Takoma Voice newsfeed

Aims to Be Old Takoma's Neighborhood Bike Shop

By Laura Barclay, Old Takoma Business Association

With a special interest in the beginning cyclist and a desire to be the neighborhood bike shop, Takoma Bicycle will open its doors at 7030 Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, MD at the beginning of April 2010. Takoma Bicycle will sell both new and used bicycles and accessories for adults and children. Used bicycles will be acquired by trade-ins, donations, and even roadside trash picks - anything to keep more bikes out of the landfill. After receiving a thorough inspection and necessary repairs, used bikes will provide Takoma Bicycle's customers with lower cost alternatives to brand new bikes.

Takoma Bicycle is also a full service repair shop which will offer simple fixes to complete tune-ups and overhauls. While they are happy to take care of it for you, Takoma Bicycle's trained staff also enjoys educating novices about the basics of biking, including gear adjustments and fixing flats, so that they maximize their own biking experience.

All types of biking parts and accessories will also be available for sale including tires and tubes, replacement wheels, pedals, grips, shifting components, gear and brake cables, locks, pumps, car racks, helmets, gloves and much more.

Owner Bruce Sawtelle, himself an avid biker and expert mechanic, takes great pleasure in getting people started on a bike. "I really want to be part of the community. I enjoy helping people pick out their first bike and teaching them how to use it so that they get the most out of it," says Sawtelle. Takoma Bikes, under Sawtelle's leadership, will also recommend biking trails, offer maps and provide information on the many area cycling clubs.

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About Takoma Bicycle: A lifetime biking enthusiast, owner Bruce Sawtelle has an extensive knowledge of bikes gained from working at his father's business, Chevy Chase Bicycle, as well as through racing of both road and mountain bikes. He has been a USCF race official, a race organizer and promoter of local road races. While inspired by new biking equipment, Sawtelle is committed to repairing old bikes and helping to make the novice's cycling experience more enjoyable. He is married with two children and lives in College Park, MD where he can often be found biking with his family.

About the Old Takoma Business Association (OTBA): The Old Takoma Business Association's mission is to bring together businesses, residents and community organizations dedicated to developing a vibrant market center, from the Takoma Junction, Maryland, to the Takoma Theatre, DC, and to enhance its unique and historic town setting. OTBA created its Main Street Takoma program 6 years ago as a vehicle to move this mission forward.

By Laura Barclay, OTBA

Opening April 2010 in Old Takoma

The transformation of Old Takoma continues with the highly anticipated arrival of CD Gamexchange. CD Gamexchange is moving its College Park location to a new home at 7042 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912 (formerly American Craft). CD Gamexchange buys, sells and trades, new and used music, movies and video games and accessories. From new releases to rare classics and everything in between, CD Gamexchange has something for everyone.

CD Gamexchange offers thousands of CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes and records to complete any collection. If they do not have what you are looking for, they will special order at no additional charge. This high level of customer service, combined with great prices and a huge collection to choose from has provided CD Gamexchange with a loyal following in the DC area and online.

CD Gamexchange also offers game systems and accessories including: Playstation 3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, Game Cube™, Nintendo™, game controllers and headphones.

Green commitment: CD Gamexchange promotes buying used to reduce packaging and energy usage and offers trade-ins to recycle still functional products. CD Gamexchange also repairs old CDs, DVDs and video games giving new life to old favorites.

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About CD Game Exchange: Currently operating from two locations, in Silver Spring and College Park, and online on Amazon, Ebay and play.com, CD Gamexchange has been a Washington, DC area favorite for new and used music, movies, video games and accessories since 1997.

About the Old Takoma Business Association (OTBA): The Old Takoma Business Association's mission is to bring together businesses, residents and community organizations dedicated to developing a vibrant market center, from the Takoma Junction, Maryland, to the Takoma Theatre, DC, and to enhance its unique and historic town setting. OTBA created its Main Street Takoma program 6 years ago as a vehicle to move this mission forward.

By SHAUNA MILLER
Capital News Service

Wednesday was a long day for Ellen Kahn and Julie Drizin of Silver Spring. They roused their two daughters early, plying them with breakfast and offering a day off from school. By 8 a.m., everyone was dressed presentably and ready to get on the Metro.
   
Kahn fussed over Ruby Drizin-Kahn, 10, and Jasper Drizin-Kahn, 6. She offered lip balm and earmuffs and told Jasper to button her coat against the rain.
   
Kahn was a little wired on coffee. She and Drizin stayed up the night before filling out paperwork for a trip to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
   
After 20 years together, they joined more than 100 other couples in applying for a marriage license Wednesday, the first day same-sex couples could apply in the district. And thanks to a recent legal opinion by the state attorney general, their marriage will be recognized in Maryland, where same-sex marriage is illegal.

PRESS RELEASE

New concept bike shop to open in time for Earth Day

by Laura Barclay

From its new location at 7320 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD, The Green Commuter will provide "All Things Green Commuting to All Green Commuters" with an emphasis on electric bikes.

The Green Commuter will sell and rent electric bikes, conventional bikes, and e-scooters along with parts, accessories and kits to electrify a standard bicycle.  The Green Commuter will also custom-build bikes to customers' specifications. 

Services include all types of bike repairs from a quick flat fix to a complete tune-up. The Green Commuter will crate and ship for those who want to ride their own bike wherever they may go and offer bike assembly for all bikes, even when purchased elsewhere.  With its e-bike rental plan, The Green Commuter offers the novice a chance to test an e-bike before purchase as well as an alternate way to tour Takoma Park and neighboring, Washington, DC.  

The Green Commuter's mission is to be a premier provider of products and services for commuters who want to reduce their carbon footprint.  

by SHAUNA MILLER
Capital News Service

Beginning Wednesday, Maryland state agencies will legally recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
   
The change comes with state Attorney General Douglas Gansler's long-awaited opinion on the matter, released Wednesday. The opinion does not create law regarding same-sex marriage, but interprets the state's overall law on recognizing out-of-state marriages.
   
Maryland law has defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman since 1973, and recognizes marriages performed in other jurisdictions according to the "full faith and credit" clause of the U.S. Constitution.
 

by TIFFANY MARCH
Capital News Service

Metrorail representatives said at a public hearing Tuesday that despite budget constraints they are making changes to prevent future collisions like the June Red Line accident that killed nine people.
   
The National Transportation Safety Board held its first day of a three-day hearing to investigate the accident, questioning the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority leadership on safety practices. Four of the nine ongoing Safety Board rail transit investigations involve the Washington Metrorail system.
   
"We know that transit, in spite of what we're going through today, is one of the safest modes throughout the industry," said Metrorail Acting Chief Safety Officer Michael Taborn, "but one death is one death too many."

Do you have middle school-age kids who might be interested in learning more about making documentaries?  The arts nonprofit Docs In Progress will be holding a daycamp this summer from June 28-July 9, 2010 where youth can learn hands-on skills in planning, producing, and editing a short video documentary in a fun and supportive environment taught by experienced documentary filmmakers and educators.  During the Docs In Progress Documentary Filmmaking Summer Youth Camp, participants work in small teams to plan, shoot, and edit a short documentary film in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.  Final projects will be shown in a mini-festival for family and friends. This camp is for youth who will be entering Grades 7-9 in the fall.  Maximum 12 participants.  No prior filmmaking experience is expected.

Docs In Progress will be holding a free information session for parents and prospective participants on Monday, March 1 from 7:00-8:00 pm at their headquarters at 8700 First Avenue (corner of First and Fenwick Streets) in downtown Silver Spring.  To RSVP, click here.

For additional information, contact Docs In Progress' Director of Programs and Services, Adele Schmidt at 301-789-2797 oradele@docsinprogress.org or visit the Docs In Progress website at http://www.docsinprogress.org

by DIANA NGUYEN
Capital News Service

Here's where the cookie crumbles -- you'd think Chinese fortune cookies and Lunar New Year would be a lucky match. Nope. Those little half-moon confections are as American as apple pie.     

 It seems so natural: During the 15-day observance of the holiday that began on February 14, Asian-Americans seek a new year of luck and fortune. But the fortune cookie --a dessert mostly associated with Chinese food --is an American tradition expected by diners in Chinese restaurants.       

"If I don't get my fortune cookie, I'm like, 'Where's my cookie!'" said Asian Bistro Cafe patron Kari Hurlston, 38, of Washington.

PRESS RELEASE

by Kevin Adler

The Takoma Foundation has added two new members to its board of directors. "We are delighted that Rocco Cassagrande and Maureen Feely-Kohl have joined the board," said Takoma Foundation President Kathy Porter. "They bring skills and contacts that will help us expand our reach into the community."

Feely-Kohl has lived in Takoma Park for 32 years, and she is an instructional supervisor at the Cafritz Arts Center at Montgomery College-Takoma. She has been on the Takoma Foundation's Grants Committee for the last four years. "The Foundation's impact on arts and culture attracted me to the Grants Committee," she said. "Also, I have been president of PTAs at most of the local schools at one time or another, so I believe strongly in the Foundation's mission to support schools and children."

ANNOUNCEMENT

Senior Girl Scout Troop 2986 will host their annual Father Daughter Dance from 7 to 10 pm on February 27, 2010. The event includes a father/daughter photo, a corsage or boutonniere, light refreshments, activities and of course, dancing. Tickets are $12 per couple, and $4 for each additional daughter or friend.

Proceeds will go to help fund the girls Gold Service Projects, similar to the Boy Scouts Eagle Projects and future troop travel. The event will be held at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, 310 Tulip Ave in Takoma Park. Tickets will be available at the door. Please contact troop Leader Winnie Neunzig with any questions or for more information at 301 891-2192 or loeb90@comcast.net.

Girl Scout Troop 2986 took the Father Daughter Dance event over from a previous Girl Scout Troop that began it as a fundraiser for their troop's travel funding. But the annual dance has now taken on a life of its own. This will be the tenth consecutive year. Many dads and young girls look forward to the event, which is always held in February. Host Girl Scout Troop 2986 grew up attending the dance with their fathers and now enjoy running it. It gives many of them a wonderful excuse to continue having a special celebration with their dads, even though they are now teenagers.

The average age of the girls who attend the dance are 3 to 13, but all ages are welcome. The girls generally like to dress up for the event, as it is a special occasion. This year's theme will be "A Winter Wonderland".