More News

This Sunday, the pews at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bethesda will be full of four-legged church-goers for the annual Blessing of the Animals.

All kinds of pets, as well as photos of pets and even stuffed animals are invited to two services, at 8 and 10 a.m. to receive blessings and prayers for long, healthy and happy lives in celebration of St. Francis Day, which is Saturday.

"I started doing this a while ago, because I realized for a lot of people their pets are the most significant part of their family," said The Rev. Stephanie J. Nagley.

Nagley said the annual blessing of the animals usually draws between 150 and 200 people, not to mention their furry friends. Nagley said she usually sees a lot of dogs at the service, but has seen everything from fish to gerbils to even a tarantula.

This year, the service will also include a candle-lighting in memory of pets who have passed away.      

St. Luke's Church is located at 6030 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Grosvenor Lane. Parking is available at the rear of the church and along Grosvenor Lane. For more information: www.stlukesbethesda.org.

Community organizers

rock for Barack

What started out as just a couple of neighbors chatting earlier this summer turned into a full-fledged political fundraiser thanks to hard work and word of mouth.

The Rock for Barack party was held Sept. 19 at the Woman's Club of Chevy Chase. It was attended by nearly 300 people and raised more than $32,000 for the Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaign.

The idea started this summer when Bethesda residents Deborah Schwartz and LuAnn Spurell got the idea to organize a block party to raise money by selling Obama paraphernalia. But the idea snowballed as more and more friends and neighbors got involved and pulled in others they knew to help.

"A core team of women put the nuts and bolts together in biweekly and then weekly meetings throughout the summer," Schwartz wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette. "It's been a terrific and most gratifying experience for all of us, and lots of fun along the way!"

The actual Rock for Barack event featured a band, hors d'oeuvres and drinks. The organizers recruited bartenders and servers by placing an ad on craigslist.org asking for volunteers.

"They volunteered because they wanted to do something for the campaign," Schwartz said.

Aside from Schwartz and Spurell, other sponsors included: Amy Carroll, Katey Lazarchik, Valerye Strochak, Debbie and Ben Teicher, Biga Toolanen, Pam Howie, Rhoda Abrams, Jon Norris, Ann Florini, Kathy Kirchner, AnneMargaret Connolly and Jim Sottile. 

"Community organizing worked for our group of folks from Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac," Schwartz said. 

Bethesda boy qualifies for motocross championship

Twelve-year-old Bethesda resident Will Myrick recently placed second in a regional 12-race motocross competition sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association and promoted by the Mason Dixon Riders Association. Motocross is an enclosed, off-road motorcycle competition.

More than 600 participants from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic competed, racing on tracks in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Myrick competed in the 9- to 11-year-old class. As a result of his second place, Myrick qualified to participate in regional motocross championship sponsored by Suzuki and will be racing for the Maryland State Title later this year. 

Myrick is a seventh-grader at Cooper Middle School in McLean, Va.  

Rescue squad

holds open house

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad will hold its free annual Open House, "Rescue Day 2008," from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., this Saturday. Rescue Day 2008 is being held in conjunction with the Taste of Bethesda, the outdoor food festival held just two blocks away in Bethesda's restaurant district.

Rescue Day 2008 will feature fire and rescue activities and displays for all ages, including tours of the station; live demonstrations of emergency medical, rescue, and firefighting equipment; free children's firefighter hats and a moonbounce. The rescue squad's most advanced firefighting and rescue equipment will be on display, including the squad's thermal imaging camera that is used to help locate fire victims in blinding smoke. Also scheduled is a special visit by a helicopter used to transport critically injured patients to area hospitals when time is truly of the essence. Visitors will get an up-close view of the helicopter and have the opportunity to meet the flight medics.

Rescue Day also allows prospective volunteers–men and women ages 18 and up–to learn about experiencing the excitement of responding to emergency calls and serving the community as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters.

The squad is located at 5020 Battery Lane, at Old Georgetown Road. Ample parking is available at Montgomery County public parking garages within walking distance of the Rescue Squad. For more information, the public should visit www.bccrs.org or call 301 652-0077.

This column is for you. Share your good news! Feel free to send press releases and news tips. Contact Stephanie Siegel via e-mail at ssiegel@gazette.net, phone at 301-280-3006, fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.