At the seventh anniversary celebration of the Montgomery County Community Foundation (MCCF) on May 21, county residents gathered to acknowledge the good works of many community-based nonprofits, particularly those serving the county's lowest income children and families. Joining in the celebration (from left) were Sally Rudney, MCCF executive director; Don Harrison, Potomac resident and a sponsor of the new C&O Canal Fund of Montgomery County at MCCF; Alvina Long, founder of one of MCCF's grantees, the Mercy Health Clinic, and a member of Potomac's Our Lady of Mercy Parish; Paul Melone, director at Chain Bridge Advisors and a Potomac native; County Councilman Steve Silverman (D-At-Large); and John Puente, MCCF Chairman and Potomac resident.
The Rev. Dr. Susan R. Andrews, Pastor and Head of Staff, Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, was elected to serve as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), a 2.5 million-member denomination, on May 24, in Denver, Colo. A graduate of Wellesley College and Harvard University’s Divinity School, the Rev. Dr. Andrews is the first woman pastor ever elected to the denomination’s most senior position, making her spokeswoman and ambassador of the denomination.
The Rev. Dr. Andrews has served Bradley Hills since September 1989, and stated during her introduction that her No. 1 priority is “keeping the church together.”
Army National Guard Pvt. Kevin J. Bagent has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, he studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises. Bagent, a 2002 graduate from Richard Montgomery High School, is the son of Debra Bagent of Rockville.
Paul N. Doremus of Potomac recently received the Silver Medal Award in the Personal and Professional Excellence category for his work in the National Institute of Science and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce. A political economic policy analyst for the Program Office, Office of the Director, Doremus was recognized for “leadership in developing the NIST strategic plan and related performance metrics in response to the President’s Management Agenda.” The Silver Medal Award is the second highest honor awarded by the Commerce Department, bestowed for “exceptional performance characterized by noteworthy or superlative contributions that have a direct and lasting impact within the department.”
Del. Brian Feldman (D-15) has been elected to serve a one-year term on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington. The election took place at the organization’s annual meeting on May 15.
The Potomac Almanac welcomes wedding announcements and people notes on the accomplishments of area residents. Mail to 10220 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 or e-mail at PotomacAlmanac@hotmail.com.