Each year, at the Potomac Day Parade, the Potomac Chamber of Commerce honors the Potomac student of the year, citizen of the year and businessperson of he year.
The winners will be featured in the Potomac Day Parade on Saturday, Oct. 26 and will be presented with plaques at the Potomac Chamber's annual awards banquet on Nov. 6 at Normandy Farm Restaurant. Information and tickets for the dinner can be obtained by calling the Chamber at 301-299-2170 or from its website at www.PotomacChamber.org.
<sh>Youth of the Year
<bt>Aris Baras, a senior at Landon School, is this year's youth of the year. Baras, a three-sport athlete and AP student, has participated in various community service projects. He works with Operation Smile to help raise money for children who need major plastic surgery, Santa Direct to collect and wrap presents for children in need, and Jolly Carnival to assist children with special needs in their enjoyment at traveling fairs.
For the last four years, Baras has volunteered at Ivymount, a school in Potomac for children with special needs. He has also been appointed the co-head of Landon's senior class charity drive. The captain of the varsity soccer team and a leader on the varsity basketball and lacrosse teams hopes to become a doctor.
<sh>Citizen of the Year
<bt>Karl Buschmann, this year's Potomac Citizen of the Year, has lived in Potomac since 1968. He is an administrative judge for the federal government. In the early 1980s, Buschmann presided over the Citizens Coalition to study the proposal of Giant Food to build a store in Potomac. As a result of the agreed covenants, Giant improved the intersection at Falls and River roads to four lanes, lowered the crest, built a perimeter road and a bicycle path.
He is a past president of the West Montgomery Citizens Association and currently serves on its Board of Directors. In 1986, Buschmann established the 5K Fun Run, which continues to kick off the annual Potomac Day celebration. He is currently the assistant to the race director, Tristram Kruger.
<sh>Businessperson of the Year
<bt>Adam Greenberg, owner of Potomac Pizza and co-owner of Potomac Village Deli, grew up in Bethesda and has been an active member of the Potomac business community for nearly nine years. Greenberg owns Potomac Pizza and Cone Zone in the Kentlands and will be opening Potomac Pizza in Travilah in December.
He recently opened a corporate office in Potomac to handle requests for support of charitable functions and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Jewish Social Service Agency.
<sh>Beneficiary of the Year
<bt>Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, is this year's Beneficiary of the Year.
The Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1930 by Charles E. Benson and 10 other founding members and was incorporated on March 19, 1930. Construction began on the original fire house in 1930. The structure was built on property donated to the department by the Touhey family of Cabin John at the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and Seven Locks Road. The first meeting was held at the new station in 1932, and this station was occupied until the present quarters on 8001 River Rd. was opened in 1984.
In 1970, Station 30 was opened at its present site at 9404 Falls Road.
Donations may be sent to:
* Station 10
8001 River Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-365-2255
* Station 30
9404 Falls Road
Potomac, MD 20854
301-299-4300