Montgomery County sentinel. [volume], January 26, 1961, Image 1

About Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974

Image provided by: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

                
RESULTS ... 7/ you
have something to sell
use a Sentinel Classified
Ad. You get results.
lOith Year - No. • ROCKVILLI, MARYLAND THURSDAY. JANUARY 24, 1941 1 SICTION U PAGES •Ardoo 4-7700 Too Coot* a Copy
Special
Schools
Deleted
Board of Education
Holds Up Approval
Pending Area Study
Proposals for substantial
expansion of Montgomery
County’s school facilities for
handicapped children have
been sidetracked for this
year at least, pending an ex
tended study of the overall
needs of the area’s retarded.
The board of education, in its
study of School Superintendent
C. Taylor Whittier’s proposed
capital budget for 1961, has
agreed to delete a proposed
new school for retarded on
Seven Locks rd. and an expan
sion project planned for the
Sandy Spring school with a
view to converting it to a cen
ter operated solely for the han
dicapped.
Study Prompts Decision
According to school officials,
the decision was prompted by
a recent move to establish a
Joint school board - County
Council committee for the pur
pose of probing deeply into the
problem of special education
with the objective of enlisting
the cooperation of all interested
agencies in arriving at a solu
tion. Another factor, it was in
dicated, was indecision over the
suitability of the Seven Locks
rd. site for a school for re
tarded.
The two special school proj
ects as proposed by Dr. Whit
tier had called for expenditure
of more than $750,000.
The special education study
will be conducted by a coordi
nating committee composed of
representatives of the juvenile
court, the health and welfare
departments and other agencies
concerned with the problems of
the retarded. One of the com
mittee’s functions will be to ex
plore the possibility of obtain
ing federal and State financial
aid for the future development
of educational facilities for the
handicapped.
To Serve As Guide
The committee’s findings will
be used as a guide by the
school board in planning future
educational programs for the
retarded, school officials said.
In its study of the capital
budget, still under way, the
board of education has ap
proved a number of proposed
new school construction proj
ects and additions to existing
schools. While it is still too
early to determine the net ef
fect of the board’s decisions on
Dr. Whittier’s proposal for cap
ital expenditures of $23.3 mil
lion, a substantial reduction al
ready has been indicated by the
board’s actions.
In addition to deleting the
two projects for special educa
tion, the board lopped SIOO,OOO
from Dr. Whittier’s proposal
for a $475,000 appropriation to
construct a gymnasium for
Montgomery Junior College.
New School Rejected
it also rejected a proposal
for construction of a new school
at Bannockburn Heights, sub
stituting instead a plan for en
larging the existing Bannock
burn elementary school, and
(Continued on Page 14)
Allied Civic Group Calls for
$2 Million School Budget Cut
The Allied Civic Group Mon
day night called for a reduc
tion of about two million dol
lars in the $46.4 million school
operating budget proposed by
Dr. C. Taylor Whittier, super
intendent of schools.
The proposed reduction was
incorporated in a report of the
civic unit’s education commit
tee, presented by committee
chairman Milton Rodes, and
adopted by unanimous vote dur
ing a meeting in the auditorium
of the Park and Planning Com
mission at Silver Spring.
In calling for reduced appro
priations in specific areas, the
group suggested deletion of a
$161,000 item for salary in
creases for administrative and
supervisory personnel, propos
ing instead that such increases
be limited to normal salary in
crements provided under exist
ing schedules. It also opposed
a plan to place administrative
Unttmicfi (Tinotn fttfiiri
ft A* * M
I J Jj* py*' 1 t
SI bft of ' i
BIG CLEAN-UP JOB of getting rid of the from left, Houston Prather, Charles Doye,
snow which clogged Rockville’s main streets and bulldozer operator Bedford Dodson. The
after Thursday’s blizzard was almost com- snow was loaded in trucks and dumped on
pleted when this photograph was made waste ground near Richard Montgomery
Tuesday. Members of the city crew are, High School. Staff Photo
TSew Rockville Civic Facility In
Red After 3 Months’ Operation
Rockville’s brand new $250,-
000 civic auditorium and social
hall is $1779 In the red after on
ly three months operation, Rec
reation Director Nell Ofsthun
Mathias Hails
C&O Canal
Proclamation
Former President Eisen
hower’* proclamation designat
ing the C. A O. Canal as a Na
tional Monument has been
given strong endorsement by
Rep. Charles “Mac” Mathias,
Republican Congressman from
Maryland’s Sixth District.
“This is the result of the
kind of teamwork we should
encourage for the future,” Ma
thias said. He expressed be
lief the action would open the
way for greater tourist ac
tivity and would create new job
opportunities for the people of
Western Maryland.
"It Is gratifying to me that
the president has recognized
the need for action and issued
his proclamation, including all
the necessary safeguards for
the development of the Poto
mac Valley,” the new Congress
man commented.
Mathias said he would confer
with Conrad Wirth, director of
the National Park Service, to
discuss the preparation of sup
plemental legislation “In order
to bring this great and historic
area to its fullest availability
for use by the public.”
Classes Tour
Smithsonian
Three eighth-grade classes at
Kensington Junior High School
saw collections of rocks and
minerals at Smithsonian Insti
tution last week.
Tours were guided by a
group from the Junior League
of Washington who prepare
special tours at the museum.
and supervisory employes on a
12-month year, a move for
which $297,000 had been allo
cated by Dr. Whittier.
The largest individual sum
recommended for elimination
was $306,000 for the employ
ment of additional supervisors
in a proposed reorganization of
the school program. Tlie ACG
also opposed a $272,000 item
proposed by the superintendent
for the purpose of establishing
a retirement system for cus
todial and cafeteria workers.
The group also recommend
these specific cuts: employ
ment of 25 additional secre
taries for elementary and sec-,
ondary schools, $106,000; sum
mer workshop program for ad
ministrative and supervisory
personnel employed on a 12-
month basis, $141,000: improved
building maintenance, $154,000,
and additional custodial super
visors, $75,000,
reported to the City Council
Monday.
The reason for the fast ac
cumulating deficit is that the
expected demand for the facil
ities has not been forthcoming.
During the period from Octo
ber 14, when the doors of the
auditorium were first opened to
the public, through January 14,
the two rooms have been used
a total of only 77 times.
It was hoped the fees charged
for the use of the facilities
would be more or less in line
with the operating costs. Fees
so far, Ofsthun said, have
brought in only $1043 and it
has cost the city $2822 to main
tain.
pie council directed the staff
to advise business organizations
of the availability of the struc
ture in hopes of drumming up
more business.
In other business the council
deferred awarding a major
storm sewer contract until next
week. All eleven bids were sub
stantially lower than the $457,-
421 estimated by the city’s con
sulting engineer, Hayes, Seay,
Mattern and Mattern.
Low bidder was Southern
Foundation Inc. with a bid of
$289,316 for corregated metal
City Board to Hear
MCEA Zoning Request
Rockville's Board of Ap
peals has scheduled a nearing
for February 4 at 10 a.m. on
the Montgomery County Edu
cation Association’s request
for permission to utilize the
Woodward mansion in Twin
brook as its business head
quarters.
Specifically, the MCEA is
seeking a special exception to
the zoning law under which
it would be permitted to con
duct a professional activity
in an area zoned for residen
tial occupancy. However, in
the event the exception is
granted and the property ac
quired by the education unit,
it would also serve as a social
center for MCEA’s more than
3000 members.
In addition to its action on
the budget, the ACG adopted
three resolutions, all pertaining
to schools.
One called for modification of
: existing Board of Education
policy on transportation to pro
vide bus service for all children
who reside more than one mile
from the schools they attend.
The resolution proposed that
: this be accomplished without
additional cost through im
proved management and oper
ational methods.
I Other resolutions proposed
development of a merit plan
"recognizing outstanding class
, room competence as a basis for
suitable financial reward" and
urged preparation of an organi
zation manual by the school
system, containing position de
l scriptions and a clear definition
of the functional relationship
between working units within
the system.
pipe, and $311,182 for concrete
pipe. The council gave staff
members a week to come up
with a recommendation between
the two types of pipes.
City Renewal
Post Filled
By Koepenick
Councilman Glen J. Koep
enick was named chairman of
Rockville's Urban Renewal Ad
visory Council last Monday
night to replace Frank E. Wil
liams, jr„ who resigned earlier
this month.
Koepenick, serving his first
term as a councilman, will take
on the additional Job as chair
man of the group immediately.
He told the Council he was an
xious to see some action on
urban renewal in Rockville as
soon as possible and initially
would call meetings of the ad
visory body “every week if
necessary.”
Koepenick has been a busi
nessman in Rockville for the
past 10 years and currently is
associated in partnership with
John J. McDonnell in. real es
tate and land development.
Williams is the owner of
Rockmont Motor Co. on N.
Washington st., Rockville,
which has just completed con
struction of a modern office
and showroom facility in the
city’s first private renewal pro
gram.
He explained in a letter to
Mayor Alexander J. Greene
that attention to business
matters left him less time and
energy for urban renewal think
ing and planning than he want
ed to give. “Urban renewal.”
wrote Williams, “is too vital to
the city not to receive more at
tention and work than it will be
physically possible for me to
give it in the immediate
future.”
The Mayor accepted his resig
nation as chairman with regret.
Upon his own request, Williams
will remain on the Urban Re
newal Advisory Council.
The Rockville Chamber of
Commerce and business people
in the city’s central trading
area have been expressing an
increased interest in urban re
newal. A week ago the Cham
ber conducted a public discus
sion on the subject which re
vealed that apparently people
want to know more about it
and how it may be applied to
Rockville.
MOTHERS’ MARCH
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 7 to 8 p.m.
in the
NEW MARCH OF DIMES
More than 5,000 mothers will march and wear the
symbolic key to prevent polio and crippling diseases.
Won’t you join them?
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED IN A FEW AREAS.
KEEP MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S 10-year good record.
Your one hour’s march can help others walk with NA
TIONAL FOUNDATION aid. Help fight polio, arthritis
and birth defects.
CALL headquarters, JU. 5-3005 or JU. 9-3175.
n. Kjvniury or service
Board Asks
More State
School Aid
■-
Blair Lee Receives
Letter From Breimyer
Stating Board Position
An expanded program of
State aid to education, in
cluding funds for construc
tion as well as instructional
activities, was supported this
week by the Montgomery
County Board of Education.
The board’s position was
stated in a letter signed by its
president, Harold F. Breimyer,
and addressed to Delegate Blair
Lee, 111, chairman of a legisla
tive subcommittee currently
studying proposals for State
school aid.
Breimyer said the board fav
ors an increase in State aid
greater than that proppsed in
the report of the James Com
mittee, although it endorses
several of the principles laid
down by the committee in its
program.
Higher Pay Endorsed
The board endorsed pro
posals to increase the State’s
minimum salary requirement
through added State contribu
tions, but objected to manda
tory application of the addi
tional funds to salaries in areas
already above the minimum.
Breimyer noted that State
school aid laws have not been
utilized in the past to “legis
late” the salary structure of
schools.
"Provisions for mandatory
increases in salaries would ham
string localities in introducing
new salary plans,” he observed.
The board also called for an
increase in incentive funds for
, school construction, and urged
that a portion of the aid be
proportionate t o enrollment
growth of the affected schools.
■■■
Pm: V v
Leonard H. Hoyle, Jr.
—Brooks photo
‘Dianiondback’
Post Goes To
County Youth
Leonard H. Hoyle, jr., of
Gaithersburg, has been ap
pointed editor-in-chief of the
Diamondback, University of
Maryland newspaper.
A senior journalism student
at the University, Hoyle, known
as “Buck,” graduated from
Gaithersburg High School,
where he was on the varsity
basketball team and the Blue
and Gold staff.
Buck is the athletic editor of
the University “M” Book, vice
president of Pi Delta Epsilon,
national honorary journalism
society; member of the Sigma
Delta Chi, professional journal
ism fraternity; and a member
of Sigma Chi.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Leonard H. Hoyle, sr., of 24
Maryland ave„ Gaithersburg.
m
JL ■isaHß |
I
EXAMINATION WEEK is in full swing in County Schools
and colleges, with the snowstorm providing only a partial
respite Monday when schools were closed. Typical student
at Richard Montgomery High School is 17 year-old senior
Cecilia Hudson of Rockville. She is pictured during an
examination on world history.— Staff Photo by Gillespie
Proposed Auto Tax
Hit by AAA Board
Charles N. Graham, Chairman
of the Suburban Maryland Ad
visory Board of the American
Automobile Association has
urged the County Council to
withdraw its request to the
Maryland General Assembly for
a law authorizing the Council to
levy a five-dollar license tag fee
on county motorists.
“Highway user taxes are
properly the function and au
thority of the State,” Graham
sitid in a letter to the Council.
“To delegate such taxing power
lo counties would result not
only in unreasonably high taxes
to the motorist, but also would
diminish much needed state
highway user tax funds desig
nated for highway purposes.
“After the cost of collection
has been deducted,” Graham
continued, "and the inconven
ience to the motorist is consid
ered, the amount of revenue ac
cruing from this tax would
hardly be justified,”
Restressing the AAA’s oppo
sition to the auto tag tax voiced
first in a meeting of the Board]
last week, Graham said that pres.!
ent taxes on highway users ac
count for a disproportionately]
high percentage of State tax
Baby Beef Club 1
Elects Officer*
John King has been elected
\ president of the Montgomery j
! County Baby Beef Club, meet
ing in the home of the Tread
way sisters in Sandy Spring.
Other officers are Janet
Hargett, vice president; Sue ’
Eckhart, secretary; Carolyn
Mills, treasurer; and Becky l
Schaeffer, reporter.
Next meeting of the club has
been set for January 25 at the i
home of Chip and Carolyn I
Mills.
Two Area Hospitals Requested to
Provide Beds for Mentally 111
The Montgomery County
Council will appeal to two area
hospitals to make bed space
available for the treatment of
emotionally disturbed patients
to help offset a pressing short
age of such facilities in the
county.
The Council directed Tuesday
that letters be sent to the new
Holy Cross Hospital in Silver
Spring and Suburban Hospital
in Bethesda requesting that
they make space available for
the hospitalization of mental
patients. The action was taken
on the motion of Councilwoman
Stella B. Werner after the gov
erning body received a report
from the Mental Health Joint
Planning Committee citing the
revenues, already 28.3 percent
of the total.
Accordingly, he concluded, the
AAA Board respectfully urged
the Montgomery County Council
to withdraw its request.
Wilbur N. Baughman
To Be Chairman
Of Cancer Crusade
Wilbur N. Baughman, former
President of the Montgomery
County Council, has been
named chairman of the Mont
gomery County Cancer Crusade
for 1961, Harry R. Switzer, gen
eral chairman, has announced.
Mr. Baughman, an attorney
and a resident of Olney, has
been active in the local chapter
for several years.
"The American Cancer Socie
ty has been instrumental in the
gains made by medical science
in combating can c e r,” Mr.
Baughman said In accepting
the appointment.
“Traffic Court”
Two prominent Montgom
ery County figures will be
featured in the public serv
ice program “Traffic Court.”
which will be televised Sat
urday evening at 6:30 p.m.
Peoples Court Judge John
B. Diamond 111 will preside
over the court proceedings,
and Inspector Carroll Miller
of the Montgomery County
Police Department will also
take part.
The program, which is a
re-enactment of actual traf
fic court sessions with only
the names of the accused
changed, is produced by Lou
Brott and Brylowskf,
j and is seen on WRC-TV,
1 Channel 4.
inadequacy of services and
facilities for mentally ill in the
county.
The report, presented by Dr.
William J. Peeples, county
health officer, was based on a
survey which established that
the need for services for
mentally ill is almost as great
as the supply in the county.
The survey gave the recorded
impressions of 168 professional
members of the staffs of 12
health and welfare agencies in
the county and 26 members of
the Montgomery County Med
ical Society engaged in various
types of practices. Its findings
were based on records kept dur
ing a given week In February of
last year, when participants
LEGISLATION . , . See
Blair Lee’s report on in
side developments at An
napolis. Page 2.
Economy
Agency
Studied
Butcher Advocates
New Agency to Help
Encourage Industry
Creation of a new Mont
gomery County governmen
tal agency for the purpose of
beefing up the county’s eco
nomic development program
was proposed Tuesday by Coun
ty Manager Mason A. Butcher.
In a report submitted to the
County Council for study, Butch
er called for the immediate es
tablishment of a local Office of
Economic Development within
his own office to coordinate the
efforts of varied interests seek
ing to encourage Industry and
other desirable businesses to lo
cate in the county.
The manager suggested that
the staff bf the office, initially,
be composed of “one person
with considerable experience in
the field of economic develop
ment, such experience to be
consistent with the objectives
of our program, plus necessary
assistances.” He said he felt a
single stenographer would be
sufficient In the early stages
of the program.
Budget Funds Available
Butcher proposed that the
new agency be financed for the
remainder of the current fiscal
year from a miscellaneous ap
propriation of $25,000 for eco
nomic development in the 1960-
61 budget. In the future, he add
ed, requests lor funds would ap
pear as regular budget items.
In recommending that the of
fice be created, Butcher noted
that there has been "consider
able” economic development ac
tivity by both public and pri
vate agencies In the county.
But, he said, “to a large extent
it Is disjointed; it lacks a set
of clear cut objectives and is
without coordinated direction.”
Many Agencies Involved
Representatives of industry
interested in locating in the
county. Butcher pointed out, in
variably must visit the county
government, the sanitary com
mission. the park and planning
commission, the State Roads
Commission, individual utilities,
private realtors and developers
and other agencies, according to
their particular needs.
“The point that has been
stressed to us again and again
as we studied this question is
the need for a central clearing
house, a focal point in the coun
ty around which economic de
velopment activity can revolve
and which can serve as a co
ordinating force for all public
and private activity in this
field,” the manager told the
Council.
He said he proposed the of
fice as a “bold beginning to
serve as a stimulus to the
groups in our community which
should be concerned with our
economic development.”
Objectives Listed
Butcher listed these object
ives of the development pro
gram:
• To develop and keep current
a profile of the economic poten
tial of the County to serve as
the basis of programs designed
to attract industries of a type
which our community can wel
come and support.
• To organize and keep current
a broad range of factual infor
mation about the economy, so
clety, government and other as
pects of the life of and life in
(Continued on Page 14)
summarized the number of
clients served and reported on
the availability of resources
needed to provide adequate
treatment.
Their reports indicated tiiat
48 per cent of the services and
facilities required were not
available, the survey report
showed. A major factor was
the long backlog of names on
waiting lists of the agencies
providing the services and, in
some Instances, no such agen
cies existed In the geographical
area of the patients.
Participants in the survey
reported particular difficulty in
finding available services for
children in their early teens
who needed assistance with
their mental problems.