Recognition was given to the most patriotic entries: Rachel Yaacob won the individual category, runners-up were Justin/Kate Bartell and Alexis Marks. Max Brun won in the pet category, runners up were Mindy the Beagle and “Captain” Blair. The Lionfish pulled out a strong win in the group category. The runnerups in the that category were the Copenhaver family and the Goozh/Carreras family. Caroline Brandt won the wheels category followed by Camila and Victoria Rodrigues, and Tyler Eyester.

Kudos to Erin Stillwell, Kathy McKee and Cathy Inkeles for organizing this event and ensuring that it ran smoothly. In addition, the Social Committee would like to thank the following volunteers: Michele Lumsden, The Katzman family, Bertha Carreras, Shannon Smith, Tessa Higgins-Goozh, Mike Goozh, Rob and Connie Ingalls, Ann Bausch, Christine Valenti.

Following the parade, the annual 4th of July party, sponsored by Mike Aubrey and Associates, began at noon and lasted until 4:00 p.m. This year we had a brand new pirate inflatable in the pool which we hope to have back again this summer. The DJ played music and games all afternoon. It was reported that there were over 600 people at the pool on that day!

(See page 10 for lots of photos from the party and parade.)

The First Annual Lakelands 4th of July parade was a huge success!!! Scores of residents, pets and bikes were decked out in their patriotic best as they paraded around the Clubhouse on July 3rd. Participants entered the parade in one of four categories: individual, group, wheels or pet and a winner was chosen in each category. Our very own Lakelands Community Association Board president, Andy Inkeles was the leader of the parade, disguised as Uncle Sam in his patriotic convertible. The Social Committee was very pleased with the turn-out and all participants reported it was a very enjoyable event that can only get better year after year.

At 11:00 a.m. DJ J.R. kicked-off the day’s events with music. Andy’s Parties provided an inflatable for the pre-parade festivities and the parade commenced sharply at 11:30 a.m.

Lakelands says goodbye to one of our most valued neighbors. See page 3.

Mark your calendars for lots of fun community events. See page 4 for details.

The Lakelands Eater raves about a favorite downtown restaurant. See page 5.

Your neighbor Shafer Smith is cooking up some amazing BBQ for you. See page 13.

It’s Back to School time. See pages 12 and 15 to get ready.

The Lakelands Leader is now on Facebook. Follow us for all of the latest community news!

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Volume 13 Issue 8August 2011

What better way to spend a summer day than at an amusement park? We’re fortunate to live in an area of the world that has many award-winning parks to choose from. So here’s the low-down on local and semi-local amusement parks. I’ll focus on the “vibe” each park gives, as they’re all different. Ticket prices are full price adult tickets at the gate. Kids tickets, coupons, buying online, buying multiple days and other options can greatly reduce your price.

Kings Dominion2 hours; KingsDominion.com; $59; near Fredericksburg, Virginia; opened 1975

In about 1977 I stood at the end the fountains with

See PARKS on page 16

Leaving Lakelands for Amusement ParksBy Jay Horman

Lakelands Residents Show Their Patriotism in a Big WayBy Leanna McKenzie

Thrills big and small in our local amusement parks.

Photo courtesy Jay Horman

Photos by Kathy McKee

August 20112 The Lakelands Leader

I

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people skills that closed the deal! Elaine is kind, easy to work with and a wonderful saleswoman!”~ Nicole Beane, Lakelands Resident

Metropolitan

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 3

Hello neighbors. I hope everyone is having a great summer.

First things first. Over 600 people enjoyed your pool on Sunday July 3. I wasn’t there but I heard the party went well.

From our point of view, the snack bar continues to do well. Melinda, Lorraine, and Lead Monitor Donavan Burton have worked hard this summer to provide us a quality product. The more we, as a community, continue to support our snack bar, the better it will be. It is in good hands right now, and I hope our Board of Directors allows for it to stay in good hands. Because pool traffic slows significantly in August snack bar hours this month will be 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.

The Pool Committee is already looking forward to next year. Some of the off-season projects we are currently

considering include a new coat of paint on the older pergolas, more shade for the baby pool, and a few more pieces of furniture to supplement what we already have.

I’d like to get a little personal for a moment. I recently had what I like to call a “community moment.” The other night, after helping grill for a Lionfish “B” meet, I walked out onto the pool deck. Many of my friends and neighbors were there. The main pool was packed with residents enjoying a late evening swim, and the swim team was doing their thing in and around the lap pool. Community moment, right then and there! This is a great community we live in.

I bring this up to promote committee involvement. Your volunteerism can help your community. It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s frustrating. For me, however, it’s been very, very fulfilling.

The Pulse is staying cool during these lazy hot days of summer by brushing up on how our HOA works. We on the Board volunteer to run for elected office here in the community to do our best to make this a better place for us all. It’s a good job because of the people we get to meet and work with. It’s a bad job, at times, because there are neighbors who think we do this for a living. We surely do not. The community is run by our volunteer committees. The Board uses Roberts Rules of Order to conduct its business, although we generally allow residents to weigh in during our deliberations, which is not recommended under “Roberts”. We do this to allow input from the community. We meet every month and our meetings are open to everyone. Most meetings have four or five residents at most. We make our decisions based on the committees’ processes and whether or not we have the funding to do what is recommended. After our deliberations, if all seems to have been done properly, we generally rule in favor of what the committees have spent countless hours working on. Our decisions are final. If the community doesn’t like the direction of the Board, we have an election every year to exact change. We do our best, but we aren’t perfect. We are giving of ourselves and we appreciate the volunteers on the committees who do the same. The only thing we ask in return is civility and courtesy. I am very biased in my opinion, but I would say that we have had a very long period of continuity and civility. We have been productive and deliberative without vitriol. I genuinely like the people I serve with and respect their intelligence, hard work, and good judgment. Our committees have an unprecedented number of members, but can always use more. On the whole, I would say the community is in very good shape. Our management team of Gary Simon and Melinda Nickols is the best in the business, and keeps us on an even keel. So the Pulse this month is pretty simple:

Do you think the Board is doing the things you want them to do?

Do you think you should attend more Board meetings?

Andy Inkeles

president’spulseBy Andy Inkeles, President, LCA Board of Directors

From the Pool CommitteeBy Paul Lumsden, Chairman

When Linda Hartley and her daughter J.C. moved to the Lakelands almost ten years ago, the Lionfish was just being formed and was the perfect opportunity for both Linda and J.C. to meet new friends. Over the next nine summers, they have both been a very big part of the team. But this year, the Lionfish family is saying good bye to both of them as they leave Lakelands and each start out on a new adventure.

Linda has served as the Lionfish announcer since its inception. “In the beginning I just thought it would be fun and it has been a real joy,” she said. “The kids love to hear their names announced and everyone cheers for everyone else’s kids.” She explained that a lot of the core relationships she has formed in the Lakelands have been through the Lionfish.

Looking back, Linda recalls that in the early years she had to set the microphone down next to a cassette player for the music to play. “Today we have iPods and all this technology. It’s amazing how far we’ve come,” she smiled.

Trish Quintas has been a Lionfish parent since the team’s inception. She said, “It wouldn’t be a Saturday morning A Meet without Linda. The announcer is a really important part of an A meet and Linda does it better than anyone I’ve heard over the past ten years. Her dedication and love of the team is evident. She is kind of like the postal service. She delivers no matter what. She has announced in the rain, oppressive heat and even after surgery when she probably had no business being on the pool deck. Linda knows the kids, the events and most of all how to keep the meet moving.”

J.C. , who will turn 17 in September, has swam on the Lionfish’s A team every season except this year. She was a high point swimmer who perfected her butterfly over the years. Additionally, she created the end-of-the-season video of the team for the past four years. Although some members of the community were unsure about a thirteen-year-old producing the very popular end-of-the-season video that is shown every year at the Lionfish banquet, everyone was amazed and pleasantly surprised when her first video played at the banquet in 2008.

In fact, the Lionfish videos were part of J.C.’s electronic portfolio which helped her gain early acceptance at Champlain College in Vermont this fall. Although she was only a junior this year, she was able to graduate early because she had completed all of her required courses. “She actually took eight classes this year,” said Linda. “The only

class she needed in addition to her regular junior schedule was senior English, which she took online.”

J.C. was accepted into both the Digital Film Making and Game Art and Animation programs at Champlain and will decide which to pursue after her freshman year. Champlain is a small, private school with only 2,000 students. The dorms are Victorian mansions and most classes have no more than seventeen students in them. “It’s a great fit for J.C.,” said Linda, “and she is really looking forward to it.”

The day after this year’s banquet, Linda and J.C. embarked on a new adventure. They moved to West Palm Beach. After two weeks of settling in, they will vacation at Martha’s Vineyard before J.C. goes off to start her freshman year of college and Linda begins her life in sunny Florida.

Linda adopted J.C. from Russia as a single parent and the two have formed an amazing life together. Linda’s career in Global Business Development Sales for Agilysys has afforded her the opportunity to travel all over the world. “J.C. has travelled to at least 17 or 18 countries with me,” she said. The two share a passion for New York City and Broadway shows and have decided that New York will be a good meeting place when J.C. is a student at Champlain.

The Lakelands community and the Lionfish, in particular, will miss Linda, J.C. and their dedication to the Lionfish. We wish them well in their new adventures.

Saying Goodbye to the “Voice” of the LionfishBy Gina Dropik

Linda and J.C. Hartley

Photo by Trish Quintas

August 20114 The Lakelands Leader

This year marks the 18th year of the Annual Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Run, Walk & Kids Fun Runs. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate — even if you’re not a runner. This is a wonderful community event and there are many ways to participate — run, walk, volunteer, be a sponsor or take part in the post-race expo. The event will be held on Saturday, September 3 beginning at 8:00 a.m.

The race starts near the Kentlands/Lakelands Market Square Plaza. The USATF certified course runs through the Kentlands and Lakelands and offers live entertainment and two water stops. Online registration is available for the 5K Run, Walk, Kids Fun Runs and for Senior Olympic participants.

Volunteer opportunities include working at a water stop; helping with packet pick-up or at the post race expo; and being a Course Marshall. Students earn SSL hours, and all volunteers get a free t-shirt, free breakfast on race day, and an invitation to the annual 5K Volunteer Thank You Party.

If you want to sleep in then just come to the Post-Race Merchant Expo & Festival and awards ceremony at Market Square Plaza immediately following the 5K Race. It will feature food from some of the area’s best restaurants, lots of activities for kids, and more.

The Race Committee is seeking sponsorship donations from local businesses as well as bands, cheerleaders and pom squads to entertain the runners

and walkers. Several sponsorship levels are available to fit any marketing objective and budget.

Registration, sponsorship information, volunteer information and complete details can all be found at www.Kentlands.org.

Diva & Dude Night To Benefit The Kentlands/Lakelands 5KFleet Feet Sports in Kentlands Square Shopping Center is holding a Diva and Dude Night to benefit the Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Race. The event will

be held on Friday, August 12, from. 7:30–9:30 p.m. and will feature music; food and wine from Bonefish Grill; a great goodie bag; seated trigger-point therapy by Dr. Greg Swistak of Active Family Chiropractic; make-up refreshers by Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa; chocolate sampling by Spagnvola; a pilates demonstration by Fit to the Core Pilates and more.

The cost is $10 and the event is limited to fifty participants, so reserve your spot quickly. RSVP by August 8 to kanayo@fleetfeetgaithersburg.com.

The Leader is the only official publication and source of information for the

Lakelands Community Association.

The Lakelands Leader is the monthly, published means of communicating information of interest to Lakelands

residents. It does not espouse any political belief or endorse any products

or service. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed and may be edited for length and content. CMI and LCA do not endorse the products or services advertised herein, nor are

they responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The Leader is published by the Association, which is responsible for form,

content and policies.

LCA BoArd of direCtors

board@lakelands.org

Andy InkelesPresident

Mike AubreyVice President

Linda WiesmanTreasurer

Connie IngallsSecretary

Jake ZimmermanDirector

MAnAgeMent

COMSOURCEMelinda Nickols

melinda@lakelands.org240-631-8338 x1

editor & Advertising MAnAger

Gina Dropikleader@lakelands.org

240-246-0330

LAyout & design

Deb Dulin

stAff Writers

Walter BorottoKelly Baick

Tom Chaikin Diane Harris Jay Horman

PhotogrAPher

Kathy McKee

Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Is September 3 Run, Walk or VolunteerBy Gina Dropik

AUG 1 Design Review Committee, 7:15 p.m., 2nd floor Conf. Room

AUG 2 Pool Committee, 7:30 p.m., Red Room

AUG 4 Bulk Pick-Up Day Pool Committee, 7:00 p.m., 2nd floor Conf. Room History Book Club, 7:30 p.m., Red Room

AUG 6 Communications Committee, 7:30 p.m. 2nd floor Conf. Room

AUG 10 Environmental & Beautification Committee, 7:00 p.m., Red Room

AUG 15 Swim Team Meeting, 7:00 p.m., 2nd floor Conf. Room Board of Directors Meeting, 7:00 p.m., 2nd floor Conf. Room

AUG 16 Budget Committee, 7:00p.m., 2nd floor Conf. Room

AUG 17 Social Committee, 7:00 p.m., 2nd floor Conf. Roomm

AUG 18 Noodle Night, Lakelands Pool, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Lakelands Book Club, 7:30 p.m., Red Room

AUG 24 Facilities Committee, 7:30 p.m., 2nd floor Conf. Room

AUG 27 End of Summer Pool Party, 12:00–4:00 p.m.

calendarofevents

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 5

School Supply DriveThe Social Committee is sponsoring a school supply donation for children in the Montgomery County Child Welfare System. Bins are available inside the front door of the Clubhouse (pool entrance) all month. You would be surprised how difficult it is to get school supplies for these kids. Many children start the first day without anything. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your kind donations.

Noodle/Raft Night – August 18The next Raft Night will be held at the pool on Thursday, August 18 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Bring your biggest and best raft. DJ JR will be back playing games and music and there will be lots of prizes to give away. Hope to see you there!

Lakelands Dogs Have Their Day At the PoolMark your calendars for the Annual Dog Swim to be held immediately after the pool closes on September 5. Many dogs and their owners wait for all year for this event. Please remember that because of health code regulations people will not be permitted to swim with their canine friends.

LCA July Board MeetingThe July LCA Board meeting was held on July 11. Highlights of the meeting included:

A concerned citizen presented the Board with a petition signed by over 100 residents requesting that the Lionfish adjust their schedule beginning with the 2012 season to allow more time for non-swim team members to use the lap lanes. The Board discussed forming a task force of all involved parties during the off-season to consider options to address the concerns.

The Board and residents discussed security in the neighborhood. Members of the Board stressed the need for residents to do more than to observe, but to get involved. It was advised that residents call the policy non-emergency number if they see anything suspicious. President Andy Inkeles expressed his desire to form a Community Security Committee.

Bob Murphy was voted in as a member of the Covenants Committee.

Claudette Bernstein was voted in as the new chairperson of the EBC Committee.

Date Change for LCA August Board MeetingThe Board will meet on the third Monday of August, rather than the second Monday. The meeting will be held August 15, at 7:00 p.m. on the second floor of the Lakelands Clubhouse. All residents are urged to attend. The meeting begins with an Open Forum during which residents can address issues of concern.

Trees Removed Along Main StreetTwo Oak trees on the left side of Main Street as you drive in from Route 28 were recently removed by the City of Gaithersburg. According to Adam Newhart, Project Manager for the City’s Department of Public Works the trees were identified and evaluated by himself and an outside Arborist from Bartlett Tree Experts and were considered hazardous. Newhart said the trees need to be removed because of the significant amount of dead wood and decay at the base of the trees. He indicated that they will be replanting with new trees this fall when the weather gets cooler.

Community Bulk Pick-Up DayBulk trash pick-up is scheduled for August 4. Place items such as clothing, toys and small household appliances on the strip of grass between the street and the sidewalk, not in the Mews. The collection crew will pick up and properly dispose of your items. For specific questions on this service, call 301-258-6370.

Get Your Trash Out on TimeHomeowners are reminded to make sure their trash is out by 6:00 a.m. on trash collection days or the night before after dark. Advantage Waste has a new schedule and is picking up trash earlier than they previously did.

Home Break-InLast month a home on the 400 block of Stonemason was broken into. According to police the burglary looked similar to a pattern that they’ve seen locally with at least three break-ins in Washingtonian Woods. The suspects go around knocking on doors, to see which empty house is available between two others. The burglars are looking for jewelry and electronics.

communitynewsBy Gina Dropik

Lakelands Book ClubsThe History Book Club’s August selection is Grand Inquests: The Impeachments of Justice Samuel Chase and President

Andrew Johnson by William Rehnquist. They will meet on Thursday August 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Red Room. Looking ahead to September, they have chosen to discuss In The Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson. The regular Book Club will meet on August 18 at 7:30 p.m., also in the Red Room. They will be discussing Weird Sisters by Elinor Brown. For more information, please contact Mickey Stevens at silvrfoxx1@aol.com.

Dumplings. Doesn’t just saying that word bring a smile to your face? What if I were to say handmade, Wasabi Blue dumplings from Batik? That usually brings a devilish smile to my face as I imagine the flavor explosion of sweet crab meat and fresh vegetables contained in the ‘small bundle of joy’ followed by he slight burn in my throat from the perfect amount of wasabi. Ahh, dumplings!

That’s just the start of every meal that I’ve ever eaten at Batik. Whether I dine in or take out, I’m never disappointed by their array of flavor combinations or exotic dishes that put them in a category all by themselves. You can make an entire meal out of their dumplings, soups and skewers. Or you can feast on their amazing rice, curry or noodle creations.

If you’ve never been to Batik, I recommend that you dine in the restaurant for your first experience. The atmosphere whisks you away to an exotic Asian retreat where you literally feel a world away from your everyday worries and cares. Is it the dim lighting or the dreamy mobiles gently dangling in front of the windows? I don’t know, but it just works with any of the Sake cocktails that you may choose. Each time I’ve dined at Batik, I’ve shared my meal family-style with my dinner companions, and this is a great way to find out what you like versus what you love so that you know what to order for take-out.

As I mentioned, I always start with an order of the Wasabi Blue dumplings as well as the Chicken Satay skewers. If I’m making a meal out of dumplings, then I will also add

in the Main Street dumplings with chicken, cabbage and green onions; as well as the Thai Way dumplings with shrimp, chicken, papaya, basil and red bell peppers. Don’t be fooled, with five dumplings in each order, this is the perfect amount to share with your dinner date.

Now, if I’m in the mood for noodles, it’s a toss up between the Pad Thai Combo or the Drunken Noodles. I know, these are very basic noodle dishes, but they are done so well! The Spicy Ginger Beef is also a noodle dish, but you’ll find it on the Good Eats portion of the menu. For all of you red meat eaters, seriously, this one’s for you. It has just the right amount of spice, beef and vegetables all combined perfectly. I have seen grown men fight over the last bite of this dish.

If rice dishes are more your thing, then the Basil Chicken selection, also on the Good Eats menu, is the way to go. There’s definitely some spice to it, and the chili-garlic sauce is downright tasty. Or, if you like rice to accompany your dumplings, you can’t go wrong with an order of the Pineapple Fried Rice. Add some chicken or shrimp and it’s a great meal.

Who says that Batik is just for dinner? Their daily lunch deal is a great value. Choose from an order of their dumplings with a side salad and fried rice, or one of the meals on the Power Lunch menu with a side salad and Rangoon roll. You can add soup to either for just $2 more. Is that a deal or what? So if you haven’t already, be sure to take a trip to Batik, I promise, it’s a journey worth taking.

Dining at Batik Is Like An Exotic RetreatBy the Lakelands Eater

End of Summer Party

at the PoolSeptember 27th,

12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

DJ spinning tunes, an inflatable pool, & Rita’s water ice!

Save the DateFall Tailgating Party.

September 17thStay tuned for more

details!

August 20116 The Lakelands Leader

Main Street Farmers Market Local farmers sell seasonal fruits and vegetables, and artisans will be selling handcrafted items on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (weather permitting) at the Main Street Pavilion, 301 Main Street. Elk Run Winery will have representatives in attendance on August 20.

Pinky & Pepe’s Announces Saturday Night Beer TastingsIn addition to their Friday Night Wine Tastings and live music, Pinky & Pepe’s Grape Escape now offers beer tastings and live music at least twice a month on Saturday nights featuring Dan Avedikian. Pinky Rogers said, “Dan can sing and play like there’s no tomorrow! Pepe and I have no doubt he will be on TV for next year’s American Idol competition!” Pinky & Pepe’s is located at 223 Kentlands Boulevard (next to Giant). Visit their website at www.pinkyandpepes.com for more information.

Final Performance of Main Street Music Festival to Take Place on August 4One performance remains in the 2011 Main Street Musical Festival. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. on August 4 when the Vendor Village opens. Bring your low-back camp chairs and/or a blanket and enjoy a picnic on the green. Grab a bite to

eat from one of many sponsoring Kentlands restaurants or bring your own picnic. At 6:30 p.m., a Kentlands area performer or youth group will take the stage to showcase the abundance of talent we have to offer. Damon Forman and Blue Funk will take the stage at 7:00 p.m. and will play until dark. The Main Street Music Festival is sponsored by Verizon and the Criswell Automotive Group, in association with Pritchard Music Academy and several other local sponsors.

Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center Offers New Service Dr. Jon Sherman is pleased to offer a new FDA approved nail laser treatment for toenail fungus. The next available treatment date is August 10. Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center is located at 60 Market Street, Suite 202. Call 301-330-5666 for more information.

Schrier Physical Therapy Announces a New Team MemberSchrier Physical Therapy welcomes Josh Funk, PT, DPT, CSCS as the newest addition to their team. Dr. Funk is originally from Germantown and at tended Poolesv i l le High School. After graduating from Ohio State University and playing D1 and professional lacrosse, he attended the Universit y of Maryland-Baltimore where he earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Josh’s goal is to

remain active in the local community by providing outreach to local organizations in order to educate parents, coaches and youth on topics such as injury prevention, youth sports injuries and bridging the gap between physical therapy and performance. He hopes to earn his Board Certification in Orthopedics in the near future and become a sports medicine expert specializing in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.

MJ Hair Studio Moves To New LocationManuela D. Garcia of MJ Hair Studio announced that they have moved across the street from 304 Main Street to 305 Main Street. They are open for business in their beautiful new location which is located near the corner of Main Street and Hart Road.

Kentlands Nutrition Offers Weekly Nutrition ClassesAs part of their Weight Loss Challenge, Kentlands Nutrition is offering free weekly nutrition classes. Classes include your own personal coach, weekly one-on-one coaching and a free body analysis/metabolism test. The fee is $35 to join the weight loss challenge. The money is awarded as a prize to the biggest loser.

Live Entertainment at O’Donnell’sO’Donnell’s Seafood Restaurant, located at 311 Kentlands Boulevard, features live classic rock music on the second and fourth Friday of every month from approximately 9:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Outdoor Summer Concerts At Star DinerThe Star Diner offers live music, patio seating and a Tiki Bar every Friday and Saturday night from 6:00–9:00 p.m. August performers include:

August 5 So Far Gone

August 6 Almost Blue

August 12 Platform Soul

August 13 Sandra Dean Band

August 19 On The Bus

August 20 Live Action Hero

August 26 Poverty Ridge

August 27 Solomons Gold

Chloe’s CoffeeChloe’s Coffee, located at 244 Main Street in Kentlands Downtown, features free, live musical performances on Friday and Saturday nights. Additionally, every Wednesday night, they have a music open mic. Everyone is welcome to come and play, hang out, have a drink, and listen to some of the best up-and-coming local music acts in town.

Main Street CaféMain Street Café, located at 317 Main Street, offers a variety of free live entertainment every Wednesday through Saturday, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Local group Acoustrix, made up of longtime Kentlands residents Jonathon Naugle and Scott Martin, plays modern and classic acoustic rock every other Wednesday.

Fleet Feet Offers Free Activities To RunnersFleet Feet sponsors a Fun Run/Walk every Thursday evening and Saturday morning. Events often include freebies and opportunities to try out the latest running gear. Both groups are low-key and are open to runners of all paces and abilities. The Thursday evening group event begins at 6:30 p.m., and the Saturday morning group meets at 9:30 a.m. The August 20 run will be a Trail Run at Seneca Lake. Other free events include the Iron Girl Open House on August 7 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. when experts will be on hand to offer advice for preparing for first-time triathlon runners; a Stride Clinic on August 23, from 5:00–6:30 p.m.; and High School Cross Country Day on August 26 at 8:00 a.m. when five local high schools will hold their practice at Fleet Feet.

Downtown News is a great way to promote your business and share information with the community. If you are a downtown business and you have news to share send it to leader@lakelands.org.

downtownnewsBy Gina Dropik

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 7

City NewsPhotography Exhibit at Gaithersburg Activity CenterPhotographers Peter Manzelli, Robert Catlett and Harald Hoiland present a fascinating exhibit of images they’ve titled “Three Guys – Three Points of View.” Their works are on display at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park through September 18. Viewing hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Indoor Aquatic Center to Close For Annual MaintenanceThe Gaithersburg Indoor Aquatic Center, located at 2 Teachers Way next to Gaithersburg Middle School, will be closed for its annual cleaning and maintenance from Monday, August 15 through Monday, September 5. It will re-open for regular operations on Tuesday, September 6 at 5:00 p.m.

Be a Part of the 73rd Annual Gaithersburg Labor Day ParadeThe City is looking for community groups and other organizations to march in the parade on Monday, September 5, at 1:00 p.m. Organizations and individual volunteers are also needed to distribute program booklets, assist with parade line-up duties and serve as balloon handlers. For more information visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/parade or contact Dorthy Winder at 301-258-6350 x136.

City EventsNational Night Out Against CrimeTuesday, August 2, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Kentlands Clubhouse

Brings together residents, law enforcement agencies, local officials, civic groups, and neighborhood organizations to increase drug prevention awareness, generate support for anti-crime programs, encourage residents to be involved in their communities, and to send a message that neighborhoods are organized to fight back against crime.

Tailgate Farmers Market August 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2:00 – 6:00 p. m.

Fulks Corner Ave. & Rt. 355

ON STAGE Children’s Concert Thursday, August 4, 10:30 a.m.

City Hall Concert Pavilion

Ryan Buckle & Friends

Backyard Movie SeriesFriday, August 5Malcolm King Park, 1200 West Side Dr.Featuring Toy Story 3 (G), movie starts at dusk

ON STAGE Weekend Concert Saturday, August 6, 7:00 p.m.City Hall Concert PavilionNIH Community Orchestra – Pops

Friendship Day At the Miniature Golf CourseSunday, August 7, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.$5 Residents, $6 NonresidentsBohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm

One friend plays for free with a paid admission.

ON STAGE Weekend Concert Sunday, August 7, 6:00 p.m.City Hall Concert PavilionThe Sock Monkeys – Classic Rock/Soul

ON STAGE Weekend Concert Saturday, August 13, 7:00 p.m.City Hall Concert PavilionFeaturing The Harwich Royal British Legion Brass Band – Pops

The Market in Olde TowneAugust 27, 9:00 a. m. – 1:00 p. m.

Wells Ave.(adjacent to the Gaithersburg City Hall parking lot, near the train station in Olde Towne)

Crafts, food, f lea market items, and information from nonprofit organizations on the fourth Saturday of each month through October.

All events are free unless otherwise noted. The City Hall Concert Pavilion is located at 31 South Summit Avenue (next to City Hall) in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. For more information, please call 301-258-6350 or visit the City’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

citynews&events

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August 20118 The Lakelands Leader

Public Safety: Our Number One Priority in GaithersburgOne of the advantages of living within the incorporated limits of Gaithersburg is the enhanced public safety services you receive from the Gaithersburg Police Department. Our Department shares responsibility for services with the Montgomery County Police, and with a diverse and dynamic operation and a dedicated workforce, we provide coverage to the citizens of Gaithersburg 24 hours a day, 365 days year. Through the efforts of both our sworn and civilian staff, we are able to fulfill many of the public safety needs in this growing community.

But we cannot do it without your help. The effectiveness of the Gaithersburg and Montgomery County Police Departments’ crime prevention efforts are enhanced by your active participation. By calling and reporting suspicious people or activities you can help make the community a much safer place to live. It is imperative that you serve as an additional set of eyes and ears in the community. If something doesn’t look “right,” or if you have been the victim of a crime, no matter how minor, we encourage citizens to report it to the police.

There are two numbers to call to notify the police of an incident:

For Emergencies: DIAL 9-1-1

For Non- Emergencies: 301-279-8000

For certain types of crimes or incidents, you can also report a crime online through the Montgomery County Police webpage under “Citizen Online Reporting.”

In addition to reporting suspicious activities, we urge you to take steps to ensure the safety of yourself and your property. The Gaithersburg Police Department offers the following tips, especially for those who will be away from home:

• Double check all doors, windows and garages to ensure that they are in fact locked.

• Secure all valuables, both in your home and in your vehicle, where no one will see them.

• Always give your home that lived-in look, even when you’re not on vacation.

• Leave lights on timers in different rooms.

• Place timers on indoor lights and appliances such as radios and televisions, and set timers to switch on and off randomly during the day.

• If you’re going to be gone for an extended period of time, make arrangements for the lawn to be mowed.

• Leave an automobile parked in your driveway or have someone else periodically park there. A vehicle may also prevent easy access to a garage.

• Have a neighbor or friend pick up the mail and newspapers so they don’t stack up.

• Don’t advertise to people that you are leaving for vacation, especially if you use social networking sites.

• Ask a neighbor or friend to look in on the house while you are away and be sure to do the same for them.

• Do not leave your vacation plans out in plain view.

• Make sure a family member, friend or neighbor can reach you in case of emergency.

• Urge those who are checking on your residence to call the police if they see any signs of suspicious activities or crimes.

The nationally-accredited Gaithersburg Police Department has an authorized, sworn staff of 54 officers who are at your disposal. Recent reorganizations ensure that all of those officers can be out on the street, protecting the community. The addition of Judah, the City’s second K-9 unit who graduated from the K-9 training session in late June, will also enhance our efforts. The K-9 team plays a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the Department, providing back-up and assistance to police officers in and around the community. For more information on the City’s public safety initiatives please visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/police.

fromcityhallBy Angel L. Jones, City Manager

Angel L. Jones

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 9

Our family is not that big: grandparents on both sides, I have two brothers and a sister, and my wife has one of each; she’s the youngest. We’re at the age where some of the children in the extended family have married off and now have children of their own. Hence, the grandparents on both sides are now great-grandparents. Idyllic, right? Let me tell you about it.

Each year we all gather at someone’s house during the three big summer holidays. On the 4th of July, the fun started at my brother Jonathan’s house when his fifteen-year-old daughter invited a friend — a twenty-two year old friend with a shaved head and a tattoo of a skull embellishing his… skull. My brother was roasting corn on the grill and we locked eyes.

“What is that, physical onomatopoeia?” I asked. He didn’t think it was funny, and I could tell he was p.o.’d because he crushed his beer can against his forehead and cracked open his sixth beer. Thank God — or so I thought — his wife Cathy took me aside and saved me from the wrath that should have been directed at his daughter.

“Bob, will you help me for a second?”

“Sure. You want me to mix the coleslaw?”

“No. Someone dropped a bomb in the upstairs bathroom.”

“A bomb?”

“A huge one. And it won’t go down. I think you might have to break it up into smaller pieces.” She handed me a stick.

It took a second for it to sink in. “Great,” I thought. I could have gone all day without that. When I was done, I came back and their golden lab charged across the patio thinking the stick meant play time. The lab chomped down on the wrong end of that stick and took off, stopping only when my older brother Hank started playing fetch with the dog. When the dog started licking his fingers, I called over, “Hey, Hank, how are the ribs?” Hank gave me the okay sign and smiled widely. “Right,” I thought. I turned when I felt someone tugging on my shirtsleeve. It was my wife, Jennifer.

“Can you stop screwing around with the dog and do something about Rachelle — and find out who belongs to these. I found them on the sink in the downstairs bathroom.” She handed me something wrapped in a wad of toilet paper. Rachelle is our twelve-year-old daughter, who was going on her third hour of sitting entirely alone in a corner of the family room and talking to absolutely no one, except whomever she’d been texting for the last two-and-a-half hours.

“Rachelle, honey, do you want something to eat?”

“Leave me alone. I hate you! I hate all of you!”

She stomped out to the backyard and took another position, thumbs flying the whole time. “Well, that went well,” I thought, and my attention shifted to whatever was wrapped in the wad of toilet paper. I knew it couldn’t be good, and it wasn’t. It was someone’s dentures, and I immediately began scanning the faces of the great-grandparent contingent.

“Anyone missing something?” I called out, holding said dentures aloft.

“There they are,” Great-Grandma Margaret shouted out. “Where did you find them?” Great-Grandma Margaret was a little hard of hearing, as in the way you hear when your ears are plugged with Jell-O.

“Jenn found them in the downstairs bathroom,” I said loudly, thinking suddenly that I should verify that they belonged to her and not one of the other family fossils who couldn’t remember anything. “Did you put them down in the bathroom?”

“I already went to the bathroom,” Great-Grandma Margaret shouted back. “But it was only for number one. I’ll let you know when I have to…”

“That’s okay,” I called back as she got up and popped the dentures back into place. A plate of potato salad hit the pavement. My sister Susan was staring at me.

“You are so gross!” she said.

Me! Gross? All I did was…

“Oh my God!” someone screamed.

I turned. Another member of the contingent — this one a two-hundred-and-twenty pounder who was my Grandfather Lucas — had slipped on the potato salad and landed on Jennifer’s Aunt Mesha who tipped the scales at about the same poundage. It wasn’t pretty.

“Are you all right?” I asked aunt Mesha as I rushed over and tried to help her up.

“Can’t you see he’s on top of me?” Aunt Mesha hollered, waving her cane an inch from my head. There was something red all over her crisp white blouse. For a second I thought it was blood, but then I figured it was her Bloody Mary when I saw the celery stalk sticking out of her cleavage. “Help him up first, you idiot!”

My seventeen-year-old son came over to help and said, “Geez, Dad.” I knew what that meant. As I helped to untangle the mounds of quivering flesh, it was at that very moment in the history of mankind that my mom and dad decided on making

their appearance, having driven in from down state. My dad took one look at the situation—Lucas was his father—and then took one look at me, and said, “How the hell did this happen… BOB?”

“It… it wasn’t my fault, Dad, really. I had nothing to do with this.”

My dad was squeezing his dad’s arm. “I think it’s broken,” he said, his eyes boring a hole into me. “I think we have to go to the emergency room.”

“I’ve already called 9-1-1,” my sister Susan said. “Nice going, Bob.”

“Let’s just take him in the car,” I said sternly. “We don’t need an ambulance.”

It must have been a slow day around town, or every police officer in north America was on duty that day, because by the time we got Grandpa Lucas around to the front of the house, a police car was already there and an ambulance was zooming up the street, siren blasting so that every neighbor on the block followed it to the house. The beach at Ocean City couldn’t have had that many people on it. Evidently my brother Jonathan had stopped roasting corn, and I don’t know how he got there so fast, but he

already had his SUV fired up for the trip to the emergency room. There was one small problem, however. The cop was standing next to the SUV, and as we approached with Grandpa Lucas propped up between us, I heard the cop ask my brother, “How much have you had to drink today, sir?” Jonathan shot me a look as the cop made him take a breathalyzer.

It took a while to straighten everything out and convince the cops — we actually had to go down to the station — that Jonathan hadn’t been driving, but we still had time to wait for Grandpa Lucas, who was still waiting in the emergency room four hours later with my dad, my sister, my brother, my son—and my wife. It seems that she burned herself on the grill when the corn husks caught fire and flames ignited some of the lattice work behind the rose bushes — which were connected to the house. I heard later that there was only minor paint damage.

“Honey, are you all right?” I asked when I saw the red, rather painful looking burn mark on her arm. She must have forgotten how to talk, because she didn’t answer me.

I can’t wait for Labor Day.

Ahh, Summer with RelativesBy the Lakelands Curmudgeon

August 201110 The Lakelands Leader

AUGUST2003: Architectural plans are presented for the first time showing what the new “Quince Orchard Middle School” will look like, situated at the intersection of Bright Meadow and Main. Nineteen people liked the design, 15 did not, and 14 were of the opinion that they had didn’t have an opinion. Lakelands and Kentlands explore the possibilities of shared pool privileges. Community members begin organizing a number of groups around motorcycles, tennis, business, dance and a baby-sitting co-op. The Last Mango opens in downtown.

2006: It is confirmed that children are indeed allowed to play in the common areas despite much hullabaloo. The City of Gaithersburg unveils a new contract to re-do the Market Square area (between and behind the Star Diner and Thai Tanium) to replace the ice rink. The plan includes trees, stonework, seating areas and will cost $623,588. Bicycles and tools are reported stolen from open garages, the trend seems to be on the rise. Meanwhile, Lakelands hosts a late summer Hawaiian-themed luau party.

Remember When?This Month in Lakelands HistoryBy Gina Dropik

Share Your VacationSend us photos from your summer vacation to include in a special photo feature in an upcoming issue of the Lakelands Leader! Send leader@lakelands.org

4th of JulyBy Gina Dropik

All photos by Kathy McKee

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 11

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August 201112 The Lakelands Leader

The City of Gaithersburg hosted the Hershey Track and Field 2011 Maryland State Championship Meet on Saturday, June 25, at Watkins Mill High School. Youth from the across the state of Maryland competed in the annual event. Among those participating were members of Lakelands/Kentlands Team. Volunteer coach and Lakelands resident Heather France said, “This was the first year we had a track and field team and it was a great success. Our team had 32 boys from the Kentlands/Lakelands neighborhoods.” France was assisted in her coaching endeavor by fellow Lakelands resident Doug Woods.

The boys ranged in age from seven to fourteen. Before the event, they practiced twice a week at Lakelands Park Middle School (LPMS) and

the Quince Orchard High School track and participated in five meets which were held on Friday nights at Gaithersburg High School. LPMS students Kirk Nisson, Jesse Gilliani, Matt Copeland, Tristan Dye and Matt Ferraese all advanced to the State Championship which was held in Gaithersburg.

This is the first year that the City Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture Sports Division conducted its own Track and Field Program. The response was much higher than anticipated, with over 160 youth coming out to run. France said they plan to field another Lakelands/Kentlands team in the spring. She added that the team is open to girls, too. Interested individuals can sign up through the City’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/sports in the spring.

Lakelands/Kentlands Team Participates in City Track And Field ProgramBy Gina Dropik

The 2011 LionfishPhoto by Kathy McKee

The Lakelands Lionfish dominated the Montgomery County Swim League division H with fantastic swims from returning and new swimmers this year. The Lionfish wrapped up their regular season on July 16 with a great win in their final home meet against Palisades.

This year the team brought their end-of-the-year banquet home to the Lakelands Clubhouse on Saturday, July 23 to celebrate a successful season and reward jobs well done.

We thank all our sponsors this year who have helped to make this season a positive experience for our swimmers and their families, including; Village Settlements, Mike Aubrey & Associates, Cornerstone Financial Partners, Elaine Koch & Associates, Mamma Lucia, Eagle Bank, Coal Fire Pizza, Hancock Bentzel Homes, LLC, Dr. Charles Harrington and Star Diner. We would also like to thank the Lakelands community and Board of Directors for their continued support of our team and its goals.

Under the director of Coach Brooke Hoffman and new coaches Katie Stamm, Michaela Nesmith and Jesse Cunningham, our swimmers improved their times, learned new strokes and had a great time working as a team.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Go Lionfish

Lionfish Celebrate Undefeated SeasonBy Team Managers Krista Brick and Lora Zarchin

The first day of school for Montgomery County Schools is Monday, August 29. All students are reminded to complete their summer assignments. Information and documents are available on the school websites. School supply lists will be available on school websites soon.

RCESPostcards with teacher assignments will arrive in the mail to all students toward the end of August. Students will have a chance to meet their teachers and visit their classrooms at the annual Sneak Peek on Friday, August 26. Sneak Peek is designed to reduce beginning-of-the-year anxiety and help students prepare emotionally for the start of the school year. Students in grades 3 through 5 are invited to visit the school from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and students in grades kindergarten through 2 are invited to visit between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. A new parent welcome meeting will be held on August 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the school followed by the first PTA meeting of the year at 7:00 p.m. A Back to School Picnic will be held on September 1 from 5:30–8:00 p.m. at the school to allow parents, students and staff a chance to get to know each other as the school year gets underway. Back-to-School Nights are scheduled for September 7 for grades pre-kindergarten through second grade and September 8 for grades three through five. This is an opportunity for parents to meet their children’s teachers and learn about the school.

LPMSAll students who will be new to LPMS for the 2011–2012 school year are invited to attend a Summer Orientation Day. One was held in July and two additional dates are set for August 15 and 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. During orientation students will tour the building and become oriented with the school. Students must provide their own transportation. To sign-up visit the school website. On August 25 sixth graders will return to school for a mini-day from 7:30–11:40 a.m. At this time they will be given their schedules and have the opportunity to meet some of their teachers. Regular bus service will be provided on this day. Back to School Night is planned for September 8. Softball and cross country will begin in September for all interested seventh and eighth grade students. Students must have had a physical in order to participate. Forms and information are available by visiting the school web page and clicking on Athletics.

QOHSStudents wishing to participate in a fall sport must submit all paperwork by Friday, August 12. Tryouts start Saturday, August 13. Details about each sport, paperwork requirements, and coach contact information can be found on the school’s website. A fall sports parent/student pre-season meeting will be held on August 25 from 7:00–9:00 p.m. in the auditorium. A ninth grade parent picnic will be held on Wednesday evening, August 24. This is an opportunity for incoming students and their parents to relax and get to know each other. The following day, August 25 is orientation day for all incoming ninth graders. During this half day students will get their schedules and have an opportunity to meet their teachers. Complete information will be mailed to all families. The all school Back to School Night will be held on Thursday, September 15.

schoolnewsBy Gina Dropik

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 13

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An incredible smell often wafts through the alley behind Shafer Smith’s Lakelands home on weekends — the smell of barbecue. Like many American men, Shafer enjoys barbecuing — so much so that he has invested in a custom-made smoker and has established Chesapeake Barbecue, a barbecue catering business. “I’ve always wanted to do something entrepreneurial and I’ve always enjoyed cooking,” he explained. “I enjoy being in the kitchen, but there’s just something about barbecuing. I can be outside, hang out with the kids and just spend all day cooking.”

As the father of two young children, Hensley (8) and Sawyer (5), Shafer says he and his wife Shannon decided it was time to go for it and start the business. “I feel like now that the kids are a little older I have more time on my hands,” he said. “Shannon has been incredibly supportive.” They both agree that it’s a great way for the family to be together, since Shafer’s recipes are all-day affairs.

His specialty is slow-cooked meats, such as ribs, chicken, Cornish game hens and pork tenderloins. He makes his own barbecue sauce, seasoning rubs and even grows some of his own herbs. Additionally, his smoker functions as a large grill perfect for preparing steaks, seafood, sausages, vegetables and burgers. He has held several practice sessions, where he invites friends and neighbors over to give their feedback on his final products. “The response has been

fabulous and we’ve had a lot of fun doing it,” he said.

Now that the new smoker has been broken in, the recipes have all been perfected and he’s had aprons and t-shirts imprinted with the company name and logo, Shafer is ready to offer his services to the community. He described two lines of business. For traditional catering, he will bring his smoker on location and cook on-site or deliver hot barbecue ready to be served to a small group or large party. The second option is BBQ-To-Go. Several weekends a month, Shafer will take orders and customers can pick up their barbecue and take it home to share. “Most people think that summer is the best time for barbecuing, but spring and fall are really the best times,” he said.

Chesapeake Barbecue isn’t likely to become a full-time gig for Shafer. “I’m fortunate that I really love my full-time job (he works for Lockheed Martin in the Pension Fund) and I don’t really have a desire to cook full time,” he said. “But you never know. I just don’t want it to get to the point where it’s not fun anymore.”

“I’m really excited about it,” said Shannon. “It’s a real passion for Shafer and it’s been really good for our family.” Shafer said that he hopes that Sawyer and Hensley will eventually want to help him with the business. In the future, he hopes to have a booth at the Kentlands Oktoberfest. “I love those kinds of community events and I think that would be really great,” he smiled. Visit www.chesapeakebarbecue.net for more information about Cheasapeake Barbecue.

Meet Your Neighbors

Shafer Smith Offering Smoky Goodness To the CommunityBy Gina Dropik

The Smith FamilyPhoto by Kathy McKee

Lakelands resident and piano teacher Yanni Yee held her annual spring recital on June 18 at Montgomery College in Rockville. Twenty-three students, ranging in age from five to eighteen, each performed two piano pieces. They spent a tremendous amount of time and effort preparing for the event.

“The result was overwhelming not only for the performers, but also to their friends and families,” said Yee. I was truly proud and honored to have such a high quality group of talented and hard working students to work with. They were making beautiful piano music with passion and joy.”

Performers included Brooke Savell, Charlie, Hannah and Britton Helfert, Nicholas and Blake Matthews, Annika and Alissa Salzberg, Evan Carcaterra, Brady Callahan, Christopher Barron. Ryan Renzi, Ethan Rambo, Collin Chen, Sophia van der Laan, Bennett, Oliver and Georgia Yang, Zoe Fischthal, Iris Wu, Allison Udler, Vicky Yao and Diana Bernard.

Young Pianists Shine at Annual Event

Photo courtesy Yanni Yee

August 201114 The Lakelands Leader

At the Arts BarnThe Comedy and Magic SocietyAugust 5 & 6, at 8:00 p.m.

$12 residents / $15 nonresidents

Astounding magic and sleight of hand combined with interactive theatre and hilarious fun!

Art ReceptionTuesday, August 9, 7:00 p.m.

The works of Rulei Bu and his students will be on display in the Arts Barn until September 25. This is an opportunity to view the artwork, meet the artists and enjoy some refreshments. Originally from China, Rulei is an amazing realistic oil painting artist who currently teaches art to approximately 100 students.

The Last Five YearsAugust 12–28

Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m. $18 Nonresidents / $16 City of Gaithersburg Residents

This Kensington A r t s T h e a t r e production is a contemporary song-cycle musical

chronicling the five-year life of a marriage. She tells the story from the end to the beginning, while he starts from the first meeting to the end. Parental guidance is suggested for teens and older due to language and mature subject matter.

The Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road. For more information call 301-258-6394 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn.

At the MansionGrandparents Day TeaSunday, September 11, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

$20.00 Adults, $15.00 Children (12 years and under)

Share old memories and make new ones together at the Grandparent/Grandchi ld tea . Enjoy tea sandwiches, fruits, breads, scones, and desser t s in the elegant surroundings of this century-old estate. Earl Grey and fruit teas will be served, and lemonade will be available upon request. Free digital photos will be taken and e-mailed to participants after the event.

The Kentlands Mansion is located at 320 Kent Square Road. For information contact Andi Rosati at 301-258-6425 or arosati@gaithersburgmd.gov or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 15

It happens every year. Summer f lies by and before you know it, it’s August — time to start preparing for the new school year. Getting back into the school routine can be tiring. Actually, let’s face it, it’s exhausting and stressful for parents and kids alike.

Ashley Fagel is a first grade teacher at Bannockburn Elementar y in Bethesda, nearby resident and tutor of several Kentlands and Lakelands students. Ashley is the principal owner of Today’s Tutors (http://todaystutors.com/ ), an innovative tutoring company whose philosophy is “learning is very entertaining.” The energetic and professional team of tutors teaches a variety of strategies depending on what type of learner the student is. In the spirit of full disclosure, Ashley has been helping my child and some friends’ children during this summer break to sharpen and expand upon the skills that they learned last year.

During a recent conversation, the subject of back to school came up, and Ashley had some easy and actionable suggestions for how to make the transition relatively painless for all involved, as well as how to create an organized schedule for the year. I know I am going to try out this ‘back to school sanity plan’ and I thought her ideas were definitely worth sharing.

This Month:Set a goal to encourage your child to master their grade level’s basic facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division:

• How many questions can they answer correctly in 2 minutes? 3 minutes?

• Use an Internet game to master these basic math facts, such as www.aaamath.com

• To practice free writing, try one of the following:

– Encourage your child to keep a journal and write down their thoughts, ideas, make lists, or write creative stories with a friend.

– Write a ‘family story’ where one person starts, another person adds to it, and so on until the story is complete and everyone can read and enjoy it.

– Write friendly letters and send them to friends and family. Students can send them via email and practice their typing skills too.

Purchase all school supplies that are appropriate for their grade — the sooner the better, so that you’re not running around at the last minute looking for two-pocket folders or a three-ring binder.

The Week Before School Starts:• Label all school supplies, and pack

their backpacks about three days before the first day of school. This will help ease their stresses about the new academic year too.

• Talk to your child about what they are excited about and what they are nervous about going into the new school year.

• Have your child get back onto a schedule of going to bed and waking up the same time every day so that they can be rested and prepared for the transition to back to school hours.

The First Week of School (& beyond):• Have a designated homework place

for your student to work each day in

a quiet and organized location where distractions will be limited.

• Make homework time part of their schedule, such as 4:30 p.m. every day.

• Use a timer if needed. For example, student works for 30 minutes and then has a 10-minute break and then repeat until their homework is completed.

• Keep a large family calendar with all of your family’s activities (school, sports, extracurricular activities) centralized in one place so that everyone can see when different events are happening.

• Reflect on the previous year and identify what your student’s strengths and weaknesses were.

• Email your student’s teacher the first week of school to see how they are doing and ask if there is anything you can do to help them transition into the new school year.

When Ashley broke down the back to school prep process into steps, it didn’t seem so overwhelming. Actually, it reminded me that this is the kind of thing I should be looking forward to, not dreading. So, I’m happy to report that my ‘back to school sanity plan’ and I are ready for the 2011–2012 school year!

Back to School Sanity PlanBy Diane Harris

With midsummer upon us, and many residents traveling during this time, our homes are more vulnerable to theft. Only during the holiday season is our home as vulnerable. Here are some simple and obvious steps we all can follow to help keep the thieves out:

Make sure your doors and windows are locked.

If locks are not working well, for whatever reason, get them fixed. Most of us check our doors, but windows are often how thieves gain entry, and should be checked regularly that they are locked. To improve window security, simple and visually appealing devices can be installed that won’t allow thieves to push up the window even if it’s broken. Entry doors should have a bolt lock. Most quality sliding doors today have better locking mechanisms than in the past, but an auxiliary toe lock is still a good idea to ensure proper security. If an older door does not have a toe lock, the old Charlie Bar is a good solution, but visually not so appealing.

Keep your garage doors closed as much as possible.

Even when home, if they are left open, thieves can make a quick get away with that nice new bike or treasured tool set that took years to accumulate. If you have kids, stay on them about keeping it closed. Trust me, I do.

When traveling, have a neighbor take in the mail and newspaper on a daily basis.

A bunch of newspapers sitting in the driveway is a beacon for theives. Also, if you tend to park in the driveway, but are taking that vehicle or vehicles on vacation, see if you can’t have a close neighbor park their car there.

Have some lights on in the most traveled areas, such as the kitchen and foyer.

Wouldn’t you rather pay a few extra bucks in electricity costs than pay for new TV’s, jewelry etc.? Also, if you have exterior lighting, keep them on in vulnerable areas and if motion detected, even better.

Consider a Security System if you don’t have one.

Last, unless you have a 200-pound Rottweiler or a trained silverback gorilla to patrol the house, a good security system is important. They are affordable and with improved technology, it’s just a touch away to activate via PDAs, from anywhere in the world.

At the end of the day, some basic due diligence and investment in some basic security items, will help keep thieves away and provide some peace of mind.

Home Sense

A Secure Home Is a Happy Home By Tom Chaikin

August 201116 The Lakelands Leader

the Eiffel Tower replica behind me, sporting my Kings Dominion T-shirt in the relentless heat of the new, concrete wonder that was Kings Dominion. Despite some rough patches and ownership changes over the decades, the park has matured well and has a nice mix of kid’s rides, classic rides, new thrills and shade trees. It gets crowded as you might expect. But stay late, and the park really becomes a special place. Riding the Rebel Yell wooden coaster for the umpteenth time in 40 years is a unique treat while many other coasters added over the decades keep pushing the thrills to new levels. Yes, the 305 in the newest “Intimidator 305” coaster stands for the height of 305 feet at its peak — a bit much for me. I recommend this park, even for little ones, but caution to avoid midday summer weekend crowds if you can.

Hershey Park2 hours; HersheyPark.com; $54; near Lancaster, Pennsylvania; opened 1907

Like Kings Dominion, Hershey Park has continued to invest and add thrills, keeping it a very viable and vibrant park while still having the history that makes a park special for adults. Yes, Hershey Park smells like chocolate, but like when going to the ocean, you get used to it pretty quickly (not that you want to…) They have a newer water park area called the “Boardwalk” themed after the Jersey Shore which really adds an additional day’s worth of fun. The Lightning Racer coaster is simply fabulous — it almost seems like a steel coaster with the twists and spirals it takes, yet it has all the shake and thunder of a classic wood coaster. Hershey is at least a day’s worth of fun.

Dutch Wonderland2½ hours; DutchWonderland.com; $34; near Lancaster, Pennsylvania; opened 1963

This is my kids’ favorite. It’s within a day’s ride, is geared to the under-12 set and has some neat features, including a great diving show complete with a dive off a huge tower and a medium-sized wooden roller coaster that is a perfect introduction for the wee ones to the “air time” of the big ones. Being a children’s park means no big coasters and no fast /upside down/ height-restricted rides. But that doesn’t mean it’s boring. The tiny Whip ride offers neck-breaking action for five-year-olds while the Skyride allows them to dangle their feet above everyone’s head. Kids can ride a pony, play in the water park or ride the monorail. At the back of the park is a tranquil boat ride that comes within about five feet of the property’s edge, where a barbed wire fence keeps the neighboring dairy cows from wandering in. I’d come here even if I didn’t have kids. It’s inexpensive, the food is decent and the day, even when crowded, has always been extremely pleasant.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg3 hours; BuschGardens.com/bgw; $64; near Williamsburg, Virginia; opened 1975

Time to get serious. Busch Gardens has always had the luxury of money and while they don’t have the character connections Disney has, they’ve managed to build a world-class park that’s for both kids and adults who are kids-at-heart. Busch Gardens won this year’s best landscaping award for the 13th year in a row and rightfully so — the rides seem incidental at times to the wonderful and meticulous environment. And the #2 cleanest award goes hand-in-hand with the attention to detail given around this park. You really

can’t go wrong here. Great surroundings, great food ,a great kids area and yes, great rides. The Apollo’s Chariot is insane, with a platform of people brought to the brink of a 90 degree drop — and then suspended just over that brink for a few seconds before freefalling. Busch Gardens is one of those rare parks worth going to just to be there, even if you don’t ride anything. It is simply a beautiful place to be, much like Disney’s Epcot.

Knoebels3¼ hours; Knoebels.com; $39; near Williamsport, PA; opened 1926

Knoebels is truly unlike any park you’ve been to before. First, it is in the middle of nowhere in north-central Pennsylvania surrounded by nothing but woods. Next, there’s no admittance fee. Nope! You simply park and wander in. Knoebels is a park purist’s dream — geared to the type of person who loves the environment, the joy that comes from being in an amusement park. Like a fair, Knoebels sells books of tickets for their rides. The price quoted above is an “all you can ride” amount but is not required for admission. The Phoenix, a wooden coaster is considered one of the best in the world. The air time on this coaster is unreal, as is the sheer length of the ride — many come just to ride this coaster. It is an experience to behold, as are the original heavy (read, whiplash inducing) bumper cars. And yes, the carousel includes brass rings — one of the few that still offer the chance to reach out and win. And the food — did I mention the food? Chicken on waffles. Pierogies. Sausage sandwiches. I’d give Knoebels the #1 best food vote by FAR. And the prices are very reasonable here. If you take nothing else from this article, please treat yourself to a trip to Knoebels.

Idlewild3¼ hours; Idlewild.com; $32; near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; opened 1878

Like Knoebels, Idlewild is a throwback kind of park, but exclusively for the under-12 set. Idlewild opened over 130 years ago and you can feel that sense of generations of joy. Small rides, some old, rare or even the last of their kind are spread around a very nice park setting with plenty of room to spare. A Story Book section has giant figures from classic children’s tales, many now long since dropped from our normal kid’s stories — Old Mother Hubbard? Little Bo Peep? In a way, that’s okay — as today’s kids can see each one and learn the story that goes with each. One of the really cool things at Idlewild is the infamous trolley ride from Mr. Roger’s neighborhood into King Friday’s castle. At the end, you’re invited to a HugAndSong party where King Friday (Fred Rogers) himself has everyone hug each other and sing one of Mr. Roger’s most famous songs. If you don’t have kids under 12, this won’t matter. But if you do — this is the only park I know that GUARANTEES a nice hug, the timeless kind kids have been giving at this park for 130+ years.

Sesame Place3½ hours; SeasamePlace.com; $56; near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; opened 1980

Sesame Place is another great park for the under-12 set, but in many ways is the opposite of Idlewild in look and feel. While Idlewild is about a slow pace and a timeless scene, Sesame Place is about action in a more modern setting. There is a water park, a parade, a gigantic free-form climb and play area and nothing is too big or scary for the little ones. One cool thing is a medium sized steel coaster for those younger ones with a wild streak; kind of a training ground for the kids who at 18 will be looking for the most intense coasters. The Vapor Trail goes about 30 feet up then through some high banked turns — but never flips or whips too badly.

Kennywood4 hours; Kennywood.com; $37; near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; opened 1898

What a fun and wholesome park — really a kind of “best of all worlds”. It has a rich history and goes to great lengths to preserve some unique and really cool old rides like the award winning Noah’s Ark — a walkthrough funhouse where the entire building moves, floors shake and you’ve got to find your way. The jackrabbit coaster was built in 1921 and is the oldest coaster on the “50 best wooden” list. What makes it unique is that the big drop has a kind of pause in the middle where the track levels, then continues down the rest of the hill — it makes for a really weird feeling and a great ride. Kennywood also has new steel coasters to bring in the thrill seekers. The sky rocket looks like the rocket misfired and is bouncing off the walls the way the tracks go every which way. This park is somewhat compact and at certain points has a neat view across the river. This is another park I’d go to just to hang out, even if I didn’t intend to ride anything. Well worth the long drive, and needs a good full day to really do the whole park.

From PARKS on page 1

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 17

Lourdes Carazo has one of those rare jobs in which she really makes a difference. As the Primary Counselor at the Wells/Robertson House, she is instrumental in helping homeless men and women pull their lives together and become responsible, independent members of the community. The Wells/Robertson House is a city facility which provides transitional housing to homeless individuals who are in recovery from chemical addiction. “I love my job,” said Carazo. She is a Certified Addiction Counselor II with twenty-five years of experience in the field of addictions, mental health and homeless population. “My job is my purpose in life,” she said.

Four women and ten men live in the Victorian home, which is located next to City Hall. To ensure that they are clean and sober, they must pass a thorough screening process before being accepted into the program. Once approved, the first person they meet is Carazo. She provides them with whatever personal hygiene products they need and explains the rules of the house and the residents’ rights. She takes them on a tour of the facility and shows them their rooms.

Once they are settled in, Carazo conducts an assessment to see what services they need. “We find out how severe their addiction was, if they’ve had any mental health treatment in the past and we send them to the community clinic for a full physical,” she explained. Carazo works from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. every day. She is responsible for establishing the daytime program schedule of each resident and for daily counseling to the newer residents.

All residents are required to find a full-time job or attend some sort of school or job training. “We have

some residents who are on social security, and they’re required to volunteer for a non-profit organization at least three times a week,” said Carazo. All residents must attend a daily twelve-step program and work to pay off any bad debts. “We help them learn how to budget their money. Thirty percent of their income has to go into savings,” said Lourdes.

In addition, each resident is responsible for keeping his or her room clean and participating in chores to maintain the house. “We provide food for them and they are responsible for preparing breakfast and lunch for themselves. One resident is responsible for cooking dinner each evening, and we encourage them all to be at the house for dinner,” said Carazo. They are all required to be at the house on Tuesday nights for dinner followed by a weekly workshop that focuses on topics such as self-esteem, resume-writing, financial advice or other subjects that will help in their recovery.

In addition to Carazo, the Wells House is staffed by approximately nine part-time and four part-time employees. At least two staff members are available at all times, except for night time. Shared living spaces include a dining area with two large tables, a fully-equipped kitchen, a TV room and a computer area. Residents share rooms with either one or two others.

Residents reside at Wells/Robertson from six months to two years. “We watch them transition a little at a time,” said Carazo. “It’s like watching a flower. It starts out small and little by little it starts to flourish.” Housing is a very important component in the recovery process. The staff works closely with

residents who are ready to go out on their own. They help them to find housing and ensure that they are committed to becoming independent, sober and contributing members of the community. Carazo meets with them on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for six months after they have exited the program. “It helps them to know that they have built a support system,” she said.

Carazo said that in the almost four years she has held the position of Primary Counselor, she has probably seen forty people graduate from the program and go on to lead happy, successful lives. “Most of them have done really well for themselves,” she beamed. “They’ve gotten married, started their own businesses and become a good addition to this beautiful city. Sometimes I’ll be out and a past resident will come up to me and give me a hug and tell me how much I helped them. You never know who you will touch.” Probably the best testament to the success of the program is that all but two of the employees at the Wells House are graduates of the program.

For more information on the Wells/Robertson House visit www.Friendsofwells.org.

Spotlight on a City Employee

Lourdes Carazo Touches Many LivesBy Gina Dropik

Lourdes Carazo

August 201118 The Lakelands Leader

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UNDER CONTRACTAddress Housing Type Model Builder List Price DOM604A Main St Condo-Town Georgetown Ryland $359,000 49

52 Golden Ash Way Townhouse Vintage Miller&Smith $479,900 18

704 Market St E Townhouse Fairgate Ryan $529,900 11

406 Inspiration Lane Townhouse Georgetown Parkwood $649,000 4

817 Linslade St Single Family Veranda Main St $748,888 89

450 Leaning Oak St Single Family Michener Ryan $764,900 9

509 Kersten St Single Family Bartholomew NVHomes $780,000 6

422 Lakelands Dr Single Family Bartholomew NVHomes $799,900 2

818 Still Creek Ln Single Family Bartholomew NVHomes $850,000 106

FOR SALEAddress Housing Type Model Builder List Price DOM124 Golden Ash Way Townhouse Vintage Miller&Smith $489,900 16

625 Linslade Mews Single Family Alcott Main St $529,950 29

95 Golden Ash Way Single Family Barclay Main St $539,900 2

1119 Main St Townhouse Tarquin Ryan $589,000 6

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528 Kersten St Single Family Hemingway Ryan $699,900 58

524 Kersten St Single Family Melville Ryan $699,900 13

723 Gatestone St Single Family Chesterfield NVHomes $775,000 86

731 Lake Varuna Dr Single Family Abernathy NVHomes $798,500 82

FOR SALE continuedAddress Housing Type Model Builder List Price DOM861 Still Creek Ln Single Family Bartholomew NVHomes $917,700 22

SOLDAddress Type Model List Price Sold Price DOM658A Main St Condo-Town Georgetown $329,900 $313,500 85

725A Main St Condo-Town Georgetown $345,000 $345,000 6

250A Market St E Condo-Town Georgetown $348,000 $348,000 121

704A Main St Condo-Town Georgetown $359,900 $355,000 38

723B Main St Condo-Town Mt. Vernon $399,900 $390,000 13

571 Market St E Townhouse Turnbury $489,000 $473,000 23

434 Phelps St Townhouse Fairgate $500,000 $490,000 12

414 Phelps St Townhouse Fairgate $509,900 $500,000 6

330 Inspiration Ln Townhouse Dumbarton $530,000 $545,000 18

805 Main St Townhouse Georgetown $585,000 $585,000 0

537 Sheila St Single Family Hemingway $699,900 $687,450 34

527 Helene St Single Family Michener $749,900 $735,000 14

413 Placid Mews Single Family Bartholomew $850,000 $770,000 108

940 Gentlewood St Single Family Batholomew $899,900 $887,500 11

*Information obtained from MRIS as of 7/14/2011 is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed and neither suggests nor infers that Mike Aubrey or RE/MAX Metropolitan Realty participated as either the listing or cooperating agent or broker in the sale or purchase of all the properties depicted.

LakelandsRealEstateCompiled by Mike Aubrey, RE/MAX Metropolitan Realty

August 2011 The Lakelands Leader 19

August 201120 The Lakelands Leader

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