The Voice Newspapers: News

The independent voice of Takoma Park and Silver Spring, Maryland, since 1987

Looking back at 2007 in Silver Spring and Takoma Park

A few of the events that made last year memorable

Step it up
Photo: Julie Wiatt

January

More than 100 “polar bears,” from ages nine to 69, many from Silver Spring and Takoma Park, splashed cautiously to waist deep in the Chesapeake Bay as part of a “Keep Winter Cold” campaign organized by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Merv Conn received a 21-accordian birthday salute at AFI.

February

WAH
Photo: Julie Wiatt

Washington Adventist Hospital purchased a parcel of land in the White Oak area as the site for a modernized hospital intended to take the place of the 100-year-old hospital in Takoma Park.

In a series of workshops Takoma Park residents voiced concerns about the estimated $6-to-9 million cost of a gym proposed as an add-on to the community center.

Local eco-activists staged a day-long “Go Green at Home” conference featuring hands-on exhibits, free organic food and a variety of speakers at the community center.

March

State and County political figures expressed their support for an $8 million public subsidy to bring a Birchmere music hall to the old JC Penney’s building in downtown Silver Spring.

Maryland Youth Ballet
Photo: Julie Wiatt

Maryland Youth Ballet held their grand opening in downtown Silver Spring, moving here after 31 years in Bethesda.

On a closely divided City Council, opposition by Ward Three representative Bruce Williams—who called the cost of a gym “more than we can afford”—effectively shelved the project.

The midwives of the Takoma Women’s Health Center closed their offices in Old Takoma because of insurance costs and the lack of support from physicians whose collaboration is mandated by law.

April

In keeping with a spring tradition more than 100 volunteers pulled debris from the banks and waters of Sligo Creek.

Hundreds of hardwood seedlings were distributed on Arbor Day in Takoma Park. “Even if you have big trees in your yard, you need to plant little trees to replace them,” said City Arborist Todd Bolton.

Jere Stocks, president of Washington Adventist Hospital, reported that the hospital’s current 13-acre site at Carroll and Flower Avenues would not be sold when the hospital moves to White Oak, as originally planned. Instead, he said, a consulting firm would conduct a survey for how best to turn the old grounds into a new “community asset.”

“Step it up against global warming” protest march, was led by the Rhythm Workers Union from the Silver Spring astroturf to the Takoma Park gazebo.

May

At a community forum, Silver Spring residents debated the future of the Fenton-Ellsworth corner currently covered by green artificial turf and enjoyed as a venue for frolic and relaxation. The plan favored by Silver Spring officialdom is to build an ice rink that can function as an open-air pavilion in warm months, but others argued in favor of keeping the area park-like.

IMPACT Silver Spring held a ceremony to hand out awards to local grassroots leaders, as did the Takoma Foundation at the annual “Azalea Awards” festivities, co-sponsored by the Takoma Voice.

Release2 Blair Softball
Photo: Jeff Lautenberger

The Blair girls’ softball advanced to the county championship team for the first time in school history.

Rachel Carson’s 100th birthday was celebrated with an open house and hikes.

A new farmers market opened at Takoma Langley Crossroads

June

The Montgomery County Planning Board voted in favor of an ice rink to replace the artificial turf in downtown Silver Spring, passing the project along to the County Council for a final decision in the spring of 2008.

After objections were raised PFA Silver Spring LLC, the corporate entity that governs the behavior of pedestrians along the mall-like block of Ellsworth Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, relaxed a rule that previously had prohibited amateur photographers from taking pictures without prior permission.

Dave Lorentz
Photo: Julie Wiatt

Dave Lorentz produced his last Takoma Park JazzFest.

The Takoma Foundation awarded micro-grants to Art for the People, Friends of Sligo Creek, the Old Takoma farmers’ market, and to several other local volunteer groups, including three Takoma Park festivals – folk, film and jazz.

July

Muggles
Photo: Eric Bond

Frenzied muggles swarmed Ellsworth Avenue to await the last Harry Potter book.

Kathy Porter announced her retirement after 17 years in Takoma Park politics, the last ten as mayor, and Joy Austin-Lane, the Councilmember from Ward One, also decided not to run for re-election. Bruce Williams, who had represented Ward Three on the Council for 15 years, declared his candidacy to succeed Porter a few days later.

Kathy Porter MSNBC

The Takoma Park city council voted to impeach President Bush and Vice president Cheney. Mayor Kathy Porter deftly defends this action on MSNBC’s Tucker Carlson show.

The Takoma Park City Council reaffirmed a 1985 “sanctuary” law that protects immigrants from official City questioning about their immigration status and updated the City’s rent-control law, leaving in place its essential feature of keeping apartment rents lower than those in nearby municipalities.

Negotiations between Montgomery County and the owners of the Birchmere to build a music hall in downtown Silver Spring suddenly collapsed, leaving the future of the old Penney’s building up in the air.

August

Reversing a previous decision to tear down the historic Takoma Theater on Fourth Street, just the other side of the District line, the theater owner, Milton McGinty, said he plans to put the 85-year-old building up for sale.

The Voice published its first annual “Best of the best of the best” survey.

September

In separate announcements, one day apart, Montgomery County officials said that one of the Fillmore franchises operated by Live Nation, the country’s largest live music company, will occupy the old Penney’s site, and Prince George’s County officials said the Birchmere will build a concert venue in College Park.

The owners of Park Ritchie Apartments on Maple Avenue went to court to challenge the constitutionality of Takoma Park’s rent-control law, claiming it prevents a reasonable profit.

More than 2,300 boys and girls began kicking panel-stitched balls for the opening of the 26th season of the Takoma Soccer.

The Takoma Park Folk Festival, Magical Montgomery, a Classic Cars event, Takoma Junction peace vigil, Maple Avenue Fair, and Historic Takoma’s Harvest Festival, made for plenty of local action and entertainment.

Arturo Sandoval headlined the 4th annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival.

October

Neighbors of the Sligo Creek golf course started a campaign to stop the installation of a lighted, two-level driving range which, they said, would damage some of the large trees that distinguish the area along the creek.

Opponents of a townhouse project at the Takoma Metro station, including all members of the Takoma Park City Council and U. S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, renewed their objections as the Metro board prepared to make a decision after more than three years of controversy.

Takoma Park held its Halloween parade, Blair Arts Alley countered with a “hALLEYween” , the dogs joined in with a dog costume contest.

November

The Metro board gave the go-ahead to the townhouse project, which, if it proceeds according to plan, will envelop almost all the open park area and prevent the addition of any future bus bays. Members of the City Council said they will consider filing legal action against the project.

Bruce Williams the new mayor
Photo: Vic Augustine

Bruce Williams took the oath as the City’s new mayor, and newcomers Dan Robinson (Ward Three) and Josh Wright (Ward One) were sworn in as members of the City Council, as were incumbents Colleen Clay (Ward Two), Terry Seamens (Ward Four), Reuben Snipper (Ward Five) and Doug Barry (Ward Six).

George Leventhal, an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council from Takoma Park, survived a Beltway collision with a deer, but he was hospitalized for several days and had to undergo extensive surgery to repair injuries to his face.

Silver Spring hosted the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Revitalized 10 years ago, the parade has expanded to include giant helium balloons and elaborate floats.

Susan Hoffman
Photo: Julie Wiatt

Susan Hoffman, Silver Spring Regional Services Center manager of marketing and communications and three-time Rockville City Councilmember was elected mayor of Rockville.

December

Roscoe winner pyramid
Photo: Julie Wiatt

A window display with an ancient Egyptian theme, highlighted by gingerbread pyramids, won the coveted “Golden Roscoe” award for Greg Moorin’s Summer Delights ice cream shop in Old Takoma.

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Copyright 2008, Takoma Publishing, Inc.

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