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A Potomac native is making a splash in the music world with her own musical version of a popular rock song. Margaret Durante, 21, recently released a country-influenced cover of "Use Somebody," a song by rock giants Kings of Leon that's been dominating radio airwaves in recent months.

Durante, who earlier this year signed with record label Universal Republic, got her start selling CDs in Potomac Village. She's come a long way since then — even gaining the attention of famed record executive Tommy Mottola about two years ago. "I got some of my demos to him and he liked what he heard enough to meet with me," Durante said. "Shortly after auditioning for him in New York he agreed to be my manager — he thought I had a future in music."

And so Durante, a graduate of Our Lady of Mercy School and Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, left her studies at Clemson University and moved to Nashville to pursue her music career. She was signed in April, and released her single in October.

As performed by the Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody" is "a very driven, very fast-paced version of the song — it's sung from a male perspective," Durante said. "A lot of the people I was working with and I thought it would be a good idea to take the song and sing it in a softer way."

The single is getting some radio play and the music video is also in rotation on Country Music Television and the Great American Country television network.

She describes her style as "contemporary country."

"I listened to a lot of country growing up based on what my mom would play around the house," Durante said, citing country greats including Patsy Cline. "It probably planted that seed in my head."

She's grateful, she said, for the support of her mother, father, two sisters and many friends in the Washington area. To learn more about Margaret Durante or to listen to her version of "Use Somebody," visit www.myspace.com/margaretdurante.

Celebrate the season

with music

Get in the holiday spirit and step back in time this Saturday. The Gilmore's Light Ensemble, a historical music group, will perform from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, at Great Falls Tavern, 11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac. The free concert will include selections of 19th-century era music. The group members dress in period clothing and perform using a hammered dulcimer, guitar, banjo, mandolin and accordion — instruments typical to the Civil War era. Light refreshments will be served. Vehicles entering the Great Falls parking lot will be charged a $5 entrance fee. For more information about the concert and the park, contact Mark Myers at 301-767-3714.

A holiday tradition returns

to Clara Barton historic site

The Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo, once the famed home of Clara Barton and headquarters for the Red Cross, is offering family fun for the holidays once again this year with Victorian Greeting Card workshops. During the hands-on craft activity, participants will be able to create their own greeting cards in the style that Barton might have sent to friends and family. Children will also get the chance to dress in Victorian era period clothing and have their pictures taken with their creations. The last of the workshops will take place at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the site, located at 5801 Oxford Road in Glen Echo. The event is free, but reservations are required. Call 301-320-1410 to sign up.

Holiday fun

for a spiritual cause

A Poolesville Buddhist temple is gearing up for a holiday open house and bazaar. The day of fun, food and gifts will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kunzang Palyul Choling Buddhist Temple, located at 18400 River Road. Gifts will be available for purchase through the temple's gift store and a silent auction, including imported items from Tibet such as bells, incense and shawls. Minerals and crystals, such as amethyst, clear quartz, rose quartz and agate will be on sale at the bazaar, along with hand crafted gift cards and evergreen wreaths. Shoppers can enjoy reflexology, chair massages and a lunch buffet with complimentary beverages; take a tour of the temple; meditate in the 24-hour prayer room or take an outdoor walk among the traditional Stupas, or sacred structures that promote reflection and spiritual deepening. Proceeds from jewelry and bake sales will benefit the temple's Garuda Aviary, a bird sanctuary that provides a much-needed home for more than 40 rescued parrots. Proceeds from the bazaar sales will benefit the temple's activities, including the 24 Hour Prayer Vigil for World Peace. The vigil is held by participants who pray in two-hour shifts; vowing to maintain the vigil until all beings are free from suffering. It has been unbroken since its launch in 1985. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, e-mail kpc@tara.org, call 301-710-6259, or visit www.tara.org.

A discussion to support the League of Women Voters

Support the League of Women Voters while taking part in an engaging film and discussion event at 3 p.m. Sunday at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road in Silver Spring. The discussion event will focus on the film "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," which highlights grassroots women's organizations who worked for peace during Liberia's civil war. Leading the talk will be Ambassador M. Nathaniel Barnes of Liberia; former journalist Eileen O'Connor of the Center for Justice & Accountability and television host Don Mooers. The event will benefit the League of Women Voters' civic education activities. For ticket prices and information, call the League office at 301-984-9585.

Potomac Girl Scout troop learns to ‘always be prepared'

A Potomac Girl Scout troop is working toward receiving their "preparedness patch" in hopes of being prepared for any emergency situation. The new patch was unveiled in September by Girl Scouts of the USA chief executive Kathy Cloninger and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Napolitano, herself a former Girl Scout, announced the patch at a Laurel elementary school as part of a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security Citizen Corps and the Girl Scouts to promote preparedness across the country.

The Citizen Corps is an initiative to involve citizens in emergency preparedness by bringing together government and community leaders. "Girl Scouts are thrilled to be partnering with the Department of Homeland Security to encourage girls to learn what to do in case of emergency," Cloninger said in a September statement. "Citizen Corps is a terrific program — one that provides an opportunity for our girls to lead the way in ensuring that their families and their communities are prepared for emergencies."

Potomac troop 5127 is undergoing numerous activities in an effort to achieve the patch, and on Dec. 13, they plan to meet with Rockville volunteer firefighters. The girls have been working diligently to prepare a list of interview questions to pose to the responders.

In addition, they're also learning about creating emergency plans and how to reduce the spread of germs, according to Steve Peterson, whose daughter Elizabeth, 11, is in the troop. Each girl in the troop also developed emergency supply kits to keep in a safe place at home. "We learned how to be prepared for an emergency — you should make a kit and make sure you have a family plan," Elizabeth Peterson reported.

"This new preparedness patch will increase citizen preparedness and enhance our country's readiness for disasters," Napolitano said in the September statement. "As a former Girl Scout, I know the ‘Be Prepared' motto well — and I look forward to working with the Girl Scouts to spread the preparedness message to all of our nation's citizens."

Lots of turkey

IBM Corporation launched its 39th annual Project Thanksgiving effort, providing 1,200 Thanksgiving dinners to needy Washington, Maryland and Virginia families. Approximately 225 employee volunteers assembled 1,200 dinners of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, potatoes, corn and carrots to feed a family of four at IBM's Gaithersburg facility. A network of 37 family and social service support agencies helped deliver the meals.

Cindy Dalton, chairwoman of 2009 IBM Project Thanksgiving estimated in a statement that in the last 39 years the project has provided two bags of groceries and a 12 to 14 lb. turkey to nearly 50,000 families.

Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services in Gaithersburg also held its 39th annual Project Thanksgiving. About 150 volunteers from the Rockville and Gaithersburg facilities assembled and packaged meals that were distributed by 80 charities to nearly 3,000 families for Thanksgiving, said Beth Matthews, who helped coordinate the effort.

This column is for you. Send press releases, news tips and other information to Erin Donaghue by phone to 301-280-3007, by e-mail edonaghue@ gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183 or by mail to 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.