Lauren Berryman - ��Ӱ��

Person fires gun toward train at Columbia Heights Metro station

Lauren Berryman — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 20:49:31 +0000

Someone fired a gun inside Columbia Heights Metro station following a fight Wednesday night, said. It is unclear at this time whether anyone was hurt.

Police responded around 7:20 p.m. to the incident at the intersection of 14th Street NW and Irving Street NW. Officers confirmed at the scene that there was a shooting but could disclose no further details.

Sherri Ly, a WMATA spokesperson, said in a statement to ��Ӱ�� that the person fired a gun from the station platform toward the train. No suspect or victim has been found as of Thursday morning.

The Green line train traveled south before stopping at Mt. Vernon Square Metro station. Following the incident, Columbia Heights closed both its Green and Yellow lines for nearly three hours. Police guarded the gate.

The station closed for three hours following the shooting. People needing to use the station were given the option to ride shuttle buses and regular Metrobuses. (Lauren Berryman/��Ӱ��)

Metro trains bypassed the station, and WMATA brought in shuttle buses as an alternative transportation method. Regularly scheduled Metrobuses continued operating in the area.

This incident marks the second shooting at the station in the past two weeks. A 19-year-old was possibly shot in the leg at the station on Nov. 29, as reported by last month.

Metro Transit Police are looking for three suspects in connection with the two most recent shootings. Images and descriptions are posted inside Columbia Heights. No arrests have been made. (Lauren Berryman/��Ӱ��)

Police are still looking for two people who may be involved with Wednesday’s shooting as well as someone in connection with last month’s shooting. They encourage anyone with information to contact the MTPD tip line.

MTPD seeking to identify this individual in connection w/shooting on board Green Line train at Columbia Heights 11/29. DC Crime Solvers offering reward up to $1,000 for info leading to an arrest and/or indictment. CALL 1-844-MTPDTIP (687-3847) OR EMAIL MTPDTIPS1@wmata.com

— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD)

Columbia Heights residents said they are concerned about recent crime in the area.

“It’s happened before, so I don’t think I’d say I’m surprised,” James Davis, who lives a 10-minute walk from the station, said in response to Wednesday’s shooting. “The area has never been my favorite just because there’s a lot of people and a lot going on.”

But as someone who relies on this Metro stop to access the city, Davis said he plans to continue using it while staying vigilant of his surroundings.

At the scene, people seemed concerned about the incident and inconvenienced by the station closure. One woman was on her way home from running errands at Giant Food, located one block north of the station, when she learned of the shooting.

“I’m really upset,” said Melissa, a D.C. resident who asked we withhold her last name. “It’s going to be hard to get home now in the dark in a dangerous neighborhood.”

, a public resource tracking gun incidents around the country, found that both fatal and nonfatal shootings were up in D.C. from January to October of this year. There were nearly 100 more shootings during those months compared to the same period last year.

WMATA encourages Metro users to call Metro Transit Police at (202) 962-2121 if they notice any suspicious activity aboard trains or at stations.

“If they see something, say something,” Ly, WMATA spokesperson, said in an interview. “They should contact MTPD.”

She also encourages people to use its text message service. Texting tips to “MyMTPD” alerts Metro police communications.

“You can also reach out or contact a station manager or employee,” she added.

This investigation continues to develop, as police search for suspects, possible victims and others involved.

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Nearly 1,500 Chevy Chase residents weigh in on future of local library

Lauren Berryman — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:54:14 +0000

To many locals, the Chevy Chase Library is a quiet oasis where they check out books, surf the web and study for exams. But, if walls could talk, it would become evident that the building needs a facelift.

The , part of an effort to refurbish all 21 Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) by 2035, has proved to be a contentious issue among residents. Locals submitted nearly 1,500 comments on two building proposals between summer 2020 and Nov. 22, 2021.

Of these comments, 110 are available on the building project’s webpage. Public comments range from outwardly opposing plans that increase area congestion to encouraging a full-scale renovation that modernizes the library to supporting plans that bring growth to the community.

“The library definitely sees itself as a key to a good community life for all the residents in the county,” said Anita Vassallo, director of MCPL. “We want the best outcome for the library in Chevy Chase now and 10 or 20 years in the future.”

Two plans, two futures for the library

One building plan involves a full-scale renovation of the library, originally built in 1965. The other plan calls for constructing a new, larger library with attached housing.

Both plans are expected to have roughly the same price tag.

The updates would include a significant number of repairs including asbestos abatement, roof repairs, American Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit replacements.

The two plans for the Chevy Chase Library, located at 8005 Connecticut Ave., are estimated to cost more than $6 million. The nine county library refurbishments completed so far have cost an average of $2.25 million. According to data provided by the Department of General Services (DGS), the Chevy Chase plans far exceed the average library project cost.

“The refreshes of the libraries were never meant to be full-scale renovations when they began back in 2015,” Vassallo said. “There are significant infrastructure problems with the building.”

Ronnie Warner, chief of the Office of Planning and Development at DGS, said the two proposed projects are estimated to take two to three years to complete — with the renovation possibly on the shorter end and the reconstruction on the longer end of the timeline. She said a typical library project takes a year to complete.

“It would take significantly longer than the other [library projects],” Warner said about the Chevy Chase project. “The refurbishment program is really meant to be new carpet, new paint and ADA improvements, so this is well beyond that.”

Many locals use the Chevy Chase Library to surf the web and check out books. But plans to refurbish the library will force people to use other nearby libraries for roughly two to three years. (Lauren Berryman/��Ӱ��)

But some Chevy Chase residents, like John Higgins, worry unforeseen construction delays could impact the projected timeline.

“If we’re looking at just the building process itself, maybe it is an extra year, but I don’t think that’s the way it’s going to turn out,” Higgins said. “It will be five years at least before we have another fully operating library,” he suspects.

The with attached housing would be done through a public-private partnership to help offset the costs. Under this plan, the library would expand from 16,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet, and possible plans include an early literacy area, dedicated teen area, adult reading area and collaboration rooms with smart TVs.

The includes resurfacing the parking lot, updating plumbing and electrical systems, waterproofing the basement, repairing the roof and replacing library furniture.

Both DGS and MCPL emphasized that a plan and its specifics have not yet been decided. Instead, these are preliminary ideas. When a decision is made, these agencies plan to collaborate with the community about features it hopes to see.

Public offers praise and criticism

Locals have expressed both support and criticism for these plans. In the high-rent area, some favorably view the prospect of additional housing, which could bring more affordable options.

“I would support the mixed-use development option if the housing portion of the development would be affordable middle housing,” one woman wrote in a comment. “Let’s use this as an opportunity to address the acknowledged shortage of affordable middle housing in our community.”

A Bethesda resident who uses the Chevy Chase Library said the same. “Redevelopment through a public-private partnership would be fantastic! Absolutely expand available, sub-$1M housing,” the comment said.

But many also feel strongly against the property’s redevelopment. Hillary Fennell, a Chevy Chase resident who’s used the library for 40 years, said it would be a “disgrace” to reconstruct the building, adding that she doesn’t want to see another high-rise in the area.

Higgins, a resident of Chevy Chase for 50 years, feels similarly. He sent a to DGS and MCPL in 2020 expressing his concerns for the redevelopment plan.

In an interview last week, Higgins told ��Ӱ�� that he feels stronger about this issue today. “The idea of a public-private partnership in which there’s going to be more housing and, therefore, more traffic…is really asking for serious, serious problems,” he said.

Because the library is next to the Chevy Chase Fire Department, Higgins said his main concern draws from the traffic bottlenecks that already slow firetrucks traveling north on Connecticut Avenue.

“Traffic could be so bad that [firefighters] have to take the engine and run it up the south lane of Connecticut Avenue against the traffic because there’s no traffic coming,” he said, adding that he’s noticed an increase in traffic since the Chevy Chase Lake development began.

This project, located two blocks north of the library, will bring more housing and retail to the area, reported earlier this year.

Some critics of the redevelopment plan said the Chevy Chase Lake development is increasing congestion in the area and another housing development would make traffic worse. (Lauren Berryman/��Ӱ��)

Others positively view the influx of people to Chevy Chase. “Living above a library really sounds like a dream,” one comment said. “Creating that opportunity only makes sense as our community continues to grow.”

Judy McGuire is a resident of Chevy Chase and the president of , through which she helps raise money for the library and organizes outreach events. She’s used this library since she moved to Chevy Chase more than 30 years ago — first bringing her children and now her grandchildren.

In an interview, McGuire said libraries are changing their role in society to become more community-oriented. But when the library closes for updates, locals will be forced to use other libraries.

“I think it’s a loss to the community,” McGuire said. “It sort of breaks things up,” similar to when students are sent to temporary schools while their actual school building undergoes renovation, she said.

While the county has proposed these two building plans, some residents offered other ideas regarding the future of the library.

“I would suggest that the county renovate the library and add an upper floor or two with rental apartments to serve the low to middle-income residents who work in our libraries, schools and other county agencies,” one woman wrote, combining aspects of the two plans. “Many of these workers cannot afford to live in the county anymore and must commute long distances, contributing to the heavy traffic.”

DGS and MCPL plan to meet with County Executive Marc Elrich later this month to discuss the public’s comments, although no date has been set. If Elrich is briefed this month, a plan will be added to his budget, which council members will vote on later next year.

“We’re really thrilled with the community feedback,” Warner said, adding that DGS didn’t expect to receive so many comments. “We were very pleased.”

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Supply chain disruptions are a ‘nightmare’ for some Bethesda and Chevy Chase business owners, and the end is not in sight

Lauren Berryman — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 17:44:58 +0000

One local restaurant owner finds himself running to the grocery store when deliveries come in short. Another is opening a new restaurant, but missing appliances have pushed progress back four months. Through these headaches, prices surge.

Supply chain disruptions have hit hard, from production lines abroad to stagnant container ships at U.S. ports to local stores where owners know customers by name. While store owners acknowledge inflation and delays happen, they said the pandemic has spurred the unprecedented impact felt today.

“It goes back as far as last year,” Ashish Alfred, owner of on Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda, said. “We were trying to winterize the patios, so we were looking to get heaters. Even then, heaters come from China. China cut back its production from what we were told. So, we were only able to get two or three at a time.”

Alfred added that he noticed a limited supply of boxes, bags and plastic cutlery, necessary items for restaurants when they pivoted to mostly takeout orders.

Chris Nardelli, owner and operator of on Connecticut Avenue NW in Chevy Chase, echoes this sentiment. He said that before the pandemic, roughly 7% of all orders were takeout. Now, about 35% are takeout.

“The downside of that is the cost of packaging right now and being able to get your hands on salad containers or hot entree containers,” Nardelli said. “We’ve had to change containers so many times, not because we’re looking for a cheaper product just because they don’t have them.”

This notice at BIBIBOP Asian Grill’s Bethesda location apologizes to customers for not using its classic bowl because of supply shortages. These two notices —one about supply chain issues and the other about masks— are a sign of the times. (Lauren Berryman / ��Ӱ��)

Alfred of Duck Duck Goose, which serves French fare, said the pandemic was tough on his restaurants. He had to close one, called George’s Chophouse, and shuffle around staff. Now, Alfred, who also owns a Duck Duck Goose location in Baltimore, is opening a third in D.C.’s Dupont Circle.

“Now, here I am, opening a new restaurant, and oven parts and stoves and chairs and silverware and plates, wherever it comes from, it’s stuff that we’ve literally had to wait on for 16 weeks,” Alfred said. “It’s been a nightmare.”

Nardelli of Blue 44, which serves new American cuisine, said he sometimes scrambles to find ingredients when deliveries come in short.

“I’ve had to run to Safeway, I’ve had to run to Costco, I’ve had to run to Restaurant Depot several times a week,” Nardelli said. “When you tighten up [the menu], you hate to be out of certain things because then there’s not a whole lot to choose from.”

Ashish Alfred’s first high school job was working as a host at age 15. Alfred, now 35, owns Alfred Restaurant Group, running two restaurants and, soon, a third. (Courtesy of Chris Franzoni)

Both Nardelli and Alfred have been in the restaurant industry since they were teenagers, working first as busboys and hosts. They take pride in their businesses, crafting an experience that keeps customers coming back.

“Restaurants are there because, for a lot of us, this is all we know how to do, and this is all we want to do,” Alfred said.

Supply chain issues have also hit the retail industry. Steven Aarons opened 35 years ago, which has expanded into three locations, including one on Connecticut Avenue NW in Chevy Chase. He said his toy store might offer a different variety of goods this holiday season, but he is not worried about empty shelves.

“We have a warehouse, so we have orders planned that they’re coming in every 45 days or so,” Aarons said. “But when people buy in a different cycle than what you planned based on 2019, you may be running out of things in between since people are buying more early.”

Child’s Play currently has a notice on its website saying, “Due to supply chain disruptions, some of our favorite toys are in short supply.” Because of this shortage, the store is limiting which items are available to purchase online.

Erkut Sönmez, associate professor of supply chain management and analytics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has followed the impact of supply and labor shortages on businesses.

“It is going to be much more difficult for local businesses compared to the big-box retailers,” like Walmart and Target, Sönmez told ��Ӱ��.

He explained that large companies have contracts that give them purchasing power. This prioritizes products that may be limited in supply due to space, transportation and labor issues.

Sönmez added supply chains are not designed to allow much flexibility. The high unpredictability and variability in demand and labor shortages at various stages of the supply chain also have unintended consequences for nearly everyone’s wallets.

Lee Roeder, general manager at in Bethesda, said keeping up with the increasing cost of goods is a daily chore. He has been in the business for more than 40 years, and he said he had not seen anything close to today’s supply chain disruptions.

Nardelli of Blue 44 told ��Ӱ�� that he juggles increasing costs too. He said the price of tomatoes has doubled and explained that because tomatoes are used on most sandwiches, “across the board, you just have to go up a dollar on each item just to cover your costs.”

Inflation, which the revealed is at a 31-year high, is leading many customers to experience sticker shock, the negative feeling when faced with higher prices. Owners ask customers to be patient with them.

Sönmez explains it boils down to customer expectations. In terms of both hospitality and retail, people are used to having more options that can be delivered as soon as possible. But with the supply chain bottleneck, patience is tested.

“When I wanted to buy a soccer shirt [when I was a kid], there were only like two or three types, and I was happy,” Sönmez said. “Now, with online retail, I can buy anything from any part of the world…Now, a little bit of it is late, and we are getting very upset. It is all about expectations.”

Sönmez predicts these disruptions will last well into 2022. But Aarons, Roeder, Nardelli and Alfred are hopeful their businesses will thrive this holiday season, especially as more people return to in-person shopping and dining.

“If it wasn’t for hope, then I would have shut the doors on all my spaces a while ago,” Alfred said. “It may be a little bit tough right now. It’s a little bit inconvenient right now, but for the people who can get through it, I think there’s a better year on the other side of all this.”

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Hunger is an unforeseen battle for some US veterans

Lauren Berryman — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 22:42:22 +0000

The day before Veterans Day, when military service members are honored, lawmakers listened to witnesses testify about veterans who go hungry, which one witness said was absurd to have to discuss in the first place.

Veterans Day celebrates and remembers U.S. military veterans and active service members. But many still wonder why their basic needs aren’t adequately met.

“No person should ever go hungry in America,” said Chair Jahana Hayes from Connecticut, in her opening statement to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations. “However, it is especially galling to see those who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation struggle to put food on the table.”

More than 37,000 veterans experienced homelessness last year, making up 8% of all homeless adults, according to a by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Military and veteran families have been allowed to go hungry on your watch,” Mia Hubbard, vice president of programs at , a Jewish organization fighting hunger, told lawmakers. “Your inaction has allowed this situation to persist for years…which has contributed to the worsening of diet-related diseases, loss in productivity and even spikes in suicide rates.”

In a by RAND, a public policy think tank, researchers found that 14% of veterans who rated their health as “fair or poor” said they were also food insecure. The report also showed that 35% of veterans struggling with their mental health said they had limited access to food.

All four witnesses before the subcommittee expressed the urgent need to address this issue, which has persisted for decades. Shawn Lightfoot, a chef at in Washington, D.C., is taking matters into his own hands.

Lightfoot provides nutritious meals to veterans daily with hopes of alleviating the challenges some veterans face by fueling them with fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and proteins rather than fried and sugary foods.

Chef Shawn Lightfoot thinks of food as fuel. He hopes his meals “fuel” veterans with the nutrition needed to get them through the day feeling healthy. (Courtesy of Shawn Lightfoot)

“Think about what you’re putting in their bodies that help fuel them and help make them feel better and get them through the day a little healthier,” Lightfoot said in an interview.

At the hearing, Navy veteran Tim Keefe told lawmakers about his personal experiences with homelessness and hunger. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cut him off after three months, forcing him to fend for himself.

He explained that he presented Department of Labor paperwork to SNAP officials, showing he was medically unable to work. But they told him he did not qualify for disabled status.

While experiencing homelessness and hunger, Keefe said he lost so much weight that he had to punch seven holes to his belt to keep his pants up. “There were more days than I care to remember where there was nothing to eat,” he said.

His emotional testimony drew the attention of lawmakers, who thanked him for his service and expressed appreciation to him for sharing his story.

Keefe explained that when he joined the military years ago, he never thought he would experience hunger. Now, he seems disturbed more has not been done to address this issue – one that he and thousands of other veterans, service members and their families face.

“When I joined the Navy in Boston, I was ready and willing to give my life for this country,” Keefe said. “And it seemed like during this time, I couldn’t even get a sandwich from them.”

Other witnesses and lawmakers discussed the (BAH), which also prevents some veterans from qualifying for SNAP.

Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., said, “The Basic Allowance for Housing is currently considered as income when determining service members eligibility for SNAP,” presenting a barrier to some veterans if it pushes them over the eligibility requirement.

Adams asked Hubbard of MAZON why SNAP does not exclude the housing allowance as income.

“[BAH] is not counted or considered income for federal income tax purposes,” but it is for SNAP, Hubbard said. “For most federal assistance programs, it’s not treated as income. And so, it really seems to be an oversight. And it may have been unintended, but it’s persisted,” she said.

What Hubbard said may have been unintended has had major consequences for veterans. Nipa Kamdar, a registered nurse who works with veterans experiencing food insecurity, explained what she has learned from them, using pseudonyms.

“Some like Haley, a 35-year-old Army veteran and single mother of three, had tried to increase their food supply,” Kamdar said. “Haley applied for SNAP four times but never qualified. Ultimately, she stopped applying. She said, ‘I’ve been burned so many times. I don’t try it anymore.’”

David Kurtz, executive director of and an Army veteran himself, aims to help veterans in the D.C. area become self-sufficient. The program provides housing and meals as well as case management to assist veterans with employment, health care and their own bank accounts.

“Anybody who comes into our facility, we provide them with basic needs,” he said. “We also maintain a food pantry and clothes closet to support people in need.”

Both Kurtz and Lightfoot take pride in the work they do in the community. Lightfoot said many veterans respond positively to his program, and he hopes people treat them with the respect they deserve.

“When you think about a shelter, I believe that [people there] should be treated just like anyone else should be treated, and that’s how I try to treat them when I feed them,” Lightfoot said. “I want them to feel like they’re getting home-cooked meals.”

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Fatal DUI crashes hit record high last year, ‘no excuse’ for impaired driving

Lauren Berryman — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 17:46:29 +0000

Impaired driver traffic fatalities in Montgomery County hit a record high last year, although fewer people were on the roads during pandemic shutdowns.

During a typical year, alcohol-related fatal crashes consist of about 30% of all traffic deaths in the county. But last year, 50% of all fatal crashes were caused by an impaired person, according to from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). This data excludes fatal crashes on interstates, which are investigated by Maryland State Police.

“There is no reason that an innocent person should have their life completely upended and devastated in this way because of somebody’s poor choices,” said Robin Stimson, victim services manager at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The MCPD 20 people died last year in alcohol-related traffic accidents in the county. This is more than twice the number from the previous year. Looking back to the county’s first record of these accidents in 1996, there have never been more alcohol-related traffic fatalities than in 2020.

Wade Holland, Montgomery County’s Vision Zero coordinator, said he finds this data alarming.

“What we did see, and this happened in Montgomery County, even though traffic dropped considerably during the pandemic nationwide, there’s actually an increase in the fatality rate from ’19 to ’20,” Holland said. “If I were a betting person, I would have lost money because usually when we head into a recession — because the recession will kick down the amount of traffic — it usually correlates with a lower fatality rate.”

“We saw this issue of excessive speeding, impairment by alcohol and not wearing a seatbelt,” Holland said, calling it a triple threat. “When you add all those things together, they’re three strong ingredients for a bad outcome.”

Both the United States and the Washington-metro area report seeing a similar trend. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that fatal traffic accidents were up 7% across the country, and fatal alcohol-related accidents were up 9% from the previous year. Kurt Erickson, president of Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), has followed the trend in the Washington-metro area for almost 40 years.

Erickson said, historically, the region’s rate of impaired driver fatalities has been below the national average. But he said the region’s rate now exceeds the national rate.

“What’s happened in the most recent years is that we’re now above the national average and not in a good way,” Erickson said. “So, 28% of all fatalities nationally. But that report for 2020 said that 32% of all traffic deaths in the greater Washington-metro area involved drunk drivers,” citing data from WRAP’s annual report.

Erin Goodhart, senior clinical director of women’s and family services at Caron Treatment Centers, said the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic impacted everyone differently. She said experts at Caron Treatment Centers, a nonprofit dedicated to addiction treatment, saw an increase in relapse rates during the pandemic among people with substance use disorders.

“What the research has shown us is that during the pandemic, substance use in general increased,” Goodhart said. “I think whenever we have an increase in substance use, there’s going to be increased risk and, ultimately, increased consequence.”

41 people arrested for DUI by task force officers last week.
242 people arrested for DUI by task force officers during past seven weeks. Always choose a sober ride!

— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews)

Considering the data, Montgomery County police officer Jayme Derbyshire said Marylanders need stronger deterrents to end drinking and driving. If someone is arrested for driving while intoxicated, they may serve jail time, pay fines and install ignition interlocks, which prevent cars from starting before the driver demonstrates they have not been drinking.

Derbyshire commented that while interlock laws help, Maryland still does not have the strongest DUI laws compared to other states.

“Maryland is one of the few states that doesn’t have a felony DUI law,” Derbyshire said. “What that means is every DUI that anyone in Maryland gets is a misdemeanor [if there is no bodily injury]. And so, someone — and people do — can have six, seven, eight DUIs, and it’ll always be a misdemeanor. But if you come to New York, if they have two DUIs, then their second DUI is a felony.”

Because both fatal and nonfatal car accidents tend to increase between Halloween and New Year’s Day, local leaders encourage drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to use extra caution when on roads. Stimson of MADD encourages people to call law enforcement if they suspect someone is drinking and driving.

From Halloween through the New Year, traffic safety experts encourage drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to stay vigilant of other drivers, especially as accidents tend to increase this time of year. (Lauren Berryman / ��Ӱ��)

During high-risk times, the MCPD uses saturation patrols, during which officers “saturate” areas where nightlife is present, acting as deterrents and making arrests as necessary. Derbyshire said the police department will be doing saturation patrols most Friday and Saturday nights — and some Thursday nights — from now until January.

“As the holiday season approaches and people come home from school and families get together and there are more holiday parties, obviously there’s more imbibing that takes place,” Derbyshire said. “And so those DUI numbers generally increase at that time, and so we have additional officers on the road to account for that increase.”

Local initiatives, like WRAP’s program, are also doing their part to prevent drinking and driving. The program offers over 21-year-olds in the greater Washington-metro area a $15 credit on Lyft rides during high-risk times of the year, including the weeks leading up to New Year’s Day. For nearly 40 years, 80,000 people have used what Erickson calls a “life-saving service.”

“We’re fortunate in the sense that we’re in a day and age where there are rideshare services,” Derbyshire said, adding there is no excuse for impaired driving, especially with Uber and Lyft as options. “What I suggest is just have a plan. And if you don’t and you find yourself in a bad situation, there are so many other options. Just don’t get behind the wheel of that car.”

While local nonprofits and the MCPD tackle the immediate concern, mental health experts aim to address the long-term impact of the pandemic on substance use.

“The alcohol-related accidents and fatalities are really a symptom of a bigger issue and bigger need here, which is access to care,” explained Goodhart of Caron Treatment Centers. “People knowing that if I’m struggling with anxiety or stress or depression or I’m hyper-vigilant all the time and constantly on edge that there are other healthier ways to manage that stress.”

Holland of Vision Zero said it is too early to tell what this year’s data will show regarding Montgomery County traffic accidents. He said toxicology reports can take months to obtain and accidents during the approaching holiday season tend to significantly contribute to the data. Still, he hopes increased education and outreach on traffic safety work toward the Vision Zero goal.

Local leaders agree that the only acceptable number of fatal and nonfatal crashes is zero.

“It’s infuriating anytime we hear of these crashes and that they keep occurring,” commented Stimson of MADD. “It is definitely not what we want to see. We want the trend to go to zero. Zero percent. Zero victims.”

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The arts return to Bethesda following nearly 18-month hiatus

Lauren Berryman — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 16:29:23 +0000

Energy was high at the last week, leaving many artists thinking that sales from in-person art shows nationwide will play a vital role in the economic comeback of their small businesses.

“The pandemic decimated this entire culture of traveling art shows,” said Jon Gann, co-director of the Bethesda Row Arts Festival. “There are artists whose entire livelihood was to pack their car and truck with their artwork and travel from city to city and sell. And that didn’t happen.”

This year marked the 23rd annual festival. Art festivals, including this one, were canceled last year due to COVID-19 shutdowns. This show typically draws 35,000 attendees, but festival organizers estimate 25,000 came this year.

The artists said while business is slowly rebounding, they are excited to show their art because others continue looking for work. The reported the unemployment rate of creative workers, such as those in both fine and performing arts, was three to four times higher than the national rate in August.

Artist Luis Enrique Gutierrez, originally from Nicaragua and now living in Wake Forest, North Carolina, said he was happy to be back in Bethesda showing work among roughly 130 other artists.

“It was terrible for us,” Gutierrez said about the pandemic. “Artists really enjoy art festivals. And for me, it was really hard because this is my principal business, so it was horrible.”

Within three months of the pandemic hitting the United States last year, the reported a 52% loss in creative jobs — from 2.5 million to 1.2 million. As the arts continue to recover, people are working again. But jobs have yet to return to pre-pandemic numbers.

As a full-time artist, Gutierrez told ��Ӱ�� that he relies on traveling to art shows to make a profit. At the show, he added an additional layer of paint to a ceramic sculpture, explaining his thought process to customers. Steven Daoust of Gaithersburg, Maryland, purchased a piece from Gutierrez and said meeting the artist in person makes him more inclined to buy.

“When I buy art, it’s always a plus to meet with the artist,” Daoust said. “Have them explain their inspiration. To see the art and feel the art and touch the art. To get that energy. You can’t get that online. You can only get that live.”

Luis Enrique Gutierrez (center) takes a break from adding an extra layer of paint to his pottery to talk to customers about the art. His techniques and patterns stem from his Nicaraguan heritage. (Lauren Berryman / ��Ӱ��)

Artist Carol Korte of State College, Pennsylvania, who makes handcrafted jewelry, said she had noticed a change in how people approach her art post-shutdown. “It is picking back up,” Korte said at the event, “but I hear a lot of ‘I don’t wear jewelry anymore since the pandemic because I never dress up or go anywhere.’” She thinks this will change with time.

To provide further assistance to fine and performing artists, lawmakers introduced the (CERA) in August. The bipartisan bill, put forward by U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., and Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., would authorize $300 million in grants to stimulate the creative economy and aid artists following the pandemic.

Michael Seman, an assistant professor of arts management at Colorado State University, co-authored a released by the Brookings Institution about COVID-19’s initial impact on the arts, and he continues to follow the economic impact today.

“I mean that’s fantastic — $300 million — but we’re talking about something that is estimated about $900 billion in terms of economics,” Seman stated about CERA. “But what I’m really excited about is it will bring that idea back of ‘How can we support artists to some degree with projects that benefit the greater population in the United States and also give back to many artists?”

Bethesda-area residents, like Daoust of Gaithersburg, said this event brought the community together again. He also wants to see more in-person art, “which we desperately have missed for the past two years,” he said. “It’s great that the city of Bethesda is doing something wonderful like this.” In addition to supporting artists, the festival also increased foot traffic to local businesses, employees commented.

Gann, the festival’s co-director, told ��Ӱ�� he hopes this event’s success is a sign of what is to come for the arts industry.

“It’s easy to buy mass-produced, quote, art and decor,” Gann said. “It’s another thing to go to an event like this and connect with an artist and really understand their process and really have a completely different appreciation and value of it.”

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Demand for kidney transplants outweighs supply of donors

Lauren Berryman — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 16:40:08 +0000

The number of kidney transplant procedures in Maryland last year was the lowest it has been since 1997, according to decades’ worth of . Health experts attribute the lack of donors and COVID-19 to the imbalance in supply and demand.

Jan Maxwell, 70, of North Bethesda, Maryland is one of Americans needing a life-saving kidney transplant. Maxwell has end-stage kidney disease and said she feels the repercussions of this imbalance.

Kidney transplants are sometimes needed to treat kidney disease and diabetes, stated Dr. Terry Watnick, a nephrologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Maxwell has polycystic kidney disease, or PKD, a genetic condition that causes cysts to grow on the organ, preventing it from filtering toxins from the body.

Those with PKD manage the condition by adopting a low-sodium, low-protein diet and exercising, Maxwell explained. “Then, all of a sudden, they do a dive,” she said. “There’s just a precipitous fall over a short period of time.”

Diagnosed with PKD in her early twenties, Maxwell realized she needed a transplant just five years ago. Her brother and sister, who also have PKD, have already undergone kidney transplants.

“The way I describe it to people is I went from being kept alive to living,” Susan Smelin, Maxwell’s sister, said regarding her transplant 12 years ago. “Because on dialysis, you’re basically kept alive. And when you’re transplanted, I feel you’re back among the living.”

Smelin, 66, of Riverdale, New York said she was lucky to find a living organ donor within a year of looking. She did not know her donor, Sandy Mattingly, 67, before the matching process. He is what people call an “altruistic donor.”

“We have opportunities throughout our lives to do good things, less good things and bad things, and we all take each of those opportunities sometimes,” Mattingly said.

He stated organ donation brings renewed hope to the recipient but is not a “get out of jail free card” nor an “I get to heaven card.” Rather, it is “I did this, but I have the rest of my life to live,” he said.

Smelin told ��Ӱ�� she is happy Mattingly is in her life. Now, she is trying to help her sister find her own “kidney-in-law,” as Mattingly put it. The family published a website called “” to educate the public about kidney donation and Maxwell’s need.

Maxwell said she has more life to live as a mother, grandmother, wife, sister and advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence. She is at a point where she will soon decide whether to get on dialysis. But she said the possibility of a transplant brings her hope for a longer and better quality of life.

“It would mean I could stay alive and be healthy and continue my work and continue with my family,” Maxwell said. “It would allow me to continue living. It’s as simple as that.”

But Maxwell, who has been on the waiting list for over three years, said people in the D.C. metro area may stay on the list for up to eight years. With Maryland’s rate of kidney transplants at its lowest since 1997, she and others may have to continue waiting.

The lack of donations from living donors is mainly driving this decline, as shown by from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Dr. Roberto Kalil, a nephrologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, explained this is partly due to rescheduled elective procedures last year when hospitals were overrun with COVID-19 patients.

But donations from living kidney donors are preferred, so the recipient does not have to go on the waiting list or endure dialysis. A kidney from a living donor can also support a recipient as a kidney from a deceased donor.

“Science has shown that you are no more at risk by having one kidney versus two in regard to kidney disease,” said Joy Paul, who established the with her husband in 2015. “Because if you have kidney disease, it does affect both kidneys.”

The Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center, partnered with George Washington University Hospital, provides preventative care to residents. The center offers free testing and screening to determine at-risk individuals. Mobile vans also visit community centers to screen residents for kidney disease. (Lauren Berryman / ��Ӱ��)

Joy Paul’s husband, Ron Paul, 65, has undergone two kidney transplants almost 20 years apart. The donations made by his living donors “really gave us a normal life,” Joy Paul said.

Mattingly said he has had no adverse health effects from donating a kidney to Smelin. He told ��Ӱ�� his greatest risk is injuring his kidney since he only has one. Still, he encourages others to consider organ donation to people like Maxwell.

“If you would consider any elective surgery that involves general anesthesia to be not such a big deal, then you should seriously consider this,” Mattingly said. “The opportunity to make such a dramatic difference in any person’s life — a person you would come to know — is pretty amazing.”

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