<sh>Townsend, Ehrlich in Potomac
<bt>Candidates for governor, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D) and Robert Ehrlich (R), as well as candidates for county and state office, will come to Potomac for a candidates forum.
Congregation B’Nai Tzedek will hold the forum on Sunday, Nov. 3 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Democratic congressional candidate Chris Van Hollen is also expected to attend.
The forum is open to the public. Call 301-299-0225.
<sh>Fatal Accident on Falls
<bt>Montgomery County Police detectives from the Collision Reconstruction Section are investigating a fatal collision that occurred last Thursday night, Oct. 24, on Falls Road.
According to police reports:
At 10:37 p.m., a 1998 Ford Mustang was traveling northbound on Falls Road, north of Tuckerman Lane, when for unknown reasons the vehicle skidded across the center of the roadway while negotiating a curve. A 2002 Ford F-250 pick-up truck traveling southbound on Falls Road struck the passenger side of the Ford Mustang.
The driver of the Mustang, Erika Concalves-Pagotto, 22, of the 2300 block of Glenallen Avenue, in Wheaton, was transported by Maryland State Police helicopter to Med-Star in Washington, D.C. where she died from her injuries. The driver of the truck, Vernon Simmons Jr., 42, of the 400 block of Hillcrest Drive, in Frederick, was transported by Montgomery County Fire/Rescue to Suburban Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The investigation is continuing by the Collision Reconstruction Section.
<sh>Trial Delayed to February
<bt>The trial of Dr. Zakaria Oweiss, a Potomac resident accused of the murder of his wife Marianne Oweiss, has been rescheduled for Feb. 18, 2003. Jury selection is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2003.
Oweiss' trial was continued Tuesday, Oct. 23, more than 14 months after police initially charged him. Jury selection was due to take place on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 22-23, but was unsuccessful in the midst of the dragnet after a sniper attack Oct. 23.
Marianne Oweiss, a Potomac real estate agent and mother of Omar and Amin Oweiss, was found on Aug. 15, 2001 "in a pool of blood" at the bottom of the staircase leading from the family home to Oweiss' private obstetrics office on the bottom floor. She was 49 years old.
<sh>Horse News
<bt>The Maryland Horse Industry Board is accepting grant applications for projects that promote the state's equine industry.
Projects will be considered in the area of education, research and marketing. Over the past two years, the board has awarded 46 grants, totaling $50,000 to equestrian groups. Projects have ranged from educational materials, displays and seminars, horse care education for new horse owners, materials for new horse facilities and a museum exhibit on the history of Thoroughbred racing in Maryland.
Proposals are due by Feb. 1, 2003. Grant recipients will be notified of their award within 90 days of submission. See www.marylandhorseindustry.org or call 410-841-5861.
<sh>Brief Purple Line
<bt>The Maryland Transit Authority will brief the Planning Board on the Purple Line light rail and trail cross sections this Thursday, Oct. 31, at 9:30 a.m. No public testimony will be taken at this time. This is rescheduled from last Thursday, Oct. 24.
Park and Planning is located at 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Call 301-495-4600.
<sh>Special Love
<bt>Special Love, a nonprofit organization which provides activities for children and young adults with cancer, will hold a benefit dance, scheduled at the Holiday Inn Gaithersburg on Nov. 8th from 8 p.m.-12 midnight. The cost is $30 per person.
Last year's dance raised $20,000. There will be a band and a silent and live auction.
Call Larry Chloupek, of Potomac, at 301-594-3992.
<sh>Flea Market
<bt>Potomac Community Center Indoor Flea Market and Community Yard Sale is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The flea market will take place indoors at the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road.
A few spaces are still open for vendors. Booths are available to vendors for $25 and tables for $5. To register, call Linda Barlock at 301-983-4471.
<sh>Report on User Fees
<bt>The Montgomery County Planning Board will review Enterprise User Fees on Thursday, Oct. 31.
Each year, Park and Planning reviews the user fees charged at Enterprise facilities, including public golf courses such as Falls Road Golf Course. Planning staff will present user fees for the upcoming year to the Planning Board for public review and comment at this meeting.
Citizens who wish to testify before the Planning Board should register in advance at 301-650-2890. Comments in writing — prior to Oct. 30 — can also be addressed to Derick P. Berlage, Chairman, Montgomery County Planning Board, 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20901 or fax them to him at 301-495-1320.
Copies of the proposed Enterprise fees may be obtained at the Department of Park and Planning, Enterprise Office, Parkside Headquarters, 9500 Burnett Ave., Silver Spring.
<sh>Big Train Auction
<bt>The Fourth Annual Big Train Base Ball & Auction is scheduled for Sunday Nov. 17 from 5-8 p.m. at the Pooks Hill Marriott in Bethesda. Founder John Ourisman and several other volunteers will be honored for their contributions to Big Train baseball.
A silent auction will run from 5-6:30 p.m., followed by a dinner and recognition program at 6:30 p.m. The event will end with a live auction at 7 p.m. Items to be auctioned include sports memorabilia signed by Hank Aaron, Mia Hamm, Michael Jordan, Jim Palmer, Nick Price, Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith, Gary Williams, and more.
Big Train seeks other items to be donated for the auction, including non-sports items such as dinners, lunches, theater tickets, books, and holiday gifts valued more than $50 as well as other sports items, including Capitals, Wizards and Redskins tickets.
See www.bigtrain.org.
<sh>Get Recreation in Shape
<bt>There is a critical need to fill six vacancies on the Western Area Recreation Advisory Board, which serves Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase and North Bethesda/Garrett Park.
The board advises the county executive, County Council, the Department of Recreation and the Planning Board on area recreation and park needs. The board encourages the development of desirable parks and recreational opportunities and makes recommendations on budgets, recreation programs, services and facilities.
Members serve three-year terms without compensation and meetings are usually held the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road.
Interested residents who live in the western area of Montgomery County — Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, North Bethesda/Garrett Park— should apply immediately. Send a letter and brief resume, including work and home phone numbers, to County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe St., Rockville, Md. 20850.
<sh>Access General Plan
<bt>Versions of Montgomery County's General Plan as well as current master plans and sector plans are available to be downloaded at http://www.mc-mncppc.org, the Montgomery County Park and Planning web site.
Montgomery County's General Plan, "On Wedges and Corridors," was recognized as a national model in land use planning when it was adopted in 1964.
The General Plan lays broad goals and objectives for planning in Montgomery County, which are implemented through area-specific master plans and sector plans.
The 2001 Potomac Master Plan was approved by the County Council and Park and Planning Commission. This fall, Council is expected to approve the sector plan that accompanies the Master Plan.
Call 301-495-4600.
<sh>Emancipation Celebration
<bt>Celebrate the 138th anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in Maryland with Park and Planning on Saturday, Nov. 2.
From 10-11 a.m., an "Underground Railroad" hike is scheduled on the 1.5 mile Rural Legacy Trail from Woodlawn Manor, 16501 Norwood Road, to Sandy Spring Friends Meeting House, on Meetinghouse Road. Both sites will also be open for tours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A shuttle bus running from 11 am.-2 p.m. will transport walkers back to Woodlawn.
The Sandy Spring Slave Museum and African Art Gallery, 18524 Brooke Rd., Sandy Spring, will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food and entertainment is available.
Oakley Cabin, 3610 Brookeville Rd. in Brookeville, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. with reenactors from the 54th Massachusetts regiment, living history portrayers, and hot cider and cornbread. Diane Young, a descendant of the Edmundson family, will discuss the attempted escape by some of her ancestors aboard the ship, the Pearl. Free parking is available at Longwood Recreation Center, 19300 Georgia Ave., Brookeville, and a shuttle bus will carry people to the Cabin from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All of the sites have connections with slavery and freedom in Montgomery County.
Call 301-563-3400 or visit the Website at www.mc-mncppc.org or www.montgomeryparksfnd.org
<sh>Disability Resources
<bt>More than 70 organizations and businesses will be available to share information about programs and services for children and adults with disabilities at the County's annual Disability Resource Fair.
The resource fair will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 12 noon to 6:30 p.m. at the University of Maryland, Shady Grove Center, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville.
Workshops will be held throughout the day. Admission and parking are free.
Call 240-777-1216.
<sh>Civic Associations
<bt>The Planning Board's Community Relations Office is updating its civic and homeowners associations database. Call 301-495-4600 any time of the day or night with the current president's name, address and phone number.