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BlackRock Center for the Arts will host their first Family Block Party to kick off registration for fall art and music courses.

The free block party will feature a performance by tot-rock group "Rocknoceros," sidewalk chalk art, art exhibits with art for sale and sample classes in violin, acting and dance will be offered, said Executive Director Charlotte Sommers.

Sommers said a lot of people who visit BlackRock come from the Germantown community and walk to a lot of the events.

"It's very much family-oriented," Sommers said. "We wanted to make this more about family and fun. We're just so happy to be a part of this community."

In years past, BlackRock has held a registration kickoff event, but registration is now done online, she said.

"Before it was always about registration," Sommers said. "Now, it's going to be a showcase to show off our venue."

The center will open its doors to the community from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 28. For more information about BlackRock's Family Block Party, call 301-528-2260 or visit www.blackrockcenter.org.

Military appreciation

cookout and workout

Past and current members of the military and their families are invited to a free workout and cookout in Johnson's Local Park on Aug. 25 sponsored by SoldierFit.

SoldierFit is an exercise program. Attendees are invited to join members of the Delayed Entry Program from the Gaithersburg Recruiting Center for a work out for the first 45 minutes, followed by a free cookout.

The event is meant to provide fellowship and thanks for those who serve their country, said Jim McGlaughlin, chief operating officer of the company.

The program will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the park, 1800 Washington Grove Lane. For information, call 240-205-3215 or visit www.soldierfit.com.

Pageant perfection

Juliana McKee, of Laytonsville, has been crowned Miss Teen International 2010. She beat out almost 40 contestants competing in four categories: interview, fitness wear, fun fashion and evening gown.

McKee's platform will include work with the American Heart Association's Alliance for a Healthier Generation, which promotes heart health and healthy eating and exercise choices to children and teens. Having overcome an eating disorder herself and losing one of her cousins to heart disease at the age of 12, McKee is passionate about her cause and will travel to schools across the nation as a spokeswoman for the association.

McKee will be a sophomore at the University of Maryland this fall, where she is studying communications.

Campus congratulations

The University of Dayton has named Gaithersburg residents Joshua S. Cain and Alexander S. Johnston to the dean's list for the spring semester.

James Richard Babcock II of Montgomery Village has been named to the Dean's List at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the spring 2010 semester.

Two Gaithersburg students awarded USDA honors

The United States Department of Agriculture National Scholars Program has awarded two Gaithersburg students prestigious scholarships.

Crystal Adams of Quince Orchard High School and Devinn Esberry of Watkins Mill High School were among the 22 students who received the award, which provides full tuition, use of a laptop computer, printer, and software while on scholarship, fees, books, room and board, paid summer internships and full-time employment with the USDA upon graduation.

The program was developed to increase the number of students studying agriculture and related disciplines. They require recipients to attend a historically black land-grant university in the US and major in something related to agriculture.

Navy Junior ROTC

receives commendation

Gaithersburg High School was honored by the Department of the Navy as a distinguished Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps unit with academic honors. Led by Ret. Capt. James Kelley Jr. and Ret. Staff Sgt. William Small, the distinction was given in recognition of outstanding academic performance, military proficiency, school support and overall achievement of the program during the 2009-10 school year.

The Gaithersburg High Navy Junior ROTC also finished third in the "Most Improved Unit" category, which evaluated over 700 high schools across the nation.

Local educator explores Jews and the civil rights movement

Lynn Golub-Rofrano, director of Lifelong Learning at Tifereth Israel Congregation in Montgomery Village, was one of 26 Jewish educators who gathered last month, in Newton, Mass., for the Jewish Women's Archive's Summer Institute, called "Jews and the Civil Rights Movement."

Participants were selected from a pool of 100 applicants.

Input sought as Gaithersburg considers website redesign

The City of Gaithersburg website will be getting a major overhaul in the coming months. The functionality of the website and the design are included in the redesign plans.

The city is looking for input from the general public to learn what features and functions people feel are needed to make the website relevant and easy to use.

E-mail website@gaithersburgmd.gov with thoughts and ideas by Monday.

Gaithersburg police

accredited, honored

The Gaithersburg Police Department was accredited for the sixth time by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies on July 31.

During its annual meeting the commission also recognized the Gaithersburg Police Department as a Flagship Agency for "having continually demonstrated excellence in commitment to the CALEA accreditation process and a willingness to share with others its accreditation success."

For information contact the Gaithersburg Police Department at police@gaithersburgmd.gov or 301-258-6400.

Gaithersburg announces Citizens Police Academy

The Gaithersburg Police Department is accepting applications for its 2010 Citizens Police Academy which starts Sept. 9.

Weekly sessions will be held at the Robertson Park Youth Center, 801 Rabbitt Road, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. every Thursday through Nov. 18. Class size is limited to 16 residents who are at least 16 years old. The application deadline is Aug. 30.

During the academy, residents learn about law enforcement techniques and practices, traffic collision investigation, patrol operations, drug enforcement, crime prevention, community policing and other topics.

Applications are online at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/police. To receive an application by mail, or for more information, call Officer Dan Lane at 301-258-6168.

This column is for you! Send news of Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village, Laytonsville and Washington Grove to Danielle Gaines at dgaines@gazette.net or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Items for People and Places must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday for consideration for the following week. Don't forget to send us photos!

Hoarding help

The Gaithersburg Hoarding Task Force and the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington are hosting a workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 1 the Bohrer Park Activity Center, 506 S. Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg.

The workshop is open to all community members at a cost of $20 per person.

Led by Elspeth Bell, the session is designed to educate friends and family members about hoarding, identify ways to support someone with hoarding problems, address barriers in relationships as related to hoarding, and develop strategies for working toward reducing clutter, according to a city press release.

To reserve a seat, call the City of Gaithersburg Community Services Division at 301-258-6395, ext. 2.

For information about the task force, call Stephen Rainone in the Neighborhood Services Division at 301-258-6340.

Recycling pickup change

There will be no recycling Sept. 4. Bulk items that are scheduled for regular pickup on Labor Day should be set out on week later, on Sept. 13.

Walk to help the homeless

The Friends of Wells/Robertson House, a nonprofit organization that promotes homeless support programs, will raise money at two local festivals this fall by encouraging residents to participate in mini-walks.

The organization will give T-shirts to participants at the Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne festival on Sept. 19 from noon to 5p.m. and at the Oktoberfest at the Kentlands on Oct. 10 from noon to 4 p.m.

The registration fee is $15 for youth under 18 and $25 for adults. An online form is on the city's website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/communityservices.

Each walk should take about 15 minutes.

The Wells/Robertson House is a transitional program for homeless men and women in recovery, providing structure, guidance and a family atmosphere as residents work towards a more stable life.

The local mini-walks are just a few of hundreds being hosted across the Washington area as a part of the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program. The events will culminate with the Help the Homeless Walkathon on Nov. 20 on the National Mall.

For information, email Marianne Sickman at sickmans@starpower.net.