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Ten Derwood Girl Scouts constructed and laid a wreath at the tomb of Gen. George Washington and Martha Washington at Mount Vernon on Nov. 1.

Boy and Girl Scouts are invited to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony through Feb. 15, according to the Mount Vernon Web site (www.

mountvernon.org).

Four of the Girl Scouts were permitted to enter the locked tomb structure for the event — Heather Levine and Amanda Mayer of Cadette Troop 3798 led by Sue Martin, and Meredith Stephens and Jaclyn Troutner of Junior Troop 6020 led by Nellie Ross and Tam Miller.

The girls, ages 9-12, have been in Girl Scouts for an average of five years each.

Hailing from Parkland, Redland and Shady Grove middle schools, and Clearspring and Sequoyah elementary schools, the other girls who attended are Christina Martin of Troop 3798 and Ingrid Cho, Jordan Greene, Katie Martin, Mae Mae Ross and Morgan Ross of Troop 6020.

City accepting nominations for King awards

The City of Rockville's Human Rights Commission is accepting nominations for its Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Award and F. Michael Taff Award.

Nominations are due Monday.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Award is given to a high school student who attends a school within Rockville city limits. The recipient will be a student who has promoted the dreams and goals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The F. Michael Taff Award honors an individual, business or organization that has made a contribution to improving the lives of people in Rockville with disabilities.

The contribution may include efforts to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, raise public awareness of disability issues or further the cause of people with disabilities.

The award bears the name of F. Michael Taff, a former chairman of the Rockville Human Rights Commission who demonstrated a strong commitment to people with disabilities.

The Taff Award is open to a Rockville business, nonprofit employer or individual. Federal, state and local government agencies are not eligible for the award but are encouraged to submit nominations.

Both awards will be presented at the city's 37th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, set for Jan. 19 at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive.

To submit nominations, go to www.rockvillemd.gov/government/commissions/hr/index.html.

For more information, e-mail Janet Kelly at jkelly@rockvillemd.gov or call 240-314-8316.

NIH awards Forehand

for bio-safety efforts

The National Institutes of Health recognized State Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) with a Merit Award for her "leadership and commitment to bio-safety oversight of biomedical research" at its recent Office of the Director Honor Awards ceremony.

Forehand has been a community member on the NIH Bio-Safety Committee for 22 years.

Forehand chaired the Task Force on Genetic Technologies & Public Policy of the National Conference of State Legislatures and participated in Georgetown University Law Center's panel on genetic technology, ethics and public policy.

She is credited with being the first state lawmaker in the nation to propose legislation to prevent genetic discrimination in health insurance and in the workplace and was a founding member of the Maryland General Assembly's Biotech Caucus.

Scholar to offer thought

on mysticism

Dr. Zohar Raviv, an expert on mysticism and its implications for Judaism, will speak Friday and Saturday as part of Shaare Tefila Congregation's Scholar in Residence Weekend.

The event will be held at Olney Elementary School, 3401 Queen Mary Drive.

Shaare Tefila is planning a permanent move to Olney.

A Kabbalat Shabbat service will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the lecture at 8 p.m.

Shabbat Services will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by Kiddush co-sponsored by Shaare Tefila Sisterhood and Men's Club.

There is no charge for attending the Saturday morning religious services or Raviv's commentary and lecture. To find out if spaces are available for the Friday night dinner and service, call 301-593-3410, ext. 1104.

For more information about the Scholar in Residence programs, call Adriana Sandler, adult education chair, at 301-871-1164.

Singers, Chorus to offer sounds of the season

Join the Rockville Singers on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. in the historic Glenview Mansion Conservatory for an afternoon of carols and other favorites to usher in the holiday season.

The Rockville Singers is a 25-member outreach ensemble of the Rockville Chorus that performs throughout the year for the benefit of the community.

The Glenview Mansion is located at 603 West Edmonston Drive.

On Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., the Rockville Chorus will perform "A Holiday Concert" at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, located on the grounds of the mansion.

Rockville Chorus Director Bryan Seith has chosen a variety of holiday and classical selections to appeal to all ages and musical tastes. Highlights of the performance will be selections from Vivaldi's sacred work "Magnificat."

On a lighter note, humorous pieces that put a different spin on traditional carols by the infamous P.D.Q. Bach, such as "Throw the Yule Log On, "Uncle John," "O Little Town of Hackensack" and "Good King Kong Looked Out," will be part of the concert.

The Rockville Chorus is composed of 65 members that have been performing for more than 30 years. New members are always welcome and can schedule an audition by calling Julie Farrell at 240-314-8682.

The chorus concert is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call the box office at 240-314-8690.

Realty office holding canned food drive

Exit One Realty in Rockville is celebrating the holidays by holding its first Canned Food Love Drive.

Collection days are Dec. 8-12 and Dec. 15-17 and drop boxes will be available at the Exit One office at 2403 Research Blvd., Suite 100.

Proceeds from the drive will go to the St. Martin's Food Pantry in Gaithersburg.

Donations of canned soup, vegetables and tuna, boxed macaroni and cheese, dried rice and beans, pasta, canned fruit, dried soup, unsweetened breakfast cereal, peanut butter and jelly, powdered milk, baby food and baby formula (no larger than one-pound packages) and disposable diapers are needed. Monetary donations are also welcome.

For more information, call 240-499-7024.

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.