Arts & Fun

Ear and Nose to the Ground: Cpl. Chad Eastman and K-9 Max Walk a Clean Beat

By Pamela Schipper | Photography by Phil Fabrizio On any given day—or night—in Gaithersburg, Cpl. Chad Eastman and his K-9 partner Max may be called upon to sniff out drugs and suspects. Police dogs can be trained to detect and indicate on a number of odors, from guns and bombs to missing persons and drugs. But they are all one-odor dogs, Eastman ...

James McCartney’s U.S. Tour: Here Comes the Son

By Molly Golubcow In 1969, the Beatles’ song “Here Comes the Sun” topped the charts as one of the many hits borne out of the now classic “Abbey Road” album. Forty-plus years later, here comes James McCartney, son of Sir Paul McCartney and the late Linda Eastman McCartney, performing at The Fillmore in downtown Silver Spring on June 11. As a ...

Local Stars Light Up the Literary Stratosphere: Gaithersburg’s on Cloud Nine in Year Three

"The Washington, D.C., area has long been recognized as the most literate region in the country,” says Jud Ashman, Gaithersburg Book Festival chairman and City of Gaithersburg council member. “So it’s no surprise that we boast a large number of talented authors—both nationally known and up-and-coming—who reside in our area.” On May 19 at the ...

Faithful Companions, Feathered Friends and Beaming Beasties

All Drawn Through the Artistry of Michael Auger By Pamela Schipper | Photography by Hilary Schwab With his burnished hair, aquiline nose and quicksilver energy, Gaithersburg artist Michael Auger has the air of a Medieval knight— not the Breton King Arthur, but an earlier version of this legendary figure, the one with magical ties to Annwn, the Welsh ...

Huzzah for History!

Colonial Williamsburg's Historical Holiday Is a Hit for the Whole Family By Carrie O'Brien | Photography courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg A shout of “huzzah” was used to express joy in Colonial times, and over the years it transformed into our exclamation of “hooray!” However, there remains one part of the country where people still say ...

In the Stars for May & June 2012

MAY Gemini (May 21-June 21) Early in the month efficiency is high, but those born between May 21 and 26 are experiencing an ongoing, confusing period. Nothing seems settled or clear. Temper could flare at home any time during the month, but this may occur mostly during the first few days of May. Cancer (June 22-July 22) If you were born around June ...

Something Old for Something New: Olney’s Fair Hill

By Emily Kong | Photography courtesy of Sandy Spring Museum When the renovation of Olney Town Shopping Center was completed in spring of 2011, it bore a new name: Fair Hill. Those who frequented the shopping center were confused. Where did this new name come from? The community had forgotten the mansion that had once stood near the new shopping ...

In the Stars March/April 2012

By Carole Devine MARCH Pisces (Feb 19–March 20) Even though the month is very busy, leading you to be impatient at times, you’ll calm down a bit for a few days around the sixth, at which time you’ll also be more intuitive than usual. Unexpected expenses could crop up around the 23rd. Communication with siblings is excellent. Aries (March ...

Montgomery Village’s Storied Rise: New Pictorial History Celebrates Kettler Brothers’ Vision

By Pamela Schipper Long before there was a Washingtonian Center or a Kentlands, there was Montgomery Village. From the start, the Village was novel in its diverse architectural styles and price points, and inspired in its incorporation of green space and amenities. There was “something for everybody,” says Carolyn Camacho, a Village resident since ...

Crazy Ray’s–An Adventure in Auto Parts

By Emily Bell | Photography by Serena Zdanis Remember the days when people actually worked on their own cars? When it was not only practical but economical to fix your own vehicle? Sometimes it seems those days are long gone. Today, it’s estimated that only six percent of the public deals with used auto parts, an astonishing number when you take into ...