Chris Brown has continued his streak of providing Greater Takoma with dining options that are delicious and eclectic. Chris often supports local causes (most recently providing deeply discounted food for Takoma Park Elementary and Piney Branch Elementary Teacher Appreciation meals) and his restaurants also serve as important fundraising sites for worthy causes. After helping launch SOKO and Zinnia to great acclaim, Chris has stepped into the void of Republic’s departure with Motorkat. Having a talented and accomplished restaurateur apply his skills here has made Takoma Park a more interesting and tasty place to live. Chris, what’s next?

The Covid-19 pandemic was an unlikely time to quit your job to pursue a dream, but that is when David Creekmore took a leap of faith and left his CFO position at a nonprofit to open a financial planning firm, Lifetime Financial, that caters to families in Takoma Park. David also volunteers his time to help lower-income households who are desperate for advice and are often turned away by mainstream planners. Over the last few years, he has helped a dozen families get out of financial peril while giving them the emotional support and assurance that they will be okay. A Takoma Park resident for more than 20 years, David has made a long-term commitment to provide other residents with the advice they need so they can plan for the lives they want.

Supervisor Vince Cain is the encouraging and welcoming smile at the recreation center on New Hampshire Avenue. Vince started at the center as a part-timer in 2014 and became full time in 2015. With a burst of laughter, he is always ready to jump in and make sure you have a good time in any of the many activities he oversees. As much as he is a supervisor, he is a fan and cheerleader. Pickleball and Double Dutch are all the more enjoyable when Vince is in the house. He encourages new players, gives you helpful recommendations, and makes everyone feel welcome. He makes you want to run, jump and play. You can’t help but have fun. Vince is also well known for building relationships with the teens that come in for his after-school programs and with the families who have children in childcare and summer camps. Before signing up, many of them ask, “Is Vince still running things?” He epitomizes the best of the Takoma Park staff.

One of the most popular faculty members ever to walk our school hallways Louis Hoelman seems to gain more energy every year. Most recently, as the new head coach of Blair’s varsity co-ed golf team, he led the team to the final round of the state championship. Impressively he was doing double duty as the longtime head coach of Blair’s girls’ softball team, reaching his 300th win last season, all the while teaching PE at the school. During the pandemic he taught from his living room, starting off each class with a 20-minute workout on screen. Rare among teachers Louis is a local alum of both Blair and Eastern Middle. In 1993 he returned as a teacher at Piney Branch Elementary and then moved in 2001 to Blair, where he has also coached basketball, handball, field hockey and cross country. He has been named “coach of the year” by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Karen Mendez has been described as “the teacher with the 100-watt smile.” She truly lights up any room with her smile and presence. Ms. Mendez has been at Rolling Terrace Elementary for decades. She is the definition of a master teacher, leading her colleagues by example in the implementation of curriculum, captivating a classroom with her kindness and comforting structure while also spreading the message of stewardship and sustainability with her environmental work in and around the school. For years she has donated countless hours outside the normal school day, bringing joy through after-hours tutoring, environmental clubs, and gardening. And if there is an event where she can support her students she is there.

In just one short year, Isabelle Mensah introduced a new era of achievement at Rolling Terrace Elementary, and her leadership has ignited pride throughout the school. She has the commanding and confident presence that any good elementary school principal should have, but she is also approachable and makes herself infinitely available to students and their families. Her deep sense of care is palpable in the classroom, hallways, extracurricular activities, and community engagement events of Rolling Terrace, all of which have been thoughtfully cultivated to make Rolling Terrace a beacon of the community.

The Takoma Porches festival, a spring tradition that had lapsed, was brought back to life this year by Carolyn Alderson and Jeffrey MacMillan (with help from Steve Smith, Alison Baker and James Colwell). On a Saturday afternoon in May hundreds of music lovers ambled from porch to porch in the middle of town to enjoy the sounds of bluegrass, jazz, folk, funk, gypsy jazz, even country and western—all played by live bands. Takoma Porches is a free event because the musicians, most of them local, donate their time and skills, as do the households, including Carolyn’s and Jeff’s, who spiff up their porches and make them available as a place for friends, neighbors and strangers to congregate. Everyone was friendly, and no one was in a hurry as they took in what might be called a “moveable concert.”

The origin of the Community Food Forest Collective, a new nonprofit that has planted two food forests of bushes and trees and has plans for several more, can be traced to a conversation Miles Amoore had with a member of Climate Action Coffee about three years ago. Several other members quickly embraced the idea. A food forest, which mimics a forest ecosystem, produces either food or medicines from such plants as Paw paws, persimmons, blueberries, gooseberries and hazelnuts and can teach us about health, nutrition, permaculture, climate impact, and related topics. A search to find suitable locations led to planting forests at Takoma Park Elementary and Montgomery College. Volunteers of all ages and ethnicities—Master Gardeners, teens earning SSL hours, families with young children, and students from the Montgomery College Permaculture Club—pitched in, moving mulch, digging holes, making signs, and cheering on the plants. Besides Miles, the Collective includes Amy Zimmerman, Bea Zuluaga, Philip Bogdonoff, Judy Rosenthal, De Herman, Karen Elrich, Sharon Broderick and Tierney Acosta.

In 2009 Ali Kahn and Megan Scribner, Willow Avenue friends who had recently published books, embarked on a notable act of good neighborliness by organizing an event where the many writers who live locally can promote new work. That year the first Takoma Park Book Fair featured 19 local authors. Fast forward to 2023 when the annual December event, hosted by their partners at Busboys & Poets Takoma, showcased 34 authors. Nearly 200 authors of every ilk and genre from the Greater Takoma area have participated over the years. Ali and Megan also advise local organizations that sponsor book events, and Megan has created a Facebook page as a year-round network for authors, with posts about relevant events at Busboys Takoma, People’s Books, Historic Takoma, and the City Library. Ali is a writer, editor, and folklorist with a special interest in oral history. Megan is an editor, writer, and community organizer.

As vice president of the Takoma Park Elementary PTA, Claire Dean is an invaluable and devoted leader who has volunteered countless hours. Just a few of her contributions include planning a fun and motivating Earth Day assembly, researching new after-school enrichment options for students, ordering new fundraising merchandise to sell, and being a key member of PTA strategic planning. One of Claire’s most notable achievements was as co-chair of the book fair, a huge undertaking months in the making that raised money for new library books. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Claire is always willing to step up for any event necessary all the while maintaining a day job as an attorney. The PTA is looking forward to all she will bring to the role next year.

Mari Quenemoen launched her volunteer service as a room parent at Takoma Park Elementary, finding ways for kindergarten families to connect and engage during the shutdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. More recently, as a co-chair of the PTA’s Health and Wellness Committee, Mari was fully involved in the makeover of the school atrium, salvaging potted plants to give away, organizing teams of adults and children to remove roots and debris, and leading a drive to provide temporary greenery while long-term plans evolved. This year, now at Piney Branch Elementary, she spearheaded Cultural Heritage Night, organizing volunteers, soliciting food donations and other contributions, and working on publicity and logistics. Mari’s leadership style creates an environment where volunteers, school staff, and community members all feel valued and included.

Amy Swift has worked tirelessly as the Takoma Park Elementary PTA’s treasurer this year. She puts in many hours each week to keep the PTA’s budget balanced by working on long- and short-term planning, as well as depositing donations and fulfilling reimbursements. She has been an integral part of the success of fundraisers such as the Dolphin Drive, Read-a-thon, and Book Fair, the money from which helps provide supplies and programs for students and teachers. Amy has also single-handedly organized many years of financial files and information. Additionally, she has volunteered her time at many school events. The PTA team says they are lucky to have her.

Mimi Ikle-Khalsa has been either co-leader or leader of the annual Takoma Park Alternative Gift Fair for the past 15 years, mentoring an entire generation of volunteers. She helped successfully weather the Covid-19 pandemic, creating a robust website and online shopping catalog for the previously in-person event. Not only does the gift fair raise crucial funds and provide an alternative to the over-commercialization of the holiday season, she brightens Takoma Park with the beauty, joy and relaxation that she dispenses in her extensive promotions at the farm market in Old Town and in her decorations at the event itself. After the event she ensures the smooth delivery of tens of thousands of dollars to locally-based, direct-service nonprofits in our region, as well as internationally, and works with new groups so they can participate in future fairs.

On July 16, 2016, at 9:43 am, Takoma Radio went live, and listeners have been raving ever since. The announcer was Marika Partridge, who had spearheaded the effort to claim one of the newly created FM frequencies (94.3) and give Takoma Park its own radio station. Funds were raised to build a broadcast facility, and Marika found tech-savvy volunteers and eager DJs and came up with the call letters WOWD. Olivia Randolph, an early supporter, has been station manager since 2017 while Steve Hoffman oversaw programming, now in the hands of Bob Boilen, who retired from NPR and starts at WOWD this summer. Historic Takoma served as the official applicant for the license. The broadcasts are 24-7, and the shows reflect our cultural and musical diversity. Due to streaming, programs are heard well beyond the five-mile radius of live broadcast. The National Federation of Community Broadcasters has praised WOWD for its excellence, but most important to these radio pioneers is the continued enthusiasm of their audience.

Delaine Deer’s passion and expertise shine through in her role as an instructor and board member of the new nonprofit AbodesJoy where she teaches a wide range of diverse learners—women, nonbinary individuals, and transgender people—how to make home repairs. Delaine's extensive training in plumbing, electric work, woodwork, and more, combined with her supportive teaching style, enable her students to achieve self-sufficiency and empowerment. She has a remarkable ability to make learning enjoyable and rewarding, as evidenced by the enthusiasm her students express. Have you ever thought “toilet training” would bring whoops of joy? Try attending her class on removing and installing a toilet. One of Delaine’s underlying goals is to make the next generation of construction professionals more inclusive as well as more qualified.

Marcia Diehl is the key organizer of the all-volunteer Community Band, which dates to 1974 and is probably best known for setting a fun, lively tone during July 4th festivities and Takoma PlayDays. What could possibly be more spirited? At present Marcia is planning a celebratory 50th anniversary concert to be held on June 8 in the Community Center. In coordination with CityTV she is producing a film to be shown during the concert—interviews, snippets of ensemble rehearsals, and past performances. Retired members will be honored. Tin Roof Blues, composed by a band member, will be debuted. In recent years Marcia has expanded the band’s reach to the Festival of Lights at the Mormon Temple as well as to smaller venues such as the Franklin Apartments and B’nai B’rith Homecrest House. Marcia is delighted to report the band is adding new members from a younger, more diverse population.

Tutor Anita Burkam is the ideal educator for children in need of math enrichment, especially those whose skills and confidence were eroded by the Covid-19 pandemic. In her words, she “loves to encourage students with positive reinforcement and team up with them to make math a surmountable challenge rather than a dreaded chore.” Under Anita’s tutelage, parents have seen their children’s anxiety and antipathy toward math transform to fluency, curiosity and success. Anita is gifted at reaching children of all ages and abilities, including neurodiverse students. Her wide ranging skills and experiences—writing for the Horn Book, community volunteering, language learning, and more—inspire young people and instill a love of math. As an extra benefit, she offers free or reduced prices to those who qualify.

Takoma Soccer coaches Terry McDonough and Stephane de Messieres have been coaching their players, who are now in middle school, since they were preschoolers. Terry and Stephane have been exceptionally committed to working with this team, nicknamed the Takoma Turkeys, teaching them teamwork, sportsmanship and character in addition to soccer skills. They look for ways to motivate by setting up trips to professional games and finding female as well as male role models, noting that it's important for boys to see women playing at a high level as well. They bring patience, fun, and heart to their coaching roles. The sense of belonging and encouragement has kept kids and parents coming back not only to their team but to other Takoma Soccer teams. Terry is the coordinator and Stephane is the scheduler for all 7th-grade coed soccer teams. The two of them have been a constant during a tumultuous time.