(Editors note. We welcome the first article written by our newest contributing reporter—and look forward to many others. Leslie Davis is a retired biotech, venture capital and finance attorney who moved to Poolesville with her family in 2001. She lives on a small horse farm and enjoys reading, gardening and sewing in her spare time.)
-by Leslie Davis, Contributing Reporter
Janet Hartz and her husband, Gary, moved with their three very young children to Poolesville in 1977. They thought they would be here about two years. Thirty years later, they are still here, still thriving, and still vibrant contributors to the life of the community.
When Janet came to Poolesville, she had already lived in a greater variety of locations in this country than most of us experience. She was born and grew up in Cavalier, North Dakota, a town of fewer than 2000 people. She has also lived on a reservation in New Mexico and in Alaska, Illinois, and California, primarily in connection with Gary’s work. As an Assistant Surgeon General, he served as Director of Environmental Health and Engineering for the Indian Health Service, a branch of the Public Health Service, a position he still holds as a civilian. He recently retired as a Rear Admiral.
Janet’s formal work experiences have been in music and music education. After coming to Poolesville, she was for 28 years Director of Music at the Butler School, an AMI Montessori school. She also taught private piano lessons in New Mexico, Alaska and Maryland.
Forming a mental image of Janet Hartz, now retired from teaching, sitting on her patio sipping tea, catching up on TV shows, reflecting on a full life well spent would be thoroughly erroneous. Janet’s so-called retirement has merely provided her with time to work harder at her other activities. It would be difficult to find someone who does more, with less muss and fuss.
Service has always been and remains a major focus of Janet’s life. She is Director of Music at Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church, where she works with a very active music ministry, including choir, bell choir, special seasonal music, and guest performers. Janet is Adult Choir director and is enthusiastic about working with the talented and dedicated members of the choir to produce exceptional music. Some choir members have formal music training, others do not. Janet reports that everyone is welcome, and she is always looking for additional choir members.
Janet’s ideas of service extend to the everyday kindnesses that make a difference in people’s lives. If you are a new neighbor, you get a welcoming visit and still-warm homemade cookies. If you are sick, you get homemade chicken soup and a cake. If you are stressed over the logistics of an upcoming wedding, Janet offers to cook part of the food and put up some of your guests. Because she really does care, she remembers which of your family members have been sick and which child has had a particular success.
Janet is a wonderful cook and is on the lookout for new recipes and ingredients. She can produce dinner for eight on an hour’s notice and make it look close to effortless. She also gardens and recently spent a day helping plant 20 trees. In the summer, she can often be found determinedly mowing her large yard while avoiding the pond and fending off the geese.
Still, it is mention of Janet’s husband, children or grandchildren that
unfailingly brings the light to her eyes. They are clearly central to her
life and the part of her life of which she is proudest.
Asked about the benefits of living in Poolesville, Janet said that she
particularly liked the small town characteristics. When her children
were in the Poolesville schools, she found it helpful that she knew all
the parents and children. It was easy to keep track of what was going
on and what the issues were for the young people. She also likes that
the town is a separate incorporated entity and can in large part control
its own destiny, rather than being a large undifferentiated suburb.
As to the needs of Poolesville, Janet believes it would be good if there
were more businesses, especially restaurants. A good small bookstore
would be most welcome. In addition, Poolesville residents include a
very large number of talented people who are successful in a variety
of fields. More of these people should find a way to serve the
community for the general good, whether through the schools,
churches, town government, library or service organizations. A
substantial number of small commitments could result in great benefit
to the town.
Janet’s “best” chocolate chip cookies
2 c. butter
5 c. oatmeal
5 c. oatmeal2 c. sugar1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. salt2 c. brown sugar 2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking powder4 eggs 1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. vanilla 1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips
1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips4 c. flour
Cream butter and sugars; add eggs and vanilla. Run oatmeal through
food processor. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and soda. Add flour
mixture and oatmeal to butter mixture. Dough is stiff. Add chips.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes at 375 degrees.
Make coconut cookies by substituting 1 small bag shredded
coconut for chocolate chips.
PHS ecology students, appropriately enough, focus on local ecology
Last Thursday was a drippy and gloomy day, but just the right kind
of weather to plant trees. And that is just what 84 ninth grade
students from the PHS’s Global Ecology House did. The GEH
students walked to the new Town Hall site to plant a visual buffer
between the new building and houses nearby. The students planted
Leyland cypress and American holly trees. This in fact was the
second visit to the site by the students. In the spring they received
a tour of the site from Bernie Mihm, the local landscaper who is
advising the Town on landscaping the site. When they came
back to plant the trees they were following up on his suggestions
on what type of trees to plant and where to plant them.
This was the second community project in recent weeks
undertaken by students in the GESP program. As reported in last
week’s POL, students marked Earth Day by a clean up of various
sites around town.
Joyce Bailey, teacher in the GEH, said: “We are excited about
working with the Town Manager, Wade Yost, on the town hall
project and the Earth Day trash clean up and we are looking
forward to more joint projects next year.”
Not just your typical “fish story”
No exaggeration or funny numbers here. The certified winners
of last Saturday’s Youth Fishing Tournament, according to
Preston King of the Town staff who wields a stingy yardstick,
were the following:
Grand Prize
Jared Brooks - 21 1/4" Channel Catfish
Ages 6, 7, 8
1st Place Kelly Hottinger
2nd Place Graham King
3rd place Tori Gruber
Ages 9, 10
1st Place Jake Lowe
2nd Place Hunter King
3rd Place Alli Gruber
Ages 11, 12, 13
1st Place Daniel Hooper
2nd Place James Parise
3rd Place Justin Hansen
WUMCO Help, Inc., itself needs a
bit of help from its friends
(Editor’s note. POL was unable to cover the recent annual meeting
of WUMCO and thanks the editor of The Monocacy Monocle for
sharing his report with our readers.)
-by Rande Davis
Despite some uncertain economic developments, the annual
meeting of WUMCO Help Inc. (Western Upper Montgomery
County) held at Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church
on April 29 concluded on a strong and positive note in looking
ahead for 2008.
While this was officially the twenty-third annual meeting of
WUMCO Help Inc., (this 501(c)(3) was established in 1985), it
was also the fortieth anniversary of the origins of the community
help program started by the Fred and Jane Stearns long with their
good friend, Beulah Harper in 1968.
Even with donations down and need rising, WUMCO was able to assist up to sixty families with housing-related services such as rent and utilities, medicines and medical procedures and emergency food.
This past year had a large drop in revenue from the United Way both from their direct grants and from funds designated by individuals who make their contributions through the United Way campaign. With rising fuel and gasoline costs, those donating to United Way are encouraged to make sure they name WUMCO as one of their personal designations.
With the shortfall from United Way and other standard sources of revenue, WUMCO turned to area churches, businesses, and individuals for increased assistance. In helping WUMCO overcome a challenging year, two individuals received certificates of recognition for the special extra assistance they provided. The first award recipient was Karen Johnson, the community coordinator for donations and events for the Germantown Wal-Mart store. Wal-mart provides special assistance during the holiday season. The second award winner was Ray Hoewing of Poolesville Online who was unable to
attend this meeting. Mr. Hoewing personally met with area clergy and spearheaded the effort to gain increased funds from up county churches to offset the losses from reduced funds elsewhere. His appeal at last fall’s joint Thanksgiving Community Service resulted in nearly $8,500 being raised, which turned out to be more than enough to overcome United Way shortfalls.
WUMCO has over forty businesses and community organizations that are members along with just over sixty individuals and families participating. All donations, either cash or in-kind, are tax deductible for this charitable 501(c)(3) organization. The Board of Directors re-elected Nancy Allnutt as president, Tracey Forfa, as vice-president, and Angela Drum, as secretary/treasurer. Jane Stearns remains the highly dedicated, hard-working executive an unpaid director who is assisted by Executive Assistant Renee Brooks. Other members of the Board of Directors are Ray Hoewing, Cherise Praniewski (who nearly single-handled administers the Thanksgiving and Holiday Basket and Toy drive) and Rande Davis.
To join or help WUMCO Help their contact information is P.O. Box 247, Poolesville; website is www.wumco.org. WUMCO can also be reached by e-mail at wumco@prodigy.net, or by telephone at 301-972-8481.
They never disappoint
-by Ralph Hitchens, Contributing Reporter
The Poolesville High School Midnight Players showcased their many and varied talents last week in their annual "Midnight Madness." Two evenings of theatrical skits, singing, dancing, and comedy -- including some "improv," which really challenges the aspiring stage personality. Notable performances include a beautiful “pas de deux”" from the movie "An American in Paris," danced by Claire Jones and Marshall Betz. Dylan Hodges, who underplayed a supporting role beautifully in the Midnight Players recent production
of "Footloose," showed his musical talent in a haunting piano
number he wrote and performed himself, accompanied by Nick
Range on bass guitar.
The multitalented Marshall Betz performed in his own comic skit,
"A Play Within a Play," along with his sidekick Scott Turner.
Another performer whose range of talents has few limits is Billy
Lewis, who wrote and acted in a humorous sketch "Profanity in
Theatre," sang a couple of songs (solo and in a duet), deftly
handled some improv comedy, and took a turn as part of the
Master of Ceremonies troika.
More fine singing was offered by Midnight Players stars Bailey
Kerr, Amanda Lee, Robyn Lott, Anna Mihm, Aimee Prideaux, Jo
Virkus, Dee Sambataro, and Madeleine Schinosi, who also gave us
a fine flute solo. All in all it was two very entertaining evenings
featuring talented and energetic young people who aren't afraid to
put themselves out there -- even in the risky business of improv
comedy. PHS has a lot to be proud of in the Midnight Players.
JPMS staff honored all last week…really!
Call it a big hooray for all the staff of John Poole Middle School. Maybe
some would call it pampering. But Leni Barry and her fellow members
from the JPMS PTA who organized the activities say it was just as it was named, “Staff Appreciation Week.” As she put it: “The week was truly
just a token of the appreciation the parents have all year long for what that
staff puts into each and every day.” And judging from the staff POL talked
to on Friday, they felt appreciated, some almost overwhelmed. And why
not? Here is the schedule of Staff Appreciation events:
Monday-Picnic lunch
Tuesday-Cakes and Pies and coffee
Wednesday-Breakfast
Thursday-Snack-Fruit and Cookie Goodie Bags
Friday-Fiesta Lunch
Principal Rick Bishop marvels at the “incredible support” that the school receives from its PTA and says that the percentage of parents
involved with the school in one way or another must be the
highest in the county.
Congratulations to Airman
John Tarney
John graduated from Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force
Base in San Antonio, Texas, on April 11, 2008. He is currently
attending Tech School at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi,
Mississippi. John is a 2007 graduate of Poolesville High School.
Godspeed!
Barbara Greene graduates with honors
Michael and Barbara Greene announce that their daughter, Jennifer
Ann Greene, PHS Class of 2004 will be graduating magna cum laude
on May 17, from York College of Pennsylvania. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. She has also applied
for the MBA program at York College and hopes to start in the fall.
CROSS REFERENCE
(Alas, not everyone reads every page. We list in this section—for the benefit of those who don’t regularly read CALENDAR AND BULLETIN BOARD--brief notes on community events that are listed for the first time on the “bulletin board.” Readers who want more information on any event can simply click to that page for further details.)
JPMS Concert Band car wash, Sunday, May 18th
Memorial Methodist Spring Flea Festival, Saturday, May 31
Odd Fellows’ Widows, Widowers and Orphans Annual Picnic,
Saturday, June 28th
