Evening star., 1955-06-05

Largely responsible for this
was the Citizens for Good Gov
ernment organization. which
paved the way for the election Of
Mayor Hovsepian and his team
last year.
Frank A. Ecker. chairman Of
the group. says the mayor ID
carrying out his pledges.
"The merit system has been
improved, . recreation program
started; the budget has been
made meaningful and . road
and sidewalk code has been
drafted. The water problem has
been attacked. And the city has
purchased o street cleaner"
Only the preparation Of Q
master plan remains to be ac-
complished, and start has been
made in that direction, Mr..
Ecker says. The CGG group is
watching" the new administra-
ton and reminding the officials
Of their 1854 commitments, he
added.
Mr.. Ecker. like the Mayor and
q goodly share Of the vocal por-
ton Of Rockville civic leaders,
lives in the Twinbrook section,
the 1,000-home development
whose construction six years ago
bulldozed the way for the con-
version Of Rockville. The Twin
brook influence in Rockville af-
fairs IL incalculable.
Citizen Energy Explained
The eagerness with which
these volunteers contribute time
and energy is explained by one
civic leader as a quest by new
comers for identity with an
identiflable community.
Leighton w. Dudley, president
OF the Twinbrook Citizens As
sociation, says Government
workers. who comprise the big
gest bloc in the community, en-
Joy the role Of being sun
Hatched" and able to partici-
pate fully in civic life.
A typical resident. Mr.. Dudley
ID o former Air Force major now
employed - . civilian with the
Air Force. The father Of three,
no regards Twinbrook as his
nrst permanent home because OF
long military service.
Mrs. Bert Sherman points out
the newer developments In
Rockville contain q high proper
ton Of young. married college
graduates, many with Phi. Ds
who are "active people. eager to
put in their two cents worth" ir
creating the type Of community
they want.
This activity fills the vacuum
created by their isolation from
the metropolitan entertainment
and intellectual outlets which
such q group would normally pa
tronize, she explains.
The young mother helps her
husband, q Public Health Serv-
Ice employe. with editing Twin
brook Life, q multigraphed COM
munity newspaper.
New Challenges Arise
The process Of growth from
Its original rawness to its pres
ent era Of rushing change gives
residents Of Rockville continuing
sets Of challenges.
From the outset school space
has been cramped. The Com
mittee for Better Schools, led by
Mrs. Leo Mccarthy. complains
that the county Board of Edu-
cation consistently has UNDER
estimated pupil population.
As a result school conditions
have reached the point where
double sessions are scheduled
for this September and possibly
for . year later. II school con-
struction doesn't catch up to
the pace Of home building.
All-purpose rooms, Railways
and libraries all are crammed
with pupils. A Junior high
school Is needed desperately,
Mrs. Mccarthy says. to replace
the present retread elementary
school which houses Junior high
school pupils.
To Grow ~ Regional Center
More houses are coming, that's
sure.
Donald Il. Gingery, one Of the
original developers Of Twinbrook
who is now launched on the
1.400-home Hungerford Towne
project. says Rockville's future
is taking shape from regional
trends.
A member Of the Maryland
National Park and Planning
Commission for many years, Mr..
Gingery keeps Q sharp eye on
the regional pattern.
Three major divided high
ways will soon converge on Rock
vile, automatically making 1t
an important center for business
and industry and creating a
continuing demand for housing, !"
he says.
Viers Mill road is being Wild
ened to superhighway standards.
The new National Pike (Route
240) is nearing the paving stage
on its link from Frederick and
then viii head toward WASH
ington. Widening Of the old
National Pike wisconsin ave-