-565-4567

ArtStream performances feature adult actors withintellectual and developmental disabilities includingautism and other social and behavioral needs. Actors,volunteer mentors and theatre professionals works asa team to create original performances for live audi-ences. Drama and life-skills classes, programs inmilitary hospitals. ArtStream is based in Chevy Chaseand holds programming throughout the Greater Wash-ington DC Metro region.

❖ Shepherd’s Table, www.shepherdstable.org, 8210Dixon Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-585-646.

Shepherd’s Table is a nonprofit organization indowntown Silver Spring, supported by volunteers, re-ligious organizations, government, businesses,foundations, and individual donors. Shepherd’s Tableprovides help to people who are homeless or in needby providing basic services, including meals, socialservices, medical support, clothing, and other assis-

See Improving, Page 7

Give Locally in PotomacSchool holidays canbring uncertainty andhunger for tens ofthousands of poorchildren in our area.

The holidays are about giving, andgiving thanks. The holidays areabout children and family. The holi-days are about sharing, about joy.

The holidays are about being thankful and

Potomac: Where to Give Locally

about faith and appreciation. The holidays areabout helping those in need.

Potomac is one of the wealthiest communi-ties in the nation. The average family incomein Potomac is $269,900, with 55 per-cent of married couple families inPotomac earning more than $200,000.

But close to 68,000 people (6.7 percent) inMontgomery County live below the povertylevel. That’s $20,420 for a family of three.

That’s about $1,700 a month. The medianrent in Montgomery County is $1,627.

These families may be on the brink ofhomelessness, families who must choose be-tween medical bills, car repair, heat and food.Some of these are children who may not be

Editorial

sure that they will have a meal between themeals they get in school.

School holidays can bring uncertainty andhunger, a far cry from the celebrations, gifts

and plenty that we associate with theholidays.

Hundreds of homeless students at-tend the public schools, and their needs aregreater.

Many nonprofits in the county need yourhelp to provide a holiday meal for Thanksgiv-ing or Christmas, to provide children with gifts.But we also list other kinds of nonprofits; findwhat appeals to you, and pitch in.

— Mary Kimm,

[email protected]

POTOMACALMANAC

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tance.❖ Fisher House, Walter Reed Army Medical Center,

www.fisherhouse.org, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420,Rockville, MD 20850, 888-294-8560.

The Fisher House program supports members of themilitary and their families when they travel great dis-tances for specialized medical care. Fisher HouseFoundation donates “comfort homes,” built on thegrounds of major military and Veterans medical cen-ters, including Walter Reed in Bethesda. These homesenable family members to be close to a loved one atthe most stressful times.

❖ Friends in Action, www.iworksmc.org/friends-in-action, 114 West Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD20850, 301-762-8682.

Founded by Interfaith Works (formerly CommunityMinistry of Montgomery County) in 1986, Friends InAction recruits and trains a network of people from allfaiths and ethnic backgrounds. Volunteer mentoringteams are linked for one year in a supportive relation-ship to a needy family in their community. The goalof the program is to help the family identify theirstrengths and develop attainable and manageablegoals that guide them toward financial independenceand personal well being.

❖ Montgomery Countryside Alliance, P.O Box 24,Poolesville, MD 20837, 301-461-9831,www.mocoalliance.org, [email protected]

Montgomery Countryside Alliance promotes soundeconomic, land-use and transportation policies thatpreserve the natural environment, open spaces andrural lands in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Re-serve for the benefit of all Washington Metropolitanarea residents.

By Ginny Barnes

WMCCA President

Since the Potomac Subregion Master Plan(MP) was adopted in 2002, much of theanticipated development in our commu-

nity has taken place. Two of the three Potomacquarries have been turned into housing. Witha mix of high density housing and substantialretail, Fortune Parc is reaching completion. TheCabin John Center is under new management

with additional modest retailunderway. But what about thePotomac Village itself?

Intended to be the commercialheart of Potomac, defined by the crossroads ofFalls and River Roads, the Potomac VillageCenter is zoned C-1 and covers 27 acres andabout 337,710 square feet. Many recommen-dations in the MP for the Village itself havegone unrealized. Certainly we now have morebanks, real estate offices, a mix of retail busi-

nesses and services, and some new restaurants.But the Master Plan noted that the Village is

not pedestrian friendly and consists mainly ofstrip centers divided by parking lots whichmake it too auto centric with poor circulationpatterns. Given our designation as one of tworesidential “green wedges” intended to protectthe public water supply, the Village itself ispainfully devoid of tree canopy cover. Land useand design guidelines in the Master Plan in-cluded providing an attractive tree lined “Main

Street” environment, specially paved cross-walks, and creating a green park like edge onthe Village perimeter. Such improvementswould require special planning and coordina-tion among commercial owners. Not an easytask.

Some Potomac residents have worried thatthe Village is creeping outward on both endsof Falls Road. Houses that were once residenceshave become commercial. Under what circum

Does Potomac Village Uphold Master Plan?Next WMCCA Meeting

Ehsan Motazedi, division chief of the Department ofPermitting Services for Montgomery County govern-ment, will be the guest speaker at the next WestMontgomery County Citizens Association’s meeting,Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7:15 p.m. at the Potomac Com-munity Center.

WMCCA often fields concerns about what consti-tutes the commercial core of Potomac Village. The builtcommercial environment in its shopping centers usu-ally have storefronts but there are other businesses

cropping up beyond those spaces and they operateunder different regulations. What are they? How andunder what conditions are they sanctioned? Motazediwill discuss applicable zoning regulations, businessand home occupancy requirements and signage. Hewill take questions regarding individual properties andongoing problems residents may have noticed that gounreported. As always, the public is most welcome toattend. If schools are closed because of inclementweather, the meeting will be cancelled.

WMCCA


Wellbeing

By Marilyn Campbell

As Terrance Puller surveysboxes wrapped in holidaypaper and filled with tubes

of toothpaste, sticks of deodorantand other self-care toiletries, hesays he can feel his heart well upwith gratitude. The packages werepart of a donation drive to benefitSo Others Might Eat (SOME), alocal nonprofit organization witha mission to provide services to thepoor and homeless. Puller, who isnow both a SOME employee andvolunteer, reminisces about a pe-riod in his life when he was a re-cipient of such generosity.

Five years ago, Puller says hewas alone, homeless and deep inan alcohol and crack cocaine-in-duced haze. He would later recallthat he was so staggeringly intoxi-cated one holiday season that hewould miss an opportunity to saygoodbye to his dying mother. Whathe did receive that year however,was life changing.

“I was able to come into the shel-ter and get treatment, food andeventually a job,” said Puller. “Ivolunteer my time because … be-ing here reminds me of my storyand makes me grateful. It keepsme uplifted, less depressed andclean and sober.”

Mounting research validatesPuller’s assertion. “Giving of ourtalents and time is an importantway to improve our well-being,”said Carolyn Lorente, professor ofpsychology at Northern VirginiaCommunity College. “What manyof my colleagues are looking intois the connection betweenvolunteerism and sense of self. Itturns out that when we give toothers, it not only helps those weare assisting but also boosts oursense of agency, gives us a senseof purpose and belonging and in-forms our sense of identity.”

During the holidays, which areoften emotionally charged, a focuson helping others can lead to feel-ings of gratitude and happiness,says psychologist Jerome Short,Ph.D. In fact, he points to a 2010study published in the journalClinical Psychology Review, whichshows a link between benevolenceand contentment.

“Kind acts increase personalhappiness because we naturallyempathize with others and takepride in our ability to make otherssmile and feel good,” he said.

Even for those who haven’t ex-perienced levels of need such asPuller’s, acts of altruism can havea positive effect on one’s mood. Anexample is Jennifer Carter, a se-nior at Marymount University in

Arlington, who spent last weekendin the center of a crowded audito-rium on the university’s campusfrantically tying strips of fleececloth. Along with nearly 300 othervolunteers, she was making blan-kets for newborn babies for an or-ganization called HOPE, a nonde-nominational crisis pregnancy cen-ter in Fairfax County.

“When these new mothers leavethe hospitals it’s usually with a thincotton blanket,” she said. “A lot oftimes, the things that they’re miss-ing are warm blankets for the ba-bies. It feels good to be able to givethese mothers something thatmany people take for granted. Itmakes you realize how fortunateyou are.”

Short points to a 2016 studyfrom the University of Californiaat Riverside which shows thatvolunteerism can lead to gratitudeand happiness. “Grateful peoplepay more attention to the cost, ef-fort, and value of helping acts thanthe average person does,” he said.“They are better at coping with lifestress because they trust others tohelp them and then reach out andaccept help.”

Season of Giving, Healing Acts of kindness canboost wellbeing.

Christabel Sampson experiencedthis metamorphosis first handwhen she relocated to the Wash-ington, D.C. area and was unableto find a job. She had mountingbills, but no income. Her financialoutlook spiraled further down-ward and she became homeless.She moved into a shelter run byInterfaith Works, a nonprofit or-

ganization in Montgomery CountyMaryland that works to meet theneeds of the poor. Through theorganization’s job training pro-gram, she was able to gain skillstraining, clothing and shelter. Asa result of the services she re-ceived, Sampson says she found ajob. Now she volunteers her timeto helping others at Interfaith

Works and has even become amember of the organization’sboard of directors.

“The experience of being home-less and now helping other womendefinitely made me stronger,” saidSampson. “Sometimes even a spo-ken word can be said to help some-one to a better place. I have em-pathy because I have been there.”

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Holiday Fun & Entertainment

Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.

ONGOINGFriends of the Yellow Barn.

Through Dec. 23, The Yellow BarnStudio gives annual members show.Visit www.glenechopark.org orwww.yellowbarnstudio.com. Call301-634-2222.

Winter Lights Festival. Through Dec.31, Sunday-Thursday, 6-9 p.m.;Friday-Saturday, 6-10 p.m. at SenecaCreek Park, 11950 Clopper Road,Gaithersburg. Winter Lights is a 3.5-mile drive through a holiday lightshow at Seneca Creek Park with morethan 360 illuminated displays.Additional events include WineUnder the Lights, Run Under theLights, Leashes ’n’ Lights, and, S’MoreLights & Trolley Rides. Visitwww.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/special-events/winter-lights-festival.

DECEMBER 2017Christmas Tree Sale. Cabin John

Park Volunteer Fire Department,Station 10, 8001 River Road. Call301-365-2255 or visitwww.cjpvfd.org.

Santa on Fire Engines ToyCollection. A procession of fireengines run by the Cabin John ParkVolunteer Fire Department, carrySanta on a tour of Potomacneighborhoods over the course ofseveral evenings in December,collecting unwrapped new toys forneedy children. Call 301-365-2255 orvisit www.cjpvfd.org.

WEDNESDAY/DEC. 6Mystery in the Library. 4-6 p.m. at

the Potomac Library, 10101Glenolden Drive, Potomac. A mysterywhere the king is missing andeveryone can play a part. Call 240-777-0690.

FRIDAY/DEC. 8Meet the Artist. 6-8 p.m. at at Gallery

B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E,Bethesda. Loriann Signori presentsher exhibition, “between silences,”featuring her landscape paintings.Call 301-215-7990.

SATURDAY/DEC. 9Saralyn Musical Troupe. 1:30 p.m.

and 2:30 p.m. at Great Falls Tavern,11710 MacArthur Blvd. Performancesinclude songs on the mandolin,guitar, and banjo. Call 301-767-3714.

Montgomery Community MediaPresents the Nutcracker. 4 p.m.at the Robert E. Parilla PerformingArts Center, Montgomery College, 51Manakee St., Rockville. Visitwww.montgomerycollege.edu/.

A Winter Concert. 7 p.m. at the atCedar Lane Unitarian Church, 9601Cedar Lane, Bethesda. Presented bythe National Institutes of HealthCommunity Orchestra and Chorus.Free. Visit www.nihco.org.

DEC. 9-10The Mini-Nut. 8 p.m. at Montgomery

College Cultural Arts Center, 7995Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Anabbreviated version of TheNutcracker, designed to introducechildren to the performance by theMaryland Youth Ballet. $18 children,$23 adults. At-the-Door: $20children, $25 adults. Visitwww.marylandyouthballet.org.

SUNDAY/DEC. 10Jingle Bell Jog. 9-10:30 a.m. at the

Rockville Senior Center, 1150Carnation Drive. Registration is freefor Montgomery County RoadRunners Club, $10 for non-membersand $5 for non-members under 18.See www.mcrrc.org.

Jazz Jam Session. 3-5:30 p.m. at thePotomac River Jazz Club, atNormandie Farm Restaurant, 10710Falls Road, Rockville. Bringinstruments and sit in with theConservatory Classic Jazz Bandduring the first set. Or just drop in tolisten to the great sounds of classicjazz, Dixieland, and swing. $10

admission, free for jammers andstudents. Call 301-762-3323 or visitprjc.org.

Living Nativity by St. James’Youth. 6-7:30 p.m. in front of St.James’ Episcopal Church, 11815Seven Locks Road. The youth groupwill recreate the story of the Nativitywith carols, cider, cookies and apetting zoo. Call 301-762-8040 orvisit stjamespotomac.org.

THURSDAY/DEC. 14Holiday Party. 1-3 p.m. at Damascus

Senior Center, 9701 Main St.,Damascus. Celebrate the holidayseason and the New Year with lightrefreshments and a toast to the NewYear. Free. Call 240-777-6995.

FRIDAY/DEC. 15Pre Teen Winter Party. 9:15-11 p.m.

at Potomac Community RecreationCenter, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac.Join other middle schoolers forgames and snacks, featuring DJ Eli.$5. Call 240-777-6956.

SATURDAY/DEC. 16Holiday Fair and Puppet Show. 11

a.m.-2 p.m. at Gwendolyn CoffieldCommunity Recreation Center, 2450Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring.Family festivity featuring “Santa’sWorkshop” presented by Blue Sky

Puppet Theater. Free. VisitActiveMONTGOMERY.org or call240-777-4900.

Mountain Dulcimers of NorthernVirginia. 1:30-3:30 p.m. at GreatFalls Tavern, 11710 MacArthur Blvd.Visitors may try their hand at playinga mountain dulcimer, percussioninstrument, or simply sing along. Call301-767-3714.

Artist Demonstration. 3-5 p.m. at atGallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., SuiteE, Bethesda, Loriann Signoridemonstrates her techniques forlandscape paintings. Call 301-215-7990.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 16-17Handel’s “Messiah.” Saturday, 8

p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. at theStrathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,North Bethesda. Led by ArtisticDirector Stan Engebretson, theconcert will feature thePhilharmonic’s nearly 200 voice all-volunteer Chorale, as well as soloistsEsther Heideman (soprano); YvetteSmith (mezzo-soprano); NormanShankle (tenor); and TrevorScheunemann (baritone). $28-$88.Visit www.nationalphilharmonic.orgor call 301-581-5100.

TUESDAY/DEC. 19Jingle Bells That Rock. 1:30-3 p.m.

at the North Potomac Senior Center,13860 Travilah Road, Rockville.Holiday tunes led by the North

Potomac Amazing Senior Singers.Free. Call 240-773-4805.

SATURDAY/DEC. 30Family Painting Fun. 2-5 p.m. at

VisArts, 155 Gibbs St., Suite 300,Rockville. Blank 16-inch-by-20-inchcanvas, acrylic paint, brushes, easel,and aprons provided. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/.

SATURDAY/JAN. 6Art Retreat. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the

Buchanan Room, VisArts, 155 GibbsSt., Rockville. $50. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/.

An Evening of Russian Jewels. 8p.m. at the WestmorelandCongregational UCC Church, 1Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda.Pianist Alexander Paley,internationally acclaimed concertsoloist and soloist with orchestrasthroughout the US, Europe, Chinaand South America, returns for hisonly annual concert in the DC area.Visit www.westmorelanducc.org/.

JANUARY 2018The Maryland General Assembly

meets in Annapolis each year for 90days to act on more than 2,500 billsincluding the state’s annual budget.Potomac falls into two districts,District 15 and District 16, each onewith one senator and three delegates.Visit www.mlis.state.md.us.

Live MusicOn Sunday, Dec. 10 it’s the Jazz Jam Session 3-5:30 p.m.at the Potomac River Jazz Club, at 10710 NormandieFarm Restaurant, Falls Road. Bring instruments and sit inwith the Conservatory Classic Jazz Band during the firstset. Or just drop in to listen to the great sounds of classicjazz, Dixieland, and swing. $10 admission, free for jam-mers and students. Call 301-762-3323, or visit prjc.org.

Holiday MusicR&B-jazz singer Selina Albright is part of the annualChristmas Concert, Monday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. at theStrathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. VisitSelinaAlbright.com for more.


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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

I don’t want to self-indulge too muchabout last week’s column but, sometimes inmy unexpressed desire to fulfill my writingobligation/not let me cancer/cancer treatmentaffect my schedule, I write my column underless-than-ideal circumstances.

Post chemotherapy/(last week) – the imme-diate week after, is about as challenging as itgets for me. I’m a bit irritable. I’m a bit out ofsync/unable to focus. I’m somewhat impa-tient. My hands are shaky. My eyes are“squinty.” I’m hungry yet I can’t eat. My self-editing skills are below average – more thanusual. And finally, my reading comprehensionis mostly lost in the toxic haze. Still, I’m deter-mined to make my deadline.

Not that any of the preceding paragraph isan excuse. It’s more of an explanation as towhy a column written with the best of inten-tions may have missed the mark in tone andsubstance. Though I’ve not received any feed-back as yet confirming my sense of what I hadwritten last week; nevertheless, my feelingupon submitting it to editorial was that I hadwavered a bit. Unfortunately, I didn’t have thebalance emotionally or the ability physically toassess its content. I apologize in arrears forattempting to maintain its regularity.

And to that point, specifically to that word,that’s what my attitude as a cancer patient hasbeen about: regularity. Doing the things that Iregularly/normally/typically do without deviat-ing from my norm. Because for me, deviatingfrom my norm, living/doing outside of my box– within reason, would be – to me anyway,reinforcing the negative that is most definitelya cancer diagnosis. A diagnosis with which Ihave long ago made my peace, made mychoices and moreover, made my it goal toface the present/future with a positive attitudeinfused with as much self-effacing goodhumor as possible. It’s nothing I really didintentionally, it is simply who I am: my father’sson, with inherited sensibilities to live my lifethinking the glass is half full, until it’s not.

And so far, nearly nine years into a “13month to two-year” prognosis, I’m living proofthat either whatever I’m doing is working (andthere’s a bit more to the story) or I’m anincredibly lucky act of kindness for whichthere’s no quantifiable explanation.Regardless, I’m not the least bit inclined tolook a gift horse in the mouth and/or deny thepossibility that my tumors are necrotic (dead).I’m very happy to accept the inexplicable factthat, statistically speaking, I’m an officialanomaly: a stage IV, non-small cell lung can-cer survivor.

However, since I’m not one to presumefacts not yet in evidence, I’m still infusedevery six weeks, scanned quarterly and seenby my oncologist every three months. I don’tfor a second believe that somehow, afterbeing diagnosed with a “terminal disease” inlate February 2009, that life goes merrily alongwithout consequences. Not that I’m a fatalist –Rebecca, I’m merely evaluat-ing/introspecting/compartmentalizing and allo-cating precious emotional resources so I canlive my life as I’m accustomed to doing.

And what I’m most accustomed to doing,especially dating back to December 1997, iswriting a weekly column for ConnectionNewspapers. Though the columns publishedprevious to June ‘09 were not “cancer” col-umns, as we call them, they were nonethelesswritten with the same passion and nonsensicalprose as my “cancer” columns are. So, gener-ally speaking, I am able, as my brotherRichard says, “to churn out the dribble.”

Still, writing is not like reading. Though asimilar commitment is needed, writingrequires a bit more effort. And it’s been aneffort I’ve sustained before, after and duringmy lung cancer diagnosis. Some weeks areharder than others. Last week was difficult.This week not so much.

Perhaps you agree?

Context ofHaving Written

Opinion

From Page 4

Improving Potomac Villagestances is this allowed? Signage for thesebusinesses are haphazard, often temporaryand inconsistent with one another.

What is permitted in and around the Vil-lage and what is not? WMCCA tries to fol-low-up on complaints by residents but welack sufficient knowledge. The county De-partment of Permitting Services (DPS) over-sees zoning compliance, sign ordinancesand business occupancy requirements. Inthe past, we have turned complaints overto them but we need a primer on how casesare investigated to reach an outcome. Weare fortunate to have a speaker this monthto help us understand the process DPS usesand how we can better work together withthe county government to make our Villageserve residents needs and expectations.

Glen Mill Road Proposed Subdivi-sion in Piney Branch Special Pro-tection Area

By Susanne Lee

WMCCA has submitted extensive com-ments to the Montgomery County PlanningBoard in opposition to the proposed subdi-vision of an environmentally sensitive par-cel of land located in the Piney Branch Spe-cial Protection Area (SPA) on Glen Mill Roadjust east of the intersection with Boswell

Lane and adjacent to and bordering theGlen Hills Park.

The Piney Branch stream channel runsthrough the 2.77 acre parcel which lies en-tirely within the Piney Branch SPA. Envi-ronmental constraints impact the entireparcel and include the stream bed, 100-yearfloodplain, wetlands, stream buffer, and twoareas of steep slopes each with more than25 percent slopes.

It is heavily wooded — 1.54 acres are for-est — and it contains 26 specimen and sig-nificant trees. Each of these features, andespecially when taken together, so constrainthe buildable area of the parcel that con-struction of one house would be difficult,let alone the proposed two house subdivi-sion.

Furthermore, because of the potentialimpact on Piney Branch water quality, de-velopment in this SPA is subject to height-ened environmental standards.

WMCCA’s comments in opposition fo-cused primarily on the failure of the pro-posal to conform to stream buffer and wet-land protection requirements, the PineyBranch Sewer Agreement Covenant, and theMontgomery County Forest Conservationstatute. We coordinated our comments withthe abutting property owners who havebeen working hard to ensure the properdevelopment of the site.

Join EffortAgainst Alzheimer’sTo the Editor:

As we move into December, five millionAmericans with Alzheimer’s disease(100,000 in Maryland alone) and theircaregivers enter the holiday season, whichbrings its own unique set of stressors. As aformer caregiver to my mother who passedaway from Alzheimer’s in 2002, I remem-ber well the roller coaster of emotion as wetried to enjoy the season of giving, while atthe same time, watching someone we lovedendure the ravages of a devastating andheartbreaking disease.

Costing Americans more than $259 bil-lion each year, Alzheimer’s is the most ex-pensive disease in the U.S. It has no treat-ment or cure. It’s time for some bold actionto ensure that we start treating Alzheimer’slike the public health crisis that it is.

With that in mind, Congress has a chanceto take decisive action passing the BuildingOur Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastruc-

ture for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 2076/H.R.4256). This bill would create an Alzheimer’spublic health infrastructure across the coun-try to implement effective Alzheimer’s in-terventions including increasing early de-tection and diagnosis, reducing risk and pre-venting avoidable hospitalizations.

It’s time we change our thinking onAlzheimer’s. I applaud our elected officialswho, like U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8),support our efforts to increase researchfunding through the NIH as well as our ef-forts to pass important legislation. Join mein asking Rep. Raskin and his colleagues inCongress to fight for the millions of Ameri-cans affected by Alzheimer’s by sponsoringthe BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s

Act. Visit alz.org/nca to learn more aboutthe fight to end Alzheimer’s.

Sue WronskyPotomac

Alzheimer’s Ambassadorto U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin

Alzheimer’s AssociationNational Capital Area Chapter

Letter to the Editor

TravelingPetting ZooLuca Visioni, 7, pets ababy llama fromSqueals on WheelsTraveling Petting Zooat the annual treelighting event in GreatFalls, Va., Dec. 3.

Photo by Steve Hibbard

The Almanac


From Page 3

News

From Page 3

By Peggy McEwan

The Almanac

For those tired of thehassle of shopping, theSt. James EpiscopalChurch Youth Group is of-

fering a change of pace this weekend.The group, students in grades 6-

12, will present a Living Nativityfrom 6-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10on the front lawn of the church,11815 Seven Locks Road.Potomac.

“The kids are very excited,” saidRachele Donnelly, director of theyouth group. “This is our very firstyear doing it and every child hasone or two lines.”

Donnelly said she grew up inOlney where Oakdale EmoryUnited Methodist Church did aLiving Nativity. Going to the eventeach year is one of her favoritechildhood memories.

“There was such a sense of com-munity,” she said. “It broughtpeople together. You stand out in

the cold, under the stars, it was abeautiful experience.”

She said she hopes the St. JamesLiving Nativity also will be memo-rable evening, the beginning of aSt. James tradition.

“I want people to really enjoy itand I want people to make memo-ries,” she said.

The Nativity will feature tradi-tional Christmas carols and liveanimals including a donkey, somesheep and some goats, borrowedfrom David D Farms in FrederickCounty.

The farm takes in animals withspecial needs, Donnelly said.

“They all have something aboutthem that is different and wouldprobably mean they would beslaughtered,” she said. “But theyare taken in and provided with aloving experience. That is whythey are so gentle.”

The animals will be available af-ter the performance in a petting zoo.

“We will have little pens off tothe side,” Donnelly said.

St. James Episcopal Church Youth Group will present a living Nativity this weekend.

Church Youth Group To Present Living NativityEvening includes live animals,cookies and carols.

The Sunday event is free but ifanyone wants to make a free willoffering that will be fine, Donnellysaid. Any money raised will go to

help fund the Youth Programs an-nual mission trip.

Audience members are encour-aged to bring lawn chairs for sit-

ting and to dress warmly for theoutdoor performance.

For more information visitwww.stjamespotomac.org.

Estates; Rose Hill Estates; StonehurstCenter; Smithfield

Thursday, Dec. 14 — Congres-sional Manor; Carderock Springs;Clewerwall (The Neighborhood);Glengarry; Carderock; The Palisades

Friday, Dec. 15 — Avenel; RiverRoad Estates; Williamsburg Estates;Concord; The Village (The Neighbor-hood); Williamsburg Gardens

lage; Camotop; Falconhurst; Brad;McAuley Park; Kentdale Estates; Brad-ley Blvd Estates; Congressional ForestEstates

Wednesday, Dec. 20 —Bannockburn; Bannockburn Estates; AlMarah; Wilson Knolls

Thursday Dec. 21 — This will be amake-up night for missedareas or in-clement weather

Friday, Dec. 22 and Saturday,Dec. 23 — Make-up NightsFor more in-formation, visit www.cjpvfd.org.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

mas setting without him every year.”The Little Farms Garden Club was established

in 1961 by young Potomac housewives. At thetime, many of Potomac residents lived on farmsand the group decided to name it after the “littlefarms” where many resided. The club has contin-ued to flourish — membership is by invitationand the club has 75 members who live in thePotomac area.

“I’m a new member,” said Piper Larson. “I amso impressed by the warmth and friendliness ofeach member — and by the education I am re-ceiving. The monthly speakers are incredible andI have already learned so much about gardening,arranging, landscaping and entertaining. I camehere to help decorate the Tavern — and I am tak-ing away new skills of wiring a garland and awreath — and making bows. I had never ever used

clippers before.”The group meets monthly at members’ homes

for presentations by professionals on some aspectof gardening. In addition to camaraderie, educa-tion and friendships, 50 percent of their missionas a club is devoted to community service. Theylandscaped the Rockland House, a women’s shel-ter in Rockville and volunteer with Potomac Com-munity Resources making crafts and arrangementswith young adults with developmental disabilities.They raise funds for needy families — and beau-tify Potomac Village in many ways. Many yearsago, the Gazebo in Potomac Village was donatedby this club. They also travel as a group to gar-dens in the area.

“I feel so fortunate to be a part of this wonder-ful organization that is committed to helping oth-ers as well as to beautifying the world,” said BettyLee, a club member.

Decorating Great Falls Tavern

Saturday, Dec. 16 — CongressionalCountry Club Estates; West BethesdaPark; Cohasset; Bradley Park; BurningTree Valley; Frenchmen’s Creek

Sunday, Dec. 17 (Also 2nd Make upNight) — Locust Ridge; Oakwood Knolls

Monday, Dec. 18 — AlvermarWoods; Potomac Hunt Acres; Tara;Potomac View Estates; Merry Go RoundFarms* Beallmeade; Lake Potomac;Stoney Creek Farms; Saddle Ridge

Tuesday, Dec. 19 — Potomac Vil-

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