February 16, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 1 A Biweekly Newspaper February 16, 2007 Volume III, Number 21. Student Government Presi- Town Stunned dent. After entering Virginia By Death Of Tech, he didn’t slow down. Vikki Dimisa is reunited with one of He was Speaker of the her dogs which was found over two Community Leader Student House of Represen- miles away after a tornado destroyed By Rande Davis tatives, member of the SGA their Florida home. Read all about it Executive Council, par- on Page 14. he news of the death of Jake ticipated in the Council on TPerkins rippled through the Athletics, and was a mem- community like a shock wave. ber of the Residents Hall Neighbors and friends watched Federation. in recent years as Jake bravely He became an intern struggled with the personal chal- Jake Perkins, with Dawn Albert, with Sen. John Warner (R- lenge of kidney failure and having to at Poolesville Day, 2004. VA) for a year and a half spend up to fifteen hours every week and worked as a special on dialysis. He had a highly unusual If Jake Perkins had a slogan to education assistant at MCPS before run-in with a bug or insect while live by, it most assuredly was: mak- entering the University of Maryland playing golf in West Virginia in 2001, ing every minute count. His sense School of Law where he graduated and thirty-six hours later he was in of urgency seemed to define his life in 1997. He is a member of the Mary- an emergency room with a tempera- and his leadership style. While the land and Virginia bars. ture of 106 degrees. The infection rest of us had the luxury of leisure, After graduation, he joined a Chontelle Hockenbery and Chrissie that resulted in kidney failure put he always seemed to have his eye on law firm specializing in insurance Harney receive kudos for their efforts. him on a path in life that would have the clock. defense litigation and participated in Read about Relay for Life on Page 12. sunk most people. In high school (Class of 1987), a major and successful case litigating This young lawyer, so very ac- he was just about everywhere. He against appraisal fraud in Baltimore. tive in the community as a leader played football, basketball, baseball, He ran two firms: Jacob N. Perkins, and volunteer, had devoted most of and ran indoor track. He played P.A., and he had partnered with his personal time, and even a signifi- French horn in the band when he Frank Jamison in Perkins Title, Inc. cant part of his professional time, to wasn’t practicing on the Academic For him, choosing law was easy. Jake working on behalf of so many com- Team and the Math Team. Just so he -Continued on Page 14. munity organizations. didn’t get too bored, he was also the Viva la Voce tary Honors chorus. She continued By Dominique Agnew with the Frederick Children’s Chorus until her junior year of high school. Read all about the Clarksburg High racie Jones, senior at During her years in the Frederick School wrestling team—in their own GPoolesville High School, has Children’s Chorus, she auditioned for words—on Page 3. an amazing singing voice. Beautiful and received numerous solo parts for timbre, clear tone, precise pitch—her concerts. voice resonates across audiences with She has also graced the stage of grace and elegance. If you attended PHS in the cast of numerous produc- the Poolesville Relay for Life Kick- tions of the Midnight Players. When off Dinner a few weeks ago or the she began in her freshman year, she Monocacy Lions Club Christmas Party claims she got lucky. The first show in December, you heard that voice, was “The Clumsy Custard Horror and you probably haven’t forgotten it. Show” which was, in Gracie’s own Gracie can’t remember when words, “cheesy,” so much so, that she hasn’t been singing. Her mother, most of the seniors didn’t want to take Beth Fayard-Jones, avers that she was part in it. Gracie ended up with a prin- singing before she began talking. She cipal role. The next production was Gracie Jones “Anything Goes” in which Gracie was When the ferry is closed, there’s remembers when Gracie, as a baby, the Frederick Children’s Chorus under a chorus girl. “That was a blast,” she a good reason. Ice is one of those would crawl in front of the televi- Judith Dubose and the school chorus says. “One of the best times I’ve ever reasons. There may be a wintry sion when Sesame Street aired to sing at Poolesville Elementary School. had was being a chorus girl.” During Monocacy Moment somewhere inside. along with the songs. At the age of nine, Gracie joined The following year, she sang with the Upper Montgomery County Elemen- -Continued on Page 19. February 16, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page 2 Family Album Sponsored by: Selby’s Market Your IGA Hometown Food Store Smokin’ Ray Reese at work. Some of the volunteers attending The Relay for Life 2007 Kick Off Dinner: Lilly Dice (on lap), Heather Dice, Ava Read, Esther Read, Gregory Dice, Gary Harney, and Gibbie Harney. Jeffrey Carpenter, Mary Gillespie, and Collin Leese-Thompson present their blue ribbon project depicting Poolesville in the year 2150 at John Poole Middle School science fair. Ashley Slagle and Pam Slagle (J.D.’s Beer and Wine) flank Lynne Stillson (Cugini’s Restaurant) at the Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce dinner. the music program for the Poolesville Local News School Cluster. The Benefit Concert Committee is in its initial planning stages Voice of the Violin and they want to alert past sponsors Sandy Cameron, world-renowned and new contributors about this highly violinist and former child prodigy, will successful concert which will continue again take the stage for the fourth Sandy the Cameron Music Fund. For the third Cameron Benefit Concert at Poolesville year, there will also be an exciting Silent High School, Friday, April 20, 2007 at 7:30 Auction with an incredible variety of p.m. Her previous three concerts have goods and services going to the high- been huge successes, and the commu- est bidders. More information will be nity is beginning to see the fruits of her forthcoming, and those who would like vision. On January 25, Poolesville High to help or sponsor the event may contact School hosted a cluster concert, and the Roger Hayden ([email protected]), public got to see the first orchestra PHS Dominique Agnew (violin@intairnet. has put forth in many a year. This year, com), Suzanne Tallia ([email protected]) again, Sandy plans to share her extraor- or Pam Green (301-349-2403). dinary talent to raise funds to benefit February 16, 2007 The Monocacy Monocle Page PACC Elects New Directors area, most notably last January’s Relay Things to Do Business Briefs New members of the Board of for Life Kick-Off Dinner. Directors for the Poolesville Area February PACC Announces Community Ser- Chamber of Commerce were of- Speelman Custom Designs New Library Lovers Month vice Winner ficially elected at the recent annual Tack Box Month Long Special Events and Activities At their annual banquet, the banquet. Joining the BOD for 2007 Poolesville Hardware often offers Candy treats, raffles for local restaurants, gift Poolesville Area Chamber of Com- are: Linda Lewis (Lewis Orchards), unique items not necessarily found in certificates merce announced that its community Dennis Stillson (Cugini’s Restaurant), your standard hardware store. John service award was given to Kathy February 17 Dr. Timothy Pike (Family Dentistry), Speelman has gone one step further Mihm, a geologist with the S. S. Basket Bingo and Alex Markoff (Caleva Outdoor by personally designing a mobile tack St. Mary’s Holy Name Society Papadopoulos and Associates envi- Adventures.). box, which he has custom-produced St. Mary’s Pavilion – Barnesville ronmental consulting firm. The PACC Leaving the board are members by a firm that specializes in making 5:00 p.m. doors open wants to recognize Mrs. Mihm for her Dawn Albert, Joe Angulo (Domino’s), animal caskets. 7:00 p.m. games start volunteer work for the Chamber as Alex Rosenzweig, and William Price Speelman recognized the need well as many similar contributions to Preschool Story Time (William Price & Associates, CPA). since the tack boxes he has seen were Quince Orchard Public Library the community at large. heavy, cumbersome, and dull. His Ages two and half up to six, 1:15 a.m. In particular, Mrs. Mihm was Just to Make Your White’s Ferry design (32” tall, 26” wide, and 30” praised for the many years of lead- Commute a Little More Pleasant long) comes with custom molding to February 17 ership in helping to coordinate the Poolesville’s Jeff Brooks of May- provide a unique box to each cus- Gospel Concert for African American 5K race during Poolesville Day. The orga Coffee, Inc. plans to open a coffee tomer. The unit has wheels at one end History Month race provides financial resources that Concert by Fairhaven Methodist Church concession at White’s Ferry from 5:00 for easy maneuverability “just like allow the Chamber to make many of gospel choir a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the week- a suitcase.” Inside, there are various Quince Orchard Library, 2:00 p.m. its community contributions such as days. The usual snack bar facilities compartments to hold the necessary a Poolesville High School scholarship are closed for the winter, and if all tools and personal items for the horse- February 20 program.