2015, 2016 MDDC News Organization of the Year! Celebrating 161 years of service! Vol. 162, No. 50 • 50¢ SINCE 1855 June 8 - June 14, 2017 TODAY’S GAS PRICE “We Are Still In” $2.39 per gallon County defies the President and vows to adhere to Paris Climate Accords nounced that the United States helping to finance energy-efficient Charging stations are usually By Vic Simon Last Week would leave the greenhouse gas re- retrofits in private buildings. installed in office and apartment $2.41 per gallon @vtime492 duction effort four days earlier. Area businesses and consumers buildings and parking lots. A month ago ROCKVILLE - “We are still Leggett cited the county’s Fis- appeared to remain on track for Inglisa said, “Our momentum $2.39 per gallon in” the Paris Climate Accord despite cal Year 2016 sustainability report, planned energy improvements. Joe is picking up for several reasons. the president’s decision to with- showing that it is well ahead of its Inglisa, who heads sales for Bowie- Many states and cities have their A year ago draw, declared County Executive own goals for “reducing greenhouse based SemaConnect, a manufactur- own environmental standards, and $2.39 per gallon Leggett, along with more than 1,000 gas emissions from government op- er and seller of electric vehicle there is no sign they are changing local, state-level and business lead- erations” and installing solar energy charging stations, said Trump’s an- anything. Maryland still has strong AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON OF UNLEADED REGULAR GAS IN ers around the country this week. atop government buildings. The nouncement had “no impact” and incentives, and I do not see this MARYLAND/D.C. METRO AREA ACCORDING TO AAA The officials and business lead- county recently bought more elec- that the “Trump announcement changing.” ers released the statement June 5 af- tric vehicles for its fleets and has might even motivate buyers to do INSIDE ter President Donald J. Trump an- seed-funded a new Green Bank their own thing.” See “County,” page 8 Metro and PEPCO point Editor’s Notebook fingers at each other minutes for a train in near-darkness. by Brian J. Karem By Kathleen Stubbs @kathleenstubbs3 “Light (was) coming from down the stairs, and there was some light Hundreds of Blue, Orange and coming from the trains,” said Echter, Silver line Metro riders suffered de- a D.C. resident. “When I walked Van Hollen lays of 20 to 40 minutes during down, there was really only light morning rush hour May 31 due to a from the train.” and Sarbanes power problem, but Metro and Po- Metro spokesperson Richard A local Senator and a Con- tomac Electric Power Company Jordan said Thursday the delays re- gressman fire up on President (PEPCO) officials disagree on the sulted from a PEPCO problem. Trump after latest administra- cause. However PEPCO spokesperson tion moves Rider Dylan Echter said he was Eric Winkfield disagreed and said Page 4 planning to be early for a meeting PEPCO never sent crews to the site that day, but when he arrived at the entrance to Eastern Market Station, See “Metro” he ended up waiting a total of 25 page 8 County settles on Silver Spring Transit Center by a jury. By Neal Earley @neal_earley "I am pleased that the County has settled the lawsuit we brought Giants derail County Executive Ike Leggett to recover taxpayer costs associated praised a $25 million settlement be- with the repair and remediation of the Big Train tween the County and developers of the Silver Spring Transit Center,” In the last pre-season the Paul S. Sarbanes Silver Spring Leggett said in statement after the game, the Giants take out the Transit Center last week. settlement. “This is very much in Bethesda Big Train Months after the County sued the public interest. The $25 million the transit center’s contractor Foul- payment to the County will cover Page 20 ger-Pratt, its designer Parsons 90 percent of the hard costs we in- Brinckerhoff and the construction curred to deliver a safe and durable inspector Robert Balter, they settled Silver Spring Transit Center.” PHOTO BY JACQUI SOUTH May 30. The County claimed the In the lawsuit, attorneys repre- developers and designers of the Sil- senting Montgomery County ver Spring Transit Center were neg- claimed that transit center was poor- Out! ligent and breached the contractor ly constructed citing cracked con- when they designed, built and in- Gaithersburg Giants catcher Trey Martinez makes a play to end the sixth spected the transit center, but set- See “County” inning against the Baltimore Dodgers as the Cal Ripken league season tled before the matter was decided page 8 begins. Story on page 20 2THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENTINEL JUNE 8, 2017 EFLECTIONS R The Montgomery County Sentinel, published weekly by Berlyn Inc. Publish- ing, is a community newspaper covering Montgomery County, Maryland. Our of- December 9, 1979 fices are located at 22 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 309, Rockville, MD 20850. Founded in 1855 by Matthew Fields. All mail to: P.O. Box 1272, Rockville, MD Gaithersburg approves pet store inspections 20849-1272. Subscription Rates for The Montgomery County Sentinel – Weekly by mail: $40.00 per year & $26.50 for Se- Each week The Sentinel visits a much knowledge pet shop inspec- call the city wondering if they can sprinkler systems in wood framed nior Citizens. (USPS) 361-100. memorable story from its archives. tors might have. Under the new begin accounting work in their houses used for such centers. ordinance, licensing, fee collec- home, for example, Depending on Elizabeth Witzgall, who has Bernard Kapiloff The Gaithersburg City Coun- tion and inspection will be con- which zone they live in, the city been interested in starting a day PUBLISHER E MERITUS cil passed the city’s first pet shop structed by city personnel with may turn them down, said plan- care facility in Gaithersburg, said Lynn G. Kapiloff ordinance Monday night, requir- consultation from veterinarians. ning director Jennifer Russel, be- the measure would “deter estab- CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/ ing inspection, annual licenses In other business, the council cause the business would violate lishment of adequate child care PUBLISHER and minimum animal care stan- board heard skepticism and dis- some parts of the zoning ordi- facilities in Gaithersburg,” The [email protected] dards in an effort to improve agreement during public hearings nance. Under the proposed ordi- special exception status proposed Mark Kapiloff health conditions at local pet on proposed changings in the nance, this situation would not would mean more city review, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER shops. home occupation ordinance, and a occur. The current ordinance which would be expensive and [email protected] The original ordinance, proposal to require more strict ap- “doesn’t work on an administra- time consuming, she said. which drew criticism from pet proval of the city of day care cen- tion,” said Russel. Requiring sprinkler systems, EDITORIAL shop owners during a public hear- ters. City resident Joel Miller Witzgall said, would deter small Brian J. Karem ing last month, was revised to in- The new home occupation or- questioned the need for what he scale operations which couldn’t EXECUTIVE EDITOR clude some of the shop owner’s dinance redefines occupations, called a complicated application afford such start-up costs. Size of [email protected] suggestions. lists uses that would be permitted and hearing process. He said al- centers is not considered, she Brandy L. Simms In the revised ordinance, and requires licenses. lowing only certain occupations said, and a center of only two or SPORTS EDITOR surgery has been further defined. The proposed change grew under the ordinance was close to three children as well as larger [email protected] Owners were concerned about the out of complaints by neighbors of the concept of “government as big ones would have to go through the MARK ROBINSON lack of a definition in the original dance classes held in residential brother,” and was dubious of the same approval process. [email protected] proposal because they frequently areas that they cause noise and permit requirement. Under the same proposal, CITY EDITOR have to perform minor operations traffic problems. Home occupa- The other hearing, held joint- since the centers would need spe- VINCENT SHERRY when there is not enough time to tions would be allowed in most ly by council and city planning cial exceptions, there would be [email protected] get a veterinarian during an emer- city residential areas, under the commission, concerned requiring, hearings on each new center be- COPY EDITOR gency. proposal. public hearings on establishment fore it could open. Another concern was how As it stands now, residents of day care centers, and requiring NEAL EARLEY [email protected] REPORTER Jacqui South, Terry Brennan & NEWS David Wolfe, Mark Poetker Write us PHOTOGRAPHERS Former Northwest student dies in car crash TAZEEN AHMAD cording to a police report. tremely mature,” Toy said. “He got CALENDAR EDITOR By Harry Lichtman The Montgomery County [email protected] @hslichtman English, 19, was pronounced along great with faculty and other dead at the scene. Preliminary in- students and had huge potential.” Sentinel welcomes letters. CALL 301-838-0788 A recent Northwest High vestigation revealed he was not Hannah Sohn had taught the All letters must be original, FAX 301- 838 - 3458 School graduate was killed in a sin- wearing a seatbelt at the time of the former student freshman geometry NEWSROOM AND LEGAL ADVERTISING gle-car accident in Howard County collision. and was equally complimentary. signed by the author ADVERTISING early Sunday morning. Route 94 from Frederick Road “He was one of the best stu- and must include the author’s At approximately 3:50 a.m., to Cattail River Drive was closed dents,” she said.