Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
PotomacPotomac
November 7-13, 2016
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online at potomacalmanac.com
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‘Tis theSeason
News, Page 3
Local Artists, CraftersShare Their StoriesNews, Page 3
Preventing Underage DrinkingDuring the HolidaysWellbeing, Page 10
Local Artists, CraftersShare Their StoriesNews, Page 3
Preventing Underage DrinkingDuring the HolidaysWellbeing, Page 10
Holiday Entertainment & Gift GuidePage 6-7
Holiday Entertainment & Gift GuidePage 6-7
WellbeingWellbeingPage 10
Members of the Little Falls Garden Club are assisted by C&OCanal National Historical Park staff in their holiday decorating
of the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.
Members of the Little Falls Garden Club are assisted by C&OCanal National Historical Park staff in their holiday decorating
of the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.
2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
SHILLELAGHS TRAVEL CLUB100 East Street SE, Suite 202 • Vienna, Virginia 22180
703-242-2204 1-800-556-8646Please visit our Web site at: www.shillelaghtravelclub.com
for a listing of all our upcoming trips and socials.
Celebratingour 50th
Anniversary
Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day, March 15-18...............................................$1135Includes Motorcoach from Vienna, Grosvenor Metro or McLean Metro, 3 nightshotel on Tybee Island, Daily breakfast, 3 Dinners, Sightseeing, Private seating onparade route, Complimentary wine, beer, bloody Mary’s & Irish whiskeyOn St. Pat’s Day! Call for details.
Ocean City with Branson Entertainment, March 14-17. ..............................$899Includes Motorcoach transportation from Vienna, McLean or Grosvenor Metros,3 nights oceanfront hotel with daily breakfast, 3 dinners. Call for details.
Croatia Explorer, April 4-12...........................................................................$3195Includes air from Dulles, 7-nights hotel with daily breakfast, 5 dinners, Sightseeing,Transfers & Porterage. Call for detailed itinerary.
Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Garland, Lights, Fountains, Statuary, Centerpieces
Gift Gallery, Garden Supplies, Tools, Mulch, Soil, Spray, House Plants
Bird
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Potomac’s PremierFlower, Garden
& Gift Store9545 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854
www.ppetalsp.com
Like us on Facebook for a free flower.
We are now open on Mondays
Come to us for all your holiday decorating and gifts. We have fresh cut & artificial
trees, wreaths.
Holiday Open
House
20% OFF
• Artificial Trees• All Indoor Plants• All Poinsettias• Chanukah Gifts
Saturday, December 10th 11-5Wine tasting • Gourmet Chocolates
Santa visits from 12-3Get your pictures taken with Santa
Bring your pet for a photo with SantaRepresentative from S4 lighting will be here to help with your holiday lighting questions
Hourly drawings for prizes/services
Photos by Peggy McEwan/The Almanac
Colby Hammer, 6, builds a Lego person toride on his dinosaur at the library.
Inspired PlayPotomac Library volunteer Rachael Mazzismiles as Ana Velasquez, 10, shows herjust the Lego she needed to finish herproject. The library hosted a time of openLego building on Monday.
News
Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsPotomac Almanac Editor Steven Mauren
703-778-9415 or [email protected]
See www.potomacalmanac.com
By Susan Belford
The Almanac
Some of the community’smost creative people par-ticipated in the 10th annual
Clara Barton Craft Show on Sun-day, Dec. 4. The show featured 50local artists, crafters and authors.The event featured paintings, pho-
tography, pottery, glass, jewelry,books, wood carvings, knits,carved crayons, soaps, lotions,aromatherapy oils, hair accesso-ries, stuffed animals, children’sclothes, quilts, embroidery, totes,place mats, wooden boxes, cook-ies, honey from hives in Bethesda,
Annual craft show benefitsClara Barton Community Center.
Local Artists, Crafters Share Their Stories
Members of theLittle Falls Garden
Club decoratedthe Great FallsTavern for the
holidays.
Little Falls Garden Club members Sandy Lavery, Suzanne Eastman,Debbie Beatley and Regina Kunkle outside the Great Falls Tavern.
The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center at the C&O Canal National His-torical Park after the decorating work of the Little Falls Garden Club.
Photos by
Deborah Stevens
The Almanac
Cecelia Kurtz of JustPeachy brought her skincare products to the show.
Dale Feuerdisplays her
handmadejewelry.
See Artists, Page 11
Photos Contributed
‘Tis theSeasonForGardenClub’sTradition
4 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion POTOMACALMANAC
www.PotomacAlmanac.com
Newspaper of PotomacA Connection Newspaper
An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered
to homes and businesses.
1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314
Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to
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PUBLISHERMary Kimm
[email protected]@MaryKimm
EDITORIALPHONE: 703-778-9415
E-MAIL:[email protected]
EDITORSteven Mauren, 703-778-9415
ASSISTANT EDITORMike Salmon
CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSusan Belford, Carole Dell,
Cissy Finley Grant, Carole Funger,Colleen Healy, Kenny Lourie,
Ken Moore
ContributingPhotographers
Harvey Levine, Deborah Stevens
Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,
Ali KhalighProduction Manager
Geovani Flores
ADVERTISINGFor advertising information
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESDisplay Advertising:
Kenny Lourie [email protected]
Andrea Smith 703-778-9411Classified Advertising
Debbie FunkNational Sales & real Estate
David GriffinMarketing Assistant
Jerry VernonExecutive Vice President
CIRCULATION: [email protected]
Potomac Almanac is publishedby Local Media Connection LLC
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An Award-winning Newspaperin Writing, Photography, Editing,
Graphics and Design
By Carol Van Dam Falk
WMCCA President
While no one knows for certainwhat the priorities will be ofthe new administration, sweep-ing changes are expected at the
Federal level regarding environmental protec-tions. Therefore, we believe it is going to bemore important than ever before to act locallyto ensure the protection and preservation ofour rivers and streams, our rustic roads andbridges, and our established neighborhoods.
The New York Times, Pro-Publica, and othermedia organizations have seen a surge in sub-scriptions in this post-election period. We hopethat in that same vein, our members will rec-ognize the importance of actively taking partin environmental watchdog organizations like
WMCCA, to speak up when pos-sible zoning violations occur intheir neighborhood, and to no-tify their neighbors and question
authority when it means protecting the char-acter of a neighborhood or the health of a lo-cal stream, river, or piece of land. These arethings that can be done and will be done if acommunity works together.
At the November WMCCA General Meeting,we heard from Barry Fuss, chief of Bridges andStructures for Montgomery County’s Depart-ment of Transportation, on various bridge im-provements underway. He identified and de-scribed four bridges on rustic roads currentlybeing evaluated for future rehabilitation.
While the four described are safe, all bridgesreceive a Bridge Sufficiency Rating (BSR),ranging from Poor (0) to Very Good (100).“Structurally deficient” means an element ofthe bridge will soon need to be replaced and iseligible for federal matching funds. “Function-ally obsolete” means an element of the bridgedoes not meet today’s standards. The beauti-ful Montevideo Road Bridge and the Mouth ofMonocacy Road Bridge have been identifiedas “structurally deficient.” The Glen Road
Bridge M-015 and a second Glen Road BridgeM-148 have been identified as “functionallyobsolete.”
Mr. Fuss is committed to repairing all fourof these bridges while keeping their rustic char-acter in place. That is a far cry from what hap-pened with the Esworthy Road Bridge projectsome 20 years ago, which serves as a caution-ary tale of horrendous results when local trans-portation officials ignore the pleas of the localcommunity and refuse to listen to the adviceof their own bridge structural engineers.
Oral Argument in BrandywineSenior Living at Potomac, LLC
By Susanne Lee
On Nov. 4, Montgomery County Circuit Court
Judge David Boynton conducted oral argumentin WMCCA’s appeal of the Montgomery CountyBoard of Appeals (BOA) decision grantingBrandywine Senior Living a conditional use(special exception) to construct a 140-bed as-sisted living facility in a residential (RE-2)zone.
WMCCA joined with the Brickyard Coalitionto appeal the decision citing violations of keyprovisions of the Potomac Subregion MasterPlan and the Montgomery County Zoning Coderegarding placement of such intensive elderlyhousing developments and the conduct of hear-ings under the new Code. Abutting propertyowners Ronald and Toni Paul also appealed theBOA decision. Attorney David Brown repre-sented WMCCA in what was a lively, thought-ful debate of the critical issues. We are nowawaiting a decision by Judge Boynton.
Glen Hills SewerPolicy Implementation
By Susanne Lee
Following the Montgomery County Council’sadoption of a new sewer policy for Glen Hills,WMCCA has been following the actions of theDepartment of Environmental Protection andthe Council regarding its implementation.
Based on recent actions, it appears thecounty is doing a very good job. Recent ap-provals and denials of requests for new sewerservice have been following the new policy,including the abutting mains policy. Under thispolicy, a homeowner whose lot abuts an exist-ing sewer line may request to be hooked up tothat sewer line, however this hookup is lim-ited to that one house and cannot be used forsubdivision or to provide hookups to otherhouses. Furthermore, requests for broader sani-tary surveys have been correctly denied on thebasis of what appear to be thoughtful, fact-based analyses of conditions on the sites con-firming their appropriateness for long-term useof septic systems and the enormous costs ofextensions (between $920,000 and $1,150,000for one homeowner).
Next MeetingThe December General Meeting meeting of the
West Montgomery County Citizens Association willbe held Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7:15 p.m. at thePotomac Community Center.
Kevin Brandt, the featured speaker, is superinten-dent of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Hewill discuss the launch of a multi-year restoration ofthe first mile of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O)Canal. The goal is to preserve the history and charmof the area and bring back the mule-pulled canalboat rides. Phase one, which is expected to last 18months, began on Nov. 28 and will reconstruct Lock3 and repair Lock 4. The area around Lock 3 will beclosed for the duration of the project, and the canalwill be de-watered through Georgetown. Pedestrianand bicycle detours are posted to guide visitorsaround the construction zone. This spring, theNational Park Service also plans to install a tempo-rary dike and re-water the canal upstream from theFoundry Branch waste weir to Lock 5. The canalcannot be re-watered to its typical depth to ensurethe safety of workers, but visitors will be able tocanoe and kayak along this stretch of the canal.
While construction is underway, the public canoffer ideas for a Comprehensive Master Plan toguide future improvements. The public is invited tocome to the meeting, hear what Mr. Brandt has tosay, and ask questions.
As always, the public is welcome to attend theWMCCA meetings.
If schools are closed because of inclementweather, the meeting will be cancelled.
Federal Changes Are Coming
WMCCA
Spearheaded by the Kinder-garten class, Geneva DaySchool students and families
collected 315 new children’s booksto be donated to Stepping StonesShelter in Rockville, more thantripling their goal of 100 books.While philanthropy is a part ofGeneva Day School’s culture, thisyear the school decided to haveeach class lead a specificfundraising effort.
Geneva’s young students (ages 2through Kindergarten) learnedabout giving to others in need as
Counting UpTheir Book Donation
Geneva Day School’s Kindergarten class displaysthe 315 new children’s books collected for Step-ping Stones Shelter.
well as math skills such as count-ing, sorting, and graphing.
The Geneva Kindergarten teamAnn Hepburn, Debra Liebermanand Jane Mondonedo will bedelivering the books to help ensurea brighter holiday for the childrenat Stepping Stones Shelter.
Geneva Day School, located inPotomac, has been providingpreschool and kindergartenprograms for area children for over50 years. Seewww.genevadayschool.org
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Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Email announcements to [email protected]. Include date, time, location, de-scription and contact for event: phone, email and/or website. Photos and artwork welcome. Deadlineis Thursday at noon, at least two weeks before event.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDVolunteers are needed to assist sexual assault,
domestic violence victims, and theirfamilies through the Victim Assistance andSexual Assault Program (VASAP) of theMontgomery County Department of Health andHuman Services. Interviews are currently beingconducted for a December 2016 training session.240-777-1355 orwww.montgomerycountymd.gov/vasap.
DONATE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSDonations are being accepted for
InterPLAY, a nonprofit organization of adultmusicians who have cognitive disabilities. Theyare mentored by professional and amateurmusicians, high school seniors, and others. Theorchestra performs year-round at Strathmore(check www.interplayOrchestra.org ). WhitmanHigh School junior Lucas Polack is in charge ofthis project, and he in need of guitars, violas,cellos, basses, flutes, clarinets, marimbas,electronic keyboards and percussioninstruments. However, all donations are greatlyappreciated. [email protected] or 240-506-4390.
WEDNESDAY/DEC. 14Deadline for Applications. Montgomery
County is looking for applicants to fill 12vacancies on the Commission on Aging. 240-777-2528 or www.montgomerycountymd.gov/boards/index.html
BEFORE DEC. 15U.S. Postal Service Letters from Santa
Program. The U.S. Postal Service can help withSanta replies to a child’s letter — complete witha North Pole postmark. Visit about.usps.com/holidaynews/letters-from-santa.htm to learnhow a child can get a letter back from Santa.“Letters from Santa” must be received no laterthan Dec. 15. Santa’s helpers at the PostalService will take care of the rest.
FRIDAY/DEC. 16Entry Deadline. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Commemorative Committee announce the callfor nominations for the 2017 AnnualHumanitarian Award and the Children of theDream Awards presented at the Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 16,2017 at 3:30 p.m. The annual tribute andmusical celebration will be held at The MusicCenter at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane.The theme for this year’s program is “Injusticeanywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”www.montgomerycountymd.gov/humanrights.
WEDNESDAY/JAN. 4Entry Deadline. The Bethesda Arts &
Entertainment District is looking for shortdocumentary films for the the fifth annualBethesda Film Fest, a documentary film festivalon March 17-18, 2017 at Imagination Stage,4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. Entries can besubmitted online at www.bethesda.org. For anapplication, visit www.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.
FRIDAYS/JAN. 7 AND JAN. 22Bethesda Literary Festival, April 21-23, 2017.
All essay and short story contest winners will bepublished on the Bethesda Urban Partnershipand Bethesda Magazine websites and honored ata special event during the festival. There areseparate contests for adults and high schoolstudents and monetary awards in [email protected] 301-215-6660,Ext. 117.
Bulletin Board
6 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Email community entertainment eventsto [email protected] date, time, location, descriptionand contact for event: phone, email and/or website. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least twoweeks before event.
ONGOING2016 Inaugural Video Art
Exhibition. 5-7 p.m. at Glen EchoPhotoworks Gallery, 7300 MacArthurBlvd., Glen Echo. Photoworksshowcases a group of female visualartists who use video to reveal thepersonal, the intimate and theartistic. Desires, dreams and fears areall visually explored in Photoworks’Inaugural Video Competition andExhibition, curated by Na’ama BatyaLewin. Free. Visitwww.glenechophotoworks.org formore.
Artomatic Arts Spectacular. Varioustimes through Friday, Dec. 9 at12435 Park Potomac Ave., Floors 5and 6. Thursdays, noon-10 p.m.;Fridays: noon-midnight; Saturdays,noon-midnight; Sunday:, noon – 6p.m. Free admission, under 18 mustbe accompanied by an adult. Visitwww.artomatic.org.
“Dialogue: A VisualConversation.” Through Jan. 5.Gallery hours at at the Dennis andPhillip Ratner Museum, 10001 OldGeorgetown Road, Bethesda. “AVisual Conversation” is a collection ofvisual arts – paintings, photographs,digital images and more – resultingfrom an unusual collaborationbetween professional artists in theWashington area, and artistsreceiving mental health treatmentfrom Cornerstone Montgomery. Free.Visit www.Personalvisionsgallery.org.
Club Friday. Through March 17, 7-9p.m. at Potomac CommunityRecreation Center, 11315 Falls Road,
Potomac. Children grades 3-6 areinvited to participate in games,crafts, movies, sports and more.Membership fee is $88. Vsitiwww.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec.
Children’s Storytime. Wednesdaysand Saturdays, 10 a.m. at Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 4801 BethesdaAve., Bethesda Listen to employeesread children’s stories. Free. Visitwww.store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/4824850-21.
VisArts Cocktails and CanvasClass. at VisArts in the Painting &Drawing Studio, 155 Gibbs St.,Rockville. Price $40. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/cocktails-and-canvas for more.
Thang Ta. Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m. atSutradhar Institute of Dance andRelated Arts, 1525 Forest Glen Road,Silver Spring. Learn the ancient art ofthe sword and spear. $25. Visitwww.dancesidra.org.
Weekly Blues Dance. Thursdays8:15-11:30 p.m. in the Back RoomAnnex at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd. Capital Bluespresents rotating DJs and instructorswith beginner workshop 8:15-9 p.m.,no partner necessary. $8 for all. Visitcapitalblues.org for more.
Weekly Swing Dance. Saturdays, 8p.m.-midnight. The DC LindyExchange presents a swing dancewith live music in the SpanishBallroom, Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Beginner swing dance lesson at 8p.m., followed by dancing. Admission$16-$18, age 17 and under $12. Visitwww.glenechopark.org for more.
Argentine Tango with Lessons.Most Sundays, 6:30-11 p.m. in theBack Room Annex at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.Argentine Tango lessons followed bya Milonga most Sunday evenings.Beginner lesson 6:30-7:30 p.m. andintermediate lesson 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Cost is $15/lesson and includes theMilonga. For just the Milonga, cost is$10 and the open dance with DJ runs8:30-11 p.m. No partner required.Visit www.glenechopark.org or call301-634-2222 for more.
Contra and Square Dance. Fridaysand Sundays 7-10:30 p.m. in theSpanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park,7300 MacArthur Blvd. The eveningcan include square dances, mixers,waltzes and other couple dances. AllContra and Square dances are taught,no partner necessary. Lessons at 7p.m., followed by the called dancewith live music at 7:30. $13 fornonmembers, $10 for FSGWmembers, $5 ages 17 and under. Visitwww.glenechopark.org or call 301-634-2222 for more.
Late Night Comedy. Fridays (openmic night) and Saturdays(established comedians) at Benny’sBar & Grill, 7747 Tuckerman Lane,Potomac. Benny’s is open 8 a.m.-1a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visitwww.BennysBarGrill.com.
Drop in Art Activities. EverySaturday 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in theCandy Corner Studio at Glen EchoPark, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., parentsand children can explore a new artform or theme. $10/child, parentcombo. Drop-in only. Visitwww.pgip.org for more.
Mommy & Me (& Daddy, Too).Third Tuesday each month. 10 a.m.at Rockville Town Square. Meet for amorning out with active learning andcreative play with lunch specials,story time, arts and crafts, sing-a-longs, prizes and more. Visitrockvilletownsquare.com/events/mommy-and-me.
Live Music & Dancing. Fridays andSaturdays, 7-11 p.m. in Margery’sLounge, Normandie Farm Restaurant,10710 Falls Road. Dance to the musicof Barry Gurley. Call 301-983-8838or visit www.popovers.com for more.
Chocolate Factory Tours. Fridays
and Saturdays, 2-5:45 p.m. atSPAGnVOLA Chocolatier, 360 MainSt., Gaithersburg. Take a short tourof The Truffle Factory facilities. Free.Visit www.spagnvola.com.
Glen Echo Park Films. Saturdays andSundays. Arcade Building, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Filmsabout the Park’s history are shown onrotation in the lobby. Free. Visitwww.glenechopark.org for more.
SilverWorks Studio & Gallery.Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdaysand Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. GlenEcho Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.,Glen Echo. SilverWorks Studio &
Gallery is a working silversmithstudio and includes an ongoingexhibition, as well as sales of thework of artist-in-residence BlairAnderson. Free. Visitwww.silverworksglenechopark.com.
Art Glass Center at Glen Echo. Allday Wednesdays; Fridays, 10 a.m.-2p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;Sundays, noon-4 p.m. Art GlassCenter, Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Ongoingexhibitions feature work of residentartists. Sculpture, vessels, functionalart and jewelry for sale. Classes aretaught year-round for beginner,intermediate and advanced students.Visit www.artglasscenteratglenecho.org for more.
Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery.Saturdays and Sundays, 12-5 p.m.The Yellow Barn Studio & Gallerypresents free exhibitions of emergingartists’ work. Each weekend featuresthe work of a different artist. Mostartwork is also for sale. Visitwww.yellowbarnstudio.com formore.
Acoustic Open Mic. Wednesdays, 7-11 p.m. at Benny’s Bar & Grill, 7747Tuckerman Lane. Everyone welcometo perform. Wine bottles are 50percent off. Visitwww.bennysbargrill.com.
Potomac Games Group.Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. at PotomacCommunity Recreation Center,11315 Falls Road, Potomac. Theworld is in the midst of a Golden Ageof new board and card games forplayers of all ages. Free. Contactevent host Randy Hoffman at 412-983-5411 or [email protected] for more.
CAMPS, CLASSES & WORKSHOPSArt Explorers Open Studio. Every
Saturday, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at TheCandy Corner Studio, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Art
Holiday Entertainment
FRIDAY/DEC. 9Rescue Squad’s Holiday Dance
Party. 7-11 p.m. at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, 5020Battery Lane, Bethesda. RescueSquad’s Holiday Dance PartyFundraiser with The FabulousHubcaps is a fundraiser for the B-CC Rescue Squad. $30 and dinneris available for an additional $10.240-876-1532 www.bccrs.org
BEFORE DEC. 15U.S. Postal Service Letters from
Santa Program. The U.S. PostalService can help with Santa repliesto a child’s letter — complete witha North Pole postmark. Visitabout.usps.com/holidaynews/letters-from-santa.htm to learn howa child can get a letter back fromSanta. “Letters from Santa” must bereceived no later than Dec. 15.Santa’s helpers at the Postal Servicewill take care of the rest.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 17-18National Philharmonic Performs
Handel’s Messiah. Times vary atThe National Philharmonic MusicCenter at Strathmore, 5301Tuckerman Lane. Hear Handel asthe National PhilharmonicOrchestra and Chorale perform hismost beloved oratorio, the Messiah.Led by Artistic Director StanEngebretson, the concert willfeature the National Philharmonic’snearly 200 voice all-volunteerChorale, as well as soloists DanielleTalamantes (soprano); MagdalenaWór (mezzo-soprano); Matthew
Smith (tenor); and ChristòpherenNomura (baritone). Visitwww.strathmore.org.
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY/DEC. 21-23Moscow Ballet’s Russian
Nutcracker. 8 p.m. at The MusicCenter at Strathmore Concert Hall,5301 Tuckerman Lane. CityDancestudents perform in Moscow Ballet’sRussian Nutcracker. Visitwww.strathmore.org.
Email community entertainment eventsto [email protected] date, time, location, descriptionand contact for event: phone, email and/or website. Photos and artwork welcome.
NOV. 25-DEC. 31Winter Lights Festival. Sunday-
Thursday, 6-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday,6-10 p.m. at Seneca Creek Park,11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg.Winter Lights is a 3.5-mile drivethrough a holiday light show atSeneca Creek Park with more than360 illuminated displays. Additionalevents include Wine Under theLights, Run Under the Lights, Leashes’n’ Lights, and, S’More Lights &Trolley Rides. Visitwww.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/special-events/winter-lights-festival.
DEC. 6-JAN. 7Waverly Street Gallery Holiday
Show. At Waverly Street Gallery,4600 East-West Highway. Mix ofsmall and large pieces includingceramics, glass, photography, multimedia, prints, jewelry, collage, andsculpture. Opening night reception:December 9, 5-9 p.m. 301-951-9441
DEC. 16-JAN. 3Jingle Bowl Partnership with
Feeding America. At BowlmorBethesda, 5353 Westbard Ave. $1from every purchase of a select foodand drink item will go to FeedingAmerica. Bowlmor expects to reachup to $50,000 worth of donationnationwide, doubling the company’sefforts from 2015. www.jingle-bowl.com
Holiday ShowWaverly Street Gallery Holiday Show, through Jan. 7, features a mix of small and largepieces including ceramics, glass, photography, multi media, prints, jewelry, collage, andsculpture. Waverly Street Gallery, 4600 East-West Highway. The opening night receptionis Friday, Dec. 9, 5-9 p.m. 301-951-9441
THROUGH JAN. 1Brookside’s Garden of Lights.
Various times at 1800 Glenallan Ave.,Wheaton.There will be more thanone million colorful lights shapedinto hand-crafted, original art formsof flowers, animals and other naturalelements. The gardens will be openevery night through Jan. 1, except forDec. 24 and 25. Admission is $25 percar/van Sunday-Thursday and $30
Calendar
per car/van Friday-Saturday.www.montgomeryparks.org/
DEC. 26-JAN. 2Winter Break Camp. 1-4 p.m.
Monday-Friday at My Gym Potomac,11325 Seven Locks Road. Threehours of nonstop fun at My Gymincluding themed games, crafts,gymnastics, sports and snack. $40members, $45 [email protected] 301-983-5300
Photo contributed
Rob Patrick is playing Dec.9-10, 7-11 p.m. atMargery’s Lounge atNormandie Farm Restau-rant, 10710 Falls Road.301-983-8838
Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
activities for parents and children.Activities change weekly and there isno pre-registration; $10 per child.Visit www.glenechopark.org/saturday-art-explorers for more.
Ceramic Classes. Various dates andtimes. VisArts, 155 Gibbs St,Rockville. An opportunity to try thenew ceramic workshops. Visitwww.visartsatrockville.org/ceramicsfor a list of class dates, times.
NOV. 25-DEC. 31Winter Lights Festival. Sunday-
Thursday, 6-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday,6-10 p.m. at Seneca Creek Park,11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg.Winter Lights is a 3.5-mile drivethrough a holiday light show atSeneca Creek Park with more than360 illuminated displays. Additionalevents include Wine Under theLights, Run Under the Lights, Leashes’n’ Lights, and, S’More Lights &Trolley Rides. Visitwww.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/special-events/winter-lights-festival.
DEC. 6-JAN. 7Waverly Street Gallery Holiday
Show. At Waverly Street Gallery,4600 East-West Highway. Mix ofsmall and large pieces includingceramics, glass, photography, multimedia, prints, jewelry, collage, andsculpture. Opening night reception:December 9, 5-9 p.m. 301-951-9441
DEC. 16-JAN. 3Jingle Bowl Partnership with
Feeding America. At BowlmorBethesda, 5353 Westbard Ave. $1from every purchase of a select foodand drink item will go to FeedingAmerica. Bowlmor expects to reach
Holiday Entertainment
up to $50,000 worth of donationnationwide, doubling the company’sefforts from 2015. www.jingle-bowl.com
THURSDAY/DEC. 8Bob Stout Concert. 7-11 p.m.at
Margery’s Lounge at NormandieFarm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road.Sing along or dance the night away.301-983-8838 or popovers.com
FRIDAY/DEC. 9Rescue Squad’s Holiday Dance
Party. 7-11 p.m. at Bethesda-ChevyChase Rescue Squad, 5020 BatteryLane, Bethesda. Rescue Squad’sHoliday Dance Party Fundraiser withThe Fabulous Hubcaps is a fundraiserfor the B-CC Rescue Squad. $30 anddinner is available for an additional$10. 240-876-1532 www.bccrs.org
FRIDAY-SATURDAY/DEC. 9-10Rob Patrick Concert. 7-11 p.m. at
Margery’s Lounge at NormandieFarm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road.301-983-8838 or popovers.com
WEDNESDAY/DEC. 14Tom Saputo. 7-10:30 p.m. at
Margery’s Lounge at NormandieFarm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road.He brings the piano to life. 301-983-8838 or popovers.com
THURSDAY-FRIDAY/DEC. 15-16Bob Stout Concert. 7-11 p.m.at
Margery’s Lounge at NormandieFarm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road.Sing along or dance the night away.301-983-8838 or popovers.com
SATURDAY/DEC. 17National Philharmonic Performs
Handel’s Messiah. 8 p.m. at TheNational Philharmonic Music Centerat Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane.Hear Handel as the NationalPhilharmonic Orchestra and Choraleperform his most beloved oratorio,the Messiah. Visitwww.strathmore.org.
Gala Art Exhibition and Auction.7:30-10:30 p.m. at Beth SholomCongregation, 11825 Seven LocksRoad. $20/person or $36/couple.www.bethsholom.org
SUNDAY/DEC. 18National Philharmonic Performs
Handel’s Messiah. 3 p.m. Timesvary at The National Philharmonic
Music Center at Strathmore 5301Tuckerman Lane. Hear Handel as theNational Philharmonic Orchestra andChorale perform his most belovedoratorio, the Messiah. Visitwww.strathmore.org.
Tom Saputo. 7-10:30 p.m. atMargery’s Lounge at NormandieFarm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road.He brings the piano to life. 301-983-8838 or popovers.com
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY/DEC. 21-23Moscow Ballet’s Russian
Nutcracker. 8 p.m. at The MusicCenter at Strathmore Concert Hall,5301 Tuckerman Lane. CityDancestudents perform in Moscow Ballet’sRussian Nutcracker. Visitwww.strathmore.org.
THURSDAY/DEC. 22Bob Stout Concert. 7-11 p.m.at
Margery’s Lounge at NormandieFarm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road.Sing along or dance the nightaway.301-983-8838 or popovers.com
Photo contributed
Gallery B presents itsDecember exhibition “Ca-dence,” featuring artworkby Damon Arhos, KristineDeNinno and ClareWinslow. Cadence is ondisplay through Dec. 31 atGallery B, 7700 WisconsinAve., Suite E. Gallery hoursfor the show will beWednesday-Saturday, 12-6p.m.
8 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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Address ........................... BR FB HB .... Postal City . Sold Price ... Type ......... Lot AC .. PostalCode ....... Subdivision ......... Date Sold
1 7304 RIVER FALLS DR ........ 6 .. 5 .. 0 ....... POTOMAC ... $1,100,000 ... Detached ....... 0.35 ......... 20854 ............. RIVER FALLS ............ 10/31/16
2 10803 HIDDEN TRAIL CT ... 4 .. 3 .. 1 ....... POTOMAC ... $1,060,000 ... Townhouse .... 0.09 ......... 20854 ............. RIVER FALLS ............ 10/31/16
3 12805 BRUSHWOOD TER .. 4 .. 4 .. 1 ....... POTOMAC ... $1,025,000 ... Detached ....... 2.85 ......... 20854 ...... TRAVILAH MEADOWS ..... 10/14/16
4 8838 SLEEPY HOLLOW LN .. 4 .. 4 .. 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $988,000 ... Detached ....... 0.33 ......... 20854 ............... FOX HILLS .............. 10/28/16
5 9401 TOBIN CIR ................ 6 .. 5 .. 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $935,000 ... Detached ....... 0.46 ......... 20854 ........... MCAULEY PARK .......... 10/20/16
6 8805 DAIMLER CT ............. 5 .. 3 .. 0 ....... POTOMAC ..... $915,000 ... Detached ....... 1.03 ......... 20854 ............... OLDFIELD .............. 10/14/16
7 10213 WINDSOR VIEW DR . 6 .. 3 .. 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $850,000 ... Detached ....... 0.24 ......... 20854 ....... BELLS MILL VILLAGE ....... 10/03/16
8 8914 FALLS FARM DR ......... 4 .. 3 .. 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $825,000 ... Detached ....... 0.27 ......... 20854 .............. FALLS FARM ............. 10/31/16
Copyright 2016 RealEstate Business Intelligence. Source: MRIS as of November 15, 2016.
Photos by Deb Stevens/The Almanac
In October 2016, 37 Potomac homes
sold between $3,775,000-$410,000.
Potomac REAL ESTATE
October, 2016 Sales,$825,000~$1,100,000
7 10213Windsor ViewDrive —$825,000
1 7304 River Falls Drive — $1,100,000
2 10803 Hidden Trail Court — $1,060,000
3 12805 Brushwood Terrace — $1,025,000
6 8805Daimler Court— $915,000
8 8914 Falls Farm Drive — $825,000
Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Email announcements to [email protected]. Deadline isThursday at noon. Photos and artworkwelcome.
Trunnell Electric, which has beenserving residential and commercial cus-tomers in the area for 80 years, hashired Robert Coluzzi to manage thecompany’s commercial services division.Coluzzi has 31 years of experience withelectrical contracting firms in the Balti-more-Washington area as a commercialelectrician, project manager and servicemanager. He has a keen interest in thechallenges of service and maintenancefor a diverse group of clients includingWestfield Malls, Hughes Medical, WTTGFox 5 and Suburban Hospital.
See www.trunnellelectric.com.
Potomac Care Pharmacy cel-ebrated the grand opening of its newpharmacy at 12103 Darnestown Road inNorth Potomac by conducting a ribbon-cutting ceremony with theGaithersburg-Germantown Chamber ofCommerce on Friday, Nov. 18. PotomacCare Pharmacy is an independent com-munity pharmacy focused onpersonalized care for North Potomac,Darnestown, Rockville, Gaithersburgand surrounding communities. Theyoffer prescription services, medical sup-plies, wellness programs, and selectednutrition and supplements.Seewww.potomaccarepharmacy.com.
Kim Farina, regional vice presidentof Weichert, Realtors, announced that
Michael Wolland of the Weichert,Realtors’ Bethesda office was recognizedfor outstanding performance during themonth of October. As a top producer,Wolland led his sales region, which iscomprised of locations throughoutMontgomery and Prince George’s coun-ties as well as surrounding areas in theDistrict of Columbia, for resale dollarvolume.
David J. Miskovich has been ap-pointed chief executive officer ofBethesda-based ROSS Companies, afirm involved in multifamily propertymanagement, acquisition and renova-tion in the Mid-Atlantic Region.Miskovich, who served as ROSS’s chiefoperating officer (COO) and chief finan-
cial officer (CFO) over the last 13 years,is the first CEO in the company’s history.Scott Ross will remain president ofROSS Development & Investment, andchairman and president of ROSS Reno-vation & Construction, and Beth Rosswill continue as president of ROSS Man-agement Services.
Alla Shtipelman, regional salesand marketing supervisor for ROSSManagement Services in Bethesda, hasbeen sworn in as the new president ofthe Washington, D.C.-based PropertyManagement Association. Her term willlast one year.
Business
Email announcements to alma-nac@ connectionnewspapers.com.Deadline is Thursday at noon. Pho-tos are welcome.
The Board of Education ap-proved the start and end dates forthe 2017-2018 school year at itsNov. 15 meeting. The school yearwill begin on Tuesday, Sept. 5,2017, and the last day of schoolwill be no later than Friday, June15, 2018.
Senior forward Alyssa Weiss,of Potomac, earned the AmandaWalton Award at the Yale fieldhockey team’s annual post-seasonbanquet.
Senior punter Chris Fraser,of Potomac, became the first
Cornell footballplayer to earnfirst team foot-ball honors fourtimes when theIvy League an-nounced itsall-conferenceteams recently.Fraser is a 2013
graduate of St. Albans School.
School Notes
LET’S TALKReal Estate
For professional advice on all aspectsof buying and selling real estate, call:
MICHAEL MATESELong & Foster Realtors
by Michael Matese
The Changing Faceof the Luxury Home
The economic changes and housing meltdown of the last decademeans that there’s a whole new set of attitudes prevailing inthe luxury home market. “McMansions”, once en vogue, are athing of the past. No longer is square footage the standard indefining a luxury home—today’s luxury homeowner trendstowards smaller spaces whose amenities are tailored to suit avariety of hobbies, individual needs, lifestyles and values, aswell as placing convenience and function at a premium. Homeownership attitudes have also changed across the board.Susanne Tauke, president of New American Homes, believes“The number of luxury buyers is definitely down. Those whoare in the market today are not as interested in the investmentvalue of their homes as they were a few years ago. Today’s buy-ers expect to live in their homes for longer periods of time andhave no illusions about making a ‘killing’ on the resale.” Whatdoes this mean for luxury home sellers? It means that the lux-ury home sales market is catering to a new kind of buyer—onewho still asks for top-notch luxury, but in a modern way. Someimportant elements to consider in the modern luxury homesmarket include:• Community amenities. What else does your property offer?Golf courses, marinas, community fitness centers and tenniscourts are all draws for “lifestyle luxury buyers”• Personalized Home Amenities. From bathroom spas to boatslips, bedroom kitchens to porte cocheres and garage car lifts,discriminating luxury buyers are looking for rooms that makethe most of the square footage available, rather than squarefootage that defines the quality of luxury available in the home.• Distinctive Styling. Luxury buyers are in the market for aone-of-a-kind living space, not a “cookie cutter” mansion likeall the others on the block. Take the time to spend with anarchitect and make sure there’s a distinctive element that setsyour home apart from other like it.• Automation. Whether it’s the lights or heating/cooling sys-tem, the security system, the entertainment center or thekitchen appliances, automatic controls are making a splash inluxury home buying.• Outdoor Space. The square footage outside is becoming asimportant as the square footage inside! Lanais, screed-inporches, infinity windows and walled off gardens connecting tomaster bedrooms are ever-increasingly popular options thatgive luxury homes a distinctive flair.• Jack & Jill Bathrooms. The “his and hers” bathroom layout isnot only practical, but one that is hotly trending nowadays.Oversized master bathrooms are passé; today’s modern empha-sis is on individual grooming areas—not to mention the settlingonce and for all of the argument regarding the proper way tosqueeze the toothpaste tube!• Easy Maintenance. From floors and countertops to exteriorsand landscaping—less is more. Luxury homeowners today don’twant have to employ a small army to maintain their home.Low-key is the ultimate luxury!• Flexibility of Space. Can the rooms in your home do double-duty? Compound rooms, or rooms that connect to one another,are a fantastic way to make a floor plan unique, functional andluxurious. Kitchen bedrooms, libraries with attached baths ormaster bedrooms that open into smaller entertaining areas areall sure-fire ways to make your home’s blueprint singular andmemorable.• Casual Planning. Formal dining rooms aren’t advantageousto today’s modern lifestyle, so why include rooms whose func-tion is limited in your layout? The more casual and comfortablethe design of the rooms appears, the more interest your buyerwill have in making it their own.
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10 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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The Almanac
As Bridget O’Brien took inventory of her li-quor supply recently, she checked off va-nilla rum, white chocolate liqueur, pep-permint schnapps, Champagne and Crème
de cassis. These fanciful ingredients would be thekey ingredients of the signature drinks — candy canecocktails and kir royale — that guests had come toexpect at her family’s annual Christmas carolingparty. This year, however, there was a new item onher checklist: keeping a close eye on her 13-year-olddaughter, 16-year-old son and their friends, whowould be among the guests at the family-friendlyaffair.
“The party begins at our house and we stroll tothe end of the street singing carols,” said O’Brien.“There are so many people that it would be easy forkids to wander off back to the house where they’dbe alone with the alcohol. They’re starting to wantmore independence now, so we naturally lose someof the control that we had when they were younger.”
A recent study from the Substance Abuse and Men-tal Health Services Administration shows that in-creased access to alcoholic beverages for underagedrinkers, combined with less oversight from dis-tracted adults and mixed messages from parents mayfuel surges in underage drinking during the holidays.
“A lot of parents would be surprised that their childwould drink, but there are a lot of ways for childrento get alcohol,” said Allen Lomax, executive directorof the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Al-exandria, Va. “It’s easy for them to get alcohol fromtheir parents’ home if it’s not locked up. You have toconstantly monitor parties in your home when teensare there because there’s a good chance that some-one, even if it’s not your own child, could have alco-hol.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, underage drinkers are responsible forbetween 10 and 20 percent of all alcohol consumed.They also make up the highest percentage of im-paired drivers, and during the holiday season, twoto three times more people die in alcohol-related
crashes than they do during the rest of the year. Infact, 40 percent of traffic fatalities during this pe-riod involve a driver who is under the influence ofalcohol.
As a result, child safety advocates encourage par-ents to have frequent conversations with their chil-dren about alcohol.
“It is best to start the conversation … long beforethe child might be in a situation where they partakein underage drinking,” said Linda R. Cote-Reilly,Ph.D., a developmental psychologist, certified fam-ily life educator and professor at Marymount Uni-versity in Arlington, Va. It’s not that different fromconversations about sexual activity. One big differ-ence, though, is that the child will have observed hisor her own parents’ alcohol use, so parents shouldbe prepared to … answer pointed questions.”
In fact, personal experiences, even those that areunpleasant, can be teachable moments and shouldnot be avoided or sugarcoated, said Cote-Reilly. In-form older children of any family history of alcohol-ism or alcohol abuse. “Some children will have analcoholic in the family, and parents should alwaysaddress that situation honestly and in child appro-priate language. For example, a child might say, ‘Whydid Uncle Jim fall asleep during Thanksgiving din-ner?’ and the parent could respond, ‘Because hedrank too much alcohol.’”
While parents want to curb underage drinking tokeep their high school children safe and avoid legalpenalties, rather than simply banning alcohol, par-ents “need to lay the groundwork for their childrento consume alcohol responsibly in early adulthood,”said Amy L. Best, Ph.D., professor and chair, Depart-ment of Sociology and Anthropology, George MasonUniversity. Engaging in a straightforward discussionthat is void of mandates and hard-lined rules is themost effective approach in getting children to be re-ceptive, advised Best. “I think parents do well whenthey engage in honest and reasoned discussions withtheir children about alcohol, and that these conver-sations be ongoing, informal and structured so theirchildren can feel comfortable talking about what theyare observing.”
“It is important that teens have the means to forgea sense of self that is separate from their parents,”said Best. “That is the fundamental developmentalproject of adolescence. When teens have productivemeans to forge a sense of self independent ofparent(s), alcohol holds less appeal.”
Experts suggest holdinghonest conversations.
Preventing Underage DrinkingDuring the Holidays
Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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By KENNETH B. LOURIE
Rocking theChair
Not that I was ever a CB person (CitizensBand radio), good buddy, but right now, Iam in the middle of both my four-to-fiveweek infusion interval and my quarterly-scan interval. Far enough past that I don’thave any residual food or emotional issuesand not close enough that I have any anxi-ety about the food and emotional issuesthat will inevitably occur. I am between arock and a hard place, and I mean that inan atypical way: I am under no pressure,but no illusions either, oddly enough. I amsailing smooth and riding high, mindful ofmy reality, but appreciative of the relative— and comparative calm with which thisinterval affords.
Not that I can be normal (not a cancer“diagnosee”), but this is as close to ‘normal’as it gets — for me. After all, I do have a“terminal” form of cancer (non-small celllung cancer, stage IV), not a cold, so it’s notas if it will go away with time. Nevertheless,I am grateful for the particularly good times— now, while trying to manage my expec-tations for the bad times — later, after thishoneymoon-type period ends. But sincethere have been many more good timesthan bad since I was diagnosed in lateFebruary 2009, I am not bogged down,emotionally by my circumstances, althoughI am somewhat compromised, physically.Nothing I can’t live with, however. Actually,I’m thrilled to live with any of it, ‘live’ beingthe operative word.
At this juncture, nearly eight years postinitial symptoms (New Year’s Day 2009),mostly I can handle what happens to me, sofar any way. But when similar stuff happensto others: death, disease, disability, demen-tia; I feel their pain, sort of; and suffer emo-tionally. It’s not as if I take in all their anxi-ety, but in a way, the weight of it does affectme. And sometimes, I get weepy over it. AsI’ve written before, and heard many timesas well in the cancer world, negative any-thing is extremely harmful to cancerpatients — or most other “terminal”patients I would imagine as well. From myown experience though, I certainly under-stand the difficult circumstances underwhich all us patients/survivors endure;remaining positive and being surrounded bypositivity is key as is humor, encourage-ment, compliments, congratulations, com-passion and empathy. All are crucial to ourcore. Healthy bodies we may no longerhave, but healthy minds we have to main-tain. And the stronger and healthier thatmind is, the more it will help us to mind ourown business and do so in a manner thatwill prevent the cancer from taking overthose minds.
Just as The United Negro College Fund“slogans” “A mind is a terrible thing towaste;” in the cancer world, it’s terriblewhen patients are unable to use their mindsto fight their disease. In many cases, canceris a killer, there’s no doubt about that, butallowing negative emotions to take over isreally unhelpful. Accentuating the positive(like the subject of this column) and mini-mizing the negative has to be the order ofthe day — and the night, too. You have tofind the good or the funny and embrace it,exaggerate it, extend it, elongate it, andreinforce it. Anything to make sure it mat-ters more than the bad. Bad is bad enoughon its own. It doesn’t need any help fromus. Focusing on what I can enjoy hopefullywill enable me to keep on trekking, and to“Live long and prosper.”
Come back.
From Page 3
News
jam made in Glen Echo, and inlay servingboards from an artist in Cabin John.
Twelve new participants brought a vari-ety of items to the show. Lauri Michelle pre-miered her paintings for children. Award-winning reporter/columnist Paul Dykewiczdiscussed his latest book, “Holy Smokes,Golden Guidance from Notre Dame’sChaplin.” Cabin John’s Ayesha Court pre-sented her photo cards of local canal scenesand her children, Lucy and Charles, offeredsculpted crayons. Other new vendors soldneedle and pin arts embroidery, jewelrywith semi-precious stones, glass and pearls,crocheted baby items and hand-madescarves, hats and headbands.
“What makes the Clara Barton Craft Showso unique is the profits enhance programs,support activities for children and seniors,buy supplies and equipment for the center,and for fund the Children’s Halloween Partyand Family Bingo Night,” said Leslie Barden,director of the craft show. “The Friends ofClara Barton Community Center sponsorthe show each year. In addition, we havecrafters who are supporting two charitiesthis year. One sold knits, children’s clothes,gloves and hats created by Bosnian refu-gees — and she is sending proceeds backto Bosnia. Rebecca Kahlenberg presentedcrafts brought back from her volunteer tripsto El Salvador. She sends her profits to theAmun Shea Center for Integrated Develop-ment, a school working to transform edu-cation in El Salvador. She says, ‘My smallbusiness in which I sell handmade crafts iscalled ‘El Salvador Almost Paradise.’ My bestsellers include handbags and wooden itemssuch as colorful boxes.”
Dale Feuer has been displaying her jew-elry at the show since its inception. “I aman avid beadweaver, which means I sew tinybeads together using a needle and threadand various stitches (e.g., herringbone,peyote, right-angle weave, brick stitch) tomake intricate cuffs, earrings and neck-laces,” she said. Feuer enjoys the ClaraBarton show because it feels very commu-nity oriented. “Every year I enjoy catchingup with friends and customers I may nothave seen for a year. It’s a very up-close andpersonal afternoon of art and socializing.”
Local artists shared how they became in-volved in the arts. Potomac’s Shirley Hendelcreates fused glass art. She said, “I havebeen in the creative arts for many years,initially as a decorative painter. It startedas a hobby and led to my doing shows. In
2006, I took some fused glass classes andhave been working only in the fused glassarts since then.”
Artist Dot Proctor said, “My mother andgrandmother were both artists and theirlove for creativity seeped into my bones. Ihave loved color since I was a little girl, andthat passion was nurtured in many differ-ent ways. It started out as a love for my boxof 64 Crayola crayons. And it has grownfrom there, going through many stages. Ithas been and continues to be a magical jour-ney. This year I displayed my original paint-ings, prints and notecards. Many are of theC&O Canal.”
Cecelia Kurtz of Just Peachy said, “Istarted Just Peachy Organics in 2005 mainlyas a hobby — just for fun, I began to makedecorative soaps and lotions and would sellthem at bazaars. Eventually, I noticed animprovement in my skin being moist andsoft after using my products, as well as mycustomers reporting their feedback. As thechief organic officer and handcrafter, I useorganic butters and oils as the base for myingredients that is responsible for the ex-ceptional quality of the body care. Over thepast decade, my product line has improvedand increased. My favorite thing about thiscraft show are the customers. They knowmy company is local, they love my prod-ucts, and they are very supportive. Also,Leslie and her team are wonderful to thevendors. If you have a craft to showcase,starting a business, or gain additional cus-tomers, this is the venue for you.”
The craft show is held the first Sunday inDecember. For more information go tofriendscbcc.org/.
Artists Share Their Stories
Shirley Hendel sold herhandcrafted fused glass.
Dot Proctor shows off her paint-ings and notecards.
Photos contributed
Rebecca Kahlenberg sells her ElSalvadoran crafts to help improvelives for El Salvadoran children.
12 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 7-13, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com