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BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown, will again host National Night Out on Tuesday. The crime and drug prevention event will provide residents with information on how to report crimes in their communities.

The event, in its 27th year, was begun by the National Association of Town Watch to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

County law enforcement agents and members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will be on hand to answer questions. Free food will be served. Police and fire vehicles will be on display.

National Night Out demonstrates the community's commitment to keep neighborhoods free from crime.

The event will run from 4 to 8 p.m.

For information, call 240-773-6200.

Museum show

to focus on service

The Damascus Museum will open a new exhibition, "Serving our Damascus Community," on Aug. 4.

Damascus is noted for its community spirit and the large number of active eservice organizations and clubs in the community. This exhibition will celebrate many of these organizations and their volunteers.

On display will be artifacts from bygone clubs that existed as long as 100 years ago.  The Odd Fellows, the Grange, the Daughters of America, a Pig Club, the Templars, Damascus Rotary Club and Widening Horizons are among the organizations that once contributed to the community but are no longer active. Over time they were replaced by other organizations that met more contemporary community needs; these newer groups are the focus of this exhibit.

Fourteen clubs and organizations are represented: the Damascus Emergency Communications Team, the Damascus Emergency Preparedness Team, the Damascus Lions Club, the Damascus Theatre Company, the Izaak Walton League, the American Legion, the Damascus United Methodist Church Thrift Shop, Faith Connections, the Damascus Community Fair, Damascus Y-Women, the Damascus Garden Club, the Damascus Family Community Garden Club, and the Friends of the Library.

The Damascus Volunteer Fire Department is not included because the museum's first exhibition last fall was dedicated exclusively to that organization.

This show is organized by Damascus Heritage Society members Jim Starcher, Charlie Crawford, Tuck and Eloise Woodfield, and Dan King.

The museum is open Wednesday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., except Saturday, when it will be closed while the exhibits change. It is also open by appointment.

For an appointment call Ray or Linda Olsen at 301-253-1811.

"Serving Our Damascus Community" will be on display through Oct. 27.

Police face pros

in memorial soccer match

A team of Montgomery County Police officers faced off against Washington Freedom alumni players in a fundraiser soccer match Friday afternoon.

All concession proceeds and half the proceeds from ticket sales went to the Sharon and Margaux Brown Memorial Fund. Sharon and her baby daughter, Margaux, were killed Jan. 4 by a charging mother elephant in Castle Forest, a part of the Mount Kenya National Forest in the central highlands region of Kenya. Sharon was a librarian at the International School of Kenya and her husband, Jeff, is a fifth grade teacher at the school.

Montgomery County police Sgt. Rob Grimms and Freedom President and General Manager Mark Washo, both grew up with Jeff in upstate New York. They organized the game.

"We wanted to do something positive for him," Grimms said. "We figured Mark and I could get together a charity soccer game for Jeff to raise money."

Dozens of people came out to watch the six-on-six game that featured former U.S. soccer player and former Freedom star Mia Hamm.

Jeff Brown, who attended the game, said he was glad his friends were able to get the event together.

"I think it's really generous of them to do this for the foundation," he said. "I really appreciate this."

Donations to the Sharon and Margaux Brown Memorial Fund will be used to build a new environmental education center at the International School of Kenya, including greenhouses, a nursery, and teaching space named for Sharon, Brown said.

For more information about the foundation or to make a donation, visit www.sharonmargauxmemorial.wordpress.com.

On campus

Corinne (Cory) E. Freeman of Damascus was named to the spring semester dean's list at Towson University. Freeman, a public relations major, is a 2007 graduate of Damascus High School. She is the daughter of Betsy Freeman of Damascus and Dennis Freeman of Kensington.

Five upcounty students graduated from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown,W.Va., at its 137th commencement on May 17: Katherine Marie Wetzel of Clarksburg and Megan E. Hoffman, Robyn A. Heidary, Ryan Sparks Clark and Isabella Andrawos of Gaithersburg.

Museum seeks yearbooks

The yearbook collection at the Damascus Museum is definitely of interest to some patrons, say museum organizers; some visitors spend hours poring over the old yearbooks, so the museum now has a small table and two chairs where guests can peruse the books at leisure.

The earliest book available is from 1948. The library is still in need of a few between then and 2009. It seeks donations of books from the following years: 1955, 1962, 1966, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Anyone who has and is willing to donate one or more of these books is asked to call Linda or Ray Olsen at 301-253-1811 or any Damascus Heritage Society member.

School supplies needed

for students in need

Faith Connections and Damascus Help are collecting new back-to-school supplies for children in need.

"Last year we provided supplies for 230 children and we anticipate over 250 students needing supplies for the next school year," organizer Jennifer Settlemire wrote in an e-mail.

She asks that parents buy extra school supplies when shopping for their own children.

"We work in coordination with school counselors, local churches and organizations to provide the necessary items to give these children a positive start to the school year," she wrote.

Donations will be given to Damascus-Clarksburg area school children and can be dropped off at businesses and churches throughout the area. Look for the blue donation boxes. For a list of drop-off locations, visit www.Faith-Connections.org.

Donations will be accepted until Aug. 15.

Survive the heat

Montgomery County health officials encourage residents to find places to go to keep cool and find ways to avoid heat-related illnesses.

Anyone suffering from heat cramps (painful muscle spasms in stomach or legs), heat exhaustion (cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, dizziness, nausea and weakness), or heat stroke (red, hot or dry skin, weak pulse, fast breathing changes in consciousness) should get to a cool, shaded area, loosen clothing and drink plenty of water. If that doesn't work, call 911.

The following precautions will help residents avoid heat-related illnesses and keep them cool:

-Stay inside if possible and avoid strenuous activities that could keep you in the sun for long periods of time. If you have things to do outside, do them during the morning. That is the coolest part of the day.

-Wear light colored clothes when outside. A hat and sunscreen are also recommended.

-Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water to avoid cramps, heat stroke or exhaustion.

-Do not leave young children or pets in the car, even with the windows cracked.

-To find public places where residents can cool off, visit www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mymontgomery and type in your location.

Items for People and Places must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday for consideration for the following week. They can be mailed to The Damascus-Clarksburg Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; sent by fax to 301-670-7183; or e-mailed to ssingerbart@gazette.net.