Dogged fundraising makes big mitzvah for county trio
Three upcounty friends have raised more than $2,000 for the Montgomery County Humane Society.
Kyle Fein, 13, of Boyds, Sam Weingord, 12, of Germantown, and Garrett Allen, 12, of Germantown, started Mitzvahs for Mutts as part of community service requirements for their bar mitzvahs, the Jewish rite of passage marking a boy's transition into adulthood.
As of last week, they had collected $2,045 for the nonprofit, well over their $1,500 goal.
"They chose this project because they all really care about animals," Lori Fein, Kyle's mother, wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette. "They all have dogs that are an important part of their lives."
For information or to donate, visit www.firstgiving.com/laurieallen.
Parish yard sale
Mother Seton Parish will host a yard sale on the grounds at 19951 Father Hurley Blvd. in Germantown from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
All proceeds from the sale will go to the parish, parish council member Kathleen Adamczyk said. People who want to donate items may do so between 5 and 9 p.m. Friday.
For information, call Adamczyk at 301-428-3379.
Flamenco dancers
stop at BlackRock
The Ziva's Spanish Dance Ensemble will perform one show only Saturday at BlackRock Center for the Arts at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown.
The 8 p.m. show will be the last performance of BlackRock's 2009-2010 season.
The dance ensemble will perform Spanish dances such as jota, folk dances of Aragon and the flamenco. Tickets from $20 to $30 can be purchased at the BlackRock box office.
For information, call 301-528-2260 or visit www.blackrockcenter.org.
County celebrates
Black Music Month
Montgomery County Public Libraries will sponsor two free events in June for Black Music Month.
The Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Ave. will host the Paul Carr Jazz Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, county spokeswoman Bonnie Ayers said. The brunch will feature students from the Jazz Academy of Music Metropolitan Washington.
For information, call 240-777-0020.
A panel discussion on the history of jazz and jazz today will be held at the Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave., at 7 p.m. June 9, Ayers said. The event will be moderated by Willard Jenkins of "Open Sky Jazz" with Bob Daughtry, Rusty Hassan, Felix Contreras and Miyuki Williams serving as panelists.
For information, call 240-777-0678.
Golf fundraiser for Haiti
Touching Lives Worldwide of Germantown, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, will host the Hope for Haiti's Children Charity Golf Tournament on June 9.
The tournament will be held at the Worthington Manor Golf Club, 8329 Fingerboard Road in Urbana, spokesman John Helsel said. Golfers can win a new car or a cruise vacation for two. A raffle and an auction will also be held, with all proceeds going to the organization. Awards will be given for the longest drive and closest to the pin.
For information, call 301-540-7444 or visit www.touchinglivesworld
wide.org.
Graduation congratulations
Ashten L. Petry of Poolesville, son of Craig and Ann Marie Petry, and Emily C. Terrell of Poolesville, daughter of Jonathan and Carla Terrell, graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., on May 23. Petry earned a bachelor's degree in economics and Terrell earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Both are 2006 graduates of Poolesville High School.
Ashley Elizabeth McCasland of Germantown graduated from Mars Hill College in North Carolina.
Charles David Jamison of Poolesville graduated from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Zachary Keach of Germantown graduated from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., on May 15. Keach earned a bachelor's degree in engineering physics and is a graduate of Seneca Valley High School in Germantown.
Piper Owens of Poolesville, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Owens, graduated cum laude from Washington College in Chestertown on May 16 with a bachelor's degree in political science. Akin Walker of Germantown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wynston E. Walker, graduated from Washington College with a bachelor's in business management and Hispanic studies. He was awarded the Erika and Henry Salloch Prize for the understanding of other cultures.
Cadet Ian Andrew Nacke of Germantown graduated from the U. S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., on May 22 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army's field artillery branch. Nacke is a 2006 graduate of Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg.
Christopher Regan of Germantown graduated from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., on May 9 with a degree in business and marketing.
Germantown resident
gets NIST grant
Poorva Singal of Germantown has received a $7,815 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. The grant will pay for Singal, a junior at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts, to complete a 12-week summer undergraduate research fellowship at NIST.
Singal will contribute to an ongoing research project during the 12-week program with help from a NIST scientist or engineer. Singal is a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring.
This column is for you! Share your good news! Send items to Germantown reporter Andre L. Taylor at ataylor@gazette.net and send Poolesville, Boyds and other upcounty items to Meghan Tierney at mtierney@gazette.net. Or mail to The Germantown-Boyds-Poolesville Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Don't forget to send us photos!
Ride On passes
The Upcounty Regional Services Center at 12900 Middlebrook Road in Germantown will no longer sell Ride On and Youth Cruiser passes as of July 1.
For more information or to find sales locations, call county transit services at 240-777-5800.
Heritage Montgomery honored
The Heritage Tourism Alliance of Montgomery County received an award last month for its yearly Heritage Days event.
The Germantown nonprofit was honored for preservation service at the 35th annual Maryland Preservation Awards, presented by the Maryland Historical Trust's Board of Trustees, on May 21. Heritage Montgomery was created by state and county officials to promote the area's natural and historic resources and was singled out for Heritage Days, a two-day event held the last weekend in June.
The event was started by the Montgomery County Historical Society in 1998 and has been organized by Heritage Montgomery since 2004, according to a statement from the Maryland Historical Trust. More than 40 sites now participate in the free, self-guided tour of the county's historic, cultural and natural resources.
"Aggressive marketing efforts and strategic partnerships has resulted in increased attendance at Heritage Days events and heightened awareness of the role of historic sites and heritage tourism on the region's economy," the historical trust stated.
The 13th annual Heritage Days will be held noon-4 p.m., June 26-27. For information, visit www.heritage
montgomery.org.
Academic accolades
Joseph R. Burns, a senior at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown who plans to study nuclear engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, has been awarded a National Merit Scholarship. He is one of 42 Montgomery County Public Schools students to be named a Merit Scholar this year.
Christine Heather Wyne of Poolesville was named to the spring semester dean's list at Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.
Britney Spicer of Poolesville, a junior elementary education major, was named to the spring semester dean's list at the York College of Pennsylvania.
Three students from Germantown attending St. Mary's College of Maryland were honored at the school's awards convocation in April. Thomas Mark Vaudin received the Barbara Bershon Arts Alliance Award in Music. Stephanie Klapper received the Margaret Floy Washburn Award. Justin Allen Warrenfeltz received the Garry Wheeler Stone Award.
Grill safety
It's time to fire up the grill, and county fire officials have released these safety tips to keep your next barbecue from going up in flames:
-Clean the grill; scour the grate with a wire brush if it has not been used in a while.
-Use nonstick cooking spray to keep food from sticking to the grill.
-Make sure the grill has not been recalled due to safety problems.
-Place the grill on a flat, well-ventilated surface away from houses, overhangs, deck railings, tree branches, shrubbery or anything else that can burn.
-Never use a grill indoors or leave a grill unattended.
-Always supervise pets and children around the grill.
-Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
-For gas grills: follow manufacturer's instructions for checking the connection to the cylinder; check grill hoses for cracking, corrosion, brittleness, holes and leaks and make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing; hire a professional for repairs; always keep propane containers upright and open the lid of a grill before igniting it; regularly remove grease and fat buildup from trays below the grill; store propane tanks in well-ventilated areas; and if you smell gas, turn off grill immediately and do not use until it is repaired.
-For charcoal grills: use proper starter fluid and store can away from heat and children; do not store grill indoors with freshly burned coals.
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