Friday, May 17, 2013
Town of Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin was honored for his community service at the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee's Spring Ball.
Town of Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin crossed "the so-called 'picket line' " of people boycotting and protesting against the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee's Spring Ball on May 11 to receive the Rita Morgan-Bruce Jerney Community Service Award at the event. Protesters and boycotters were making a statement against a 2-year-old Montgomery County law that inhibits the power of county police leaders to negotiate decisions that effect rank-and-file officers. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) joined in the protest/boycott, Rockville Patch reported. Slavin—a lifelong Democrat and a representative at last summer's Democratic National Convention—is no stranger to receiving awards for his philanthropic …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Two Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School freshmen planned a community race to raise money for a nonprofit food bank.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School's “Help the Hungry 5K” race kicked off May 5, and turnout was good for a first-time race, organizers said. Abigail Levine and Marie Caspard, B-CC freshmen and varsity cross-country runners, organized the event to share their passion for running by raising money for a good cause. The race was held from noon to 3 p.m., starting and finishing at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School's Chelton Road parking lot, and was open to the community. “We had about 56 registered runners and around 30 volunteers, so it was definitely a great turn out,” Caspard said. The winners of each age group received gift cards for their achievements. William Bone of Morganstown, WV, finished the race in 18 minutes, earning first place. …
This year's “Race to End Poverty” event at Meadowbrook Park registered more volunteers than previous years.
A Wider Circle kept a tradition going by hosting another “Race to End Poverty” this year, with more than 400 participants. The charity event started at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, at Meadowbrook Park. It was open not only to runners but also to anyone who wanted to join the cause, including children. Furnishing 3,650 homes last year with donated furniture and other household items, A Wider Circle—which helps families in need—hopes to raise enough money to furnish 4,000 more homes this year. Mark Bergel, founder and executive director of A Wider Circle, was pleased with the turnout. “The highlight of the race for me was seeing so many people there that were interested in advancing the mission of A Wider Circle,” Bergel said. Keely …
President and CEO Matt Hodgson and 24 of his employees joined the “Race to End Poverty” event in Chevy Chase.
The “Race to End Poverty” event at Meadowbrook Park was crowded with athletes and their families, as well as co-worker groups like the one from hodgsonConsulting. HodgsonConsulting’s President and CEO Matt Hodgson went from volunteering for the organization to getting his entire company involved with the cause. A Wider Circle has one mission only, and that is to end poverty. Hodgson was intrigued by the direction of the organization, and once his position at the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County ended, Hodgson wanted to put more energy into the cause. Hodgson volunteered once a week before getting his company involved, and over the last three years, he has been an active board member. “We try to support all of the activities…
Friday, May 10, 2013
Kevin Ambrose has volunteered for 12 years with first-grade classes at Somerset Elementary School, helping students with writing and reading.
With all of the area's schools' recent awards racking up, it's time to celebrate those who help students achieve new learning goals every day in school. The Montgomery County Board of Education honored 15 people and organizations at its annual Distinguished Service Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 8. Included in the honorees was Kevin Ambrose, who has volunteered for 12 years with first-grade classes at Somerset Elementary School, according to a county schools' statement. He started volunteering in the fall of 2001 as a writer's workshop volunteer, and now visits the school every day. "His work helping students with writing and reading has been folded into the teaching program," the statement added. The county school board established the…
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Michal Mazal and Daniel S. Mariaschin, a Chevy Chase couple, will receive Distinguished Humanitarian Awards from the B'nai B'rith International Board of Governors on Thursday.
Chevy Chase couple Danial S. Mariaschin and Michal Mazel have spent decades dedicated to humanitarian efforts. This Thursday, they'll be recognized by the B’nai B’rith International Board of Governors, which will present each of them with a Distinguished Humanitarian Award at the Sphinx Club in Washington, DC. "The award recognizes their long-term and exemplary dedication in their work with B’nai B’rith and beyond. [The couple has] demonstrated personal and professional commitments that embody the very core of Tikkun Olam—making the world a better place," according to a news release from B’nai B’rith International, which describes itself as "the Global Voice of the Jewish Community, [and] the oldest and most widely known Jewish …
Monday, April 22, 2013
On World Book Night, more than half a million books will be given away across the country.
World Book Night is Tuesday and more than half a million books will be given away, free-of-charge, across the country by more than 25,000 volunteers, according to a news release from independent Chevy Chase, DC, bookstore Politics & Prose Bookstore. For the second year, Politics & Prose will participate in World Book Night, and nearly 90 book givers will be picking up specially printed paperbacks from Politics & Prose to give away to people in their communities on Tuesday night. Politics & Prose also will participate as a book giver on World Book Night. "We’re excited to be part of World Book Night because its mission—to promote the joy of reading within local communities—is one that is at the core of who we are as a business," Susan Coll…
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
As the number of senior neighbors-helping-neighbors "villages" increases in Montgomery County, assistance at the county level could be of use in helping villages form and coordinate services.
Aging-in-place "village" networks are on the rise in Montgomery County—they're a great way to help senior citizens stay in their homes as they grow older. But the time needed to set up a nonprofit neighbors-helping-neighbors organization is lengthy, and the process can be confusing. A designated senior village county coordinator would make it much easier for county residents to form senior villages in their neighborhoods, agreed attendees of Monday's meeting of the Quality of Life/Public Safety Committee of the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board. At least half a dozen senior villages already are established in the county, and more are in formation, Ken Hartman, director of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Jane Ottenberg and Richard Creighton were recognized for their commitment to supporting the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter.
Two Chevy Chase residents recently were singled out for their commitment to supporting the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter. Jane Ottenberg and Richard Creighton "were recognized for extraordinary commitment to leadership and support of special events" by the organization at its annual Inspiring Champions awards reception on Jan. 31, according to an organization statement. Ottenberg and Creighton, who own TMG Custom Media, "have provided in-kind production of several videos to support the Chapter’s Washington Monuments Luncheons, Women’s Initiative Luncheons and public awareness campaigns," and "have hosted volunteer and donor cultivation events to support the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association," the statement …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School joins 15 other DC-area high schools in competing to see which high school can raise the most money for cancer research in four weeks.
Finding a cure for cancer will take a lot of outside-the-box thinking. So will funding that find. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School is participating in the 2013 Pennies for Patients High School Challenge, which encourages high-school students to think creatively to come up with ways to raise funds to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter. The challenge began on Monday, Feb. 4, and lasts four weeks. Sixteen schools in the Washington, DC, area are competing for the title of top fundraiser, according to a statement from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "The competing schools have set a collective goal of raising $175,000 for the LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve …
Merle Steiner
6:58 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013
I hope he refuses to give any contributions to those who boycotted the event. I won't vote for any of them. The County needed that legislation, and any elected official with integrity instead of being a political hack would have known that. more ›