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Books and homework may be the last thing on everyone's minds, but the opening bell of the 2009 school year is only about a month away. In that spirit, a School of Rock fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday in Garrett Park to raise money for the Garrett Park Elementary School PTA.

The featured performers will include Side by Side, the duo of Doris Justis and Sean McGhee who have performed together for 24 years. Their close vocal harmonies and guitars back their original songs and original interpretations of other songwriters. The duo has shared the stage over the years with the Chad Mitchell Trio, Bill Danoff, Nanci Griffith, Debi Smith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom Paxton, Schooner Fare and the Limeliters, and performed on stages from the Kennedy Center to the Birchmere Music Hall.

Then, PTA member Jay Keating will revisit his early days as a stand-up comic, where he yucked it up as an opening act for Jay Leno, Bill Maher, Andy Kaufman, Lewis Black and others. Keating will pair with McGhee for some musical parodies about politics.

Finally, Keating's kids, Mae, 9, and John, 7, who attended GPES last year, will perform a few of their favorite songs and give the kids a rest from all that adult stuff.

Refreshments will be served. The event is free but comes with a $10 suggested donation. The PTA would prefer a check to cash, but either will be accepted. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Garrett Park Town Hall, 10814 Kenilworth Ave.

Expand your culinary horizons

Bethesda Chevy Chase Restaurant Week wraps up Sunday. More than30 restaurants in the Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac areas are offering prix fixe menus for lunch or dinner — two-course lunches range from $12 to $15 and three-course dinners range from $25 to $30. For more information, visit www.bethesda.org/

misc/restaurantweek.htm.

Wearing many hats

at Girls State

Kudos to Anna Alikhani, a rising senior at the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, who participated in Maryland Girls State at Salisbury University from June 21-26. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Cissel-Saxon Unit 41, Anna joined more than 130 rising seniors from across Maryland in the citizenship training program. The Girls State delegates learned about government by electing "public officials" on local, county and state levels and then carrying out the duties of their respective offices.

Anna was busy, as she was elected Party Leader of the Federalists in Oriole County and was on the Central Committee for the State, which decided her party's platform. On the city level, Anna was appointed to the positions of New Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners and Board of Fire Commissioners. At the county level, Anna was appointed to the Social Services Board of Directors. She also served as the Elections Clerk for the state primaries, bipartisan election and the Senatorial election. Finally, she was one of the panel heads for the Attorney General.

Anna is the daughter of Angela Mickalide and Alex Alikhani.

Rocky Mountain High

(and Tenor) Voice

Classical tenor and Bethesda native Ian McEuen is studying and performing in the 2009 season of the Aspen Music Festival and School in Aspen, Colo., which lasts from June 17 to Aug. 23. McEuen is studying in the voice studio of W. Stephen Smith, author of "The Naked Voice" and a faculty member of the Juilliard School. Ian is performing in Aspen Opera Theater Center productions and master classes of Benjamin Britten's "The Rape of Lucretia," Igor Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress," G.F. Handel's "Semele," and Ned Rorem's "The Auden Poems." McEuen is a senior at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, where he will perform tenor roles in Francis Poulenc's "Dialogues of the Carmelites" and W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's "The Mikado" in CMU's upcoming 2009-2010 opera season. He is a graduate of Walt Whitman High School, where he studied with Jeffrey Davidson, and a student of Kensington voice teacher Myra Tate.

Businesses give back

Bethesda businesses are giving back to the community this summer in different ways.

-The Georgetown Bagelry in Bethesda is donating a portion of Sunday evening proceeds to the Whitman Athletic Department at Walt Whitman High School. 

Each Sunday from 4-10 p.m., 25 percent of the sales will go to the athletic department.

The Georgetown Bagelry is located at 5227 River Road, in Bethesda. For more information, visit www.georgetownbagelry.com or call 301-657-4442.

-Last month, Brighton Collectibles in Montgomery mall ran a food drive for Bethesda Cares, a nonprofit that serves the homeless. The store collected more than 600 cans to feed the hungry.

This month, the store is participating in the American Heroes promotion through Aug. 9. A portion of the proceeds from a limited-edition, semi-precious jewelry collection will toward Feed Our Friends Charity, which will distribute the money to Bethesda Cares and other nonprofits across the country helping to feed hungry people.

-Bethesda designer Wendy Danziger has been volunteering her services at the Montgomery County Family Justice Center in Rockville. The center provides services for victims for domestic violence victims. Danziger is working with the center to design a beach-themed lobby that is welcoming to visitors. Danziger brought in several of her expert vendors to assist with woodwork, painting, sewing and other tasks. SCB Woodworking, Windows by Betty Kevin Wales from Just Moulding and painter Homer Mitrakis also pitched in. For more information visit www.danzigerdesign.com.

Kudos to …

-Dana Gonzalez of Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, who participated as a scholar in attendance at Presidential Classroom, a civic education organization. She earned this distinction by being a scholar and leader in the community. Presidential Classroom encourages young leaders to be active and engaged citizens in their communities.

The program provides students with the opportunity to see the federal government at work, discuss key issues with Washington policymakers and to discover the importance of responsible citizenship, according to Acting Executive Director Maria Darie.

-Itai Farhi and Tom Niblock from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, who were named finalists in Public Forum debate at the 2009 National Forensic League National Tournament. This accomplishment places the team among the top six in the nation in Public Forum debate.

Public Forum debate requires students to debate controversial issues in a team format. Public Forum is one of 10 main events at the national tournament, which was held in Birmingham, Ala., in June.

Music scholarships available

The International School of Music in Bethesda is offering $6,000 in lesson scholarships for the 2009-2010 school year and a chance to become eligible for more awards from local businesses.

There are a total of 12 scholarships available for free private music lessons during the fall semester for residents of Montgomery County and Washington D.C.

Regardless of musical experience two scholarships will be awarded in each of the following age categories: 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17 and adult. One scholarship will be awarded for children age 4-5.

To win scholarships, students must write an essay of 300-500 words stating why they love music and what makes them excited about studying music. Students age 4-5 may submit a picture or painting. The deadline for the scholarship application is Aug. 15 and the award ceremony will be held on Aug. 30. Full contest details are available at the International School of Music main office. The school is located at 5110 Ridgefield Road., suite 104, Bethesda. For more information, visit www.ismw.org.

Cinema under the stars

comes to Bethesda

Catch a summer flick al fresco this week in Bethesda during the Bethesda Outdoor Movies: Stars on the Avenue series, which runs through Saturday.

Movie-goers can bring their own lawn chairs to the corner of Norfolk and Auburn avenues in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle for a different film each night. The series features something for everyone with new releases, action, documentary, comedy and classic movies. Movies start at 9 p.m. each night.

On the schedule are: "Dial M for Murder" tonight, "American Graffiti" on Thursday, "Twilight" on Friday and "Mamma Mia" on Saturday.

All events are free. For more information, call the Bethesda Urban Partnership at 301-215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org.

This column is for you. Share your good news! Feel free to send press releases and news tips.

For Bethesda and Chevy Chase items, contact Stephanie Siegel via e-mail at ssiegel@gazette.net or phone at 301-280-3006. For Kensington and Garrett Park items, contact Jen Beasley via e-mail at jbeasley@gazette.net or phone at 301-280-3005. You can also send information by fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.