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A Potomac show dog received the distinguished honor of competing in the famed Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City last month. And while he didn't come home to Montgomery County with the title of best in show, his owner received something unexpected — a vaccuum cleaner.

Longtime Potomac resident and breeder Cathy Nelson named her champion Dandie Dinmont terrier after his voracious eating habits. As a puppy, "anything within reach on the floor, once he tasted it, he just sucked it up and swallowed it down," Nelson said."So I named him Dyson, after the vacuum."

The dog, now 4, won best of breed at Westminster and went on to compete in the group competition with other top terriers, Nelson said. The group competitions were televised, and the top dogs in those categories went on to compete for the title of best in show. During the group competition, an announcer told the story behind Dyson's name to the television audience, and a public relations representative for the vacuum company happened to be watching at home.

When Nelson returned home, she had an e-mail from the representative, and the next day she received her brand new vacuum in the mail — purple, to match the color of Dyson's best in breed ribbon.

"I thought it was the cutest and most surprising thing," Nelson said. "Since I don't see the television version, I always wonder if anybody ever listens to the comments they read on the air. This proves indeed, they do listen to them."

To learn more about the Westminster Kennel Club and the dog show results, visit

www.westminsterkennelclub.org.

Downcounty students

at the top of their class

Congratulations to the following local students, who made the University of Wisconsin-Madison's fall dean's list:

-From Bethesda: Mikayla Kelly Braun, Kendl Marin Friedman, Noah Benyamin Goetzel, Kara Madeline Korengold, Rebecca Jeanne Newman, Vincent Gordon Parenti and Justine Suzanne Parker.

-From Cabin John: Julia K Goodwin.

-From Chevy Chase: Jacob Eli Cohen-Watnick and Benjamin Mark Pape.

-From North Potomac: Jamie Suzanne Benn and Varun Razdan.

-From Potomac: Sarah Elizabeth Friedman, Rachel Holzman, Rebecca Elyse Kline and Alixandra Nicole Nemeroff.

The following local students graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Dec. 20:

-From Bethesda: Aaron Lewis Schwartz, Bachelor of Arts, history/political science.

-From Cabin John: Michael Louis Ressa, Bachelor of Science, psychology.

-From Chevy Chase: Emily Carol Finkelstein, Bachelor of Arts, journalism.

Troop 773 to serve up spaghetti at PUMC

Potomac Boy Scout Troop 773 is once again organizing its annual spaghetti dinner, the largest yearly fundraiser for the troop, which got its start at the Potomac United Methodist Church 51 years ago.

This year's dinner is slated for 5-8p.m. March 13 at PUMC, 10300 Falls Road in Potomac. The dinner will take place in the church's parish hall, and includes all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs, drinks and dessert.

The cost is $10 per person, with a maximum of $40 per family. Residents can also grab dinner to go or purchase jars of sauce. Scouts begin preparations around 8 a.m. the day of the dinner and act as servers for diners. For more information, e-mail Jeanne Richter at jeannerichter@yahoo.com.

Zooming in on the Potomac

A Bethesda author and photographer is gearing up to give a presentation of his photography, which centers on the C&O Canal.

Roy Sewall, who has published books of photography including "Our Potomac, from Great Falls through Washington, D.C" and "Great Falls and Mather Gorge," will speak and show slides of his work from 7:30 to 8:30p.m. Tuesday at the Kensington Town Hall/Armory, 3710 Mitchell St., Kensington. The talk will be preceded by a coffee gathering at 7p.m.

The talk is sponsored by the Kensington Historical Society. Sewall's work has appeared on the National Park Service Passport Stamp Set and on banners throughout the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, according to the group. He also lead a project to scan the park's entire collection of historic prints. For more information, visit www.kensingtonhistory.org. Sewall will have books available for purchase at the event.

Welcoming home a hero

Burtonsville volunteer firefighter Ari Katz of Potomac returned recently from spending a week in Haiti on assignment from the Haitian Embassy.

During his trip, Katz spent his days working with the U.S. and Israeli Military, the United Nations and other non-governmental organizations on missions to implement water-purification systems and assess the infrastructure of medical teams. At night, Katz volunteered on his own for orphanages and hospitals to help Haitian children.

Aside from his work as a volunteer firefighter, Katz is a cadet in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol and studies pre-med and international relations at American University.

Support for parents

of teens and tweens

An adolescent psychologist will visit Bethesda this week for a presentation he dubbed "Loving your kid without losing your mind."

Michael Bradley, a nationally renowned psychologist who has authored books including "Yes, Your Teen is Crazy!" and "When Things Get Crazy With Your Teen," will speak from 7:30-9:30pm Thursday at Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive.

At the event, Bradley will discuss the latest information on the developing teenage mind and offer guidance to parents of teens and tweens.

The talk will be followed up Friday morning with a workshop at Kensington's Temple Emmanuel with a talk entitled "Parenting Today's Teen: Surviving Disrespect, Defiance and Risky Behavior."

Both talks will highlight the latest research on adolescent brain development, as well as ways parents can improve communication, set boundaries, limit electronic use, and handle issues like sex, drinking, drugs and anger. Bradley has counseled adolescents and their parents for more than 30 years, and runs a private practice in suburban Philadelphia.

The event is sponsored by the Kensington-based Parent Encouragement Program. Tickets, available in advance, are $25 for the Bethesda event and $40 for the Kensington workshop. They can be purchased by calling the Parent Encouragement Program office at 301-929-8824 or 703-242-8824. For more information, visit www.PEPparent.org.

Volunteer to support NCCF

The National Center for Children and Families is looking for volunteers over the age of 21 who can help out at the eighth annual Art & Soul Charity Auction.

The Bethesda-based nonprofit, which serves vulnerable children, youth and families, is looking for volunteers to join the event's planning committee or to volunteer on event day.

The Art &Soul Charity Auction is slated for 7p.m. June 25 at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Alisha Matlock at 301-365-4480, ext. 113. For more information, visit www.nccf-cares.org.

Eating to support the squad

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is hosting a few upcoming fundraisers. The group, which responded to community members in need despite historic snowfall during the recent storms, will host a family supper provided by Bertucci's from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, at their location at 5020 Battery Lane in Bethesda.

Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for children 2-10, and proceeds will benefit the rescue squad. For more information, visit www.bccrs.org or call 301-526-3193.

Then, from 1-5p.m. Sunday, March 28, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Alumni Association will host a shrimp and oyster feast at the same location. The meal will boast all-you-can-eat shrimp, fresh and fried oysters, potato salad, apple sauce, sliced ham, baked beans, rolls, beer and soft drinks. Tickets are $40 and must be bought in advance. To reserve a spot, call 301-977-6634, visit www.bccrs.org or e-mail info@bccrs.org

This column is for you! Share your good news! Send items to Erin Donaghue via e-mail at edonaghue@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or snail mail to 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.