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Three members of Troop 1948 of Rockville recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Scott Goodin, David Zuckerman and Joshua Greenwald were feted during a Court of Honor Nov. 1 at Congregation Tikvat Israel, which sponsors the troop.

In order to achieve the Eagle Scout rank, each young man completed at least 21 merit badges and planned, developed and provided leadership to others in a service project that benefited his congregation, community or school, Scoutmaster Raymond Horn told The Gazette.

Honoring three Eagle Scouts at the same time is not common in Troop 1948, Horn said, adding it is an "interesting time" for the young men to be involved in Scouting because the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America is Feb. 8 of next year.

Goodin, 17, son of Doug and Mary Goodin of Rockville, planned and carried out a horticultural project for Tikvat Israel as his project. He first joined Boy Scouting in October 2002. A senior at Georgetown Day School, he is interested in film, theater lighting and psychology and plans to major in film in college.

Zuckerman, 18, son of Steve and Joanne Zuckerman of Rockville and a member of Troop 1948 since 2002, he planned and managed the cleanup of the archives room at B'nai Israel Congregation in Rockville. He is a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in physics.

Greenwald, 18, son of Jeff Greenwald and Sherry Marlowe of Montgomery Village, joined Troop 1948 in June 2003 after receiving his Arrow of Light from Pack 276. He attends the math/science/computer science magnet program at Poolesville High School and he hopes for a career in the medical field. His Eagle project was organizing the packing and unpacking of materials for the move of Hebrew Day Institute from Wheaton to Congregation Tikvat Israel.

In addition, Troop 1948 awarded the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life) Award, given to high school-aged Boy Scouts of the Jewish faith, to David Friedland of Potomac.

Friedland, 17, a senior at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, became a Boy Scout at age 11 and received the Eagle Scout award in January. He is the founder of the Stand Up group at his school and was president of the Student Government Association during the 2008-09 school year.

The Etz Chaim Award is encourages young adults to explore adult Jewish roles in the context of family, community and Jewish people.

Troop 1948 provides a complete Scouting experience in a Jewish context, Horn said. Scouts come from all parts of Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.troop1948.org.

Journalism Academy to offer 5K, family race Nov. 21

The Rockville High School Journalism Academy will hold a 5K and Family Fun Run on Saturday to pair community spirit with a healthy lifestyle.

"We wanted to create a fundraiser that would also promote community spirit and physical activity, especially since we are about to head into winter," said race director Peter Daddone, who is head of the journalism program at Rockville High.

The Fun Run will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8:30. Both will start at the high school stadium, move up Baltimore Road and around Rockville Civic Center Park, and end at the stadium.

The Rockville City Police will close Baltimore Road to traffic during the race.

The race course will be lined with Rockville cheerleaders and pom members, and include an opening ceremony in which the Rockville High School Pipe Band will participate.

"We wanted to create a unique, fun race experience," said student race director Robel Yared.

In an effort to promote community spirit, Daddone said there are steep discounts for family and group participation.

A family of four will be charged a rate of $45 to participate, with deeper discounts available to larger groups, Daddone said.

The individual race entry fee is $20.

Anyone interested in running as a group or family should contact Daddone at peter_a_daddone@mcpsmd.org. Individuals can enter the race by going to www.active.com site search RAMPace 5K.

The Journalism Academy at Rockville High School is a school-wide program devoted to journalism, with courses in print and electronic journalism, radio production and television production. For more information, contact academy coordinator Tim Hibberd at timothy_c_hibberd@mcpsmd.org.

Annual interfaith service

set for Sunday

Community Ministries of Rockville will hold its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at 4 p.m. Sunday at Temple Beth Ami, 14330 Travilah Road in North Potomac.

"I really encourage everyone to attend, as this interfaith service is a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving and to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives," Community Ministries of Rockville director Agnes Saenz said.

The service will include a program of vocal and instrumental music and meditation offered by Rabbi Jack Luxemburg of Temple Beth Ami.

Among those providing music will be the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is, Crusader Lutheran Church, Faith United Methodist Church, Rockville United Church, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, Twinbrook Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Rockville, New Life Seventh Day Adventist Church, Community Ministries' Latino Outreach Program Children's Choir and Temple Beth Ami.

Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service.

The Interfaith Thanksgiving Service freewill offering will support CMR's Rockville Emergency Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to families in crisis with payment of rent, utilities and medical bills.

Community Ministries of Rockville is an interfaith, non-profit organization that has served those in need since 1967 in Rockville and Montgomery County.

Newman receives

President's Award from CVC

Esther Newman of Rockville, who is founder and director of Leadership Montgomery, received the President's Award during the recent annual luncheon of the Corporate Volunteer Council.

Outgoing President Mark Edward made the presentation.

According to the Corporate Volunteer Council's annual report, the President's Award is given to individuals or organizations that exemplify its mission to promote corporate volunteerism in the county.

Newman said she was "proud and honored" to receive the award and thanked the staff at Leadership Montgomery "for allowing me to do all that I do to promote community trusteeship in Montgomery County," she told The Gazette.

Leadership Montgomery's mission is to engage a diverse group of leaders through programs and membership activities that enable graduates to give back to the community.

Items appropriate for this column should be sent to Judith Hruz, Editor, The Rockville/Aspen Hill Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md. 20877; faxed to 301-670-7182 or 301-670-7183; or e-mailed to jhruz@gazette.net. Deadline is Thursday at 5 p.m. for consideration for the following week. Items are subject to editing and used on a space-available basis.