Monday, April 29, 2013
Patch brings a unique perspective to everyday news written by users like you. Read what some of our Local Voices bloggers had to say this week.
Ceasefire Concert 4/28; Gun Safety Forum 5/6; +more Celebrate the passing of state gun control legislation with local Jewish youth artists. The concert will take place at the Takoma Park Community Center on the corner of Maple Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue. With Guest Speaker, Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin. Maryland Lawmakers Inspire National Effort to Protect the Planet and Animals For over 40 years, Earth Day—celebrated on April 22—has been inspiring people to take steps to help the environment. Did you know that perhaps the single most important action each of us can take to protect the planet is simply to choose meat-free foods? Partners in Preservation: Historical Characters, Free Preservation Pops at Farragut Friday Come …
Monday, April 15, 2013
The squirrels are out. Know what to do and what not to do when issues arise.
Signs of spring are everywhere in the national capital area. The cherry blossoms are in bloom, the Nationals have started the season and squirrels seem to be multiplying exponentially. Squirrels in Montgomery and Prince George's county yards are a lot like opinions. Everyone has them and they can elicit a variety of emotions. But most agree that baby squirrels, at least, are fun to spot. But what to do if you find one separated from its mother or orphaned? Do you stay away, as you were probably once taught regarding baby birds, fearing that marking it with a human scent would mean abandonment by its mother? The “hands-off” baby bird treatment, by the way, is actually a myth - birds have a poor sense of smell and will not reject a young …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Event is at Black Hill Regional Park; thousands expected to attend
The IrAmerican Civic Society, in cooperation with Montgomery Parks, will host the seventh annual Sizdeh Bedar—the Persian festival of spring—at Black Hill Regional Park on Sunday. The event is from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nationwide, Iranian Americans and others will celebrate this spring event in parks and various outdoor settings on Sunday, the 13th day of the Persian Year—or Norouz. The celebration at Black Hill will include live Persian music, cultural activities and freshly grilled food and sweets. Road closures, traffic On Monday, park officials said that thousands are expected to attend the event. Montgomery Parks’ and the Maryland-National Capital Park Police are managing crowd control. West Old Baltimore Road is currently closed on the …
The festival of colors was celebrated over the weekend at the The Hindu Temple of Metropolitan Washington in Adelphi, MD.
While most Americans were celebrating Easter or Passover this past week, a smaller population of Indian Americans and immigrants were celebrating the arrival of spring in their own way—Holi. Holi, or the festival of colors, is a Hindu celebration of spring. Hindus celebrate with prayer and songs, but also with one unique feature—the throwing of brightly-colored powder at one another. The celebration is normally held over a two- or three-day period. This year it fell on March 27 and 28. At The Hindu Temple of Metropolitan Washington in Adelphi, MD, more than 700 Hindus came out to celebrate Holi over the weekend. They prayed, sang religious songs, shared food, music and culture—all while the younger devotees had a little fun outside of the …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
A late March snow should not push back the peak bloom dates.
The National Park Service (NPS) assured bloom watchers that the late March snow Monday should not impact the peak bloom of cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin, according to the Associated Press. NPS originally predicted a peak bloom from March 26-30 and later adjusted those dates to April 3-6. The 2013 Cherry Blossom Festival marks the 101st anniversary of the gift of the trees from Japan. Near Bethesda, the famous Kenwood neighborhood boasts the same type of Yoshino cherry trees that grace the Tidal Basin, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
In an online survey, 17 percent of respondents admitted to picking the blossoms, according to the Crime Museum.
In a recent survey regarding Washington DC's cherry blossoms, 17 percent of respondents admitted to picking the city's signature blossoms, the Crime Museum said in a press release. The museum conducted the survey on its website. The museum is warning residents against picking the cherry blossoms that surround the Tidal Basin, which is a violation of federal law. For those attending the National Cherry Blossom Festival in search of a keepsake, the Crime Museum is offering free workshops where attendees can make their own origami blossoms. “By letting festival attendees make their own beautiful cherry blossoms, they won’t be tempted to commit a crime by picking these lovely flowers, which are so much a symbol of our city,” Janine Vaccarello…
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Get a free regular treat at the Rita's in Gaithersburg or Silver Spring Wednesday.
The first day of spring may not always come with the warmest temperatures, but we can celebrate one thing: free Italian ice. Rita's will welcome customers with a free regular ice from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday to help usher in the spring. Last year, Rita's gave away more than 1.2 million cups of ice in a ten hour period, according to its website. Locations close to Bethesda include Silver Spring and Gaithersburg. Expect the lines to be long, so consider arriving earlier in the day. (If you plan to buy a treat in addition to getting a free ice, Rita's said it will have express lanes available.) The promotion is available at Rita's nationwide. Rita's has given away free Italian ice to celebrate the first day of spring for the past 20 years…
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Despite the prediction of snow, spring is here—and the evidence is all over the ground.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The lottery for the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll, in its 135th year, opens Feb. 21.
The ticket raffle for the wildly popular White House Easter Egg Roll starts Feb. 21. An online lottery system will distribute thousands of tickets for the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll. The event is open to children ages 13 and younger and their families. This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll will take place on April 1 on the South Lawn of the White House. The lottery is open at 10 a.m. on Feb. 21. Signing up for the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll lottery is free. The deadline for lottery entries is at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25. Lottery results will be available on March 1. You will need to create a free account at recreation.gov to be able to enter the lottery when it opens. More information about the event is available at www.whitehouse.…
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Potomac Phil will once again participate in a Groundhog Day event in Dupont Circle.
For the second year in a row, Potomac Phil, the taxidermied D.C. relative of Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, will make an appearance on Groundhog Day to predict spring's arrival. Fittingly, Potomac Phil also has a penchant for political predictions. This year's event will begin at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 2 at the fountain in Dupont Circle. Phil will make his appearance at 8 a.m. According to the event website: "Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, will make an appearance and offer weather and political predictions. Phil will let us know whether to expect six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Live accordion music, polka dancers, local celebrities, VIPs and school children will participate." Last year was the first ever Groundhog Day …
Jeff Grolig
5:18 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
Can I bring my gun with my conceal carry permit to your event Mr Raskin? You are in my opinion, a horrible public servant. I may just make it my new purpose in life to unseat you. I look forward to meeting you May 6th. Dont worry, I will be sure not to bring any weapons with me....just a smile and a hand shake is allI need from you. I will be sure to ask any questions during your waste of time … more ›