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Meet Your Neighbors

Silvia Huezo
Owner of Red Hue Boutique in Rockville Town Square

Originally from El Salvador, Silvia grew up in Takoma Park knowing that she wanted to do something creative as an adult. She started to sew when she was in junior high school, really quickly learning how to make her own clothes.

Fashion is something she always loved, and after graduating from Marymount University in 2009, with the help from her parents, she opened up her own shop in College Park and recently moved her business to Rockville, the Red Hue Boutique. She wanted to find a place in the area that had "a little bit on an urban flair, without being in a big city." She said once she moved to Rockville she "found an area with a strong sense of community and support for local businesses by the residents. I love that fact that in Rockville, you can really feel that. People here want to support the independent businesses!"

Silvia also manufactures her own clothes brand, which you can now find all over El Salvador the next time you go on a trip.

Madelyn and Mauricio Giron
Madelyn Giron has been a resident of Rockville for 21 years and truly loves the city and its metropolitan edge.

Madelyn considers herself a Rockville girl, "I grew up in Rockville and went to school here,"  she says. "As a child I attended the Twinbrook camps offered by the City and as a teenager I participated in several youth programs." As a student at Richard Montgomery High School, Madelyn was a Martin Luther King Jr. Award Recipient for her active involvement in the Human Rights Club. An inspirational moment for her was when she met the Mayor and Council for the first time. "All of these experiences had a positive impact in my life and encouraged me to want more for myself."

Today as young professionals living in Rockville, Madelyn and her husband Mauricio love how the city has evolved over the years. "We like that there are other young people like us also living in the city," she says. "We find it refreshing to see the City really tries to keep up with the modern changes, like the implementation of the City's new brand. It has a nice flair, and we are definitely into it!"

Madelyn and her husband try and volunteer in the community and many times when given the opportunity they like to empower young people. They just recently visited a group of students at Richard Montgomery, to speak to them about the challenges of becoming an adult and the importance of continuing their education. "I want to invest in the young people of Rockville and would like to see more young professionals do more for their community."

Anne Goodman and Jim Farrelly
Meet Anne Goodman and Jim Farrelly, your neighbors in Twinbrook. Anne and Jim moved to Rockville 23 years ago. Initially they moved here because of job opportunities in the metropolitan area. Anne and Jim love the City's services and amenities like the senior center and the swim center. 
 
After taking classes with the Legacy Leadership Program—a program for seniors offered by the City of Rockville—and working with the Environmental Division, Anne shared her idea of helping Rockville to become greener with Jim. With the help of the Environmental Division, the structure for what is today the City's Community Wildlife Habitat certification program from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) was set. Today, 140 homes, 5 schools, and 4 public places are certified in Rockville. One of the public places is Twinbrook Park.
 
Anne and Jim enjoy working in their garden and are very proud to use rain barrels to water it. This saves their water bill 2000 gallons in a three-month period, and helps the environment and the Chesapeake Bay.

As part of their ongoing work, they meet with people and groups in the City and help them to understand the process for Community Wildlife Certification. Anne and Jim are making a difference in the City with one native plant at a time.

Teresa Harn

Meet Mrs. Teresa Harn. She and her husband retired to Rockville and she has been a resident of King Farm for 10 years. She loves the community for its diversity and wonderful services. Mrs. Harn came to America in 1967 from China.

"When I was three years old my mother and I went to Taiwan to escape from the Cultural Revolution that was taking place in China," said Mrs. Harn. "My family was left behind.  Forty years later I was able to meet them again for the first time in my life."

"When I came to America, despite of majoring in English, people had a hard time understanding me," she said. "I came by my self and I went to a small college in Minnesota. I was the only Asian student in the whole campus. It was a cultural shock; the food, the people and the ways of the country were different."

Mrs. Harn remembers her first job as a waitress when she had to learn how to cook American food.

"I have adopted the ways of life of America," said Mrs. Harn. "Now I like American food and bread. Americans are friendly and respect your privacy; back in China people are in your business all the time. America is the most friendly country in the world."

Mrs. Harn is a member of the City's Cultural Arts Commission and Asian Pacific American Task Force. She is also a part of the Senior Center's Evergreen program and goes to the center every day to help translate, assist with English classes and do some matchmaking.

"My desire is to create a bridge between the Asian community and the City," said Mrs. Harn.

Mr. Rodney Davis and Mr. Dion Trahan

Meet your neighbors in Lincoln Park, Mr. Rodney Davis and Mr. Dion Trahan. The old and the new converge in a place of tradition and change.

Mr. Davis was delivered to the world in Lincoln Park in 1938. His family had been in Lincoln Park for many generations and was the founder of Mt. Calvary Church. Mr. Davis' father, with only a 7th-grade education, built the expansion of the church during World War II with the help of other men in the church. His father not only set the foundation for this house of worship, but also the foundation of what later became the life calling of Mr. Davis as a minister and a good neighbor.

Rodney Davis

Mr. Davis remembers the times when Lincoln Park was perceived as a black community only.  He also remembers the times when he and his friends needed to go to the back of a restaurant to buy food through a window or to the second floor of the theater because they were not permitted in the main floor. He remembers people in Lincoln Park participating in marches during the beginning of Dr. King's human rights movement. Things have changed since that time.

"The way I see people as God's creation we all are equal," said Mr. Davis. "I believe that was Dr. King's vision too."  Mr. Davis serves his community in many ways and he lives by his principles of loving God and loving people.

"Many people come to our door looking for help and it is never closed," he said. "Today Lincoln Park is a place that welcomes people from many places and many creeds and that is wonderful. I am so fortunate to have friends from different backgrounds. Many of these friends have been instrumental in what we do in Lincoln Park." 

Dr. King's legacy of equality has been experienced first hand by Mr. Dion Trahan, a resident of Legacy at Lincoln Park for more than a year.

Dion Trahan

"Since the moment my wife and I arrived in Lincoln Park, we've called this our home and it is what our children will know as their home too," said Mr. Trahan. "We have felt so welcomed and embraced by the residents. It is a wonderful place."

"I love history and Lincoln Park has such a rich history," he said. "I have real passion for this neighborhood and its character." Mr. Trahan loves the diversity of the neighborhood and feels like he identifies with it because of his Brazilian and Cajun ancestry. "I always wanted to do something bigger than my self," he said. He has become part of the community; serving as a commissioner in the City of Rockville, and as board member of the HOA of Legacy at Lincoln Park.   

Many years have passed since Dr. King gave his "I have a dream" speech just a few miles down the road. Today we celebrate the reality of that dream in the diversity in our City. We celebrate the traditions, the future and the lives of those living here. 

Virginia Cameron

Every Christmas Glenview Mansion at the Rockville Civic Center Park opens its doors to host one of the most famous couples in history: Mr. and Mrs. Claus. We all know about Mr. Claus, but who is the lady in the red dress? Well, let me tell you a secret, when she is not at the North Pole baking trillions of cookies and coordinating elves, she spends her time teaching little ones under the name of Virginia Cameron. For more than 30 years, Ms. Cameron has interpreted the magical Mrs. Claus with delight and joy.

More than 30 years ago, Ms. Cameron decided to dress up as Mrs. Claus for the children at St. John's Christian Preschool after a grandfather who used to dress up as Mr. Claus picked up his granddaughter from school and asked her to try the role. She started dressing up for several organizations, including the City of Rockville's Civic Center.

"I have been at the Civic Center for 20 years and I always wear the same costume," said Ms. Cameron. "I could not say the same about Mr. Claus as there have been several different actors through the years."

Ms. Cameron is still the director at Saint John's Christian Preschool and has a special place in her heart for children.

"It is so much fun to be Mrs. Claus," she said. "Over the years I have seen many children who once used to sit in my lap standing next to me talking about their college life."

Ms. Cameron also enjoys the questions the children ask her about Santa and the North Pole like what is Santa's favorite cookie and where the reindeer are. She notes that Santa and Mrs. Claus are always careful not to promise the children anything and instruct them to be good throughout the year.

If you would like to meet Mrs. Claus (Virginia Cameron) in person, you and your family are invited to come to the Glenview Mansion Sunday, December 12, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Elwood Smith Park Council

Ann Blandarmer, Marilyn Hemming and Helene Legendre are members of the Elwood Smith Park Council.

Meet Marilyn Hemmig, Helene Legendre, Ann Blandarmer, Helen Sanders and Marcia Bailey, members of the Elwood Smith Park Council. 

In 1976, the community was concerned about vandalism at the Elwood Smith Park and became involved in improving the park for the neighborhood. Many residents started activities for kids and teenagers and helped to turn things around. Today, more than 30 years later, the park is a safe and popular community gathering place.

Neighbors also use the park to celebrate Christmas in a special way by holding a poinsettia sale every December. Ms. Hemming, a member of the community for 50 years, has kept this tradition going, despite many challenges.

"The reason why we do this is to bring the community together," said Ms. Blandarmer. "These days people are so busy and there is so little in relation to communities getting together."

"The poinsettia sale is a wonderful tradition," said Ms. Legendre. "It is cherished by many in our community and with the holidays around the corner, it's a great way to get connected."

Even people who have moved away order poinsettias from the group. In recent years the council has use the money from the sale to support the City's Summer Playground program and to pay for adult education.

Mr. Hector Cruz

Meet your neighbor Mr. Hector Cruz, an Argentinean native, who decided to make Rockville his home 37 years ago. 

"When I first came from Argentina to visit my sister I did not speak any English, but I saw a great opportunity in Rockville," said Mr. Cruz. "This is a land of opportunities."

Rockville gave Mr. Cruz the opportunity to own his business, Hector's Tailoring, and eventually to open three other stores. 

"When I started working on 355, Congressional Plaza was a warehouse and this area was filled with lots of trees and some businesses," said Mr. Cruz. "I have seen the incredible change that Rockville has experienced over the years and every day looks prettier." 

In addition to his Rockville store, Mr. Cruz opened the first tailoring business in the Pentagon and has been the tailor to four-star Generals, congressman, delegates and many others. Today he is one of the most renowned tailors in the Washington area.

"Rockville is important to me," said Mr. Cruz. "Family is also very important, and I am very happy that soon my daughter's family will be living here in Rockville."

Mr. Cruz attributes his appreciation of Rockville to the respect and recognition he has earned through his business and the relationships he has built with people in the community.

"This is a great place," he said with a smile.       

The Olacheas at their home.

Bonnie and Marty Olachea

Meet Bonnie and Marty Olachea, your neighbors in Twinbrook since 2002. This couple is a dynamic duo: Marty is a professional musician and a painter and Bonnie is a courtroom reporter who has a passion for singing and music. 

The Olacheas opened the door of their home to share the reason why they wrote and produced the song, "Spirit of Rockville".

	One of Marty's paintings.

"We have had a good life in Rockville and the transformation of town center inspired us to write a song about Rockville," Bonnie said.

Marty and Bonnie love the city and think that it is very pretty. After living in large cities they find Rockville to be refreshing and calm. "You can feel alegría (happiness) in the air and this inspires me," Marty said with a big smile.

Bonnie is very proud of her two sons and the Olacheas noted that they chose to move to Rockville because of the good schools. "The west cost has good universities but not good high schools and Rockville does," Bonnie said. Today their sons are accomplished musicians: Claudio working in the film-scoring industry and Dario attending the New England Conservatory.

The Olacheas certainly have much love and appreciation for the city and their song honoring Rockville can be heard at this link: http://www.martyomusic.com/Song.html.

Big or small, we all contribute to make Rockville a special place to be.

Mr. Frank Parks

Meet Mr. Frank Parks, your neighbor in East Rockville. He has been living in Rockville since 1947 and has seen many changes to our community. Mr. Parks is 83 years old and has a green thumb that some might call a gold thumb.

With a warm smile and bright eyes, Mr. Parks welcomes visitors into his backyard garden sanctuary. Every corner is different filled with rich color, small statues, interesting birdhouses and shapes. He calls it his "Little Farm" or "God's Little Half Acre."

"This is my life," said Mr. Parks. "I have worked in this garden since I moved here and I have not stopped since. I work in my gardens when I wake up until the afternoon."

Mr. Parks collects his own seeds and uses them to grow his plants. He recently demonstrated his talent with the patience and skill of a master gardener.

"One day somebody brought a visitor from China to see my garden," said Mr. Parks. "Visitors are welcome."

Mr. Parks values our community and spends time in his garden to make it look its best, in the process, creating one of the most beautiful private places in Rockville.