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According to City of Frederick officials, nearly all of the strings of white lights used each year to illuminate downtown Market and Patrick streets' trees were destroyed during winter's record-breaking snowfalls.

The city is joining with Celebrate Frederick, Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Tourism Council of Frederick County and 930 WFMD to raise funds to purchase new strings of lights for December illumination.

Community members may "adopt a string" for a $20 donation or "adopt a tree" for $120. The overall goal is to raise funds to light 200 trees, "which is intended to create the same lighting result as previous years," according to Kara Norman, executive director of the Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Norman said on average, each tree has about seven or eight strings of lights, with the total number of strings between 1,500 and 2,000.

As of Monday, the campaign had raised funds for 68 trees, or about 30 percent toward the ultimate goal, Norman said.

City crews need about two-and-a-half months to install all the holiday lights, and so typically begin installation during the second week in September. So, the final push for funding will come during the city's In the Street festival on Sept. 11.

Norman says the city plans to order the light strings on Sept. 13, and string them as soon as they arrive, hoping to meet a Thanksgiving weekend deadline — when the lights are normally first illuminated.

Strings are turned off and removed starting Jan. 2.

Due to lighting specifications and safety cited by the City's Department of Public Works, the groups cannot accept donations of actual light strings from residents. Instead, they are asking for monetary donations to purchase the lights.

Checks in any amount can be made payable to Downtown Frederick Partnership, and include a note regarding "holiday lights" on the check. Monetary donations may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., every day, at the Frederick County Visitor Center, at 19 E. Church St., Frederick. Or mail the donation to Downtown Frederick Partnership, 22 S. Market St, Suite 2A, Frederick, MD 21701. Contributions are tax deductible. Call the center at 301-600-2888 for more information.

‘Dining for Dollars' aids Urbana High School orchestra

The Urbana High School Orchestra Boosters will hold a "Dining for Dollars" fundraiser from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, at Fosters Grille in Urbana. Anyone who presents a flyer or coupon or mentions that they want to support the Urbana High orchestra during the allotted time frame will earn the orchestra 15 percent of their bill.

The coupon, available through orchestra booster members, is good on carry-out orders as well as dine-in orders, according to Sheree Trace, Foster's Grille Liasion with the UHS Orchestra Boosters.

Foster's Grille is located at 8925 Fingerboard Road in Urbana. For more information, call 240-699-0195.

Urbana High grad inducted

to honors society

Sigma Alpha Lambda is proud to announce that Katie Elizabeth Atmonavage of Frederick has recently become recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, National Leadership and Honors Organization at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Atmonavage is a 2009 graduate of Urbana High School and is pursuing a degree in journalism. She is the daughter of Anthony and Valerie Atmonavage of Frederick.

On campus

- Blake Dana Pomeroy of New Market was named to the dean's list at Savannah College of Art and Design for the spring 2010 semester. Pomeroy is an industrial design major and is working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students must earn a 3.5 GPA or higher to achieve dean's list honors at the Savannah, Ga., college.

- Thirty-four Frederick County students recently graduated from Salisbury University, receiving bachelor's or master's degrees.

Frederick area residents include: Erin Davis, Bachelor of Arts in communication arts; Erin Devlin, Master of Social Work; Margaret Dignan, Bachelor of Arts in communication arts; Eric Disque, Bachelor of Arts in English; Collin Fitzpatrick, Bachelor of Science in biology; Jenna Hamilton, Bachelor of Arts in Social Work; Evan Kaufman, Bachelor of Science in computer science, cum laude; Richard Lefebure, Bachelor of Arts in psychology and environmental science; Evelyn Michael, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, magna cum laude; John O'Neil, Bachelor of Science in biology and pre-physical therapy; Stephen Prosser, Bachelor of Arts in history; and Derrick Reed, Bachelor of Science in medical technology.

Frederick man graduates

from basic training

Army Pvt. Keith D. Murchison has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

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