Gaithersburg Seeks Community Input On 2013 Kentlands Oktoberfest

City recently announced plans to expand the fall festival.

After announcing plans to expand the Kentlands Oktoberfest in 2013, the city of Gaithersburg is seeking public input on the event before the planning process moves ahead full steam. The Arts and Events Division of the City of Gaithersburg Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture will hold an open meeting to discuss plans for the event on May 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kentlands Mansion. The city had originally considered the possibility of replacing the fall festival with a summer arts and wine festival in the neighborhood. Related Content:

• Photos (1)

Oktoberfest To Expand, Celebrate Gaithersburg Faces Changes

City Manager: Oktoberfest will remain in Kentlands, Celebrate Gaithersburg will have a new date and theme.

Gaithersburg's Oktoberfest festival will remain in Kentlands and expand, while Celebrate Gaithersburg will have a new date and theme, City Manager Tony Tomasello told the Mayor and City Council during a fiscal 2014 budget presentation Monday. Oktoberfest, held for the past 21 years in Kentlands, will expand toward Market Square and Main Street, The Gazette reported.  The festival also will add another stage of music while the beer garden and Bavarian dancers will return, with some additional activities for families, city Arts and Events Division Chief Denise Kayser told The Gazette. The city considered major changes to both Oktoberfest and Celebrate Gaithersburg. In January, Kayser suggested scrapping Kentlands Oktoberfest for a summer …

• Photos (2)

On The Agenda: Budget Public Hearing, Update From District 17 Delegation

The Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council will meet Monday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Gaithersburg residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinion on the fiscal year 2014 budget and proposed property tax increase at Monday evening's mayor and City Council meeting. City Manager Tony Tomasello's propsed budget is the largest in Gaithersburg history. It does not propose an increase in Gaithersburg's property tax rate, but would be exceeding the constant tax rate set by the state. Joining Mayor Sidney Katz and the Council will be members of the District 17 delegation, who are attending the meeting to give a brief presentation on highlights of the 2013 legislative session. Sen. Jennie Forehand, Dels. Kumar Barve, Jim Gilchrist and Luiz Simmons are expected to attend. The full agenda can be viewed on the city of …

• Photos (1)

Gaithersburg Observes "Days of Remembrance" For Holocaust Victims

Holocaust survivor Mina Parsont received a proclamation Tuesday from Gaithersburg mayor Sidney A. Katz.

The city of Gaithersburg will observe "Days of Remembrance" from April 7-14 in honor of Holocaust victims, Mayor Sidney A. Katz announced at Tuesday evening's City Council meeting. A proclamation recognizing the weeklong observance was presented by Katz to Holocaust survivor Mina Parsont, a Gaithersburg resident. Parsont is a "hidden child of the Holocaust," she said after receiving the proclamation. Separated from her parents, Parsont and her sister spent six months in hiding at the home of a Catholic family in her native France. Parsont spent many years locating the surviving family members who helped care for her in France, she said. After more than 50 years, she was reunited with them, according to a report by The Gazette. …

• Photos (1)

SPEAK OUT: Are You For or Against Major Changes To Oktoberfest, Olde Towne Festivals?

City officials discussed potential changes to the festivals during a work session Monday evening.

Could Gaithersburg's Oktoberfest and Olde Towne festivals be coming to an end?  At Monday evening's mayor and City Council work session, city Arts & Events Division Chief Denise Kayser proposed the city replace its extensive support of the Kentlands Oktoberfest with a summer arts, music and wine festival. Kayser also recommended a proposal to shift the traditional Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne festival to a "fall-themed" festival, encompassing the best parts of previous Olde Towne and Oktoberfest events. Much of Kayser's proposal mirrored changes she outlined in a January presentation to the mayor and City Council. But Kayser's proposal doesn't completely do away with the city's annual Oktoberfest. "The idea is not necessarily to …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (2)

On The Agenda: Proposed Changes To City Events

The mayor and City Council will discuss proposed changes to large city events — Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne, Oktoberfest — at Monday evening's work session.

A proposal to make significant changes to Gaithersburg's Olde Towne and Oktoberfest festivals will be the lone topic of discussion at Monday evening's mayor and City Council work session. Proposed changes to the events were outlined in a January presentation by Gaithersburg Arts & Events Division Chief Denise Kayser. Kayser said the city should consider abandoning the Olde Towne and Oktoberfest festivals — held annually in September and October, respectively — and replacing them with a summer art and music festival in Kentlands and a "Celebrate Fall" festival in Olde Towne. Mayor Sidney A. Katz and the City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the proposed changes. Related Content:

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

City Officials, MCPS Administrators Tour Gaithersburg High School Construction Site

The $93 million project constructing a new, expansive 420,000 square-foot facility at Gaithersburg High School will be completed in time for the 2013-2014 school year.

Council In The Community: Quince Orchard Park Meeting Notes

Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz, the City Council and other city officials met with the Quince Orchard Park community Tuesday night.

Gaithersburg officials joined members of the Quince Orchard Park community Tuesday night to address issues and concerns within the neighborhood in a special Council in the Communities meeting. Below are notes on a number of topics discussed by city officials and community members: Crime Summary Per Police Chief Mark P. Sroka: "As far as crime goes, this is a very safe community and we have very few crimes committed in Quince Orchard Park." Eight total crimes crimes reported in the last six month period for this community: one burglary, two forgeries, one drug complaint, four disorderly conduct calls. In 2011, that crime data is also consistent: 44 miscellaneous calls varying from parking complaints to 911 disconnect and domestic dispute …

• Photos (1)

Budget Forum: City Remains In Good Financial Standing

"We're doing a good job of being financially stable, financially conscientious," says Gaithersburg Director of Finance and Administration Harold Belton.

The Gaithersburg mayor and City Council were briefed Monday evening on the city's financial state during the annual budget forum, and city officials said Gaithersburg remains in good financial standing. The city saved approximately $8 million in FY2012, and that money will go directly towards funding projects in FY2013 and FY2014, said Director of Finance and Administration Harold Belton said. "We're doing a good job of being financially stable, financially conscientious," Belton said. City Manager Tony Tomasello said he expects state and federal funding to shrink in the near future, but the city is prepared to handle the loss of those funds. "We're not as dependent on intergovernmental relations as we once were ... we're focusing on the …

• Photos (1)

On The Agenda: Annual Budget Forum

The Gaithersburg mayor and City Council host the FY2014 budget forum at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Ahead of the 2013 Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council retreat, the city's elected officials are seeking public feedback on the FY2014 budget at Monday evening's annual budget forum. Gaithersburg City Manager Tony Tomasello will present a brief overview of the budget and identify economic factors and other issues that could impact the budget, according to city documents. The entire presentation — featuring a review of Gaithersburg's FY2012 budget and future issues relating to federal, state, and county budgets, health care reform, and more — is available on the city of Gaithersburg website. Immediately following Tomasello's presentation, an opportunity for public input will be provided. SPEAK OUT: Will you attend tonight's annual budget …

• Photos (1)