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Gabe O'Neill and his 10-year-old daughter, MaryMargaret, are out to prove that kids are heroes.

The Holly Hills father-daughter team spearhead the Kids are Heroes group, which seeks to recognize and inspire children to give back to their communities.

One of MaryMargaret's personal projects is Music for Life, a drive to purchase 130 I-Pods for patients at Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C.

To this end, she and her father have planned several fundraisers for the coming months to gather financial support, including a fundraiser at Holly Hills Country Club on Friday.

Gabe O'Neill said that the fundraiser is open to the public – this is unusual for events at the country club – but it will be cash only, and anyone wishing to come must not wear denim jeans or jackets. The entry fee is $13, and this will cover music by roots rocker Mark McKay and his band as well as hors d'oeuvres. There will be three guest bar tenders – including Gabe O'Neill – and all of their tips will go toward Music for Life.

Gabe O'Neill said on Feb. 13 that there had not been a lot of RSVPs for the event, but tacit commitments from family friends left him confident that it would be well-attended.

"I expect that when the time comes we'll have a nice turn-out," he said.

MaryMargaret, who attends the Mother Seton School, also plans to canvass her neighborhood, delivering about 250 leaflets to advertise the event, her father said.

The pair also uses social networking Web sites like Facebook.com and Twitter to raise money, holding weekly "twitterathons" every Friday, Gabe O'Neill said. During these online marathons, MaryMargaret and her father send out family-appropriate song files and humorous videos to the online community, asking for a $2 tip if listeners enjoyed the music. Gabe O'Neill said that the pair has raised $100 this way, and has garnered more than 300 fans on Twitter.

To learn more about upcoming Kids are Heroes events, or to RSVP for the Music for Life fundraiser on Friday, visit http://www.kidsareheroes.

com/events.php or call Gabe O'Neill at 240-782-4233.

Area students

named to deans' lists

Several natives of southeastern Frederick County were named to deans' lists at various colleges this past semester.

- Frederick Community College named the following students from Monrovia to its fall 2008 semester dean's list: Michelle R. Brown, Joselyn M. Coakley, Kathryn J. Cobb, Heather M. Dabbondanza, James A. Devereaux, Joseph A. Duda, June A. Gibbons, Benjamin J. Grotte, Jason M. Harrison, Dylan D. Kelleher, Morgan T. Koerner, Luke T. Kordell, Peter R. Kordell, Christopher M. Lowe, Hannah A. Martin, Sarah M. Pullman, Amanda F. Pyne, Bethany J. Sherman, Samantha M. Spotloe, Kirsten A. Sundeen-Hershey, Shawn T. Taylor, Sarah E. Waters and Ashley M. Young.

- At Grove City College in Grove City, Pa., Emily Perper of Mount Airy was named to the fall 2008 dean's list. Perper is from Mount Airy, and she graduated from Urbana High in 2008. She is majoring in history at Grove City College.

- At Marrietta College in Marrietta, Ohio, Jonathan D. Brossart, was named to the fall 2008 dean's list. He is a Mount Airy native and graduate of Linganore High School and is majoring in international business.

Historical Society leader resigns, moving to Vermont

Mark Hudson, executive director of the Historical Society of Frederick County, will be leaving the city and heading north next month to take a new position as executive director of the Vermont Historical Society.

Hudson, 44, who has served as the executive director of Frederick's historical society since January 1998, will officially resign his post on March 12.

"It's kind of the next step for me going from a county historical society to a state organization," Hudson said of his new position. "It kind of seemed like a good situation, and one I could do very well."

During his 11-year tenure in Frederick, Hudson oversaw enhancements to the historical society's public programming and facilities development. He also lead the society through the process of obtaining accreditation by the American Association of Museums, making Frederick's historical society the first and only county historical society to hold the distinction.

Hudson said he believes the accreditation was one of the biggest accomplishments during his time at Frederick's historical society.

"Achieving accreditation for the museum here was a big step for the organization," Hudson said. "I'm proud of the staff here, and it makes it easier to leave knowing that there are people here to carry on what we've been doing."

Hudson's new position in Vermont will allow him to take on more administrative roles, such as fundraising, strategic planning and development, he said, adding that he would miss being involved in the day-to-day operations that he did in Frederick.

With the exception of a short vacation there a few years ago, Hudson doesn't know much about Vermont. But, he said he's excited to learn the state and the city of Montpelier, where he and his wife have just bought a house. Hudson moved to Frederick 11 years ago from Columbia, Mo.

When asked what he would miss most about his time in Frederick, Hudson replied: "That's like [asking] which of your children you love the most."

He doesn't have any children, but said that he adores the people of Frederick just as much.

"I've made a lot of friends here and really feel like I've been a part of the community," he said. "The most difficult part of this decision is saying goodbye to people and moving on."

Calling all Catholics: Teacher seeks prayer book owner

City resident Leslie Williamson is seeking the owner of a Catholic prayer book she found earlier this month.

The book, which is copyrighted 1938, was found Feb. 4 in the parking lot near the Starbucks on 7th Street. Williamson has called every Catholic church in Frederick to try to find the book's owner, to no avail. The book is bound in a black leather case and can be claimed by its owner by e-mailing mrswilliamson@aol.com.

Good Samaritans

sought for recognition

According to a press release, Frederick Memorial Healthcare System is accepting written nominations for the Good Samaritan of the Year Award.

The FMH Development Council has been recognizing community members with the award for 19 years.

People who help the hospital fulfill its goals, serve for a long time in community service activities, advance patient care, funding or patients or staff's physical safety t are eligible.

Forms for nominations are available at www.fmh.org. They must be returned by March 31.

The selection committee — Daniel J. Schiffman, Gregory H. Powell, Thomas A. Kleinhanzl, Earl M. "Rocky" Mackintosh III, De Willard, Saeed Zaidi and Wendy Brundage — will pick the winner. The award will be presented at the annual Good Samaritan of the Year program on May 8 at the Lynfield Event Complex.

For more information, or to request a nomination form, call the Office of Development at 240-566-3478.

Thurmont orchard owners recognized for farm heritage

The family of Harry Black – father of Robert Black, the current owner and operator of Thurmont's Catoctin Mountain Orchard – was recently inducted into the Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame.

According to the orchard's Web site, Harry Black and his wife, Helen, bought the orchard from previous owner Ira Kelbaugh in 1961. Black had been an employee at the orchard.

Robert Black manages the orchard with the help of his sister, Pat Runkles, and his son, Christopher Black.

The family was inducted by Gov. Martin O'Malley at the Maryland Agricultural Council Dinner, along with an Anne Arundel County family for their "lifelong contributions to agriculture and their communities," according to a newsletter from the governor's office. The orchard is located at 15036 N. Franklinville Road. For more information, go to www.catoctinmountainorchard.com.

ThorpeWood: BYOB for goodwill

ThorpeWood, a Thurmont nonprofit specializing in outdoor experiences for at-risk youth and environmental education, is holding its annual fundraiser dinner on April 4 to benefit its Seasons of Growth initiative.

ThorpeWood started Seasons of Growth in 2007 to help adolescent girls overcome substance abuse as well as issues with trust and self-esteem. In conjunction with the Frederick County Department of Juvenile Services, the program brings girls from 12 to 18 years old to the mountain retreat for group therapy sessions.

Chefs from Frederick's Canapes and Brewers Alley will prepare the food for the fundraising dinner. The dinner costs $80 per person and lasts from 6-10 p.m.

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.thorpewood.org or call 301-271-2823.

Do you have an item for News & Notes? Contact reporter Chris Brown at 301-846-2132, e-mail chbrown@

gazette.net or fax news to 301-846-2124.