November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 

A Biweekly Newspaper November 2, 2007 Volume IV, Number 14. Deadly Strain of Staph Hits Close to Home By Kristen Milton

Early morning at the Monocacy Wild ith potentially deadly schools. “The only thing that’s consistent Animal Preserve? Not quite. See The staph infections on the The Montgomery County is that these are mostly student ath- Garden on Page 5. Wnews and in area schools, Department of Health and Human letes,” said Kate Harrison, a spokes- parents and administrators are taking Services says you can help prevent woman for Montgomery County Public steps to protect students from the all- the spread of MRSA through these Schools. The first reported MRSA case too-common bacteria. good hygiene practices: “This is no longer about my son appeared at Sherwood High School John and how’s he doing, is he going in late August, she said. Callentonio is 1. Wash hands thoroughly with to be well,” said Marci Callentonio of the only case of MRSA at Poolesville soap and water or use an alcohol- Poolesville, whose fourteen-year-old High School thus far, Principal Deena based sanitizer. Levine said, and no other staph infec- spent a week in the hospital fighting the 2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean drug-resistant bacterial strain that killed tions had been confirmed. Clarksburg and covered with a bandage until a fellow high school football player in High had four cases of staph infections healed. among its student athletes as of October Virginia. “It’s about advocating…Our 3. Avoid contact with other most effective tool is to be educated.” 24; however, none appear to be MRSA, people’s wounds and bandages. Callentonio believes her twenty-five Principal James Koutsos noted. A homecoming princess, but a Falcon years as a medical transcriptionist gave According to the Centers for Dis- 4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, and through and through. See more PHS ease Control and Prevention website, her the background she needed to re- personal sports equipment. Homecoming pictures in Family quest tests that identified the Poolesville most MRSA infections are skin infec- Album on Page 2. High School freshman’s methicillin re- tions that resemble pimples or boils and 5. Wipe surfaces of exercise equipment with disinfectants sistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). are found near the site of scrapes or oth- before and after use. “I saved my son’s life,” Callentonio said, er skin traumas; however, bloodstream “and the mother in Bedford [County, or bone infections are also possible. 6. Shower after physical activity. Va.] didn’t know…didn’t have a chance Callentonio said John, who was 7. In the event of an active wound, to save her son.” working out in the weight room and consult with your trainer and/or According to an October 17 let- playing football over the summer, had physician. ter from Superintendent Jerry Weast, scraped knees and elbows from a recent thirteen Montgomery County students scrimmage when he woke August 29 have been diagnosed with the anti- feeling unwell but showing no evidence tion. John Callentonio spent a week in biotic-resistant staph infection. Oth- of skin infection. Initially sent away Children’s Hospital and a month later ers have been diagnosed with staph with the diagnosis of a virus, Callento- is still taking medications three times infections that respond more easily to nio said John’s high fever, listlessness, treatment. The MRSA cases were found and other symptoms led her to insist -Continued on page 22. Alivia Tetlow climbs the Chesapeake in five high schools and two elementary on a blood test which found the infec- Challenge. See School News on Page 11. Renaissance Man By Dominique Agnew Edison. Edison, unfor- nter the offices of Phoenixx tunately, in the creation Systems in Poolesville, of the Dictaphone and Maryland, and it won’t the phonograph, never E realized the potential take long for your eye to rest on the numerous artifacts: a collection of these inventions would antique audio-visual gear from the have for recording mu- turn of the twentieth century. Brian sic; whereas, through Gross, founder and owner of Phoe- his experiences in the nixx Systems, has quite a collection world of music, Brian of pieces: microphones dating back has made a name for Kristyn Kirschbaum, Devin to 1908, electrical measuring devices himself in the world of Hamberger, and Erin Knuth of the from the 1910s to the 1930s, and a col- audio-visual technol- Poolesville High School Cross lection of Edison wax cylinders which ogy. What a visitor to Brian Gross in a recent performance. Country team. Read all about them in he can play on a refurbished—by Phoenixx Systems’s offices doesn’t Youth Sports on Page 14. himself—wax Dictaphone made by see is Brian’s collection of roughly -Continued on page 16. November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 

Sponsored by: Selby’s Market Your IGA Hometown Food Store

David Thierrault of Alden Farms greets Lisa Guertin and Leigh Haggmann on the Countryside Artisan Tour. The Twelfth Annual Barnesville Basement Indoor Yard Sale at the Barnesville School (in Barnesville) was, for the twelfth time, a huge success.

Bishop John Bryson Chane of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington blesses the new nursery at St. Peter’s Parish during the October 21 dedication of the church’s new building.

Anna Helwig, Sasha Trope, Abbe Guertin: Freshman Princesses of the Poolesville High School homecoming court.

Kaitlyn Scott, Dakota Bierly, Kelly Rosenberg were homecoming princesses. Queen Lisa Trope and King Wences Shaw-Cortez November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page  a car at Rockwood Parkway and 51st Local History Street, Northwest Washington, which is very close to the border with Mont- gomery County. A man approached The Rock Creek Park the car and fired several shots into the Murders car killing Roper and seriously injur- ing the woman. Tests concluded that By Jack Toomey the assailant used a .32 caliber pistol No one who reads this story needs in both attacks. a refresher course on the sniper kill- On the night November 17, 1938, ings that terrorized the Washington Peter Murray, age 66, was driving area in 2002—b ut who knows that in with a woman on East West Highway 1938, a similar series of killings caused near Grubb Road. When he stopped people in the lower part of Mont- for a stop sign, a man came out of the gomery County to be terrorized for bushes and got into the car and forced months? Murray to drive to a secluded part In 1938, lower Montgomery of Jones Mill Road where he robbed Rock Creek Park, circa 1938 County was still rather rural in some Murray and then fired eleven shots areas. Jones Mill Road, Grubb Road, killing Murray and leaving the wom- or alive.” Seventy-five officers from car working in Bethesda. and portions of Beach Drive were dirt an lying wounded in the road. Amaz- both departments were assigned to Despite the increased police roads. It was not unusual for motorists ingly, it took an hour for another car the case. Police officers were assigned patrols, another incident happened. to become stuck in the mud on roads to drive by, and the occupants drove to patrol the secluded areas of Rock Two seventeen-year-old girls were that today carry thousands of cars her to Georgetown University Hospi- Creek Park and nearby neighborhoods driving back from a movie in Wash- every day. tal. and warn people who were parked ington when a man jumped onto their On the evening of November 9, The next day, Montgomery to move on. Hysteria seemed to take running board just over the Maryland 1938, thirty-three-year-old John Cle- County Police Chief William Garrett over. That evening, a man living on line. The driver pressed down on the ments was parked in a car with a fe- and the Washington chief announced Florida Street in Chevy Chase got out accelerator throwing the man off the male companion at Brookeville Road that officers would “forget about the a handgun and instructed his wife car. In all of the cases, the victims and Curtis Street in Chevy Chase. line” and cross boundary lines at on how to use it. He put the gun on described the suspect as a shabbily- Suddenly a man appeared and fired will in an effort to find the man who a shelf, and shortly afterwards, his dressed, light-skinned black man. eight shots into the car critically injur- had shot four people, killing two, twelve-year-old son accidentally shot On December 4, 1938, a car con- ing Clements. The woman was also in a very small area. They said in a his sister. The report of shots being taining two women broke down on injured. On November 10, Edward statement released to the press that fired on Tuscarawas Road on the west Roper and a woman were parked in the “sniper would be caught dead side of Bethesda brought every patrol -Continued on Page 23. November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page  would be quite happy if there was no Commentary further development at all, and I have spoken to people who believe that, armed with sand mound technology, The Nuts and they should be free to develop as many twenty-five acre lots (or maybe even Bolts of the five acre tot lots) as they can sell. The truth, as usual, resides somewhere in Ag Reserve the middle of all the extremes. I fall By John Clayton more into the preservationist camp Elsewhere in the Monocle today, myself, and I am eager to see the things Maureen O’Connell covers the 2007 I valued in moving out here preserved, Royce Hanson Award ceremonies. but I am realistic about the pressures This award is presented by the Mont- that will mount if the lack of develop- gomery Countryside Alliance, and the able land in the county really begins to event was hosted by Gene Kingsbury affect economic growth. on the Kingsbury family farm, which I would encourage anyone in our is a stellar example of what can be reading area to learn more about these accomplished when agricultural land issues. There is a wealth of information is protected by the regulations of the on the internet, from the Montgomery Agricultural Reserve. County website, where the final report Two of the issues mentioned in of the Ad Hoc Agricultural Policy Maureen’s article will have a profound Working Group can be found, and effect on the future of open space in from advocacy group websites such as the Ag Reserve. The first and perhaps the Montgomery Countryside Alliance lesser issue is “tot lots.” (The tot lot is- and The Sugarloaf Citizens Association. sue was covered in our October 5 issue: If you can find one site, it will lead you “Tot Lots—Or Not” by Kristen Milton.) to others. You could be the first person The tot lot rule allows property owners on your block to be conversant with the to establish small lots on their farms Building Lot Termination Program. for their children, thereby helping to (I realize these are all preservation- continue family farming in the county. oriented groups, but if I’ve neglected Unfortunately, many believe this has any pave-it-all sites, please let me know been abused as a way for farmland to and I’ll mention them in a later issue.) be developed for sale to others. The Get educated and learn what you Maryland-Capital Area Park and Plan- want to know from your County Coun- ning Commission (headed by the afore- cil candidates the next time an election mentioned Royce Hanson) is working rolls around. Many committed people with this issue, and a recommendation are working hard to hammer out these is on the table from the Ad Hoc Agri- issues in an equitable manner. They’re cultural Policy Working Group that doing the heavy lifting; the rest of us would allow the provision to operate should at least try and keep up a little. in accordance with its original intent while hopefully curtailing any abuse. Slow fragmentation by small develop- ments remains a significant threat to the Ag Reserve. Subscribe to the The other issue, sand mound septic systems, potentially poses a larger Monocacy Monocle development threat to the Ag Reserve. Normal septic systems depend on the ability of ground to absorb waste water, $31.50 per year or percolate. Montgomery County soil often does not percolate, and this The Monocacy Monocle has inhibited development in the Ag Reserve where people are dependent P.O. Box 175 on septic systems. However, in a sand mound system, a percolating structure Poolesville MD 20837 (a mound of sand) is built and the capabilities of the soil are no longer an issue, and also no longer a de facto restraint on development. Using sand [email protected] mounds, much of the Up County could be divided into twenty-five acre parcels while remaining within the guidelines of the Ag Reserve. I have spoken to people who November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page  vores—the lions, the cheetahs, the Garden leopards, the hyenas, the jackals, the crocodiles, and the vultures—who A Small Glimpse of the were finishing off last night’s kill, or waiting to stalk a new kill. Every- Flora and Fauna of Kenya one on a safari hopes to see Africa’s By Maureen O’Connell Big Five: the elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, and buffalo. The idea I recently visited the southern of a “Big Five” dates from the days part of Kenya, Africa. After arriving when white hunters led safaris whose late in the night in the capital city, principle objective was to shoot wild Nairobi, I started my safari—which, beasts for trophies. Some creatures in Swahili, means journey—at 6:30 the were considered more desirable tar- next morning. My daughter and I flew gets than others, reflecting the skill it in a twelve-seat, twin engine plane took to track them, the risk involved to Elsa’s Kopje in the Meru National in confronting them, and the quality Park. It is a seven-hour trip by car or a of the trophy retrieved from a suc- forty-five-minute plane ride. We land- cessful kill. Over time, the five above- ed on a small, red dirt runway in the mentioned mammals qualified on all middle of a vast savanna. Our camp counts. Today, hunting is outlawed in for the next four days was the site of Kenya and strictly controlled in other the home of Elsa, the lion that Joy and parts of Africa, but the Big Five still George Adamson reared, and eventu- have their cachet. Today, thankfully, ally returned to the wild. This story the idea of a safari is shooting with a was made famous in the book and camera and not a rifle. All of the spec- movie Born Free. Kopje means “small tacular animals that I had the privi- hill” in Swahili. The camp consists of lege to observe in their natural habitat nine stone and thatched cottages built have natural predators—except for the into the natural rock outcroppings of lion, the “king of beasts”—but man the hill. The owners of this lodge are remains their biggest enemy. Poach- very conscious of their responsibility ing is still a problem in many areas of for being good stewards of the sur- Africa. Conservation and preservation rounding ecosystem. All the buildings programs are increasing steadily, and of this small compound blend in with there are many national parks and the countryside and its residents, both reserves in Kenya. The age old prob- flora and fauna. The safari trips are lems of greed and finding a balance designed to preserve and foster both between the needs of man’s growing the wildlife and the local culture in population and the indigenous ani- mals make the animals’ future in the wild precarious at best. Our lodge, Elsa’s Kopje, is located in the Meru National Park, which has a very old and tragic history. In the early- and mid- 1900s, the Meru was a popular spot for hunt- ers, and animal life was plentiful. What the hunters on organized shooting safaris didn’t The acacia tree it is usually associated with Kenya. kill, eventually the poachers did. By 1959, the area. most game had virtually vanished. We rose every morning at 6:00 for The generation who followed this tea or coffee, and by 6:30, we were in time owes its thanks to the Wameru our open-roofed, four-wheel-drive tribe, who seized the initiative from Land Rover, hoping to catch a sight- the Colonial Government and desig- ing of the many animals coming out nated the area for conservation and to feed on the grasses, leaves, and rehabilitation. The black rhinoceros branches of the many indigenous tress became almost extinct. Through the and shrubs, and to drink—hopefully efforts of several conservation groups, without crocodiles—at the numerous small streams that crisscrossed the vast plains. We also saw the carni- -Continued on Page 18. November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page  back in 1980 said the Upper County of the responsible stewardship that Mr. Hanson was honored to an- Local News and its family farms and horse farms enabled these treasured farms and the nounce the 2007 recipients of the Royce would be eventually paved over, there protected countryside to exist today. Hanson Award—Minny Pohlmann A Dual Awards Event at were enough persuasive and deter- Gene introduced Royce Hanson, the and George Kephart. Minny is an mined people who had the vision of Chairman of the Montgomery County environmental advocate who provided Kingsbury’s Orchard another future for the region. Melane Planning Board and Vice Chairman of the nudge and the hard work to make By Maureen O’Connell thanked the people in the audience for the Maryland-National Capital Park the Agricultural Reserve a reality. Saturday, October 20 was a bril- their continuing hard work to keep and Planning Commission. Mr. Kephart was a colleague of Royce liant, crisp fall day—a perfect day to The Upper County owes a great Hanson on the Board. He is remem- celebrate the glories of the countryside debt of thanks to Mr. Hanson, for there bered for his crucial role in the Reserve in Montgomery County’s Agricul- would be no Agricultural Reserve by casting the “third vote” which tural Reserve. Kingsbury’s Orchard without him. In 1980, he was the guid- created the Reserve. Both Minny and on Peachtree Road in Dickerson and ing light and visionary who put the George continue to work to protect this the Montgomery Countryside Alli- wheels in motion to create the county’s valuable land that we call the Upper ance hosted the celebration of the 2007 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve. County. Mike Rubin, President of the Royce Hanson Award and the hun- Twenty-seven years later, this reserve Montgomery Countryside Alliance, dredth anniversary of the Kingsbury is widely recognized as the nation’s thanked everyone for attending and Family Farm. Over 120 people turned most successful effort at land conser- encouraged all to continue to fight for out for the event. While listening to vation on the urban fringe. He com- what we so treasure—our land. When mented that we are now in an impor- it is gone, there is no going back. country music, they enjoyed barbecue Royce Hanson and George Kephart tant time in the Reserve’s and all the fixings supplied by the are in the center, holding the map. To history. Our work is not Kingsburys, and desserts donated by Mr. Hanson’s right, Mike Rubin (in over. There are issues of Whole Foods. They enjoyed picking sunglasses) and Councilman Nancy sand-mound septic sys- their own Fuji apples and sampling Floreen to his right. To Mr. Kephart’s tems, kid lots, and other freshly-made apple butter. left, Gene Kingsbury and Julie concerns that demand Melane Kinney Hoffmann, a Kingsbury (in the hat). member of the Board of the Mont- our vigilant attention. gomery Countryside Alliance (MCA), the Agricultural Reserve a reality. He encouraged all to be opened the presentation by thanking She introduced Gene Kingsbury of aware of problems that the Kingsburys for their hospitality. Kingsbury’s Orchard, the 2006 recipi- impact our area and to She pointed out the appropriateness ent of the Royce Hanson Award. Gene invite council members of the glorious weather to showcase remarked that he was proud to be part out to our country so they what we hold so dearly in the Agri- of the family farm, which was started can see firsthand what we cultural Reserve. When the naysayers in 1907, and was confident that his so vigorously are trying ancestors would be equally proud to protect.

November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page  the Poolesville branch, submitted his Business Briefs survey with little expectation of win- ning. Needless to say, he was thrilled and shocked to find that he was the M&T Customer winner. St. Clair told the bank em- ployees, “I have been wanting to buy Wins $1,000 a new computer, so this will go a long M&T Bank put out a national way toward getting one.” customer satisfaction survey gauging Dennis Conni, Poolesville Branch the level of customer satisfaction. To manager, found the survey to be very foster a strong response, they offered helpful in their efforts to focus on cus- a drawing for $1,000.00 from those tomer satisfaction and was especially submitting survey responses. The pleased to have the grand prize win- incentive proved to be effective since ner be one of their customers. With a the bank received back more than smile on his face, Mr. Conni voiced thirteen thousand questionnaires. the opinion that this “proves it pays to Thomas Austin St. Clair, who banks at bank at M&T.”

Bank customer Thomas Austin St. Clair won $1,000 in a drawing at M&T Bank. Pictured with him are Amy Zapp (M&T Marketing), George Martin (M&T Regional Manager), Dennis Conni (Poolesville Branch Manager), and Caryn Kuster (M&T Operations). November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page  educational tool. A good example of ville School. This entertaining and edu- Journey Continues,” on Saturday, School News this approach is in the school’s role as a cational program featured a talking, November 17 from 5:30 p.m. until mid- wildlife habitat recognized through the moving advanced-computer-program- night at the Lynfield Event Complex in New Head of School At National Wildlife Foundation where mable robot with an arm, wrist, and Frederick, Maryland. This fundraising Seneca Academy students study nature and the environ- hand that grabbed the attention of the event includes silent and live auctions, The administration, staff, and ment through outdoor activities on student audience. games, multi-draw raffle, dancing, and parents of Seneca Academy/The Circle their six-and-a-half-acre site. The World of Robots was designed catering by Dutch’s Daughter. Silent School recently held an official recep- Seneca Academy has classes from to help students better understand how auction bidding begins at 5:30 p.m. tion to welcome the school’s new head kindergarten through eighth grade robots are used today and what role with the live auction following at 9:30 of school, Dr. E. Brooke Carroll. Dr. with around one hundred stude-nts they will play in our future. Through p.m. Carroll joins Seneca Academy after a and has a teacher-to-student ratio of captivating images and interactive The event benefits St. Thomas More seven-year association at the Sandy one to twelve, “one of the key attrac- demonstrations, Mr. Burrus reinforced Academy’s building fund for the Spring Friends School as director of tions by parents to the school.” The the importance of science, math, and expansion of the unfinished side of residential life. The Sandy Spring Circle School is for pre-kindergarten reading in our everyday lives. the school as well as contributes to the Friends School is a co-educational col- students. “We are also strong promot- Burrus is a professional education- overall budget to enable the school to lege preparatory school (pre-K to 12) ers of social education practices which al speaker with a true gift for translat- offer affordable tuition rates to fami- that offers five- or seven-day boarding emphasize problem solving, tolerance, ing technical concepts into understand- lies. Once again, a special “Auction An- facilities. and friendship skills, and anti-bullying able ideas. With his advanced robots, gel Project” will be included in the live Dr. Carroll earned her degree programs.” he has traveled to thousands of schools auction event to raise funds to provide from the University of Minnesota in As part of her short-term goals, she throughout fifteen states, engaging stu- additional playground equipment for educational psychology. She is also hopes to augment the school’s band dents of all ages. The World of Robots the students. Last year’s Auction Angel an undergraduate from Bates Col- and chorus programs. The Carroll is developed and presented by Burrus Project was the school kitchen which is lege in Lewiston, Maine where she family resides in Gaithersburg, and Research Associates, Inc., a national in the process of being completed this studied psychology. She has taken the Dr. Carroll’s two children, Molly and leader in science and technology edu- fall. reins from school founder and current Andrew, attend the school. Seneca cation serving schools, businesses, and This event is rapidly becoming president of the Board of Directors, Academy will be holding an open international corporations for over two known as one of the largest and most Jodi Thurmond. Dr. Carroll told the house on November 4 from 2:00 p.m. decades. entertaining auction events in Frederick. Monocle that her task is to “keep the to 4:00 p.m. Anyone interested in joining for a fabu- St. Thomas More Academy to lous evening of food and fun should ship moving in the same direction by Robots Take Over emphasizing the school’s experiential Hold Its Sixth Annual Holiday contact the school at 301-874-9014 or educational philosophy.” This ap- Barnesville School Celebration Fundraiser via email to [email protected]. On October 15, Jack Burrus proach emphasizes a hands-on person- Buckeystown’s St. Thomas More Tickets are $80 each or $75 each when brought the highly-acclaimed World of al experience in education as a primary Academy is holding its annual holi- you book a table of eight or more. Robots school assembly to the Barnes- day fundraiser with the theme, “The November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page  where the flour was transshipped to The Potomac Canal brings to light the Local News the Caribbean as trade for sugar and rich history of this important trans- Subscribe to the other goods. This trade soon became portation system and its impact on Monocacy Monocle Local Historian Publishes the basis of agricultural wealth in the region and the country. Kapsch West Virginia’s eastern panhandle and discusses not only the canal’s econom- $31.50 per year New Book throughout the Appalachian Pied- ic impacts but also its significance in The Monocacy Monocle By Rande Davis mont. Coal was also shipped via the the lives of the men and women who P.O. Box 175 canal system from the upper reaches contributed to the canal’s construc- Poolesville MD 20837 Robert J. Kapsch, through West of the Potomac River to workshops tion and operation. The book is locally Virginia University, has published his at Harper’s Ferry and beyond. This available through the Historic Medley [email protected] latest history book: The Potomac Canal: industrial trade route laid the founda- District, Inc. at the John Poole House George Washington and the Waterway tion for what would eventually be- and general store in Poolesville. West. This is the history of the new come the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal nation’s first effort to link the rich and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. western agricultural lands with the The Potomac Canal: George Washing- coastal port cities of the east. ton and the Waterway West presents a Doctor Kapsch holds doctorates chronological narrative that covers in American studies, engineering, the early proposals (1755 to 1775), and architecture, as well as master’s George Washington and the canal degrees in historic preservation and system’s early development (1785 to management. He is the author of sev- 1790), Little Falls and Great Falls (1790 eral books on historic architecture and to 1802), the Shenandoah and other engineering, including Canals (W.W. lateral canals (1802 to 1812), opera- Norton, 2004), an illustrated history of tion (1802 to 1828), and demise of the the American canals. canal (1819 to 1828). He also presents His latest offering tells the story of information on interesting individu- the Potomac Canal Company which als such as Captain George Pointer was founded in 1785 and was active (a slave who bought his freedom and until it was taken over by the Chesa- became a company engineer), and the peake and Ohio Canal Company in workmen from various countries. 1828. During its operation, the canal Despite the Potomac Canal’s instru- system was used to ship flour from mental role in the development of mills in the foothills of Appalachia to our nation, no book has detailed its the tidewater of the Chesapeake, from history or fully illustrated its routes. November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 10 Meet Tinker Bell for a Great Cause encouraged to come and learn more about Holiday Deals You Won’t Believe Big Board The renowned voice-over actor, Mar- HMD, their accomplishments, and their Plus, a place where can you find that garet Kerry, who is most famous for her plans. Interested people may also visit their vintage ornament or a brand new one. Do A Night at the Opera (1935)/A Day at role as Tinker Bell in Disney’s Peter Pan, website at www.historicmedley.org. you collect Santas, snowmen, or nativities? the Races (1937) is in the metropolitan area helping to raise Are You Hungry Yet? Just come to St. Peter’s, Poolesville for their money for the American Cancer Society. As Christmas Attic Sale on Saturday, Novem- Groucho, Chico, and Harpo steal the We hope so since there are two upcom- a houseguest of Poolesville’s Mark Kuhn, ber 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All year screen in these two Marx Brothers’ classics ing dinners you won’t want to miss. The she has agreed to make an appearance at Jo’s around, St. Peter’s collects Christmas and on November 2 at 8:00 p.m. at the Weinberg first is in Adamstown at the Trinity E & R Frame Shop on Fisher Avenue on November Holiday decorations, ornaments, lights, Center for the Arts. Tickets are $6.00 for Church on November 10. They are holding 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. where she will candles, greens, linens, holiday clothing, adults and $4.00 for seniors, students, and their Beef and Ham Dinner that will have a autograph pictures for $20.00. Bring the kids Christmas cards, artificial trees, lawn orna- children. For more information, visit www. variety of side dishes, drinks, and desserts. and help fight cancer while meeting this ments, plush animals—anything to do with weinbergcenter.org or call 301-600-2828. The cost is $13.00 for adults and $6.50 for very special lady and movie star. Christmas. St. Peter’s Christmas Attic has children aged six to ten. Those under six Let the Holidays Begin been wonderfully successful because they Brunch with the Ponies years of age eat free. They will be serving The annual Christmas Bazaar at Pooles- have many items for sale that are one of a Note: this event will not be at Whole from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ville’s United Memorial Methodist Church is kind and previously loved; h owever, there Foods as reported in the October 19 issue. Then on November 17 the Knights of a special event that marks the beginning of is always plenty of “new in the box” avail- The Monocle apologizes for the error. Columbus will have their German Dinner at the holiday season in the area. There will be able as well. Prices are low; you can decorate Brunch with the Ponies will be at St. Mary’s Pavilion in Barnesville, and it will specialty and craft vendors on hand to dis- a whole tree for just a few dollars. They will 17401 Conoy Road in Barnesville (just off be “wunderbar!” They will serve bratwurst play and sell their work and items, a silent also have fresh-shelled pecans and walnuts Barnesville Road) from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 and knockwurst along with German (of auction, holiday gifts, and a luncheon put on by the bag for sale as well as a Bake Sale, just p.m. There will be pony activities, air brush course) potato salad, sauerkraut, salad, and by the Crafty Ladies and Gents. Come early in time for Thanksgiving. and stay for lunch. The time will be from tattoos, and a magician. The food will be dessert. For the little ones, they will have hot 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on November 3. donated by Whole Foods and Panera. The dogs and beans on hand. The cost for adults Pet Portraits at Old Town Hall event is open to everyone, and admission will be $8.00; for children six to twelve $4.00; On Saturday, November 17, from 9:00 a.m. Rainbow Fish is free. Personal Ponies is a 501c3 non profit for seniors (who admit they are) $5.00; and to 6:00 p.m., Pet Portraits will be taken by Marcus Pfister’s beloved bestseller organization that provides small UK Shet- for all families the price is capped at $25.00 Hilary Schwab Photography. The sitting fee comes to life on stage at the Weinberg Center land ponies to children that are differently – so bring Aunt Bessie, Uncle Ralph, and all is only $20.00, and fifty percent of that will for the Arts in this delightful musical. The able. The organization is dedicated to the thirteen grandkids. Just kidding, folks. be donated to the Historic Medley District, one-of-a-kind Rainbow Fish doesn’t want to belief that the life of a child with disabilities Elena Baksht in Concert Inc. Call 301-349-2322 or email hilary@ share her shimmering scales but comes to is immeasurably enriched by having a tiny hschwabphotography.com now to set up an Spend an enchanting Sunday after- realize the true meaning of friendship and pony to love and care for. The interaction appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome. noon with this gifted young pianist from the joy that comes with sharing. November and bonding that occurs between a tiny You can bring your kids to be photographed Russia at the Weinberg Center for the Arts 3 at 11:00 a.m., ticket prices range from $5.00 pony and a child with disabilities is nothing with your pets if you like. Online secure on November 11 at 2:00 p.m. At the age of to $10.00. For more information, visit www. less than magic. ordering of prints, calendars, and holiday eleven, Elena Baksht performed her first solo weinbergcenter.org or call 301-600-2828. cards (sold separately). Julius Caesar with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra A must-see production! Political in- and has continued to captivate audiences at trigue, ambition, betrayal, envy, honor—it’s concert halls around the world. A master’s From the Food and Gifts all here in the first of Shakespeare’s Roman graduate from the Julliard School of Music, to Spiritual plays, brilliantly adapted by Aquila, the Baksht won both the Artists International With all the pre-holiday food events and gift country’s foremost producer of touring clas- Competition and the Hélène and Jerome sales, there is one very special event that will sical theatre. The talented troupe of British Dreskin Foundation Career Grant in 1998. really help prepare you for the holidays, and and American actors brings Shakespeare’s She currently teaches piano at the Michigan that is the annual ecumenical Thanksgiving epic tale to life with fresh insights for today’s State University School of Music. Ticket service sponsored by area churches. This is audiences. On stage at the Weinberg Center prices range from $10.00 to $25.00. For more a wonderful time to join with your neigh- for the Arts on November 4 at 2:00 p.m., information, visit www.weinbergcenter.org bors in giving thanks for all that we share ticket prices range from $15.00 to $22.00. For or call 301-600-2828. through prayers and songs of gratitude. Area churches will come together at Our more information, visit www.weinbergcen- Winterglow 2007 ter.org or call 301-600-2828. Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church The Art League of Germantown pres- at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18. The Prepare for the Flu Season ents its Annual Winter Fine Arts and Crafts atmosphere is friendly, warm, and casual. St. Peter’s Parish is conducting its an- Show at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, This community worship service will be nual Flu Shot Clinic on Monday, November 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, dedicated to WUMCO Help and proceeds 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The clinic will Maryland. Open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on from donations by attendees will be given to be conducted in the new parish hall of the Friday and Saturday, November 16 and 17; this local social services organization to use recently-completed building. Flu shots are and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November toward their holiday expenses. $25.00 and pneumonia shots are $30.00, but 18, there will be an artist’s reception from no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18 Education Discussion Medicare Part B cardholders will receive with live music by violin duo, Violinsanity. The Freedom School is hosting a discus- their shots for free. Receipts will be provided Admission is free. sion with Jim Reitmulder, founder and staff member of The Circle School at the Urbana for health insurance reimbursement. For Maryland Symphony Orchestra more information please call 301-349-2073. Regional Library in the Urbana Community Experience Western Maryland’s only Room on 9020 Amelung Street, at 7:00 p.m. Kephart and Brown to be Honored by professional orchestra on Friday, Novem- on Thursday, November 15. The Circle HMD ber 16 at 8:00 p.m. Under the direction of School is a democratic, student-directed The Historic Medley District, Inc. will Elizabeth Schulze, the orchestra welcomes school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania based present its highest honor, the Founder’s acclaimed violinist Timothy Fain, named on The Sudbury Valley Model. The Freedom Award, to Mary Ann Kephart and Winsome last year as one of Symphony Magazine’s School is a learning co-op in Barnesville Brown, two original founding members of “Up-and-Coming Young Musicians.” The based on the same principles with plans the preservation organization. The ceremony concert program includes Prokofiev’sViolin of being full time in 2008. Jim will share will take place at their annual meeting on Concerto No. 1 and selections from Handel’s over twenty years of experience and give November 11 at 4:00 p.m. at their Poolesville Water Music and Beethoven’s Symphony examples of how this educational model can Museum at the old Town Hall. Whole Foods No. 8. Ticket prices are $25.00 for adults and work for children in the 21st century. Please in Kentland’s has graciously agreed to pro- $10.00 for students; special group rates are contact Denise Chasin at The Freedom vide appetizers for the occasion. The general available. For more information, visit www. School with any questions at 301-349-2161 or public is invited to the presentation and weinbergcenter.org or call 301-600-2828. at [email protected] November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 11 tary School’s P.E. class under the signed to teach students how to read for two weeks, and all students of School News tutelage of Debbie Summers, and the road signs and to stay on the correct all grades participate, letting their Bay must be her transformed gym- side of the road, all while driving imaginations take over while using Down by the Bay nasium. scooters through the streets of the skills like map reading, reading, Although Debbie Summers has make-believe city which included a writing, throwing, balancing, jump- By Dominique Agnew been a P.E. teacher for twenty-three grocery store, school, playground, ing, and climbing—all in a day’s years, the last twelve of them at and other typical city landmarks. work…Down by the Bay. What did you do in school today? Monocacy, it wasn’t until the early Now, every year at the These themes are just the tip of I went snorkeling. 1990s that she began creating differ- Monocacy Elementary gym, the the iceberg. “Mrs. Summers does so I caught crabs. ent worlds in the gymnasium that walls and floor become transformed much here,” says Robin O’Connell, I went climbing. incorporate physical fitness with into four different worlds. Every parent and health room technician. I piloted my boat out on the themed activities, cutting across dis- fall, the theme is rotated. This is the She runs the juggling club that has Chesapeake Bay. ciplines to include reading, writing, third time that the gym has become performed at Frederick Keys base- mathematics, and science. Her first the Chesapeake Bay, the idea con- ball games. When the fifth grad- What kind of elementary school theme was Scooter City, inspired by ceived by Mrs. Summers, complete ers went to Cumberland last year is this where the kids get to do excit- a teacher in Howard County. Mrs. with a map on the floor, and the to complete their studies on the ing activities along the Chesapeake Summers put together a city de- various geographic landmarks of the C&O Canal, Mrs. Summers spent Bay? It must be Monocacy Elemen- Bay and accompanying activities. a weekend biking the towpath to Mrs. Summers has also converted Cumberland so she could provide the gym into a rainforest, a theme the students with interesting facts she developed with teacher, Carol about the canal, the lives of canal Winkler, at Stone Mill Elementary. boat families, and Cumberland. She When it’s an Olympic year, there is organizes a C&O Canal bike ride for an Olympic theme, and, of course, students and their families, and she Scooter City. Before winter break, organizes P.E. Partnership, partner- the gym becomes a winter wonder- ing older and younger students, and land; spring brings an eighteen-hole Jump Rope for Heart. golf course; and, at the end of the year, the students get to have a beach party. Before each theme, Mrs. Sum- mers comes in the weekend before and spends four hours setting every- thing up. The theme stays in place November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 12 Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar November 16 Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Things to Do Weinberg Center for the Arts K of C German Dinner Service Political intrigue, ambition, betrayal, St. Mary’s Pavilion – Barnesville Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic November 2 envy, honor 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Church 2:00 p.m. Area churches give thanks together A Night at the Opera; A Day at the MSO Concert 7:00 p.m. Races Weinberg Center for the Arts Weinberg Center for the Arts November 5 Annual Flu Shot Program Maryland Symphony Orchestra Varsity Sport Home Games Marx Brothers’ Classics St. Peter’s Church Guest violinist Timothy Fain PHS: Football: November 9, 6:30 8:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. p.m. – MD School for the Deaf CHS: Football: November 9, 6:30 Winterglow November 3 p.m. – Watkins Mill 2007 Christmas Bazaar November 7 BlackRock Center for the Arts St. Peter’s Pre-School Poolesville Memorial Methodist ALOG Art Show Bible Study Church Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Silent auction, lunch, Holiday gifts 5:00 p.m. and decorations, many vendors November 9 Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. UMCVFD Basket Bingo Sunday, meet artists 1:00 p.m. to Beallsville Fire hall Tinker Bell in Poolesville 3:00 p.m. Doors: 5:30 p.m. Voice of Disney’s Renowned Games: 7:00 p.m. November 17 Cartoon Star 6th Annual Holiday Celebration Appears at Jo’s Frame Shop – November 10 Fundraiser Poolesville Beef and Ham Dinner St. Thomas More Academy 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Trinity E & R Church – Adamstown Lynfield Events Complex, Rainbow Fish 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Frederick Weinberg Center for the Arts 5:30 p.m. to midnight Marcus Pfister’s bestseller comes to November 11 life Elena Baksht in Concert November 18 11:00 a.m. Weinberg Center for the Arts Christmas Attic Sale World-renowned pianist Holiday decorations and November 4 2:00 p.m. crafts Open House Pecans, baked goods Seneca Academy/The Circle School St. Peter’s Church 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 13 Charles Webster of Adamstown were Police Blotter: Past and Present on the way to Frederick when they reached the Mickell farm near Lime By Jack Toomey was voting for the Democratic Party. Kiln. Their horse became frightened Later that night, his barn was burned by a passing automobile and ran into Montgomery County police report to the ground. a fence throwing Mrs. Webster to the that there have been over five thou- ground. The buggy was badly dam- sand incidents of thefts from parked November 6, 1954 An American aged and was taken to Frederick for cars during 2007. Items such as GPS Airlines airliner took off from the repairs. systems, iPods, cell phones, satellite Washington airport when the pilot re- radios, and purses have been stolen. alized that the landing gear was defec- In September, sixty percent of the tive. The plane, en route to New York, cases involved unlocked vehicles. Po- then circled Montgomery County, lice urge residents to remove anything burning up fuel, until it safely landed of value and to lock the vehicle before at Washington. leaving it. . November 12, 1907 Doctor Elijah White of Poolesville, one of the most Present prominent physicians in Montgomery County, was accidentally shot by his October 6 Residential bur- brother while the two were hunting. glary, 19700 block of Selby Avenue, Benjamin White, of Baltimore, was on Poolesville. Forced entry to the one side of a thicket and did not see residence, victim saw the suspect who his brother when he fired. Dr. White was driving a red 2000 Chevrolet S-10 was taken to the hospital in Baltimore truck. for treatment. Past November 14, 1900 It was re- have made significant improvements November 2, 1886 The election ported that safecrackers blew open Youth Sports in the last year,” said Trail. “Clarksburg in Montgomery County caused much the safe at the general merchandise will be a winning program within anoth- excitement, but the residents of Ger- store of Mr. Jones and Mr. Robinson at er year or so. They have the foundations mantown were not prepared for the Brunswick, Maryland. It was said that Clarksburg Girls of a good program developing which incident that happened on the night of the burglars stole about $350 in cash. starts with the coaching staff. You can the election. George Smith had been Volleyball Looking tell the coaches really care about the girls threatened after he announced that he November 14, 1906 Mr. and Mrs. and the school. It has taken us four years To Earn Respect here at Northwood to develop a winning By Jeff Stuart attitude and to acquire girls with the abil- ity to put together a winning team.” Respect: that’s what the Clarksburg “I think we are tremendously High School Girls’ Volleyball team is improved this year,” said Coach Tip- looking for after learning much but win- pett, “but we are still young. That’s ning just a single match in their inau- something I have to keep in mind. There gural 2006 season. They worked hard are two seniors starters, but the rest are in the off season. Two attended camps, sophomores.” Seniors Lena Kem and two played on a club team, and others Jen Nguyen lead the team. Sophomore worked out on their own at home. “Five Angelica Quetell returns from last year’s varsity players came to voluntary sum- varsity team as a starter. Other starting mer workouts at the school, and the rest sophomores include: Taylor Randall, the were incoming eighth graders which setter, and Cynthia Alfaro, who have was nice to see,” said Head Coach Terri moved up from last year’s JV team. The Tippett. “It shows we are building the fourth starting sophomore and newcom- interest at the middle school level.” er to the team is Tia Johnson, a starting Those off-season efforts may be pay- guard on last year’s varsity basketball ing dividends. Because the Coyotes are squad. Still other sophomores on the off to a good start, they defeated Seneca varsity roster are Charney Ryland, a JV Valley, posting their first-ever home win basketball player last year, and Cinthya on Monday, September 10. The game Alaverez and Irene Burgus, who have scores against the Screaming Eagles were moved up from last year’s JV team. 19-25, 25-13, 20-25, 25-21, and 15-13 in the “Against Seneca Valley, we talked, tie breaker. That came after a disappoint- passed better, and got eighty-seven ing opener at Northwood on September percent of our serves in. Our goal was 5. Northwood won in three games: 25-13, ninety percent. We did a good job of 25-13, and 25-14. “We did not play well containing Seneca Valley’s outstanding at Northwood,” said Coach Tippett. senior captain, Lauren Green, an awe- “We did not communicate. We were so some talent.” nervous. We didn’t do the little things we As with any young team, there will be can do. Our passing was horrible.” ups and downs, and the Coyotes still Nonetheless, Northwood coach Ray have a ways to go. Trail was complimentary. “Both teams November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 14

graders, are the co-captains of the girls’ to work very hard and push yourself team and [occasionally] take a beating Youth Sports team. Kirschbaum has been on the team every day.” David recently ran a course because we are such a small school and for three years and led the team to the in just under eighteen minutes. Brian the talent pool is reduced.” He stressed division title in early October when she Dresser is one of only two seniors on that it takes a special kind of athlete to PHS Cross Country finished first in the girls’ division. Her the team. He has been participating on develop the work ethic that it takes to By Jack Toomey best time in a competition is just a few the team for four years and takes four participate in the sport. Vollmer added seconds over twenty-three minutes. She AP classes. He hopes to continue his that the team has been plagued by Imagine participating in a sport said, “I love cross country. It is relaxing, various injuries this year such as shin where you routinely have car horns and I love the competition.” Ham- splints, sprained ankles, and hip prob- blown at you by friends, have to run berger, who takes an advanced place- lems. He pointed out Joseph Aryanka- through the streets in searing heat and ment class and six other honors courses, layial, Hunter Hegmann, Phillip Kul- humidity, and once in a great while, stressed the comradeship that exists on dell, and Sabrina Richter as promising get chased by dogs—and that is just a the team, “I think that our team is so athletes who have helped the team this description of the practices. The compe- close, they are my family; our coach has year and will be back next year as more titions require running up steep hills in a [saying] that we are going to make it experienced runners. Vollmer is looking all sorts of weather, through the woods, to the top of the water tower.” She also forward to next year when almost the and occasionally plodding through gave some insight into the closeness of entire team will return including his key swampy fields. Of all of the fall sports the girls’ team, “We have team bonding runners. that are offered to students, cross coun- activities [like] sleepovers and making On October 2, the Falcons won try could easily be selected as the sport T-shirts.” Erin Knuth is a ninth grader The Poolesville High School the Montgomery County Division that requires the most dedication and who was pointed out by Coach Vollmer Cross Country team hams it up IV title, and David Wilson set a new causes the greatest stress on the body of as a promising prospect. Her best run- before practice. home course record. On October 20, the athlete. ning time is only twenty seconds behind education next year in the biotech field the team competed in the county meet The Poolesville High School cross her older teammates. She takes six of study. Looking back at his career at at Gaithersburg High School. Compet- country team is made up of about honors classes, and, remarking on her Poolesville, he said that his biggest thrill ing against every school in the county, twenty-five athletes. Every school day, team, she said, “It has been a friendly was when he recorded his best time in the team still managed to finish in the they gather in the stadium for instruc- environment.” the county region competition in elev- middle of the pack and distinguished tions from Coach Jim Vollmer who The boys’ team was led by sopho- enth grade. themselves as competitive runners. has been the coach for seventeen years. more David Wilson. David explained Coach Vollmer, who teaches at Next year, almost every runner will Recently, a Monocle reporter caught that he became interested in cross coun- the county’s Thomas Edison School of return, and a bright future is certainly up with the team as they prepared for try because his older brother participat- Technology, said that he was pleased by in store for the Poolesville cross country a practice run. Kristyn Kirschbaum ed. “A lot of commitment [is required],” the team’s performance and work ethic. team. and Devin Hamberger, both eleventh he said. “In order to improve, you have Vollmer said, “We are still a young November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 15 Commercial Display

PET PORTRAITS at Poolesville Old Town Hall Saturday NOVEMBER 17 9am-6pm By Appointment or Walk In $20 Sitting fee (purchase of prints/Holiday cards separately) 50% of sitting fee to be donated to Historic Medley District Hilary Schwab Photography (301)349-2322 [email protected] November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 16 “Brian Gross” Continued From new student in a class of pursuit of the technical Page 1. eighteen hundred students in side led him to go on Philadelphia where his fam- tour with numerous big- forty guitars or evidence that Brian ily moved. As it happened, name bands including: is an accomplished musician. Hope- during English class one day, Hall and Oates, Heart, fully, you’ve had a chance to see him the student in front of him, and U2, among others. perform at the concert on Whalen Mark Weaver (who would Of course, the more he Commons following Poolesville Day become and remain his friend became involved with or at the Music Appreciation Tea held to this day), asked, “Do you being on the road and just this past Sunday, October 28, if play guitar?” Brian, who had building this career, the not, keep your eyes peeled for his next never played guitar before in less he played the guitar. appearance. his life but was desperate for Also, as he came to Brian probably could have been communication, answered, know some of these rock considered a child prodigy on the “Yes, I do”—cataclysm, stars—he mentions the guitar, except that he didn’t start play- indeed. old adage, “Be careful ing the guitar until he was nearly an He went home that day, Brian Gross Then. Brian Gross Now. what you wish for”—he adult. During middle school and high found his father’s old guitar, began to find them and school he was “very much a geek”—in managed to tune it, found their lifestyle undesir- the kindest sense of the term. He was considered a frivol- Mel Bay’s guitar method book, and able. “Some of these people,” he says, born in L.A., but moved with his ity, and his parents pushed very hard learned “Father and Son” by Cat “are miserable, horrible people…It family to Bethesda when he was five. for him to pursue engineering. He got Stevens. “That’s when the thunderbolt changed my attitude on what was “I was the kid in high school who on waiting lists at Bucknell University hit,” he says. “I knew I’d found what important.” This epiphany came after pushed the projector around,” he says. and Lehigh University but didn’t want I wanted to do.” From that day on, two years of working in the recording He loved every aspect of technology. to wait. He discovered that Ithaca he practiced three to four hours per industry and touring—and he had “I was always fascinated by mechani- College in New York had excellent night, and eventually began singing, fallen in love. Enter the woman who cal, electrical things.” This fascination business and science programs—and as well. would become his wife, Sherri. He led him to be involved as much as a “killer music program.” Pursuing a Although he came from a musical wanted to get married and knew he possible with school theater sound degree in business at Ithaca, Brian was family, his mother was a professional “had to get off the road.” and lighting, from elementary to high also able to earn a degree in electro- singer in a female barbershop group, The year was 1985. Brian cut his school. mechanical engineering through a the Sweet Adelines, and his father was hair and answered an ad for a sales- His senior year of high school program of study at nearby Cornell a master metallurgist and horologist person in an audio-design company. brought a cataclysmic change in University, all while indulging in his (watchmaker), he wasn’t encour- “I made the leap from touring engi- Brian’s life. Where once he was a very passion for music. aged in his pursuit of the guitar. In neer to someone who wasn’t on the visible student at Walt Whitman High It was at Ithaca that Brian discov- his childhood household, music was bus,” he says. He entered a whole School, he was suddenly the single ered he had a beautiful voice, but not new area of the technical world—and a beautiful tenor voice, he says. “I’ve excelled. “It was,” he adds, “in a lot never liked my voice,” he laments. As of ways, my calling.” He quickly a business student, he was winning moved to designing systems and says auditions for vocal jazz ensembles and he was lucky to have the skill set to madrigals because of his “magnifi- both design and sell realistic, good cent bass/baritone voice.” Brian says systems. “I was, and still am, wildly that directors would say they “need successful,” he says. Bigger and that voice” and would attach a music broader companies noticed him, and student to him to be sure he learned he started being recruited by them; the music perfectly because he didn’t then he joined Acom where, under his at the time know how to read music role as executive, the company grew well enough. from $3 million in revenue to $60 mil- During those college years, Brian lion. Unfortunately, it was the 1990s, put all of his effort into playing the and merger mania had arrived on the guitar. He played everywhere he scene. Foreign investors bought in and could. He started bands, composed “ripped the company to shreds.” music, and played all different kinds Disillusioned with the merger/ of music including an interest in acquisition situation, Brian started jazz—“honing [his] ability to play a company, Wavecrest, with three live.” In the early 1980s, while still in former employees in 1999. “I’ve college, he was making $300 a week always been extremely comfortable playing four days a week—good with risk,” he says. The company money whether in school or not. grew quickly and well, but there was He decided to continue in the mu- disagreement about the role of the sic business after college by learning owners. On May 12, 2003, the other the technical side of the recording in- owners exploited a loophole and dustry, “preparing to be a rock star,” bought him out. On May 13, 2003, he says modestly. With his business, Phoenixx Systems was born, mytho- engineering, and musical background, logical symbolism and everything. he found it easy to blend both the technical side and the creative sides of music, and he could work effec- -Continued on Page 23. tively with both sets of people. The November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 17

Brian Gross now. November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 18 “Kenya” Continued From Page 5. the greatest wildlife show on Earth. very close range. Some are very shy, not feel threatened by your presence. The most spectacular time to visit this while the kingly lion regally stares Once on the ground, you become part area is between June and early Octo- right back at you. As quiet and unob- of their ecosystem and fair targets for one black and a number of white rhino ber, when the annual Migration takes trusive as my daughter and I tried to their next dinner.” were recently relocated to the Meru. I place. Over 1.4 million wildebeests, be, I often felt that I was intruding into Up until the early Middle Ages, visited the sanctuary that has been set 550,000 gazelles, 200,000 zebras, and their lives. I cannot adequately describe man grew plants, trees, and shrubs for up for their survival. This very large 64,000 impalas make the journey across the feeling of having the privilege of food and medicinal uses. Only the no- tract of land is enclosed with high elec- the short grasslands of the Serengeti witnessing this slice of nature, with all bles had pleasure gardens. As society trified fences and is patrolled by gov- in neighboring Tanzania to the wide its beauty, sensitivity, and sometimes changed, more people of lesser means ernment rangers. The threat of poach- open, tall grassy areas of the Mara in cruel reality. You are transported to an- wanted gardens as parks or places of ing is still very much alive. Because search of grass and water. It is a long other world, where you become a very relaxation. Today, we do not directly of the lack of wildlife, the Meru has and dangerous journey, and at least small and insignificant participant. use plants for medicinal uses. Some of been off the beaten “safari trail.” Now twenty- five percent of the herds do not Kenya, along with other East Afri- the drugs we get from the local phar- the herds of animals are slowly being survive the trip for the Mara’s grass is can countries, is one of the richest areas macy might have been produced from built up. The upside of this situation tall and gives camouflage to the lions, on the African continent in terms of flo- plants, but we do not come in contact is the ability for a visitor like me to see cheetahs, and leopards; and the wind- ra. This diversity reflects the country’s with the plants in their natural habitat. animals at a very close range without ing rivers with their high banks hide wide range of ecological and climatic In Kenya, with its astonishing variety ten or twelve other Land Rovers filled the crocodiles—all waiting for dinner. conditions. Two major factors affecting of flora, medicinal plants are an impor- with tourists parked beside you. Each Flying into the area, you can look out the distribution of growth of differ- tant part of the daily lives and the cul- day, my daughter and I drove with a the little plane’s windows and see long ent species of flora are rainfall and tural heritage of many people. These very knowledgeable guide for six to columns of thousands of wildebeests altitude. The two areas that I visited same plants provide food, shelter, and eight hours through the grasslands and following their leader into broad lines supported different plants, trees, and healing properties to a wide range of woods without seeing another vehicle of march. From the air, they look like shrubs. We all understand the meaning animals. or person, save for a lone ranger patrol- columns of ants. of an ecosystem—all the organisms in a The tree that most visitors to the ling for poachers. Besides the visiting herds, the particular region and the environment Meru, the Mara, and the Serengeti After four days in the Meru, I flew Mara is home to elephants, lions, chee- in which they live—and we recognize notice is the umbrella thorn (Acacia on another very small plane to the tahs, leopards, rhino, hippopotamuses, that the elements of an ecosystem inter- tortillas). All parts of the trees are Masai Mara. The Mara Game Reserve, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, impalas, act with each other, either directly or useful to man and animals. Its hardy covering an area of about 720 square monkeys, baboons, mongoose, jackals, indirectly, but it is no more self-evident red wood makes excellent fuel (wood miles, is a natural continuation of the crocodiles, ostriches, buffalos, ante- than in the African bush. When on a and charcoal) and timber. The flowers famous Serengeti Plain. It has undu- lopes, kudus hyenas, warthogs, and game drive, the first thing that your are eaten by baboons and monkeys, lating grasslands, dramatic escarp- thousands of exotic birds. The animals guide tells you is, “Don’t get out of the elephants prefer the bark, giraffes ments, beautiful acacia forests—and in the park are used to tourists and Land Rover, unless I say that it is safe. their Land Rovers observing them at While in the vehicle, the animals do -Continued on Page 19. November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 19 “Kenya” Continued From are myths of several tribes that tell of mals. Growing wild on the savanna and Page 18. the first humans descending from a in the woods were hibiscus, cornflow- browse its leaves, and its fallen seed baobab—the tree where man was born. ers, morning glory, clematis, gera- pods are a favorite of impalas. The Their leaves appear right before the nium, poinsettia, delphinium, jasmine, sausage tree (Kigelia africana) is an- start of the rainy season. While out on lantana, aloe, gladiolus, and black-eyed other common tree on the savanna. It a game drive one morning, I noticed Susan. has huge sausage-shaped fruit which that the many lions we saw were often Kenya is a magical place. While in baboons and hippos eat. The giraffe resting under the shade of one particu- the bush, one forgets time. Your mind, chews the young fruit like a huge piece lar small shrub. The guide said that eyes, and ears are treated to emotions, of chewing gum. The pips of the fruit the shrub was an orange-leaf croton. sights, and sounds that you never are used to make a commercial skin Its leaves and bark provide a natural before experienced. Of all the animals I cancer prevention lotion. The whistling insect repellent. The lions stay near it saw, my favorite was the giraffe. Stand- thorn (Acacia drepanolobium) is a shrub to keep the flies away, and the local ing eighteen feet tall with soft brown or small tree that is a good example Masai people build their homes with its eyes and a patchwork coat of cream of a symbiotic relationship between branches and trunk. Its repellency lasts and rich terra cotta lines, he looks like plants and insects. The galls of the for three to five years. he could walk with the dinosaurs. If tree are habited by a small species of Many of the annuals and peren- you ever get a chance, visit Kenya. It is stinging ant. The plant offers a living nials that we grow in our gardens are a trip you will never forget. environment and food—the nectar at wild flowers in East Africa and have the base of its flowers on which the great medicinal value for man and ani- ants feed—and the ants protect the tree from browsers. The baobab (Adansonia digitata) tree is central to many African legends, and it is a very bizarre tree. One of the longest-lived trees in the world, its trunk can grow up to thirty feet in diameter. Its thick branches do not grow in proportion, and being bare of leaves most of the year, they look more like roots. Viewed from afar, it looks like it is growing upside-down. Its longevity is remarkable. There are baobabs growing today that were young trees at the time of Christ. There November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 20

Marketplace November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 21 grow in the coming decades and give el competition in league and tournament tion. Youth Sports America long-lasting, self-sustaining play.” Jeff is also a former player and Jeff thinks that the state of soccer is professional leagues so that homegrown coach for the organization, which was “very, very good” in the county. “Qual- United to Excel talent will not always choose to play formed from an alliance of two clubs, ity soccer is on the upswing in Frederick overseas in order to play professional Frederick Excel and Frederick United. and will continue to rise for many years By Curtis A. Osborne soccer. They hope to one day be men- Excel was an all-boys club formed in to come,” he adds. “FCF is giving the Fall is here and soccer is in full tioned in the same sentence as the NFL, 1989 by Roelkey Meyers, and United was kids the tools they need to play at the swing. Professional, collegiate, and scho- NBA, MLB, and NHL. Though they have an all-girls club formed in 1996 by Mark next level and this helps because good lastic teams are now midway through a long way to go, they are on the right Wolcott, Brian Parker, Chuck Nichols, soccer players get scholarship money, in their seasons with playoff hopes and path, moving forward with prudent and Bob Scheffler. “So we like to say that turn, a good education.” They must be aspirations on the line. Major League financial and marketing plans. FC Frederick was founded in 1989 and doing things right because parents uni- Soccer (MLS) has recently enjoyed a With the millions of kids participat- we are ‘United to Excel’” says Jeff of their versally have nothing but positive things huge surge in popularity, some of it due ing in youth leagues across the country, catchy slogan. The conjoined organiza- to say about the organization, that they to the rock-star-like atmosphere sur- America is looking to groom its own tion is run by President Dave Jones and do things the “right way,” and that they rounding one Mr. David “Posh Spice” homegrown talent and its own future Vice President Bo Eskay. are very structured and run an outstand- Beckham, the international soccer icon superstars. The youth leagues are aiming FCF is the third largest club in ing program. with a movie named after him. His ar- to be the major talent supplier to these the state with approximately 750 kids As one can expect, there have been rival in MLS, though a dud on the field adult leagues and act as a national feeder participating this year. They are a full- several success stories to emerge from due to lingering injuries, was a bonanza system, which in fact they are. FC Fred- service club with a full time Director of the organization. The most recent is a to the gate receipts wherever his team erick is a soccer organization in Frederick Coaching, over fifty coaches, and a full player named Jackson Eskay. Accord- played, including his stop here against County that is well on its way to being a academy program. Several of the coaches ing to Jeff, Jackson is a “U-13 boy that a D.C. United team that is playing well feeder system not only to the local high hold a “C” license or above. In many has more moves with a ball than you right now. With negotiations ongoing schools, but to colleges, national teams, other organizations, the best players will can imagine.” Jackson played in the U.S. between Washington, D.C. and other and the professional leagues as well. skip playing for their high school teams National U-14 Identification program, local jurisdictions to build a soccer only “FC Frederick is a nonprofit soccer and instead opt strictly to play for their where the top 120 kids play in an all-ex- stadium complex, and with the Balti- club that seeks to develop soccer athletes club team due to competition and travel. pense paid showcase, an impressive feat. more Blast just opening its professional in a positive environment that challenges Many are even encouraged to do this, To ensure its future success, after playing indoor soccer season with a victory over each player at [his or her] highest level,” but not FCF players. Most of the kids many years at various city and county the Philadelphia Kixx to kick off the Ma- states Jeff Sill, Director of Facilities for the play for their high schools, which can facilities, FCF is currently constructing an jor Indoor Soccer League (MISL) season, organization. They plan to achieve these only make the school teams better and eleven-acre complex to be its new home. professional soccer has become a strong goals through “fair and open evaluation more attractive to future players. They It is scheduled to open by spring 2008. draw for the local dollar and team assignment, professional ad- will want to wear their school colors and Obviously, this group Excels in soccer. Both leagues hope to see themselves ministration and coaching, and high-lev- represent them with pride in competi-

Poolesville Tire & Auto “For the Best in Vehicle Care and Repair” FOR WEEKLY COUPONS & SPECIALS Go to: Poolesvilleautogroup.com Open: 8 am to 5 pm M-F 19920 Fisher Ave. 301-349-3880 November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 22 “Staph” Continued From Page 1. daily with weekly hospital visits. Marci Callentonio worries that the information sent home to parents from the school system focuses too much on the skin manifestations of the bacteria and not the other potential infections such as her son’s. “I want people to know the full scope of MRSA,” she said. “People’s fears are being allayed, and I don’t like that; I’m not comfortable with that.” Staph bacteria, found on the skin and in the nose of healthy people, are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States, accord- ing to the CDC website. The drug-resis- tant MRSA strain is usually transmitted by skin-to-skin contact or contact with items and surfaces that have touched an infection. Schools where the bacteria have been identified are required to use a “hospital grade” bleach solution to clean “areas where the likelihood [of transmission] is greater” such as weight and locker rooms daily, Harrison said. This will continue indefinitely. Foot- ball players or others with wounds are asked to keep them bandaged, Harrison said. “We want everyone to be a partner in keeping this from spreading.” Levine said that in addition to fol- lowing the county’s instructions, the school’s Booster Club has provided “a a new wound treatment that protects year’s supply” of sanitizing wipes for against MRSA. “It’s not the school’s the weight room, and a media cam- fault that [the bacteria] is there,” she paign by the school’s television and said, but all steps should be taken to journalism students was planned. A protect students. coach will also monitor locker rooms About thirteen Poolesville High after practices to insure that athletes School parents attended an October 22 take uniforms home to be laundered, meeting on MRSA in a private home, she said. and a guest speaker on the subject is Callentonio said while the school being considered for an upcoming PTA system’s measures were a good start, meeting, Levine said. Koutsos said she would like to see a multi-level ap- Clarksburg High was fielding calls and proach to the problem which could in- addressing questions individually, and clude increased availability of common no meetings were planned. products like hand sanitizer as well as usage of products like StaphAseptic, November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 23 “Rock Creek Park Murders” were no incidents, and the cases head.” Parker was tried for the Chevy Parker was arrested twelve times, Continued From Page 3. remained open. Then on December Chase attacks and was convicted and but since there was no record of his 22, 1939, a woman was walking on sent to the State Hospital for The escape, he appeared in court, served Easy West Highway near Meadow- Hillcrest Place in Chevy Chase. Sud- Criminally Insane at Crownsville. He short jail sentences, and was released. brook Lane. A passerby noticed a man denly, a man came out of some bushes was never charged for the 1938 shoot- The 1938 Rock Creek murders peering out of the woods watching and dragged her to the grounds of ings. have never been solved. Although the two women. He drove until he the Chevy Chase Elementary School In May 1949, a park police officer they were labeled as “sniper shoot- found the nearest police officer, and where he attempted to rape her. Later, arrested a man who was lurking in the ings” by the press, it is most likely Silver Spring officers responded and another woman reported that a man woods in Rock Creek Park. He gave a that the motive of the suspect was captured the man who was hiding in had robbed her about three blocks false name, but it was determined that robbery. the woods behind the Meadowbrook away. In Washington, a similar inci- he was Jesse Paul Parker. Parker had Riding Club. He was held at the Silver dent happened, and Jesse Paul Parker, escaped from Crowns- Spring police station until the next 25, was arrested. He immediately ville Hospital in 1941, day but refused to answer questions became a suspect in the 1938 murders but the escape had and was released. because of his physical build which never been reported to Just as fast as the shootings began, included, as described by officers at the authorities. During they stopped. For almost a year, there that time, having a “pineapple shaped the next eight years,

“Brian Gross” Continued From at Bellagio and the Pirate Battle Show very good understand- Page 16. outside of Treasure Island, both in ing of chords, voicings, Las Vegas. Of his business, Brian says and how chords are On May 14, 2003, Brian began playing there are not many people doing it, spelled, he says, but “I the guitar again. “I just started practic- and his company is one of the no- would not call myself a ing in the woodshed,” he says simply. tables. He encourages kids who have brilliant lead guitarist.” With Phoenixx Systems, Brian a creative and/or technical side to give What does he do with has nine employees—“brilliant the industry a look. There are “a lot of forty guitars? On the people”—and the company draws tools, but not a lot of rules.” one hand, he collects revenues of about $5 million per year Musically, Brian has started them (he claims to have from projects all over the world: the moving away from jazz. He decided only two vices: collect- new audio systems in the Rotunda of to learn how to play the blues. “I ing guitars and mo- the U.S. Capitol building, the 350-de- wanted to bend the strings and make torcycles), but he also listens to what gree cinema system for Jamestown’s it howl,” he says. He has also dabbled they have to say to him. “Guitars have 400th anniversary, the Griffon roller in acoustic fingerstyle and alternate a real personality that you can feel,” coaster attraction at Busch Gardens, tuning, and this has just expanded he explains. “Whenever I play them, and sound systems for the Fountains his versatility as a musician. He has a they reveal something subtly differ- ent.” His different guitars will lead him to explore their tonalities inviting him to play them accordingly, draw- ing on and accentuating that sound the instrument reveals. Many of those who live in the Poolesville area, have been affected by Brian’s work, whether they realize it or not, because he’s always ready to lend a helping hand, and it’s always behind the scenes. For the last two Sandy Cameron concerts, Phoenixx Systems enhanced the audio-visual needs of the performance. Phoenixx Systems was able to design a state- of-the-art sound system for the PHS auditorium on a budget in 2005. Brian helped with the Christmas pageant on Whalen Commons. Many of the performers on Whalen Commons had sound systems set up by Brian (usu- ally a number of hours of setup). Whether he’s performing or en- hancing others’ performances, Brian has a joy and passion for what he does which he’s happy to share. “I found this beautiful career where I can create these wild things that don’t exist with one half of my brain, and the other half of my brain gets to draft, design, and build this complex thing that makes an amazing sound.” November 2, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 24