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While at his grandparents' house in Potomac earlier this month, Rafael Espina, 8, learned a valuable lesson about retrieving breakfast from the toaster: Don't use a paper towel.

The paper towel Rafael used to take his waffle out of the toaster promptly caught fire and instead of dropping it, he held on.

"Then I was running up the stairs and I was saying ‘fire fire!' and everybody started coming downstairs," Rafael said.

Rafael said he didn't let go because he was scared the fire would hurt his grandparents, brother and sister inside the house.

"I was scared the whole house would get on fire," he said.

After his grandmother extinguished the fire, the family took Rafael to Suburban Hospital where he was treated for second-degree burns on his right hand.

"It's unusual for a child at that age to even think of doing that," his mother, Jeanne-Marie Espina of Gaithersburg said of Rafael's decision to hold on to the burning towel.

Golf fore good

The FORE Autism Charity Golf Tournament on Tuesday at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm aims to help autism researchers.

The event will include breakfast and putting practice, an 18-hole course, a cocktail reception, a silent auction and a gala dinner featuring Dr. Tom Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. The fundraiser will help researchers around the world share their data and results to accelerate scientific discovery. Golfer tickets are $500 and include entrance to the gala. Gala tickets are also sold separately for $250.

The event is hosted by the Autism Science Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding autism research and sponsored by OMNITEC Solutions Inc., a multi-disciplined federal integrator. For more information, visit www.foreautism.com.

Canal run fundraiser

Help support brain tumor research at the second annual CJ's C&O Canal 5K Walk/Run to Remember in Poolesville next month.

The run starts at 9 a.m. Aug. 28 at Riley's Lock in Poolesville, in the C&O Canal National Historical Park, and ends about three miles away at Pennyfield Lock.

The event will benefit the National Brain Tumor Society and the Hull Family Trust, a nonprofit created by the Hull family in 1984 to support the development of small communities around the world.

The run is dedicated to the memory of Charles Jesse Hull of Darnestown, a former U.S. Marine and avid runner who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in Oct. 2007 and died July 22, 2008, at age 62.

"Throughout most of his illness, every single day he could, CJ would walk on the (C & O Canal) tow path," his wife Maria Teresa Hull said in a statement.

"Although he was no longer able to run, he believed that as long as he was outside, walking and enjoying one of his most treasured places, he knew he was still alive."

More than 100 participants raised nearly $5,000 at last year's event.

Registration is $25 and increases to $30 after Aug. 20. Cost includes a T-shirt, post-race food and beverages, and access to a celebration from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Corporate sponsors are needed.

For information, visit

www.cjsrun2remember.org.

Campus Congratulations

Shaun Aschenbach of North Potomac received a bachelor of arts in psychology from Southern Methodist University.

Grant Goldsmith of North Potomac was named to the dean's list at California State University in Los Angeles for spring 2010.

Alexandra de Cores of Potomac earned a degree in mass communication from Frostburg State University.

Talented trumpeter

Gabe Slesinger of Bethesda is participating in the 45th season of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. The Walt Whitman High School junior has studied trumpet for eight years and was selected out of 811 students to participate in program for gifted high school musicians. While in residence at Tanglewood, Slesinger will keep schedule of rehearsals, master classes and concerts.

Garrett Park Nursery School seeks alumni

The Garrett Park Nursery School — a parent operated and owned education center for pre-school children — is working to complete its alumni database and is reaching out to graduates for assistance.

Any graduates, parents of graduates or current attendees are asked to e-mail Alison Pearce at abpearce@gmail.com or call 301-933-4655. Include the name of those who attended as well as home address and phone number.

Voter sign-up

The Montgomery County Board of Elections is conducting voter registration drives Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at public libraries throughout the county until August.

The board is scheduled to be at the Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda, and the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive in Potomac.

For more information call 240-777-8532 or e-mail Gilberto.zelaya@

montgomerycountymd.gov.

Montgomery County residents who wish to vote in the 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election are reminded that the deadline for voter registration is 9 p.m. Aug. 24.

For information on voter registration, call the Voter Information Service at 240-777-VOTE, or visit the website at: www.777vote.org or www.montgomerycountymd.gov/

elections.

Donate a backpack

Montgomery County Public Schools will be collecting backpacks and other school supplies at White Flint mall on Aug. 7 to benefit students in need.

School system staff members are scheduled to be on the first floor of the mall, 11301 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. collecting backpacks, pencils, pens, highlighters, rules, binders, notebooks and other supplies.

These items will be distributed during the school's third-annual Back-to-School Fair, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 .m. Aug. 28, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, in Rockville.

For more information on the program or drop-off sites call the school system's Department of Family and Community Partnership at 301-279-3100 or visit www.montgomery

schoolsmd.org.

Counseling sessions offered

for small businesses

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, along with SCORE, a nonprofit that aims to assist small business, is offering free one-on-one counseling sessions with business owners, on Thursday.

The event is scheduled to be held throughout the day at the regional services center, at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda.

To schedule a meeting, call 240-77-8200 or visit www.montgomery

countymd.gov/bcc.

Heritage grant recipients

The Heritage Tourism Alliance of Montgomery County, also called Heritage Montgomery, has announced the winners of $213,450 in grants for fiscal 2011 from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.

The winners are:

-The bi-county Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission received $32,000 for interpretive signage about environmental stewardship and the Civil War.

-The Silver Spring-based arts organization Washington Revels Inc. received $25,000 to develop Civil War theatrical and musical programs.

-The C&O Canal National Historical Park received $20,200 to rehabilitate Lockhouse 25 in Poolesville.

-The Menare Foundation received $8,750 to develop a living history program at the Button Farm Living History Center in Germantown.

-Heritage Montgomery received $30,000 for its Heritage Days event, Fall Foliage Tour and Civil War programs, and a $97,500 management grant.

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