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A few days before they stood before the crowds at the historic Lincoln Theatre to showcase their talents and vie for a spot in the nationwide competition, finalist for this year's Miss District of Columbia pageant came to Kensington for a final rehearsal in front of dementia patients at Arden Courts Alzheimer's Assisted Living Home.

At the June 17 visit, residents were treated to the final dress rehearsal for the top 20 contestants in the pageant where they demonstrated their talents, rehearsed speeches and showcased eveningwear before the contest concluded June 20.

Arden Courts was chosen to connect older dementia patients with a younger generation with whom they do not regularly interact, said Indy Gurley, the center's program services coordinator.

"It was a great experience for our residents; it was very engaging for them to interact with the girls," Gurley said. "Our people can't really go out anymore and participate in events like this, so to have one come to us was very exciting."

Gurley said keeping dementia sufferers mentally and physically engaged with the outside world is essential in helping them deal with the degenerative disease.

"We do like to focus on intergenerational relationships, because connecting them with younger people is a great way to keep them engaged and interested," she said.

Almost all the routines performed at the final show were on display, she said, with the exception of the swimsuit competition.

Arden Courts — owned and operated by HCR-Manorcare — is an assisted living center charged with the care of residents with mid-stage Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Stephanie Williams, a George Washington University medical student, was named Miss D.C.

Art and culture in

downtown Bethesda

A number of Bethesda art galleries are expected to open their doors Friday for the Bethesda Art Walk, a free tour of artists and galleries.

The participating galleries will be open from 6 to 9 p.m.

The following day, the Bethesda Urban Partnership is staging the Bethesda Artist Market on Norfolk Avenue between Fairmont and St. Elmo avenues to feature more than 20 local and regional artists who will display their craft from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For a list of participating galleries or more information, visit www.bethesda.org.

Help the military

Nick Springer of Potomac received the Carol Armstrong Outstanding Service Award for his volunteer efforts with the Red Cross and Walter Reed Army Hospital Rehabilitation Center. Springer began volunteering several years ago and has been instrumental in collecting and delivering books, CDs, DVDs and snacks for military men and women.

Rescue squad

members honored

Eighteen members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad were honored by the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Training Academy on June 25 for completing additional technical and professional training associated with their positions on the squad.

Squad volunteers Hilary Gates, Dean Ho and Mario Weber completed the Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate class, with Ho earning the prestigious Richard Myers Award for top clinical performance. The EMT-I certification requires more than 700 hours of training to learn to treat life-threatening conditions to patients during emergency situations.

Member Alicia Clugh also earned her EMT-I to Paramedic Bridge certifications, an extension of the EMT-I class.

Thirteen other volunteers — Anna Britton, John d'Alelio, Dominic Della, Benjamin Goldberg, Anna Hall, James Mai, Tomas Montecino, Alixandra Sebrechts, William Seeley, Kevin Wagman, Anne Willis, Scott Wormer and Derek Yee — completed the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic program.

Building for a better tomorrow

Michael Sewell, a Winston Churchill High School student from Potomac, is joining other youth from across the country to help build a home in Mississippi as part of Habitat for Humanity International's "Learn and Build Experience." Sewell is one of 16 individuals selected for the July 11-17 trip to Meridian, Miss., where he will be building and learning about poverty housing.

Democratic debate comes

to downtown Bethesda

Democratic candidates competing for the County Council seat in District 1 are expected to host a debate on issues pressing the area at 7 p.m. July 14 at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda.

The debate is hosted by the Bethesda Civic Coalition, the Edgemoor Citizens Association and the Downtown Bethesda Condominium Association.

Whitman grads make

All-American lacrosse team

The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association announced June 24 that Potomac-native Britton Cone and Bethesda-native Andrew Harding, both Brigham Young University students, were named to their 2010 Division I All-American team roster.

Both are 2006 graduates of Walt Whitman High School.

Cone, a long-stick midfielder, is a graduating senior studying health science at BYU. Harding is a midfielder in his junior year majoring in marketing communications.

The All-American team consists of a 30-man roster picked by the MCLA.

Outdoor movies return

to Bethesda

For the sixth year, the Bethesda Urban Partnership is expected to present their annual outdoor movie series, Stars on the Avenue, starting July 27.

The five-movie series features a blend of genres and generations of films, from classics like "The Maltese Falcon" to the musical "Chicago."

The series begins July 27 with a showing of the 1989 comedy "When Harry Met Sally."

Admission is free, all shows start at 9 p.m. and will be at Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle, at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn avenues.

Some lawn chairs will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own.

For more information, visit www.bethesda.org.

Campus Congratulations

Elisabeth Crisafulli, Julia Hernandez and John Kane of Potomac; Benjamin Horn, Margaret Mooney and Mark O'Halloran of Bethesda; and Lindsey Stinson of North Potomac graduated from Villanova University on May 16.

Michele Fish of Potomac was the recipient of the Rev. Dewitt Dickey Scholarship on May 9 for being an outstanding leader in the United Methodist Youth Fellowship. The 2010 Winston Churchill High School graduate will be heading to Colorado State University in the fall.

Catherine Fitzgerald and John Reklaitis of Bethesda, and Christopher Horning and James Jessup of Potomac have been named to the Fairfield University Dean's List for the spring 2010 semester.

Several residents graduated from Emory University on May 10.

From Potomac: Jung Hah, Phillip Ligon, Roxanne Nemati, Michelle Trone, Jennifer Endick, Elizabeth Shaffer, Jamie Grossman, Jessica Sandler, Benjamin Samit, Justin Wiseman and Charlotte Kvasnovsky.

From North Potomac: Mark Nadel, Sara Feldman, Jason Cross, Nicole Baruch, Adam Greenfest and Anjali Shah.

From Bethesda: Ashwini Hardikar, Robert Sorkin, Stanley He, Svetoslava Milusheva, Anna Mersereau, Monica Federoff, Elizabeth Barnett, Abraham Einhorn, Leila Virji, Madeline Kane, Julie Hurvitz, Daniel Demers, Lee Sutton, Karen Sidransky and Anangu Rajasingham.

From Chevy Chase: Kathleen Cave.

Prepare for storm season

Tropical storm and hurricane season has started. Here are some storm preparedness tips:

-Have flashlights, battery-powered radios, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, emergency food, water and a nonelectric can opener.

-Make sure portable radios, smoke detectors and flashlights work.

-Sign up for alerts at alert.montgomerycountymd.gov.

-Have enough food, water, medication and batteries to last two to three days.

-Check with neighbors who may require special assistance.

-Bring in outdoor objects.

-Clean gutters.

-Check with neighbors who may require special assistance.

-Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in case of a power outage. Frozen food in a half-full freezer will remain safe for up to 24 hours, and in a full freezer, up to 48 hours.

Help a student in need

Montgomery County Public Schools is collecting used school supplies for its annual Drive For Supplies.

Items such as notebooks, backpacks, folders, paper, pens, pencils, markers, protractors and rulers are needed. Drop off donations in the cafeteria at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, during business hours starting Monday and ending July 16.

Last year, more than 14,000 pounds of school supplies were donated and distributed to families and nonprofits. Businesses and community members also are welcome to contribute. More information is at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/studentaffairs/sao/supplies/.

Share your good news! Send items to Cody Calamaio at ccalamaio@gazette.net, via fax at 301-670-7183 or snail mail to 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Don't forget to send in photos!