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The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Service named County Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg its Legislator of the Year.

He and two other local legislators were honored for their hard work, dedication and accomplishments supporting and advancing the volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical service in Montgomery County, according to Eric N. Bernard, director of the Montgomery County Fire-Rescue Association.

The awards were handed out at the association's fourth annual legislative reception earlier this month at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad.

"Councilmember Andrews is a dedicated and hard-working public official who is always helping to advance our volunteers in the service," Marcine D. Goodloe, the association's president, said in a prepared statement. "He has led the way in opposing an ambulance fee and remains steadfast in his support of the combination fire and rescue service we have in Montgomery County."

The association also awarded U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington and U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) for their work to support and increase funding for several federal programs available to the volunteer fire and rescue service throughout the country.

"It is due to Congressman Van Hollen and Senator Mikulski's steadfast determination and sheer grit that the federal funds were kept in the budget this year and in the past," Bernard said. "Several volunteer fire and rescue departments in Montgomery County have been awarded federal grants that are there because of their hard work. Our association received a grant last year to hire a recruiter and start a county-wide recruitment drive thanks to their hard work."

The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association was formed in 1922 and represents the 19 independent volunteer fire and rescue departments of Montgomery County and the more than 1,600 active volunteers serving the residents of the county alongside career firefighters.

TLC adds new director

of outpatient services

Janet Graves-Wright is the new director of outpatient services at the Treatment and Learning Centers (TLC) in Rockville, a non-profit organization that provides educational, therapeutic and vocational services to children and adults with disabilities.

Graves-Wright, who recently located to Maryland from New York, said she is "thrilled to be here at TLC."

"I have experienced all angles of this field with my own experience coping with a reading disability and as the parent of a child with learning disabilities, and also as a therapist, an educator, a researcher and as an administrator," she said in a prepared statement.

She earned a Master of Science in Education in speech-language pathology from Nazareth College of Rochester and a Master of Music in vocal performance and literature from the University of Rochester. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from California State University, Chico, and has completed doctoral coursework in speech and hearing science at City University of New York.

She holds certification from the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association in Rockville and is licensed as a speech-language pathologist in Maryland and New York.

"Janet brings a wealth of experience to our organization," Patricia Ritter, executive director of TLC, said in a prepared statement. "We are excited about her joining our team and know she will serve the community through her work at TLC."

Bridal Expo set for Jan. 31

The 11th annual Bridal Expo will be held noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Glenview Mansion in Rockville Civic Center Park.

The event is designed to offer anyone planning a wedding or other special occasion a chance to sample the services that go into making it a memorable event.

The expo will feature more than two dozen vendors who will highlight their services, including caterers, florists, cake makers and designers, musicians and DJs, photographers and videographers, personal care attendants, rental accessory companies and travel agents.

The Rockville-based mother-daughter business, Bridal Images, will present an informal bridal gown fashion show.

Tickets for the event are $5 and can be purchased at the door. For more information, call 240-314-8660 or visit www.rockvillemd.gov/glenview/bridalexpo/index.html.

Tutors needed to teach adults to read, speak English

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County has more than 200 adult students on its waiting list for tutors to teach them how to read, write or speak English.

No foreign language skills are necessary. Tutors work one-on-one or with small groups, and typically meet with students in libraries or community centers at mutually convenient times.

Call 301-610-0030 or e-mail info@literacycouncilmcmd.org.

On campus

-Karson Leperi and Chiara Tanzi, both of Rockville, received a Lido Club of Washington, D.C., Scholarship. Leperi attends the University of South Carolina and is majoring in chemical engineering. Tanzi attends the University of Maryland, College Park, and is majoring in foreign languages. Scholarship winners are selected based on academic merit and are academically outstanding, with an average GPA of 3.95. 

-Two Rockville residents, Thomas Feola and Jonathan Rapport, were named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn.

-Tiffany Painter of Rockville was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Misericordia University, with a 3.55 grade point average or higher.

-Nicole Devlin and Michael Steinfeld, both of Rockville, were named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Undergraduate students earning a 3 or higher academic average for the semester are named to the list.

-Sarah Bray, daughter of Carol and James Bray of Rockville, was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. Bray, a junior majoring in mathematics, is a graduate of Connelly School Holy Child.

-Francis Petruccelli of Rockville was named to the dean's list and Rachel Malinauskas of Rockville was named to the president's list for the fall semester at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. To achieve the president's list, students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours and have a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Full time students with a minimum of 12 credit hours and a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.9 are named to the dean's list.

-Rachel Lieber of Rockville, a member of the Class of 2010, was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Dean's list honors at Tufts require a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

-Nichol Brown of Rockville was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa. Brown, a senior and graduate of Montrose Christian School in Rockville, is majoring in elementary education. Students must earn a 3.6 grade point average or better to attain dean's list status.

Items appropriate for this column should be sent to Judith Hruz, Editor, The Rockville/Aspen Hill Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md. 20877; faxed to 301-670-7182 or 301-670-7183; or e-mailed to jhruz@gazette.net. Deadline is Thursday at 5 p.m. for consideration for the following week. Items are subject to editing and used on a space-available basis.