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Bethesda Restaurant, Lounge Keeps Alcohol License Despite Protest From Neighbors

By WTOP Staff

The Parva on Woodmont Avenue has caused noise complaints from condo residents at the Fairmont Plaza across the streetA Latin restaurant and dance lounge in Bethesda will get to keep its alcohol license, despite a challenge from nearby condo dwellers who say the restaurant is too loud and a magnet for drunken behavior.

Residents of the Fairmont Plaza condominium presented a protest petition to the Montgomery County Board of License Commissioners, which prompted a hearing on Thursday to review The Parva’s alcohol license.

An attorney for The Parva owners Juan Carlos Balcazar and his brother Edwin portrayed the restaurant as a law abiding business focused on cuisine more than its upstairs lounge business. The Parva is one of the few non-hotel businesses in Montgomery County that offers bottle service.

“It’s just that we’re accused of being a nightclub,” said The Parva attorney Alan Steinhorn, “I’d like to show you what goes on behind the doors.”

Despite the complaints about booming late night dance music and customers urinating in a nearby alley, The Parva has never been issued an alcohol violation and has not been the subject of a noise violation from the county’s Department of Environmental Protection. It opened in June 2011.

Montgomery County Police officer Mike Schmidt, who works off-duty security for The Parva three nights a week, said the restaurant is far from the loudest or most disruptive in Woodmont Triangle. Schmidt also said many of the residents’ complaints directed at The Parva are actually about patrons of other bars who hang out in Veterans Park around closing time.

Aaron Davis, president of the Fairmont Plaza condo board, and other residents said they worked with county officials from a variety of agencies to try to find a solution, but to no avail. Both sides disputed how willing the other was to meet and work out a compromise. Juan Carlos Balcazar said he did $7,000 worth of soundproofing to the business to deal with the issue.

But Fairmont Plaza residents had about 40 signatures that said the music was still a problem keeping them from sleeping — especially on the weekends.

“Commissioners, you are our last hope. Please send a message to the bars in downtown Bethesda that you will not allow our city to turn into Adams Morgan or Clarendon,” Davis said. “We aren’t anti-nightlife. But enough is enough. There has to be a limit to what a reasonable citizen is expected to endure.”

But without alcohol violations, noise violations and any record of arrests happening inside the restaurant, the Board chose to renew The Parva’s alcohol license.

“I don’t see a basis for not renewing your license but I do see a basis for you being a much better licensee,” said Board Commissioner Fred Silverman.

One of the chief complaints of the residents — that The Parva’s customers come from outside of Bethesda and show little respect for the area — sparked a fiery response from Steinhorn, who happens to live in Prince George’s County.

“I’m personally offended by this protest pointing out Prince George’s County residents frequent La Parva,” Steinhorn said. “I really don’t know if I want to come to Bethesda anymore if the people who live there don’t want people from Prince George’s County.”

Fairmont Plaza residents said they took exception to what they called “race-baiting,” from Steinhorn.

The hearing got particularly heated at a few points. Residents said Juan Carlos Balcazar’s DUI arrest last fall mirrored his attitude toward operating the restaurant.

It was the first protest petition in downtown Bethesda in two years, at a time when Montgomery County is pushing looser alcohol laws and a stronger nighttime economy.

“I think it goes beyond just this restaurant,” said Board Commissioner Susan Heltemes. “I think there are legitimate reasons to believe that there are persons contributing to these problems that do not come from this establishment. It goes beyond the police. It goes beyond the restaurants.”

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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