real estate, page 2 indoor winter fun
TRANSCRIPT
March 6-12, 2019
Rea
l Est
ate, P
age
2 v
Enter
tai
nm
ent, Pag
e 6 v
C
lass
ified
s, P
age
6Photo b
y D
eborah
Stev
ens/
The
Alm
anac
Postal CustomerECR WSS
Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.
Requested in home 3-7-19
PRSRT STDU.S. Postage
PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322
online at potomacalmanac.com
WellbeingPage, 8
Day of the GirlNews, Page 3
Managing ScreenTimeFor ChildrenWellbeing, Page 8
IndoorWinter Fun
Entertainment, Page 6
Eliana Villwock works on her art project during the weekly sessions at the Candy Cor-ner Studio, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo Park. Art activities, which change weekly, are
available for parents and children. Visit www.glenechopark.org/saturday-art-explorers.
2 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ March 6-12, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Dem
Lane
oouse
Road
Glenoad
lah
R ad
esane
Dar
d
495
Road
3
5
Potomac REAL ESTATE Photos by Deb Stevens/The Almanac
Address .............................. BR FB HB ... Postal City .. Sold Price .... Type ....... Lot AC . PostalCode ..... Subdivision ........... Date Sold
1 1062 PIPESTEM PL ................ 5 .. 3 . 0 ....... POTOMAC ..... $699,000 .... Detached ..... 0.23 ........ 20854 ........... FALLSMEAD ................ 12/17/18
2 12316 COPPOLA DR ............. 4 .. 2 . 0 ....... POTOMAC ..... $693,600 .... Detached ..... 0.29 ........ 20854 ......... COPENHAVER .............. 12/14/18
3 1410 FALLSWOOD DR ........... 3 .. 2 . 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $625,000 .... Detached ..... 0.24 ........ 20854 .......... FALLSWOOD ............... 12/20/18
4 11511 GLEN RD.................... 3 .. 2 . 0 ....... POTOMAC ..... $590,000 .... Detached ..... 1.28 ........ 20854 . DARNESTOWN OUTSIDE ...... 12/03/18
5 10221 FALLS RD ................... 2 .. 1 . 1 ...... ROCKVILLE ..... $587,500 .... Detached ..... 1.00 ........ 20854 ..... POTOMAC OUTSIDE ......... 12/31/18
6 11913 AMBLESIDE DR .......... 4 .. 2 . 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $559,000 .... Detached ..... 0.42 ........ 20854 ........ ROBERTS GLEN ............. 12/21/18
7 10969 DEBORAH DR ............ 3 .. 3 . 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $550,000 .... Townhouse .. 0.05 ........ 20854 .. INVERNESS FOREST TH ....... 12/20/18
8 11934 FROST VALLEY WAY .... 3 .. 3 . 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $550,000 .... End of Row/TH 0.08 ........ 20854 .......... FALLSBERRY ............... 12/31/18
9 8911 BARROWGATE CT ........ 2 .. 2 . 1 ....... POTOMAC ..... $485,000 .... End of Row/TH 0.04 ........ 20854 ............ FOX HILLS ................. 12/06/18
10 12224 GREENLEAF AVE ......... 4 .. 2 . 3 ...... ROCKVILLE ..... $420,000 .... Townhouse .. 0.05 ........ 20854 ........ WATKINS GLEN ............. 12/19/18
Copyright 2018 MarketStats for ShowingTime. Source: Bright MLS as of December 31, 2018.
December, 2018 Sales,$420,000~$699,000In December 2018, 42 Potomac homes sold
between $2,700,000-$420,000.
1 1062 Pipestem Place — $699,000
2 12316 Coppola Drive— $693,600
4 11511 Glen Road — $590,000
6 11913Ambleside
Drive— $559,000
5 10221 Falls Road— $587,500
8 11934 Frost Valley Way— $550,000
Potomac Almanac ❖ March 6-12, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsPotomac Almanac Editor Steven Mauren
703-778-9415 or [email protected]
See www.potomacalmanac.com
By Peggy McEwan
The Almanac
Kana, a middle school student atSt. Andrew’s Episcopal School inPotomac, was not thinking aboutspeaking at the Maryland State
House when she began work on her GirlScout Bronze Medal project, but one thingled to another and that is what she will donext week.
She and a few of her supporters will speakMonday, March 12 before the MarylandHouse of Delegates, Health and OperationsCommittee in support of House Bill 0744“Requiring the Governor annually to pro-claim October 11 as the International Dayof the Girl; and requiring the proclamationto urge educational and cultural organiza-tions to observe the International Day ofthe Girl properly,” according to the synop-sis of the bill on the Maryland bill trackerwebsite.
“This is a fun project,” Del. KathleenDumais (D-15), the bill’s sponsor, said. “It’sunusual for someone this age to be so ac-tive.”
Dumais said Kana got in touch with hersometime last fall, they met and Dumaisagreed to sponsor the bill. The next step isfor it to get out of the House committee and“crossover” to the Senate. Then, after get-ting out of the Senate committee, it will bevoted on and go to Gov. Larry Hogan to sign.
Kana’s testimony and that of her support-ers is to convince the House to move thebill along.
“I think she is going to wow them,”Dumais said. “She’s powerful.”
Also speaking on behalf of Kana and theDay of the Girl bill will be St. Andrew’sMiddle School Head Dr. Rodney Glasgowand Rachel Levine, GIS [Geographic Infor-
mation Systems] Operations and TrainingCoordinator for International Services at theAmerican Red Cross.
“I was honored to be invited to go withKana, to support [her] in what she says,”Glasgow said. “I thought … especially atthis moment in our national history, this isthe opportune time to honor the Day of theGirl.”
Kana is a volunteer mapper with Levine,which brings this story back to the begin-ning when Kana was working on her BronzeMedal, the highest award for Girl Scouts inmiddle school.
Her project centered on the problem ofcoastal flooding in West Africa, Kana said.
“While researching my project, my dadintroduced me to Missing Maps,” Kana saidin an interview published by St Andrew’s.“After using this humanitarian mappingplatform, I realized that it would be fun andeducational for girls my age to learn howto use humanitarian mapping platforms. Ireally enjoyed being able to visually go toplaces halfway around the world and seehow mappers can help people affected bycoastal flooding.
However, I realized that these platformsare not designed for kids to use. That needsto change.
“On the International Day of the Girl Child[a United Nations designated internationalobservance declared October 11, 2012.] Ibelieve that countries should promote pro-grams that introduce groups of girls to hu-manitarian mapping.”
With Levine, Kana works to create onlinespaces for other young women to learn howto participate and creates best practices forthis community, Levine said in an email.
Comments on this bill can be sent toKathleen dumais at [email protected].
Potomac student gathers supportfor Maryland Day of the Girl.Day of the Girl
Kana, middle schooler at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Potomac, willspeak at the Maryland Statehouse urging Gov. Larry Hogan and gover-nors to follow, to declare Oct. 11 Year of the Girl.
Pho
to
C
on
tributed
Marching Toward SpringSnow drops, Lenten rose, promise of daffodils ….
Pho
to
s by M
ary K
im
m/T
he A
lm
an
ac
4 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ March 6-12, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
POTOMACALMANAC
www.PotomacAlmanac.com
Newspaper of PotomacA Connection Newspaper
An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered
to homes and businesses.
1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314
Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to
connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe
EDITOR & PUBLISHERMary Kimm
[email protected]@MaryKimm
EDITORIALPHONE: 703-778-9415
E-MAIL:[email protected]
EDITORSteven Mauren, 703-778-9415
PRODUCTION EDITORJean Card
CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSusan Belford, Carole Dell,
Cissy Finley Grant, Carole Funger,Colleen Healy, Kenny Lourie,Peggy McEwan, Ken Moore
ContributingPhotographers
Harvey Levine, Deborah Stevens
Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,
Ali KhalighProduction Manager
Geovani Flores
ADVERTISINGFor advertising information
Display Advertising:Kenny Lourie 301-325-1398
Debbie FunkNational Sales & Real Estate
David GriffinMarketing Assistant
Jerry VernonExecutive Vice President
Potomac Almanac is publishedby Local Media Connection LLC
Five Time First PlaceAward-WinnerPublic Service
MDDC Press Association
Four TimeNewspaper of the Year
An Award-winning Newspaperin Writing, Photography, Editing,
Graphics and Design
Opinion
SnapshotPileated woodpecker in Potomac.
Pho
to
by M
ary K
im
m/T
he A
lm
an
ac
By Ginny Barnes
WMCCA President
The Potomac Subregion was luckythat when it came time to revise ourMaster Plan in 2000, the countyhad just acquired GPS systems that
allowed mapping of natural resources. We hadthe advantage of an Environmental Inventoryshowing streams, wetlands, forest canopy, ac-curate topography and soil types. We were thefirst Master Plan to use these new tools. Pro-tection of the streams that lead to the Potomac
River and the public drinkingwater supply drawn from WattsBranch became the solid foun-dation of the revised plan.
At the time, cell phone towers were just start-ing to be approved. We didn’t know the dan-gers of common pesticides; not just to waterquality but to those applying them. The countyhad only just started to monitor streams fortemperature, pH, and aquatic life. TheCountywide Stream Protection Strategy hadjust been published 2 years earlier, in 1998.Stormwater runoff has since proved to be oneof the greatest threats to the health of theChesapeake Bay. Climate change was only be-ginning to be considered a threat. We were justbeginning to realize the value of trees to wa-ter quality protection and carbon sequestra-tion. Waste reduction and recycling were rela-tively new programs. Organically grown foodwas uncommon. There were no solar farms andthe country ran on fossil fuels. We didn’t haveartificial playing fields and had not heard ofsynthetic turf.
Nearly 20 years later, the health hazards ofstormwater runoff full of sediment and toxins,the loss of the ozone layer from burning fossilfuels, the dangers of pesticides and growthhormones in our food, and the risks, especiallyto children, of playing sports on fields ladenwith shredded tire infill containing lead, mer-cury, zinc, biocides, and other toxic chemicalscreates new levels of concern. Synthetic fieldshave been around long enough to wear outand require disposal, creating tons of danger-ous plastic carpet waste that now requires at-tention. Currently, this waste is being carted
off to unregulated dump sites or incinerators.Thankfully, Maryland has introduced HB 1142,an effort to track and regulate the disposal ofthese materials.
WMCCA has long supported eliminating syn-thetic fields altogether and supports HB 1142.Carol Falk, WMCCA board member, submittedtestimony on our behalf in support of the leg-islation. The following is an excerpt from herletter urging the committee’s support:
“The West Montgomery County Citizens As-sociation (WMCCA) together with severalother civic-minded organizations are deeplyconcerned about the failure of public schoolsand other institutions in Maryland to overseethe safe disposal of toxic materials containedin used synthetic turf fields. These plastic car-pets and infill are composed of small pelletsmade from recycled tires that contain knowncarcinogens which often break down into apowdery substance that off-gas into the atmo-sphere, polluting the air we breathe, the soilwe walk on, and the ground water which flowsinto our stream river valleys.
“The latest estimate from a leading syntheticturf trade organization is that 12,000 syntheticturf fields are in use across the country. Weare encouraged to see that Maryland is step-ping up to the task of tracking and regulatingthe disposal of these materials to protect ourpublic health and the environment. WMCCAsupports HB 1142 and asks that you favorablyvote this bill out of committee.”
Sign on to the Sierra Club action alert onthe Maryland bills to protect human and envi-ronmental health:
❖ to prevent pollution from dumping of wornout synthetic turf carpets and tire waste infill;and
❖ to promote funding for safe, healthy, natu-
ral surface fields and playgrounds instead ofsynturf:
https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/syn-thetic-turf
Potter Glen Preliminary PlanNo.120190120 - Query Mill & GlenRoads. Re-2 Zone.
By Ginny Barnes
A proposal for five houses has been submit-ted to the Park and Planning Commission. Theproperty is densely wooded with some wet-lands and involves driveways on two RusticRoads. The plan presents complications for twoexisting residences at the center of the prop-erty served by a gravel road not maintainedby the county. The current plan could upgradeand use the existing road for at least two ofthe five driveways, however the developer doesnot wish to do so. The Rustic Roads AdvisoryCommittee has been asked to weigh in on thedriveway configuration. WMCCA has visitedthe site and is following the proposal closely.
Bumps in the Road and Signs on theGround – Who Ya Going to Call?
By Barbara Hoover
If there’s something lumpy that makes yourride bumpy, or you missed that turn and justcontinued on cause that sign is gone … whoya going to call?
For County Roads contact the county. CountyRoads don’t have numbers. You can call 311or file an online service request at https://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/Services.aspx?SolutionId=-1. You must havethe closest address or crossroads, with a gooddescription of the problem. Think MacArthurBlvd., Democracy, Bells Mill, Tuckerman, SevenLocks. For State Roads contact the state. Youcan file an online request at http://marylandsha.force.com/customercare/request_for_service. You must have the clos-est address or crossroads, with a good descrip-tion of the problem. Think Wilson Lane (Rt.188), Falls Rd. (Rt 189), River Road (Rt. 190),Bradley Blvd (Rt. 191). There are three typesof roads maintained by the state:
❖ Interstates❖ Roads with US Route #s❖ Roads w/ MD Route #sWinter is ending, and that means lots of pot-
holes and cracks in the road. It also meansthere are a lot of signs that have been knockeddown by storms and snow plows. The state andcounty rely on residents to report problems,so don’t complain — report the problem.
Watching Out for Public HealthNext Meeting
Kathleen Michels, PhD, a neurobiologist andpublic health scientist, will speak at the nextmeeting of the West Montgomery County Citi-zens Association on Wednesday, March 13, 7:15p.m., at the Potomac Community Center.
Michels has been active in the environmentalcommunity since the 1990s. She helped start theSafe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition which hasworked to bring awareness of the health risks in-herent in synthetic playing fields. Michels willdiscuss the health problems they represent andthe additional concerns of disposal once thesefields have worn out.
As always, the public is welcome to attend. Ifschools are closed because of inclement weather,the meeting will be cancelled.WMCCA
Pernicious LitterTo the Editor:
The Maryland General Assembly is right nowconsidering a statewide ban of styrofoam foodservice products (SB0285/HB0109). I am verypleased to see this. Montgomery Countybanned styrofoam food service products in2015 by passing legislation I authored, join-ing a regional effort with Washington, D.C. andPrince George’s County.
What makes styrofoam a particularly perni-
cious form of litter is that the petroleum-basedplastic breaks down into small pieces as itmakes it way to the Chesapeake Bay, but it doesnot completely dissolve. This makes it incred-ibly difficult and costly to clean up. It also endsup in the food supply, as fish and oysters eatthe bits of foam. The only way to meaning-fully reduce this scourge on our watersheds isto ban it. Hopefully, the rest of Maryland willsoon join us.
Hans RiemerCouncilmember, At-large
Letter to the Editor
Potomac Almanac ❖ March 6-12, 2019 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Submit civic/community announce-ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least twoweeks before event.
SOBER-RIDE FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAYFree Sober Rides. Sunday, March 17,
4 p.m. through Monday, March 18, 4a.m. Area residents, 21 and older,may download Lyft to their phones,then enter a code in the app’s“Promo” section to receive a no cost(up to $15) safe ride home. WRAP’sSt. Patrick’s Day SoberRide promocode will be posted at 3 p.m. onMarch 17 on www.SoberRide.com.
THURSDAYS TO SUNDAYSTour the Glenstone Museum. 10
a.m.-3 p.m. At Glenstone Museum,12100 Glen Road, Potomac. Ride OnRoute 301 riders don’t need advancereservations for the GlenstoneMuseum through April 2019. Riderswill be given free passes for entry tothe museum. There are four busesdaily 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. from theRockville Station of the MetrorailRed Line on the Route 301 bus.Museum hours are Thursday -Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY/MARCH 6Ash Wednesday Services and
“Quiet Day” Activities. Noon and7:30 p.m. At St. James EpiscopalChurch, 11815 Seven Locks Road,Potomac. St. James’ will hold twoEucharist services with imposition ofashes. At noon – after the service,stay for “Quiet Day” activitiesdesigned to lead participants on theirLenten journey. At 7:30 p.m., therewill be the Eucharist with choir. Call301-762-8040 or visitwww.stjamespotomac.org.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY/MARCH 8-10High School Robotics
Competition. At Walt WhitmanHigh School, 1700 Whittier Blvd.,Bethesda. Forty of the best and
brightest high school robotics teamsfrom Virginia, Maryland and theDistrict of Columbia will compete inFirst Destination: Deep Space. Freeand open to the public. Visitwww.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/whitmanhs/ for more.
MONDAY/MARCH 11Public Education Budget Forum.
6:30-8:30 p.m. at Bethesda ChevyChase High School, 4301 East WestHighway, Bethesda. Craig Rice, chairof the Montgomery County Council’sEducation and Culture Committee;Dr. Jack Smith, superintendent ofMontgomery County Public Schools;and Dr. DeRionne Pollard, president
of Montgomery College, will host thefirst in a series of five publiceducation budget forums. ContactCouncilmember Rice’s office at 240-777-7955 or [email protected].
SATURDAY/MARCH 16Remodeling a Kitchen or
Bathroom. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. AtHopkins & Porter, 12944 TravilahRoad, Suite 204, Potomac. Free.During this seminar, learn: latestdesign trends in kitchens and baths;three levels of kitchen and bathremodeling; how to budget for akitchen or bath; what to expect whenremodeling, and more. RSVP bycalling 301-840-9121.
Bulletin Board
6 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ March 6-12, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No Spring inMy Future Step
Entertainment
Submit entertainment announcements atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. Thedeadline is noon on Friday.
MARCH 6-30Art Exhibit by Morton Fine Art. Gallery hours
at Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E,Bethesda. Gallery B’s March exhibition is agroup show by Morton Fine Art. The exhibit,curated by Amy Morton, will feature new worksby several Morton Fine Art’s artists includingVictor Ekpuk, Katherine Hattam, Andrei Petrovand Vonn Sumner. A public reception will beheld on Friday, March 8, 6-8 p.m. Visitwww.bethesda.org.
FRIDAY/MARCH 8Family Bingo Night. 7-9 p.m. At Clara Barton
Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Blvd., inCabin John. Admission is free. Bingo cards are$5 each. Pizza slices and drinks will be on sale.Local celebrity callers – State Del. Marc Kormanand former District 1 County CouncilmemberRoger Berliner – will call numbers and keep theaction moving. Call 240-777-4910.
Concert: Bethesda Songwriting ContestFinalists. 7:30 p.m. at Bethesda Blues & JazzSupper Club, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda.The fifth annual Bernard/Ebb SongwritingAwards, produced by the Bethesda Arts &Entertainment District, features a live concertperformed by the competition finalists. Ticketsbegin at $15 at www.bethesda.org.
MARCH 8-APRIL 14Photography Exhibit: “Visions,
Reflections.” Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.; Sundays, 1-8 p.m. at Photoworks, at Glen Echo Park, 7300MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo. Photoworkspresents “Visions, Reflections” by RobertoFrenandez Ibanez. Three of the four selectedseries do without the camera as an instrument tocreate images. Opening reception planned forSaturda, March 9, 5-7 p.m. Visitglenechophotoworks.org.
SATURDAY/MARCH 9Spaghetti Dinner. 5-8 p.m. At Potomac United
Methodist Parish Center, 9908 South Glen Road,Potomac. Boy Scout Troop 773 will hold its 61stAnnual Spaghetti Dinner. The all-you-can-eatdinner selections are prepared and served byBoy Scouts and Scout parents in casual, familystyle seating. The dinner is the Troop’s onlyfundraiser for the year, and covers the cost oftroop equipment and supplies. Tickets can bepurchased in advance from Boy Scouts in Troop773, at www.troop773.com/payments/ or at thedoor for $10 per person (maximum of $40 perfamily). Anyone interested in supporting Troop773 but unable to attend the dinner is welcometo purchase tickets that will be donated to local
first responders. Contact Diane Berinstein [email protected].
Live Comedy. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cissel-SaxonAmerican Legion Post 41, 8110 Fenton St. (blueawning off Fenton Street Parking Lot), SilverSpring. This may be Improbably Comedy’s bestshow of the year with everyone’s favorite, JasonWeems, along with Brittany Carney and GigiModrich for two shows. Recommended for 16and older. $22. Visit improbablecomedy.com.
FRIDAY/MARCH 15Washington Conservatory Concert. 7 p.m. At
Westmoreland Congregational UCC Church, 1Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda. WashingtonConservatory Faculty Members will present apotpourri of musical instruments, periods, andstyles in this annual benefit concert to raisefunds for scholarships for underserved students.Admission is free, and all donations at the doorsupport scholarships. Guests are invited toattend a wine reception following the concert.Visit www.westmorelanducc.org or call 301-320-2770.
Live Music: Out of the Blue. 7 p.m. at PotomacPresbyterian Church, 10301 River Road,Potomac. Out of the Blue is an all male vocalgroup from Oxford University founded by CabinJohn Middle School and Churchill High Schoolgraduate Derek Smith in 2000. Tickets are $15,$10 seniors/students available at the door.Advanced ticket sales: Potomac PresbyterianChurch office, 10301 River Road, Potomac, 301-299-6007.
SATURDAY/MARCH 16Women’s History on the C&O Canal. 11 a.m.-
noon at Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, 11710MacArthur Blvd., Potomac. Canal historianKaren Gray will discuss the vital role of womenwho worked on the C&O Canal. The programs atGreat Falls Tavern are free, but there is anentrance fee to the park of $15 per singlevehicle (subject to change). Call 301-767-3714.
Music from the 19th Century. 12:30 p.m.-3p.m. at Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, 11710MacArthur Blvd., Potomac. Join the MountainDulcimers of Northern Virginia for live musicand try your hand at playing this uniqueinstrument. The programs at Great Falls Tavernare free, but there is an entrance fee to the parkof $15 per single vehicle (subject to change).Call 301-767-3714.
SUNDAY/MARCH 17Israeli Dance Festival DC. 3-5:30 p.m. At
Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, 13300Arctic Ave., Rockville. The 10th annual IsraeliDance Festival DC showcases the D.C. areaIsraeli dance troupes. Over 200 dancers onstage. Doors Open at 2:15 p.m. AdvancedPurchase: $15 Adults, $10 Students. At the door$20 Adults, $15 Students. Visitwww.israelidancefestivaldc.com.
Heather MaeBand of Us
Concert: Bethesda Songwriting Contest FinalistsThe fifth annual Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment
District, features a live concert performed by the competition finalists. Five adult songwriters will per-form their original songs. One will win the $10,000 Grand Prize and 25 hours of complimentary recordingstudio time at Innovation Station Music. Three young songwriters (under 18) will also perform live andcompete for $2,500. Friday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 7719 WisconsinAve., Bethesda. Tickets begin at $15 at www.bethesda.org.
Calendar
Potomac Almanac ❖ March 6-12, 2019 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
At the direction of County Executive MarcElrich and following the County Council’sapproval of Executive Regulation 5-17
“Troubled Properties,” the Montgomery County De-partment of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA)launched a new interactive housing code website athttps://stat.montgomerycountymd.gov/stories/s/54rw-g6jz as well as the Troubled Property List athttps://data.montgomerycountymd.gov/Consumer-Housing/Troubled-Properties-Analysis/bw2r-araf.
The new website provides interactive maps, aprogress report on DHCA’s two-year inspection surge,housing code statistics including violation details,useful links to tenant rights information and theTroubled Property List.
Executive Regulation 5-17 “Troubled Properties”is one of three new regulations that better protectstenants and further promotes building safety. Theother two regulations are:
❖ Executive Regulation 02-17 – “Establishing In-spection Fees.” Multifamily rental property ownersmust correct housing code violations by the first re-inspection. If problems persist, property owners willreceive citations and will pay for all subsequent in-spections based upon an escalating fee schedule.
❖ Executive Regulation 3-18 – “Repair and De-duct.” If landlords fail to correct a housing code vio-lation timely, the DHCA Director may authorize ten-ants to repair the violation and deduct up to one
month’s rent.The designation of troubled properties is intended
to assist DHCA in prioritizing where to focus its lim-ited housing code inspection resources among the688 multifamily rental properties in MontgomeryCounty; these properties contain approximately73,000 individual rental units.
“Troubled property” is a multifamily rental prop-erty, which – because of the severity and quantity ofhousing code violations observed during DHCA’s mostrecent inspection of the property – is subject to an-nual inspections by the DHCA.
A property may also be designated as a troubledproperty if one or more of the following conditionsare observed:
❖ Rodent or insect infestation affecting 20 per-cent or more of the units in the building;
❖ Extensive or visible mold growth on interiorwalls or exposed surfaces;
❖ Windows that do not permit a safe means ofegress;
❖ Pervasive or recurring water leaks resulting inchronic dampness, mold growth, or personal prop-erty damage in more than one unit; and,
❖ Lack of one or more working utilities that is notshut off due to tenant non-payment.
Additionally, a property designated as troubledmust develop and implement a corrective action planthat describes in detail the specific actions that thelandlord will take within a specified time scheduleto both identify and correct current and ongoinghousing code violations in a timely manner and helpprevent future housing code violations.
Focusing on Troubled PropertiesNew interactive housingcode website launched.
8 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ March 6-12, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Wellbeing
By Marilyn Campbell
Julia Wires purchased an iPhone for her 12-year-old daughter in part she says, becausemany of the girls at her Potomac, Md. schoolhave smartphones that they bring to cam-
pus daily. Wires and her husband were initially hesi-tant to make the purchase because their daughterwas diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/HyperactivityDisorder (ADHD) and Anxiety Disorder at the endof 2018.
“First , there’s the social pressureshe feels because all of her friendshave iPhones. Then there’s the is-sue of her dad and I being able tokeep in touch with her now thatshe has more freedom to go placeson her own,” said Wires. “Both ofthose [factors] are juxtaposedagainst the fact that she hastrouble staying focused and calm-ing down when she needs to. Thatmade the decision tough for us.”
Too much time spent on gaming,smartphones and watching televi-sion could exacerbate symptoms inchildren who’ve been diagnosedwith ADHD, according to a new study by research-ers at San Diego State University and the Universityof Georgia. The report showed that even after onehour of screen time, children and teens may beginto have lower self-control, less emotional stabilityand a greater inability to finish tasks.
“Kids with ADHD have trouble keeping track oftime, so they could spend hours on their tablet with-out realizing it. Screen time can make bedtime rou-
tines more difficult and parents might have an addi-tional struggle getting their kids to fall asleep,” saidchild psychologist Adele Schwartz, Ph.D, of McLean,who was not involved in the study. “Kids with ADHDalso might be more likely to ignore parental guide-lines and I would worry more about them engagingin risky behavior online.”
Helping a child with ADHD transition from playinga video game to doing their homework could requirespecial handling, advises Sarah Bryant, LCSW. “Insteadof telling your child that they have to stop watchingtelevision at six o’clock or that they have five moreminutes on a video game, try telling them that theyhave to stop at the next commercial break or at thenend of the round in a video game,” she said.
Working collaboratively with one’s child will re-duce the chance of a power struggle, says Bryant.“You and your child can work together to list all of
the things that need to get done,like homework, time spent outside,doing sports, chores and other ac-tivities and come up with a sched-ule,” she said. “Figure out howmuch time is left for things likevideo games and television. Hangthe schedule somewhere that’s vis-ible to both of you. Your child willsee how little time is left for play-ing video games and since theywere part of the process, they’ll feellike they’re part of a team ratherthan a subordinate with no controlover their life.”
“Parents of kids with ADHDshould definitely make use of parental controls ontablets, smart phones and television, especially dur-ing school hours or when kids should be doing theirhomework,” added Schwartz. “It’s also important thatchildren, especially those with ADHD not use elec-tronics at least an hour before bedtime. And it al-most goes without saying that parents should modelthe behavior that they want their children to haveby limiting their own screen time.”
Working collaborativelywith one’s child candecrease the struggle.
Managing Screen Time
A new study shows that even after one hour spent on electronic devices each day,children and teens may begin to have less emotional stability and a greater inabilityto finish tasks.
Pho
to
co
ntributed
“... parents shouldmodel the behaviorthat they want theirchildren to have bylimiting their ownscreen time.”
— Adele Schwartz, childpsychologist