Comments on: County breaks ground on Silver Spring civic center

By: Alan Bowser

Alan Bowser — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:15:28 +0000

“Unidentified” is Jack Hewitt, U.S. Army (retired) and Board Member, Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

Of special note is the fact that five of the individuals in the photo are current or former Board members of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., the community based non-profit organization that hopes to develop a portion of the exciting arts, entertainment and educational programming that will be associated with the new Civic Building and Veterans Plaza. The current SSTCI Board members are: Laura Steinberg, Jane Redicker, Jon Lourie and Jack Hewitt. Peter Esker, currently Secreary of the Walter Reed Society is a former member of the Board of the Silver Spring Town Center!

Editor’s note: Thanks, Alan! — JD (Sep 13, 2008)

By: Nostalgia Cartoon

Nostalgia Cartoon — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:14:52 +0000

The frequent negative posts about the plaza & multi-use space (ice rink) make me chuckle. I am reminded of something from my childhood perhaps some of the readers are old enough to remember.

On the Banana Splits Hour on Saturday mornings in the early 70’s there was a cartoon called The Adventures of Gulliver. The giant Gulliver and the the Lilliputians lived on an island. One of the little people was named Glum, who was very pessimistic and no matter what anyone proposed, he would slowly respond “We’re doooooooomed, we’ll neeeeveeer maaaaake it” (usually several times per episode). Other times he’d say “It’ll neveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer wooooork”.

Don’t belive me? Google “Glum” + “Adventures of Gulliver”

By: Terry in Silver Spring

Terry in Silver Spring — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:28:23 +0000

In order for the off season events to occur at the ice rink (or even the skating, for that matter), this area is going to need considerable and long term effort. Booking events, set up, security, maintenance, etc. A nice grassy area needs a ground crew and maintenance.

By: Carmen Camacho

Carmen Camacho — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:15:22 +0000

Unidentified in order: Laura Steinberg- Impact Silver Spring and other organizations, Jerry Miller – Chair Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, extra hand on Jerry’s shovel between and behind Valerie (can’t be seen) Jane Redicker, President Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce.

Editor’s note: Thanks, Carmen! I’ll make changes to the photo caption. — JD (Sep 10, 2008)

By: Woodsider

Woodsider — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:07:24 +0000

And just like in NYC’s Rockefeller Center rink (or for a local example, Reston Town Center’s hugely popular rink), there will be large numbers of people, families & kids watching the ice skaters…it’s quite enjoyable in its own right.

By: Woodsider

Woodsider — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:03:02 +0000

Th ice rink area is designed to be multi-use during the parts of the year not appropriate for ice skating. Imagine concerts, enertainers, art shows, etc. under the shell that will cover the area. This has been publicized over and over and over again but many in the public cannot seem to get beyond the ice skating part.

By: Dave Nuttycombe

Dave Nuttycombe — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:51:01 +0000

“The more people we get to enjoy this plaza, the more people we can get to shop here and contribute to county tax revenues,” she said

In fact, many many people were enjoying the turf/plaza. In many more ways than merely ice-skating, not a breakout popular sport. A classic example of the inevitability of bureaucracy over reality.