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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 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.

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.

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.

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, a senior at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, received the Eagle Scout award in January. The Etz Chaim Award encourages young adults to explore adult Jewish roles in the context of family, community and Jewish people.

Marathon man

Congratulations to Ashish Patel, a Montgomery Village native who graduated from Watkins Mill High School in 2000 and finished 42nd overall in last months' Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. He completed the marathon in 2 hours, 43 minutes and 26 seconds.

Patel, whose parents are Ravi and Niru Patel, lives in Austin, Tex., and works for National Instruments, a graphical programming company that develops innovative technologies from testing strategies for next-generation gaming systems to breakthrough medical devices.

Fundraiser for Village girl

Help Nicole Miller, 11, of Montgomery Village, a "little angel" who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was a toddler.

Pick up some gifts at the Little Angel Holiday Benefit Shop 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown.

The shop features crafts, raffles, silent auction and more. There is no admission fee.

Proceeds from the silent auction and raffles help pay for Nicole's therapy.

For more information, call Nicole's mother, Joy Miller at 240-683-1435 or visit www.4ourlittleangel.com.

Burn some calories

before the big meal

Work up a hunger and help the hungry!

Begin your Thanksgiving morning Thursday with a 1½ hour sampling of aerobics queen Jacki Sorensen's workout and step aerobics. The drop-in program run by the Montgomery Village Foundation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Lake Marion Community Center, 8821 East Village Ave. Cost is $7 or $5 with one can of food, payable at the door. Proceeds benefit Gaithersburg Help.

For more information, contact Emily Fields at 301-948-8082 or efields@mvf.org.

Holiday giving

Feeling grateful in these tough economic times? The City of Gaithersburg continues its Holiday Giving program with the help of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Derwood Bible Church, Grace United Methodist Church and St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

The goal is to help more than 700 families and the city is seeking cash, grocery store gift cards and Target gift cards in denominations of $10 and $20. Also welcome are businesses or families who would like to sponsor families for Thanksgiving and in December.

The countywide effort is coordinated by Interfaith Works, a nondenominational nonprofit and coalition of churches, synagogues, mosques and other organizations and the Montgomery County Volunteer Center. The city receives referrals for the program from schools and nonprofit counselors and works with the countywide Holiday Giving Program to ensure services are not duplicated.

For more information or to help, contact Maureen Herndon at 301-258-6395, ext. 2 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/communityservices.

A twinkle in the park

Gaithersburg's Winter Lights Festival is back for its 14th season, transforming Seneca Creek Start Park into a Winter Wonderland for all ages.

Giant holiday displays designed with thousands of lights line a 3.5 mile drive through the park. More than 380 illuminated displays and 60 animated vignettes will "light up the night," said city spokeswoman Britta Monaco. Theme areas include Winter Woods, Victorian Village, the North Pole and more.

Get a sneak preview 6-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for $14 per car. Or bring the family for a one-mile stroll through Teddy Bear Land from 6-9 p.m. Monday, or bring a blanket and enjoy the scenery on a 45-minute open air trolley ride.

The Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival runs nightly Dec. 4 through Jan. 2 at the park, 11950 Clopper Road. The event is closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Proceeds benefit local charities. For more information, call the city parks department at 301-258-6350 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

Send submissions to Patricia M. Murret via e-mail at pmurret@

gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

-Federal, state and county offices are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day.

-Banks, libraries and courts are closed.

-Montgomery County Public Schools administrative offices are closed.

-No refuse or recycling collection. For remainder of week, collections will be provided one day later. County's waste transfer station is closed.

-Ride On, Metrobus and Metrorail will operate on a Sunday schedule.

-MARC trains will not run Nov. 26-27.

-County liquor stores are closed.

-Parking is free at county lots, meters and garages.