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Efim Shapiro, 30, who lives in Middletown with his wife and two sons, won a total of $9,900 combined value of cash and a trip to Alaska on an episode of the television game show "Wheel of Fortune" that aired last week.

Shapiro works at SiriusXM, as a producer for the Joe Madison Show, a news and political commentary show, and moved to Middletown after graduating from Frostburg in 2004.

Shapiro, who said he watches "Wheel" "occasionally," signed up for a chance to audition on the show's Web site, and was chosen to audition at Dulles Hyatt hotel in Virginia. The episode taped in November, an experience Shapiro said was both exciting and made him "super nervous." It aired Jan. 26.

After arriving in Los Angeles, the show's contestants go to the studio 7 a.m. and wait in a green room with the show's producers, Shapiro said. He had to pay his own way to Los Angeles, but the show guarantees $1,000 to each contestant, regardless of how they fare on the show. Shapiro described everyone in the room as nervous and said people were pacing around or bouncing around with nervous energy.

"There's people on staff whose job it is to keep you excited," he said. "They do what they can to hype you up."

Before the taping, Shapiro and his competitors were taken to an empty soundstage to do a few practice rounds, spinning the wheel and solving practice puzzles. He said the low pressure of the situation helped everyone calm down before the taping. But Shapiro didn't stay calm after finishing second and taking home his prizes.

"After I left the show, I was all high and excited, everyone was congratulating me, I felt like I was on top of the world," Shapiro said. However, his excitement dissipated slightly when his cousin pointed out his fashion mistake.

"I was out on the street [in Los Angeles] with my nametag on," Shapiro said, laughing.

5K event planned in memory

of Billotti-Wood family

Francie's Family 5K Fun Run/Walk, is being planned for March 20, in honor of a Middletown native who was killed last year.

Tracy Thomas, one of the event's organizers, told The Gazette in an e-mail that the running event, named in memory of Francie Billotti-Wood and her three children, is meant to bring the Middletown community together.

Thomas said Billotti-Wood was an "avid volunteer, and lover of her Middletown Valley family [who] made a huge impact not only on her immediate friends and family, but also on the many organizations of which she so proudly contributed.

"... Francie made a tremendous impact on the people who knew her, and ... she was a positive person who deserved to be remembered for the way she lived, not the way she died."

Any proceeds after expenses have been paid will go toward playground equipment for Middletown's Memorial Park, off Md. Route 17, Thomas said.

The event will include a 5K run/walk and a 1K fun run for children, beginning and ending in Middletown Park. Early registration ends Feb. 28. Registration costs $25 per 5K participant and $5 per Fun Run participant. Family registration costs $75, and covers up to eight runners.

A commemorative T-shirt is available to all early registrants.

Further information is available on the event's Web site, www.franciesfamily5k.com.

Contest asks students to write about strong marriages

In time for Valentine's Day, Marriage Savers of Frederick County is hosting an essay contest aimed at encouraging young adults think long and hard about committed relationships.

The organization, which seeks to raise awareness about marriages through faith-based and community initiatives, is administering the essay contest for all Frederick County middle and high school students.

"We're hoping to just do our part to get young people thinking about what it takes to help a marriage be successful," said Jonathan Switzer, a board member of Marriage Savers. "At the end of the day, it's not rocket science, but it's just getting kids to tie it together with love, respect, et cetera."

Those entering the contest are asked to write a 200- to 300-word essay that answers the question, "Whose marriage do you most admire and why?" The essay must focus on a Frederick marriage.

The deadline to submit the essay is Feb. 12.

The winner of the contest will receive two tickets to Adventure Park USA. The couple whose marriage the writer admires will receive a free meal from the Red Horse Inn, and pair of 14-kt diamond earrings from the Wholesale Diamond Consultants.

The organization is also asking for entries for the longest marriage in Frederick. Winners of that contest will also receive a free meal from a local restaurant.

The essay contest is being promoted through Frederick County Public Schools by the principals of the junior high and high schools.

Those interested in entering should go to the Marriage Savers of Frederick County Web site at www.marriagesaversfrederick.org. On the site, go to "Contact Us" and enter your name, e-mail address and essay in the body of the e-mail.

The Marriage Savers will also be holding two other events to promote healthy relationships. On Feb.12, they plan to show the movie "Fireproof" at the Lynfield Event Complex,10142 Hansonville Road, in Frederick.

The organization is also planning a Marriage Enrichment Seminar, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Feb. 13, at the C. Burr Artz Library, at 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Sessions will be guided by marriage counselors associated with the Marriage Savers organization.

Teach Autistic Children Today

holds fundraiser

Teach Autistic Children Today (TACT) will hold its annual Longaberger Basket Bingo at noon, Feb. 13. The event will be held at the Jefferson Ruritan Club, located on Lander Road at Route 340, in Jefferson. Tickets are $20, but tickets purchased by Feb. 8 are $18.

Available for purchase at the event will be: additional sets of game cards for $5; 3 special games; two raffles; punch cards; two King Tuts, and food and drinks. Tickets can be reserved by calling 240-405-9161 or 240-818-4613 or by e-mailing tactevents@yahoo.com

All proceeds will benefit TACT, a nonprofit organization that helps local children with autism get the treatment services they need. The TACT organization was recently awarded a $10,400 grant by the Community Foundation of Frederick County, all of which will be awarded to families on a waiting list for services. For more information, go to www.tactmd.org.

Jefferson Ruritan Club

plans pig butchering

The Jefferson Ruritan Club will be butchering 40 hogs for a fundraising effort. Processing begins at 2 p.m., today, and continues at 6 a.m. Friday.

Pork orders can be placed by calling Robert Handley at 301-473-7986, Larry Cassell at 301-834-8709, Gloria Shoemaker at 301-473-4814 or Richard Grove at 301-473-8699. Orders may be picked up beginning at 8 a.m., Sunday.

Brunswick High graduate completes basic training

Air Force Airman Christopher R. Tate completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The program is a comprehensive eight-week training schedule including lessons in military disciplines, physical fitness testing, warfare principles and Air Force core values. Tate graduated from Brunswick High School in 2009.

Scholarship fund created

in honor of Frances Darner

A scholarship fund has been created in honor of Frances R. Darner of Middletown, who died in August 2008.

Darner's cousin, Rebecca Guyton, and Guyton's husband Merle L. Guyton, created the fund, which is being administered by The Community Foundation of Frederick County.

The first scholarship will be awarded for the 2011-12 academic year. Preference for the awards will be given to applicants who have a positive impact through various activities, such as volunteer work.

St. Thomas More Academy student takes second prize

at Catholic Bee

Mary Langley of Jefferson took second place at the Catholic Bee held by the Knights of Columbus Council of St. Timothy's Catholic Church.

Langley, a fourth-grade student, will advance to district-level competition, along with fifth-grader Madeleine Austin of Frederick.

Send information for

Valley Voice to reporter Tripp Laino

at tlaino@gazette.net. Call 301-846-2130 for more information.