Picasa Web Albums - Steve - Varied Photos

Picasa Web Albums - Steve - Varied Photos: "Link to this album"

Looking for A Sweet Snack ? Try the Country Cone Cafe

Come Celebrate National Ice Cream Day July 19, 2009

This is a truly delightful place, it has a 50's - 60's charm that has all but disappeared. The Country Cone Cafe, located at 19705-B Waters Rd. in Germantown,MD 20874, is a family owned and run business.

The reason I am writing about this place is that it represents something that is still good and wholesome in America. A local family serving their friends,neighbors and new customers. Raising a family and contributing to the community, as our small shop owners always have.

Linda and Tony Hose are the proprietors, greeters,cooks,servers, and marketing department, with the occasional assist from their sons. They have been serving up the most delicious soft and hand dipped ice creams for 7 years. They even feature the "Guilt Free" "Only8"(sic) frozen yogurt which has only (of course) 8 calories per ounce. I have eaten it and I think the taste and texture is even better than regular ice cream.

The real deal here is the way your treated. Whether Linda or Tony are behind the counter they greet you not as much like a customer, but a returning friend. On a recent Saturday visit, there was a steady stream of moms and dads,their kids in tow, being greeted just like friends coming to your home. I have never felt more welcome at an eatery than at Country Cone Cafe.

Although the shop has the feel of a decades ago "drive-up" ice cream stand, there is no waiting outside in the heat while waiting for your treat. This cafe has a "walk-in" serving area that is kept nice and cool and has several tables and chairs and even a large TV. There's an outdoor play area for the kids to burn off some calories, while you can sit a spell and enjoy your tasty treat.

Linda and Tony have four sons ages 8 through 21. Their nineteen year old is in the U.S. Marine Corps and was recently married. They also have a dog named Honeybun, as his coat is the color of a Honey bun. The sweets just keep on comin'.

Tony has served as a baseball coach for both the Germantown Athletic Club (GAC) and Upper Montgomery County Athletic Club (UMAC).

The shop is open Daily from Noon til 10:00 PM. They serve a wide variety of hand dipped ice creams with names like "Superman" and "Playdough" as well as the aforementioned Frozen Yogurt,Shakes, Sundaes and Splits.

Take a nostalgic trip to your childhood at Country Cone Cafe, you won't be disappointed.

Goodbye to a Washington Institution ??

Local company Ritz Camera has petitioned the U.S.Bankruptcy Court to sell off or close its remaining 400 stores, according to a story in today's web edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Apparently,the chain, which was already in Chapter 11 reorganization,and had closed many of its Ritz locations, felt it did not have sufficient funds to continue operating throughout the summer. In addition the article continued, that there wouldn't be sufficient capital for inventory for the upcoming fall holiday season.

I spoke with Mr. Alex Goldman Media Director of Ritz this afternoon and he stated that they had made the petition today. He indicated that the company was going to try to sell itself to a buyer that would "continue the business as a going concern"

In fact, in a press release issued by RITZ, David Ritz CEO stated:"....I believe that Ritz Camera will continue on.....for a long time to come.

The press release further took issue with recent press reports about the asset sale. "Ritz decision to proceed with an asset sale is a normal and customary means of facilitating an exit from bankruptcy."

Mr.Goldman, in a telephone interview did state that Ritz was negotiating the sale with both "going concern buyers and liquidators"

A sale to a liquidator, would mean the end of the Ritz chain both in the DC area and around the nation. Ritz with headquarters in Beltsville, MD is the largest specialty camera and image chain in the US. Through expansion and acquisitions they operate as Ritz Camera,Wolf Camera,Kits Camera,Inkleys and The Camera Shop.

Ritz Camera has been a family run business and has long served the photo needs of its customers. They provide not only the hardware and software, but more importantly, the advice and counsel on their use. We hope they will find a good " going concern" buyer and continue to serve the customers.

Based on story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution,Interview with Alex Goldman of Ritz and the press release issued by Ritz.

Yearning for Freedom

As events unfold this week in IRAN, we are once again reminded that the people of all lands will yearn to be free. No matter what the regime is , whether it is religious, socialistic or capitalistic, the people will eventually cry out for freedom. What do they want? It is simple; all people desire the right to communicate,to express their ideas,to meet,to learn (what and how they wish to learn), to travel, to work,to marry,to have families, the right to inform their fellow citizens about their government(without fear of reprisal),to have a decent place to live,to worship as they choose.
As it is written in the AMERICAN Declaration of Independence, these rights are "inalienable" and belong to all peoples. These rights come from the "creator". No man or system can nor should take them away. And that is why the founders of the United States defined these rights in their Constitution.
What we are seeing this week in Iran is the little seedling of freedom trying to grow,nurtured and enabled by the modern methods of communication. Yes, Facebook,Twitter, Emails and Blogs,YouTube and all the rest. And how does the ruling regime respond? They cut off the communication,bar "foreign journalists" and turn the water hoses and tear gas on demonstrators.
We have seen it all before, claim the people who yearn for freedom are witches, burn the books,destroy the printing presses,jail and torture people for their ideas or beliefs. Some have gone further, they perform genocide on whole groups of people who are either in their way or they just don't like.
Yes, even in America we saw peaceful demonstrators beaten,gassed,hosed with water cannons,chased,attacked with vicious dogs and yes even murdered. Maybe some of you have forgotten, but it was called the "Civil Rights" movement. But, it was a sign that a corrupt system was failing,desperately trying to hang on to its evil ways. But a voice that was initially small began to grow, people who stood by and said nothing began to join the protest against this wrong. The result was that great change came to America. One of the reasons it changed was the powerful images of these injustices delivered to the people by a free and (for the most part) unfettered press.

So, this morning when I awoke to the news on CNN that the Iranian Government had brought out the tear gas and the water cannons, I knew that Freedom is on the way. The pictures, by the way, came from peoples' cell phones, because the government had barred the journalists.
The end of totalitarianism in IRAN is near. Not maybe today but soon.
We, as a Nation must support this cry for freedom. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy in his famous speech at the Brandenburg gate in Germany: We are all Iranians!

I hope the other dictators and madmen hear the drumbeat of freedom. You can't hide behind a cloak of secrecy and oppression much longer.

Inshallah