Dance group steps it up in Florida for second year
For the second year in a row, the Upper County Steppers performed in the Disney Step Classic in Florida.
The team of 17 girls and boys stepped and stomped their way to 6th place in the two-day invite-only competition.
The team performed a 10-minute routine based on the "Christmas Carol" theme. In their performance, one of the steppers gets visited by the ghost of steppers past, present and future.
Their opening music was "Da Rockwilder" by Redman and Method Man and the closing song was "All I Do Is Win" by DJ Khalid.
The highest score possible was a 70, Upper County Steppers scored 59.6.
No team received a perfect score, and the first place team earned a 66.2.
The teams are judged on attire, choreography, synchronization and showmanship, among other measures.
Shepard-Matthews, who has headed the program for 10 years, was also recognized at the event as the 2009-10 Coach of the Year by the National Step Show Association.
"The reward that you get from working with a group of kids is so great," Shepard-Matthews said. "When they finally get a step and you hear that screech of joy, you know. You know how great this is."
The Upper County Steppers are a nonprofit organization that performs locally for free and at competitions around the country. For more information or to donate to the group, go to www.uppercountysteppers.org.
Lord's Acre festival
Join Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church for its 58th annual Lord's Acre festival Saturday.
The free event is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Poolesville church, 17821 Elgin Road. Activities include free blood pressure screenings by the Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department, chair massages provided by Inova Health System from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., bingo, a moon bounce, balloon races, music, a silent auction, games, crafts, prizes and baked goods and other refreshments for sales, including the church's ever-popular apple butter. For $5, kids can play unlimited games, play in the moon bounce all day and participate in one craft activity.
Poolesville appraiser Willis Van Devanter will evaluate antiques, except for jewelry, starting at 1 p.m. There will be an Attic Treasures sale with used household goods, toys, furniture, books, CDs, DVDs and other items and a pre-sale 6-9 p.m. Friday.
For more information, call Mike or Pilar Garrett at 301-916-3323 or visit www.pmumc.org.
Clean up Lake Whetstone
Help the Montgomery Village Foundation "Rake the Lake" on Saturday.
Volunteers are needed to help clean up Lake Whetstone Park, 18701 Montgomery Village Ave., from 9 a.m.-noon. Clean-up materials will be provided and students can earn Student Service Learning hours for participating.
For more information, contact 301-948-0110 or mvinfo@mvf.org or visit www.friendsofwhetstonelake.org.
Girl Scout Fair
The Girl Scouts will host a fair 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday at North Creek Community Center, 20125 Arrowhead Road in Montgomery Village.
Girls ages 5 to 17 can learn about the organization and register at the fair, which will include singing, crafts and indoor s'mores. Registration is $12 a year and each troop sets its own dues.
For more information, contact Rebecca Matthews at rebeccam999@aol.com.
Golfing with the grandparents
A Grandparent's Day event will be held at Gaithersburg Miniature Golf Course 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday.
One grandparent plays for free with a paid admission. Admission is $5 for residents and $6 for nonresidents. The course is at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm, 514 S. Frederick Ave.
For more information, call 301-258-6350 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/minigolf.
Rec department open houses
The county recreation department will host open houses at six community centers noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
The "Back to Recreation, Back to Fun" open houses will include activities, tours, games, prizes and demonstrations of upcoming activities. Attendees can also register for fall programs and classes.
The locations are the Germantown Community Center, 18905 Kingsview Road; Bauer Drive Community Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville; Damascus Community Center, 25520 Oak Drive; Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring; Marilyn Praisner Community Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville; and Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road.
For more information, call 240-777-6840.
Volunteer fair
Learn about local volunteer opportunities at a Service Learning and Volunteer Fair on Monday on Montgomery College's Germantown campus.
The free fair will be 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. outside, weather permitting, between the Sciences and Applied Studies and the Humanities and Social Sciences buildings, 20200 Observation Drive. Representatives from the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Germantown HELP, BlackRock Center for the Arts and other organizations will be on hand. Free parking on campus.
For information on the event or disability-related accommodations, call 240-567-1816.
Art exhibit in Germantown
Oil and acrylic paintings by two Washington, D.C., artists will be on display at the gallery at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown, through Sept. 25.
Judith Peck's portraits have been featured in "Poets and Artists" magazine and juried shows in D.C., Virginia, New York and Chicago. Rita Elsner, who paints everyday objects and landscapes, has been commissioned to paint murals in Washington, D.C., and featured in a variety of media outlets.
"This exhibit offers a glimpse into souls and into the journey of humankind," gallery coordinator Kim Olney said in a statement.
For more information, visit www.blackrockcenter.org.
Campus congratulations
Cameron Rhode of Gaithersburg, a rising junior at Poolesville High School, completed a seven-day educational course in business leadership at Susquehanna University's Sigmund Weis School of Business July 11-17.
The Leadership Institute for Entrepreneurship is a hands-on introduction to the decision-making components of entrepreneurship. As a member of a small team, Rhode created and managed a company in a competitive environment.
Kevin K. Milner of Germantown earned a master's degree in legal studies Aug. 7 through an online program offered by Kaplan University.
Kevin Crown of Gaithersburg, a graphic design major, was named to the spring dean's list at Salisbury University.
The following local residents were among more than 4,000 students receiving degrees from American Public University and American Military University at the schools' spring commencement in Washington, D.C.: public health major Ephelius Cornelious of Germantown; aerospace studies major Robert Girard of Gaithersburg; international relations and conflict resolution major Kpalbondjo Kolani of Germantown; intelligence studies major Zachary Kuehn of Montgomery Village; and business administration major Kelly Shaffer of Gaithersburg.
Kaplan University awarded degrees to several local residents: Dionne Jenkins of Gaithersburg, bachelor's degree in management; Stacie Laufer of Gaithersburg, bachelor's degree in information technology; and Kevin Milner of Germantown, master's degree in legal studies.
Grant Goldsmith of North Potomac, a communications major, was named to the spring dean's list at California State University at Los Angeles.
Stacy Gilbert of Poolesville, daughter of Dan and Michele Gilbert, graduated from Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications in New York with a bachelor's degree in May. Caitlin McAtee of Poolesville, daughter of Frank and Laura McAtee, graduated from Ithaca College's division of interdisciplinary and international studies with a bachelor's degree.
Brandon Wims of Germantown, a nursing major, was named to the spring dean's list at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro.
Melanie Gustafson of Germantown, a rising sophomore and a graduate of Clarksburg High School, was named to the spring dean's list at Towson University.
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Get ready for Poolesville Day
Jane Stearns, executive director of the nonprofit Western Upper Montgomery County Help, has been selected as Grand Marshall of the 20th annual Poolesville Day parade.
Stearns, of Dickerson, co-founded the emergency assistance group with a friend in 1968 and WUMCO Help was retroactively chartered as a charity in 1985.
The Poolesville Library Advisory Committee is seeking donations for its annual Poolesville Day Book Sale. Used books, video cassettes, audio cassettes, DVDs and CDs in good condition will be accepted at the Poolesville Library, 19633 Fisher Ave., through Sept. 18. For more information, call 240-773-9550.
Poolesville Day starts at 10 a.m. Sept. 25 along Fisher Avenue. Entries are needed for the annual car, truck and motorcycle show. For more information, visit www.poolesvilleday.com.
Art show to benefit museum
Poolesville Day festivities kick off Sept. 24 with the Historic Medley District's fifth annual Art Show and Fundraiser to benefit the future Poolesville Museum, which will be in the old Poolesville Town Hall, 19933 Fisher Ave.
An opening cocktail reception featuring original works by county artists is 6:30-9 p.m. at the museum, with hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and an opportunity to meet the artists and purchase their work. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. The art show will be free and open to the public 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 25-26 and Oct. 2-3.
For information, contact Patty Cooper at info@historicmedley.org or 301-972-8588 or visit www.historicmedley.org.
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