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Gunnar Tokar, 12, of Laytonsville and his 2-year-old male American water spaniel Strider didn't win Best of Show at the Westminster Kennel Club's 134th annual Dog Show last month but the young duo still caught the judges' attention.

The pair won an Award of Merit at the prestigious show, held last month at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The award is given at the judges' discretion to outstanding entries that do not win Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex or Best in Show.

A 5-year-old male American water spaniel won Best of Breed and an 8-year-old female won Best of Opposite Sex, and both dogs were shown by experienced handlers, his mother Theresa Tokar said. Only three American water spaniels competed at the show, she said, and it is unusual for an Award of Merit to be handed out to dogs competing in such a small group.

To watch highlights from the show, visit www.westminster

kennelclub.org.

A splendid affair

Ken Vest of Gaithersburg invites residents to the first annual Williams Syndrome "Ruby" Gala to benefit the Williams Syndrome Association, a nonprofit based in Troy, Mich. formed in 1982 by, and for, families of individuals with Williams Syndrome.

Vest's son, Jeremy, a Kentlands resident, has Williams Syndrome, which the association describes as a rare genetic condition that causes developmental delays and moderate to severe nonverbal learning disabilities for nearly all individuals who have the condition. More than 75 percent of those with Williams Syndrome also suffer from mild to severe cardiovascular problems, according to statistics compiled by the association.

Jeremy Vest, who was featured in a Feb. 25, 2009, article in The Gazette, appeared on MTV's "How's Your News?" a television news documentary where the cast of seven has mental and physical disabilities that debuted in February 2009 and ran one season. He led the Kentlands Day Parade in May.

Jeremy will appear with Bobby Bird, also of "How's Your News?" on the Sarah Silverman show on Comedy Central at 10:30 p.m. March 18, his father said.

The fun runs from 8 p.m. to midnight March 13 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave., N.W. in Washington, D.C.

For more information, contact Allison K. Lyon, director of development at the Williams Syndrome Association at 201-207-2548 or Alyon@williams-syndrome.org. For more information on the nonprofit, visit www.williams-syndrome.org/.

An international woman

Samira Hussein of Gaithersburg was honored Saturday at the first-ever International Women's Day Luncheon hosted by the International Rescue Committee. International Women's Day is a global celebration of the achievements of women and also calls for the recognition and awareness of the political and human rights struggles of women worldwide, says a statement from the IRC, a New York-based nonprofit.

This year's event "Education: The Power to Change" focuses on the educational challenges that refugee women face internationally and locally. Hussein will be honored at the luncheon, where the first Refugee Woman of Courage Award was presented.

Campus Congratulations

George Tobin Jr., of Montgomery Village, received his Masters in health services administration in December from Strayer University in Washington, D.C.

His thesis, "A Comparative Study and Analysis of Healthcare and Proposed Healthcare Reform in the United States," discussed the pros and cons of current U.S. health care policies and assessed how the U.S. health care delivery systems compare to those of other developed countries.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Erin go bragh! The city's 10th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, co-hosted by the Harp and Shamrock Society of Gaithersburg and the Peterson Companies at Washingtonian Center runs from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Washingtonian Center at Interstate 370 and Washingtonian Boulevard.

Following the parade of Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, clowns, fire trucks and more, the Martin Family Band will provide live music at 1 p.m. in the plaza. The city will host family activities such as face-painting and the like.

Leading the fun are this year's grand marshals, who are both Irish-American authors: National Book Award winner Alice McDermott, who resides in Bethesda, and Danny Costello, an author and musician of Washington, D.C. Slainte!

For more information on the St. Patrick's Day Parade contact the City of Gaithersburg at 301-258-6350, www.gaithersburgmd.gov/

stpatricksparade or The Harp and Shamrock Society at 301-208-8833 or www.hssg.org.

Tot Swap

Tot Swap, an annual consignment sale for babies, kids and teens items, runs at the Montgomery County fairgrounds this weekend.

Montgomery County mom Robyn Rutland started the sales in 2006 and now holds two sales per year at four Maryland locations, Brooke Thaler said in an e-mail to The Gazette.

Item drop-off for consignors runs from noon to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday. New consignors can still register online through Thursday morning at www.totswap.net, Thaler said. Thursday afternoon is a pre-sale event for consignors and volunteers and requires a ticket, followed by a new mom sale at 7 p.m. Tickets are available on the Web site.

The public sale is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Thaler expects sales of more than 50,000 items. The next Tot Swap sale will be in October. For details, visit www.totswap.net or call Robyn Rutland at 301-330-2678.

Send submissions to Patricia M. Murret via e-mail at pmurret@

gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.