Montgomery County sentinel. [volume], September 27, 1962, Image 1

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

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108th Year • No. 13—Published Every Thursday y; 0 ,D THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 27. 1962 GArden 4-7700 TWO SECTIONS JQ£ a Copy
Poolesville
Stirred by
Annexation
The split personality of
the tiny up-county town of
Poolesville will be put to one
of its severest tests next
weekend.
A high percentage of the
town’s estimated 180 voters is
expected tojurn out Oct. 6 for a
that is likely to
create enduring hard feelings
on the part of one segment of
the divided populace.
Voters will decide on whether
Mayor Billy Bliss and the Town
Council should get their knuck
les rapped for annexing over
3,000 acres of land south of
Poolesville.
By a simply majority vote,
the townspeople will either veto
or sustain the controversial an
nexation, approved by the mayor
and council Sept. 11 after a
lengthy public hearing at which
a struggle between the forces
of the old and the new became
evident.
The annexation is sought
by developer Bernard Seigel,
realtor Charles Jamison and
others who seek to develop
a model planned community
south of the present town
limits.
Mayor Bliss and other annexa
tion advocates argue it will im
mediately double the town’s
land base for taxes and contri
bute much toward Poolesville’s
growth and prosperity.
A major feature of Seigel’s
Wd is an offer to allow the town
—long blighted by water pollu
tion problems- to tie into two
deep wells already standing on
the property to be annexed.
Local opposition to the ac
quistion, particularly among
older town residents, has been
strong. Opponents argue it
would put Poolesville in the posi
tion of “a small tail on the
back of a big dog,” that it
would draw major development
away from the present town,,
and that the city’s costs of main
tenance and service to the new
community would be out of pro
portion, to raven ue'“ it ' wouYd
take in from additional property
taxes.
They also cite Informal op
position to the planned commun
ity from the Maryland-National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission. Spokesman for Seigel,
however, maintain the plan has
never been formally rejected or
formally considered by the Com
mission.
The Planning Commission’s
proposed general plan for the
county. Issued last weekend,
does not envision any major
development in the Poolesville
area for the next 38 years.
“I don't think the Planning
Commission has given any
thought to the health problem
or other problems in Pooles
ville,” said Mayor Bliss this
week. “The only answer is for
us to get enough growth to sup
port ourselves.”
Meantime, opponents of the
annexation this week were ral
lying thp majority of votes they
will need to turn down the an
nexation next Saturday.
Unofficial spokesman for the
opposition. Nana Hall, rxhorted
town residents in a special bul
letin to reject the proposal,
which, she said, will leave Pool
esville “a ghost town.”
“If you wish to remain a
free citizen in this town which
your ancestors have founded
and fought for and which
you have helped to build and
preserve” Mrs. Hall wrote,
“then vote AGAINST the an
nexation of thousands of acres
of land owned by two men
who are promoters and who
must in turn sell your birth
right to strangers who can
and will destroy the tranquil
ity and charm of our town.”
In their formal message to
Poolesville residents, those who
favor the annexation declare
their planned community "would
provide all of the economic and
social amenities required in
this modem age without sacri
ficing thp heritage and tradi
tions of Poolesville.”
They urge the townspeople
to "grasp a golden opportunity
to emerge as a leading center
of commerce, industry and
social activity in this region.”
City Approves
Annexation
Rockville expanded its limits
by 49.6 acres Monday night
when the Mayor and Council
approved annexation of the
Aldre, Inc. tract, east of Falls
Road and south of the old Rock
ville Fruit Farm.
Public hearing on the annexa
tion was held September 17. The
annexation becomes effective
Nov. 8. It will be developed by
singl* family dwellings.
3ta(W'ri! ft auto Senter I
, Established. 1855
| vy.;.,••>•*:• t - - --
How ‘’Corridor Cities’ Would Look Under Proposed Plan
Future Growth Charted
General Plan Foresees Booming Population
Of Nearly One Million by Year 2000 Here
By Roger B. Farquhar
Sentinel Reporter
The long-awaited general
plan for Montgomery Coun
ty to guide its explosive
growth until the year 2000
was made public over the
weekend by the Maryland-
National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
Filled with charts, graphs, col
ored maps and drawings and
containing much statistical data
on which the sweeping recom
mendations were based, the re
port was printed at a cost of
approximately $50,000, financed
by part local and part federal
funds.
Basically, the plan conforms
to the “Year 2000” plan pub
lished last year by the National
Capital Planning Commission
and the anticipated recommen
dations expected Nov. 1 of the
National Capital Transportation
Agency.
Concentration of future coun
ty residents, expected to total
almost one million by 2000,
along two major, densely-popu
lated corridors one along Route
70S through Rockville, Gaithers
burg and Germantown and an
other straddling the Prince
(See related editorials on Page
A4)
Georges County line along pro
posed Interstate Highway 95,
sometimes known as the third
route to Baltimore —is the basic
plea of all three plans.
Between the corridors, pop
ulation would be kept less
dense and the areas of Pooles
ville, Damascus and the coun
ty’s entire northern portion
would be virtually free of
population lnsuring open
spaces saved for recreation
and enjoyment of future gen
erations.
A series of public hearings
will be held on the plan “some
time after Thanksgiving.” ac
cording to M-NCPPC executive
director Jesse F. NichoLson, and
: the full commission is expected
[to adopt the plan sometime af
ter Christmas.
Rapid transit buses or sub
ways- speeding along the den
sely-packed population corridors
would deliver suburban workers
to downtown employment cen
ters under the plan.
So-called nodes, .or corridor
cities of up to 125,000 population
each would be built up along
the corridors with futuristic,
high-rise apartments, elaborate
commercial, cultural and recrea
tion facilities serving the “city”
residents.
In the more or less open
“wedges” between the corridors,
those desiring a more rural at
mosphere would be assured of
I enjoying it.
“Slaking the new corridor
cities pleasant places to live,
places, with individual identi
ties and home-tow'n atmos
phere, calls for an exercise in
-rbtM--design,” the report
points out. “With the chance !
to begin from the beginning, |
From All Over East
200 Autos to Compete
In Show Here Saturday
An historic panorama of
oldtime America unfolds Sat
urday as 165 or more vintage
automobiles right opt of
grandma’s day gather for
the first Rockville Antique
and Classic Car Show.
Neil Ofsthun, Rockville rec
reation director, said the partic
ipating automobiles, complete
with burping bulb horns and
cantankerous cranks, will rep
resent the east coast from Flo
rida to New England.
Poison Necklace Bean
Is Sold In Rockville
By William H. Smith
Sentinel Re|Krter
Some residents of the Rockville area may unknow
ingly be in possession of a decorative tropical bean that is
potentially as dangerous as it is attractive.
Health authories were alerted
to the possibility this week after
the wife of former Mayor
Alexander J. Greene discovered
that several necklaces she pur
chased locally almost a year
; ago were composed of the
poisonous “jequirity bean,” a
popular ornament that has been
barred from importation be
cause it was found to be poterrti
' ally fatal.
! Mrs. Greene recalled having
purchased the Items, composed
of shiny red beans with black
dots, after reading news ac
counts about one being dis
covered recently in the nearby
Virginia area. Her husband
turned them into the Food and
Drug Administration Monday,
and they were found to be com
posed of the tropical poisions.
Mrs. Greene recalled having
purchased the necklaces about
11 months ago at a novelty
store In the Twlnbrook Shop
ping Center which was then
about to go out of business.
She said there were a number
of others available at the time
and that she was told by a
saleswoman that they seemed
quite popular and that several
already had been sold.
A spokesman for the Food
and Drug Administration, in
| confirming that the necklaces
sold in Rockville were composed
this exercise is made easier,” |
it points out.
j “Permanent establishment of |
a rural land pattern should be-4
i among the chief concerns of the |
I county legislative bodies,” the
’i The day’s program will pivot
, around the Rockville Civic Cen
, ter, but a scheduled parade and
■ the unscheduled wanderings of
■ the oldtimers are expected to
| spread the gas, electric and
steam buggies over the city.
The Civic Center is located at
Old Baltimore Rd. and Edmons
ton Dr.
After a round of judging the
ears and costumes of the
brave drivers at 11:30 a-m.,
the wheezing motorcade will
(Continued on Page A3)
of the poisonous beans, said the
governmental agency takes no
action in such cases but warns j
local health authorities of their I
existence. However, Dr. William
J. Peeples, county health officer, j
said Tuesday he had not as yet
been informed about their exist-'
ence.
When lie receives detailed -
information. Dr. Peeples said,
he Mill take whatever steps he
feel* necessary to locate
others which may have been
sold at the Rockville store,
or to warn those who may
have bought them.
Although the beans are de
finitely known to be fatal, the
Food and Drug Administration
spokesman said, it is fortunate
that no deaths have been re
ported due to their use. To
achieve fatal effects, he noted,
they must be chewed up, and
are harmless if swallowed
whole.
As the result of the discovery
of their poisonous effects sev
eral years ago, the beans are no
longer admitted to the country
as commercial products, the of
ficial said, but they often are
brought back from tropical
countries as souvenirs by tour
ists.
| report states, and it suggests a j
variety of ways to do this.
Among them are establish-1
4- ■ ■!’ - V r ’ • -T- !••*■ I 11 1 •*!' —*
! In Rape Caae
County Youth Goes
On Trial lor Life
By Bill Mt-Ada.
Sentinel Reporter
ANNAPOLIS—Joseph Johnson, 23-year-old Spencer-,
vilie resident, went on trial for his life here Tuesday morn
ing, the last of three men accused of raping a 16-year-old
; ““O * *- ,,V ***** . vx VV
i girl from Hyattsville. i
Johnson’s trial was moved to
Anne Arundel County after two
iof Johnson’s friends, brothers
James and John Giles, were
found guilty of the same
charges in the case and con
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On Trial for Life
Joseph Johnson, right, the third of three Spencervllle youths
accused of raping a Hyattsville school girl last year, smiles
as be returns to the courtroom In Annapolis during his trial
there this week. With him is Montgomery County Deputy
Sheriff Robert Ray. Through tile trial. Ihe accused man
showed little emotion as he fazed an all-male jury which In
cluded two Negroes. Two other youths, -lames and John
Giles, were sentenced to death In the case by a Montgomery
County judge Dee. 11.
j ment of “truly rural zoning,”
j use of limited access sewer lines,
j (Continued on Page A10)
| *
demned to death by a Montgo
mery County judge Dec. 11.
The accused man’s court-ap
pointed attorneys contended in
seeking the change that exten
(Continued on Page A10)
Land Use
Study Is
Completed
Annexation
Referendum
Is Monday
If the 412-acre Anderson
tract becomes part of the
City of Rockville next Mon
day, it comes gift-wrapped
by the Mayor and Council in
29 acres of apartment zon
ing; 5 acres of commercial,
36 acres in rural-suburban
zoning, and the balance of
the tract given over to single
family dwellings in the R-90
classification.
Decision of the Mayor and
Council to approve a pared
down version of the original zon
ing requests of developer Mil
ton Polinger came Monday rtight
in the face of bitter protest from
three citizens and the head of
a local retail merchants organi
zations.
Last night, the Mayor and
Council met briefly at 8:15 to
adopt a zoning map for the area
contingent on outcome of a re
ferendum set for Monday when
property owners, and those pres
ently occupying the tract, will
vote "yes” or “no” on the ques
tion of annexation by Rockville.
Polinger who purchased the
tract for $1.7 million and early
this year asked for annexation
by Rockville and zoning to con
! struct 1672 housing units, in
leluditjg high-rise apart
ments, asked tor the referendum
i on annexation when city fathers
okayed taking the tract in the
! city but said “no” to zoning re
quests as they related to apart
ments and commercial and in
dustrial areas.
Last Monday night, and two
weeks before the referendum
date, Polinger appeared before
i the City Council again and said
he would be willing to come in
to the city with 37 Vi acres of
apartment zoning; 10 acres of
commercial: and 28.6 acres of
R-S zoning: and 253 acres for
, single family dwellings,
j Polinger emerged from his
j most recent meeting, however,
i with eight acres less of apart
ment zoning than requested a
! week ago; 5 acres of commer
cial instead of 10; about 8 acres
j more of R-S zoning, and approx
; imately 89 acres more of land
zoned for single family dwel-1
lings.
Leslie Abbe, veteran of
Rockville civic affairs, former
head of the city’s planning
commission, and one of the
original organizers of Citizens
(Continued on Page A10)
6232 New
Voters Are
Signed Up
A total of 6232 new voters
registered during the Sept.
4-24 drive to sign up new
voters for the Nov. 6 general
election.
On the last night to sign up
before registration books were
closed Monday, officials accepted
909 registrations. A long line
formed in the Courthouse cor
ridors as new voters patiently
waited for their turns.
During the three-week period
of new voter regist ration, the
i total of new Democratic voters
was 3,394 while the Republicans
singed up 2,416. A total of 422
persons declined to state their
political affiliation.
Roving boards of registry, ac
cording to Miss Rose Dawson,
clerk to the board of election
supervisors, signed up 3,652
new voters during Sept. 9-24 and
2,580 were signed up in the main
office in Rockville.
The Sentinel sponsored a
“New Voters Registration
Sweepstakes” offering re
wards and prizes to stimulate
new voter’s interest. Names
of the winners will be selected
I at random during the coming
week and winners will be an
nounced next week.
Campaign ts Rolling
Vou’ll read the latest and
most complete news of the ex
citing general election cam
paign each week In the Sen
tinel. Turn to Page AS for this
week’s political roundup.
Department
Store Need
Is Cited
By Lila H. Thomson
Sentinel Reporter
The long-heralded land
utilization and marketability
study upon which Rockville
planners will base their mid
city urban redevelopment
plans was turned over to the
Mayor and Council this
week.
The study group ruled out
voluntary rehabilitation of the
mid-City area by property own
ers and said part of the problem
in downtown Rockville is one
of planning and platting and the
"remedy will only be found in
a concerted redevelopment pro
gram guided by a public autho
rity armed with the power of
eminent domain.”
With certain economic "ifs”
running through the report.
Real Estate Research Corpora
tion of Washington, consultants
who made the study of Rock
ville's ailing mid-city area, told
City Hall redevelopment of the
central business district is “en
tirely feasible” if conducted
along one of two alternate lines:
• With reoriented retail facili
ties anchored by a major na
tional chain department store
similar to those constructed by
Sears Roebuck or a major re
gional department store chain
similar to those recently erected
by the Hecht Company; with
office buildings and certain
other compatible nonresldential
uses; along with a number of
multi-family residential units,
or—
• With reoriented retail facili
ties and no department store;
with office buildings and certain
other compatible nonresidential
uses; and with a substantially
larger number of multi-family
residential units.
The consultants said "by 1967
the anticipated growth of the
Rockville market area will re
sult in a department store gross
volume potential of $34,577,000.”
In a cautioning note, the re
port emphasized that before the
end of this year, a new 140,000
square foot Super Giant Dis
count Center will be opened just
beyond the city limits on Rock
ville Pike. At the same time, it
stated a J. E. Korvette discount
department store may be opened
next year close to the Super
Giant location and that “these
stores may be expected to prove
highly competitive to a depart
ment store in downtown Rock
i vilie arid to any other merchant
; in competitive lines.”
Also taken into consideration
as possible retail competition
for Rockville is a contemplated
85-acre shopping center tor Bells
Mill Road and a section of Inter
state 70S. The consultants said
"this tract is already zoned tor
commercial use; new high-rise
and garden apartments, and an
office building, leased to IBM,
have been built at the location,
approximately four miles direct
(Continued on Page AlOi
Schools Grant
Pay Hike To
Pood Employes
School eafetoria helpers,
cooks and hakers this week
were voted a five-cent hourly
pay increase by the School
Board, which also reported a
$103,000 surplus In school
cafeteria revenues last year.
Most recent raise granted
these employes was for seven
cents an hour In 1960.
The Increase will apply to
all cafeteria helpers, cooks
and hakers who had at least
two years of service on Sept.
1, and will be retroactive to
that date.
Board members deszflbed
Ihelr aetion as “an attempt
to recognize people who per
form a y nman task In the
I school system.”