Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Sligo Creek Golf Course to Remain Open for Nine More Months - Washington Post

By Miranda S. Spivack
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 4:03 PM

The Montgomery County Council gave golfers at Sligo Creek Golf Course in Silver Spring a nine-month reprieve Tuesday, voting to approve a proposal from County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) to spend $150,000 to keep the inside-the-Beltway public golf course open until June 30.

The council also approved plans to set up a task force to seek ideas for the course's future. Among the possibilities is allowing the course to become a golfing center for veterans and members of the public, a proposal from County Council member Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring).

The course had been slated to close Thursday after the county's revenue authority said it could no longer afford to operate it.

The course has been open since 1927 and was originally a private course. It became the county's first public course in 1946, Ervin said. It is popular with seniors, beginners, women and minority golfers. Community members rallied support for the course over the summer, helping lead to Tuesday's reprieve.

Council members Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville) and Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty) voted against the $150,000 appropriation, saying they were worried about spending without more specific plans during tight budget times.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092902557.html

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Silver Spring Community Dedicates Broad Acres Local Park

On Wednesday, September 23rd, the Montgomery County Department of Parks joined Broad Acres Elementary School, the Silver Spring Regional Center, and the Northwest park Oakview Weed & Seed Program for a celebration and dedication of the newly renovated Broadacres Local Park.

The dedication program included brief remarks from Broad Acres Elementary School Principal Michael Bayewitz, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Council President Phil Andrews, Director of Parks Mary Bradford, Community Advocate Serena Locust, and other special guests. St. Camillus Church offered a blessing for the park, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting on the local neighborhoods newest resource.

Broadacres Local Park, located next to Broad Acres Elementary School, now features a basketball court, soccer field, paved trails and landscaping. The students of Broad Acres Elementary School also left their mark on the design of the park, with their original artwork prominently featured in the seat walls of the new plaza area and park entrance.













Weed and Seed is a U.S. Department of Justice program that provides more than $1 million in funding over a five-year period to help communities provide focused law enforcement activities to “weed out” persistent criminal activity, while at the same time “seeding” with human services and community-building programs. With the Weed and Seed Model, community leaders work hand in hand with law enforcement officials, educators, government agencies and non-profits to help grow safe and healthy communities.

For more information about the Weed and Seed Program contact Victor Salazar at the Silver Spring Regional Center (301) 565-7300.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Silver Spring Jazz Festival 2009

The sixth annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival was held on Saturday, September 12, 2009 in Silver Spring.

There were performances by the Unified Jazz Ensemble, featuring Karen Gray, Afro Bop Alliance, the Marcus Johnson Project, the Madison Sweet Heaven Kings and jazz cutting contests involving the High School Jazz Ensemble.

Louisiana native Allen Toussaint, a keyboardist, vocalist, composer and record producer, was the headliner.






Fenton Street Market!

Pictures from the first Fenton Street Market in Silver Spring.












For more information, e-mail Hannah McCann at hannah@fentonstreetmarket.com or visit http://www.fentonstreetmarket.com/

More Fenton Street Market pics at http://tinyurl.com/kkl53q

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Park Hills Adopts a Road!

With the help of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and Montgomery Councilmember Valerie Ervin, the Park Hills Civic Association "adopted" a road -- a stretch of Sligo Creek Parkway between Wayne Avenue and Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring.


On Sunday, September 6, 2009, the Park Hills Civic Association held its inaugural clean up of the Sligo Creek Parkway segment.





The Park Hills Bar-B-Que











The Park Hills Civic Association held its annual BBQ in Sligo Creek Park on Sunday, November 6, 2009.

Park Hills neighbors were pleased to welcome Montgomery County Executive and Montgomery Councilmember Marc Elrich, Marc Elrich's Chief of Staff Dale Tibbitts, Dr. Dana Beyer, Senior Advisor to Montgomery Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, Johns Hopkins Professor Dr. Lisa Dubay, Washington Revels Executive Director Greg Lewis, Ghar e Kabab owner Lok Tiwari, and members of the Montgomery County Police Department.

Fine & Funky Comes to Fenton Street

Attend the launch of a new outdoor market in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, to celebrate our eclectic community.

Saturday, September 12 and October 3, 2009
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Corner of Fenton Street and Silver Spring Avenue
*Free parking in public lots across Fenton Street!*

The market will feature an exciting array of fine, unusual, imported, and handmade goods...plus live music and hot mini donuts!

--Ajay Malghan Photography—limited edition photography
--Babus—handmade felted wool toys
--Fernando Amorin—Peruvian Artist
--Neville's Natural Nibbles—homemade dog treats by local teen
--Falling Green—repurposed vintage jewelry
--Z Designs—semi-precious jewelry made with fair-trade Kenyan beads
--Tiffany Yancey Fine Art—fine art
--Sankofa Beads—handmade jewelry and dolls
--Doxallo Designs—handcrafted metal jewelry
--Yummy & Company—recycled copper & clay jewelry
--Froggy Pants Creations—handmade belts, hair clips, headbands
--Unexpected Surprises!—handmade wood toys
--Green Porch-Lights—screenprinted cards, journals
--Honey Glow Natural Products—local beekeepers' honey and beeswax products
--Brian Cassidy—rare books from relocated Calif. bookseller
--Urbanitea—rare and unusual teas
--Bernie Van Leer—local photography
--Shannon Kadow—hand-braided rugs by local Silver Spring mom
--Music on the Rise—nonprofit bringing local performers to play
--Cody Tracey—funky, bluesy guitar playing by Baltimore teen
--Rodeo Motel—vintage western/swing and bluegrass by Takoma Park couple
--Eric Brooks—jazz sax by the puppeteer at Glen Echo
--Melissa Avery—vintage records and Hawaiian shirts
--Shel's Studio—handmade ceramics, pottery
--Wondrous Beads—beads/natural stone jewelry
--Three Stone Steps—eco-friendly and fairly traded imports
--Theodora Scarato—henna tattoos, plaster-cast masks, and handmade objects
--Penelope Spa—handmade soaps
--Vegan Eatz and Treatz—healthy treats by mom and daughter
--Ninnycat Crochet—modern/vintage crochet
--Laylabelle Designs—funky handmade jewelry
--Bette's Bags—unique handmade handbags
--April Mist—handmade paper-bead jewelry
--Cogliani Photography—photography services and prints
--Silver Spring Historical Society—books and postcards related to Silver Spring history
--Merina Art Glass—kiln-formed glass jewelry and art
--Re-Cycles—refurbished high-end bikes
--Estella Couture—original, exotic fashions
--Virginia Lichtman—decorated clothes & vintage toys
--Red Persimmon Imports—fair-trade handmade gifts
--Bellajenna—custom printed cards and baby clothes
--Laughing Glass Studio—art glass
--Rock Creek Originals—fiber art jewelry
--Karen Garvin Photography—framed and matted photographs
--Luna Aura Fiberworks—hand-spun wool
--Man in the Moon Art—original art
--Community Forklift—architectural salvage
--Migue's Magnificent Mini Donuts—fresh donuts made on site by Baltimore baker
--newmoonpie—custom jewelry design, repair, and remodeling
--Hyattsville Arts Alliance—original works by Hyattsville artists
--Linda's Ironworks—imported and domestic iron and metalwork
--I Make It Funky!—knitted and crocheted accessories
--Polly Sue's—vintage clothing from Takoma Park shopowner
--Leela, LLC—hand-made, fair trade, upcycled sari skirts
--Layne Alexandra—vintage furniture restored/reupholstered
--Shel's Studio—handmade ceramics, pottery
--Marshetta Davis—fine art
--Bronwyn King—fine oil portraits

Check out the Gazette article at http://www.gazette.net/stories/08262009/takonew184825_32526.shtml. For more information, e-mail Hannah McCann at hannah@fentonstreetmarket.com or visit www.fentonstreetmarket.com.

Silver Spring Jazz Fest - Washington Post

The sixth annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday and conclude with a performance by Allen Toussaint, a keyboardist, vocalist, composer and record producer. The 71-year-old Louisiana native will take the stage at 9:15 p.m., following performances by the Unified Jazz Ensemble, featuring Karen Gray, Afro Bop Alliance, the Marcus Johnson Project, the Madison Sweet Heaven Kings and jazz cutting contests involving the High School Jazz Ensemble.

The festival will be held behind the Lee Building in downtown Silver Spring at Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road. The event is presented by the Celebrate Downtown Silver Spring Foundation, Montgomery County's Silver Spring Regional Center and numerous corporate sponsors. Participants are urged to use public transportation and take a blanket or beach chair.

For information, call the Silver Spring Regional Center, 301-565-7300 or visit http://www.silverspringdowntown.com.

Takoma Park Folk Fest - Washington Post

The Takoma Park Folk Festival will return Sunday for its 32nd year.

From 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Takoma Park Middle School will host seven stages on which entertainment will include a singalong tribute to 90-year-old folk singer Pete Seeger, hip-hop, blues, African dance music, rockabilly, string band and samba pieces. Participants will also be able to join in waltzing, belly dancing, Scandinavian couples dancing and more. The Grassy Nook Stage will feature young performers.

Nonprofit organizations will offer community information, and a juried craft fair will feature pottery, jewelry, fiber art, photography and more. The school is at 7611 Piney Branch Rd., near Route 410.

Free shuttle buses will transport fairgoers from the Takoma Metro station or the Montgomery College parking garage at Fenton and King streets. Parking will not be allowed at the festival site or on surrounding streets, except for a few handicap spaces.

A list of activities and performers and a festival map can be found at http://www.tpff.org.

Admission to the festival, the shows and dancing is free. Vendors will offer a wide variety of foods, beverages and games for children. Food vendors will donate used cooking oil for conversion to biodiesel. Volunteers are needed, and those interested should call 301-589-0202 or visit http://www.tpff.org.