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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 Mt. 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.

Campus Congratulations

Alana Parsons of Germantown, a junior majoring in advertising management and cultural anthropology, was named to the spring semester dean's list at Syracuse University in New York.

Raymond Hwang of Germantown graduated from Washington University in St. Louis on May 21 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in finance, international business and accounting.

Marsha Abramson of Germantown graduated from the State University of New York College of Technology at Delhi this spring.

Nancy Sowah of Boyds, a hotel and restaurant management major, and Carlos Cabrera of Poolesville, a construction management technology major, graduated with bachelor's degrees from the University of Maryland's Eastern Shore campus in Princess Anne this spring.

Chicken dinner and fair celebrates 135th year

Join St. Mary's Catholic Church for its 135th annual chicken dinner and fair on Saturday.

The free fair will be held rain or shine from noon to 7 p.m. at the Barnesville church, 18230 Barnesville Road. Activities include games for kids, a moon bounce, a cake wheel, baked goods, fresh produce, crafts, a white elephant stand and a jousting tournament from 1 to 3 p.m.

Full course, family-style dinners cost $12 for adults and are free for children ages 12 and younger. Carryout dinners for all ages are $12. All proceeds benefit St. Mary's.

Masses will be held in the church at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

For information, visit www.stmarysonline.com.

National Night Out

For the second year, BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown, will host National Night Out.

The 27th annual crime and drug prevention event will run from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 3, according to Montgomery County Police Community Service Officer Marcus Dixon.

The event will provide residents with information on how to report crimes in their communities. County law enforcement agents and members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will be on hand to answer questions. Police and fire vehicles will be on display.

For information, call Dixon at 240-773-6200.

Voter registration drive in Poolesville

The Montgomery County Board of Elections will hold a voter registration drive at the Poolesville Library, 19633 Fisher Ave., from 11 a.m. to noon, Aug. 14.

To register to vote in Montgomery County, you must be a U.S. citizen, county resident and at least 16 years old (a person may register to vote at 16 but cannot vote unless he or she is 18 by the date of the general election). Those under guardianship for a mental disability or serving a court-ordered term of imprisonment for a felony, including parole and probation, cannot register to vote.

For information, contact Gilberto Zelaya at 240-777-8532 or gilberto.zelaya@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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, located 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 October 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 now $25 and increases to $30 after Aug. 20. Cost includes an organic cotton T-shirt, post-race food and beverages, and access to a celebration from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Corporate sponsors are also needed.

For information, visit www.cjsrun2remember.org.

Air conditioners needed

Rockville is collecting donations of new or gently used air conditioning window units to help residents during the steamy summer months.

The units will be given to seniors and families with health risks in the city of Rockville and will be distributed to residents with the greatest needs first.

For information, contact Alfred Thompson at 240-314-8319 or athompson@rockvillemd.gov.

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!