BETHESDA GIRL DIES IN POTOMAC
A 9-year-old girl died of unknown causes April 22 at a house in Potomac.
According to a Montgomery County Police report, at approximately 10:41 p.m., police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched for a report of a pediatric injury in the 9500 block of Hemswell Lane, near Kendale Road.
The girl was there with her parents while they were attending a dinner party.
The preliminary investigation determined that the girl, Sabrina Rosenberg, was playing in the basement and was heard crying by a sitter and other children in another section of the basement. The parents immediately responded from upstairs to provide assistance, however, the child became unresponsive. Attempts to resuscitate the child were unsuccessful, and she was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:23 p.m., according to the police.
An investigation by the Montgomery County Police is continuing, but there is no indication of foul play.
DEFIBRILLATOR BILL BECOMES LAW
Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich signed a bill requiring all high schools in Maryland provide automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on premises.
The bill was sponsored by Del. Susan Lee (D-16) and Senator Sharon Grosfeld (D-19) of Montgomery County.
New York and Pennsylvania already have laws mandating AED placement in schools.
"Today AEDs are located in the government buildings, retail establishments, airlines, prisons, casinos, and even the General Assembly." Lee said. "Just as government entities, private companies, prisons, and casinos have recognized the tremendous value of these life saving and easy to use devices, Maryland must also step up and take proactive steps in protecting and saving the lives of its students, teachers and school personnel.”
In cases of sudden cardiac arrest, on-site AEDs have been shown to substantially increase the survival rates from 5 percent to more than 75 percent.
DISTRICT 16 TOWN HALL MEETING
The District 16 Maryland legislative team will report to constituents on the 2006 Maryland General Assembly session, which ended April 10, at town hall meeting Monday, May 1, 7:30-9 pm. at the Bethesda Library.
The team--Sen. Brian Frosh and Dels. Bill Bronrott, Marilyn Goldwater and Susan Lee (all D) will discuss the session and answer questions.
The library is located at 7400 Arlington Road.
BOY SCOUTS OPEN HOUSE
Boy Scout Troop 1324 invites local boys in fifth grade or above to an open house event Saturday April 29, noon-4 p.m. at Seven Locks Baptist Church, where the troop has been based for nearly 40 years.
The church is located at 11845 Seven Locks Road, between Montrose and Gainsborough.
The troop has an active, year-round program that includes camping, hiking, skiing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and fishing as well as indoor merit badge and citizenship activities. The troop is open to boys of all faiths.
The event will include lunch at noon followed by games and fun activities emphasizing scouting skills. Tie knots, set up a tent, or cross a monkey bridge!
For more information or to RSVP, call Scoutmaster Geoffrey Wolfe at 301-365-2347 or everest.associates@erols.com.
Troop 1434 meets Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. Learn more at www.BSA1434web.org.
TIME FOR MOTHER'S DAY PHOTOS
Every year at this time, the Potomac Almanac puts out the call for photographs of moms and their children, grandmothers and their children and grandchildren. Most years, we're lucky enough to receive a photo or two that includes four generations — great-grandma and all the rest.
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14, and once again The Almanac will publish a gallery of Mother’s Day photos, celebrating the mothers who make so many things possible in families and the community.
Send in photos as soon as possible, including information about who is in the picture, the date the picture was taken, the ages of the children and sentence or two about what is happening and the location of the photograph.
We will do our best to return photos that include a self-addressed-stamped envelope for that purpose, but please do not send us any photos that are irreplaceable.
Send photos to Potomac Almanac, Mother’s Day Photo Contest, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, Va. 22102. Or E-mail them to PotomacAlmanac@hotmail.com.
And remember, a few weeks from now it will be time to send photos of Dads and children, grandfathers and children and grandchildren ….
POTOMAC STUDENTS WIN ART COMPETITION
Several Potomac-area students were among the winners of U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen's Congressional Art Competition.
The overall winner was Leonardo Ramos of Kensington, a Walter Johnson High School. His entry, a self-portrait done in oil, will be on display in the United States Capitol for one year beginning in June.
Walt Whitman High School student Aydin Hamami of Bethesda was one of three runners-up who will have their art displayed in Van Hollen's office.
Other award winners included Whitman student Will Ryan of Chevy Chase; Bullis School student Dori Zweig of Silver Spring; and Connelly School of the Holy Child students Eames Armstrong and Christina Grolman.
The winners, chosen from more than 200 entries, were announced during an awards ceremony on April 3 at The Mansion at Strathmore.
HOOVER BOOK FAIR
Just in time for summer reading, Herbert Hoover Middle School presents its Spring Book Fair, May 1-May 5 in the Hoover atrium. The book fair hours will be Monday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Tuesday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; Thursday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Friday 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted.
EARTH DAY AT THE QUARRY
Following a one-year hiatus, Earth Day at the Travilah Quarry returns Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The event will feature 20-minute narrated bus tours through the 450-foot-deep pit. Large earth-moving equipment and dump trucks will be on display and attendees can enjoy food, live entertainment, game booths, a giant slide and a petting zoo
There will be tables with information about recycling, composting and other Earth-friendly practices.
Admission is free and proceeds from concession and T-shirt sales benefit the Quince Orchard Library and local schools.
Last year, the annual fair and open house at Rockville Crushed Stone — also known as the Travilah Quarry — was postponed and later cancelled when the quarry’s owner was acquired by a Swiss company.
The Quarry is located on Piney Meetinghouse Road between Shady Grove Road and Travilah Road. Free parking is available.
For more information, call Debbie Levi at 301-294-6404, e-mail QuarryEarthDay@aol.com or visit www.QuarryEarthDay.com.
AZALEA FEST MAY 5-7
The Landon School will hold its 53rd annual Azalea Festival Friday, May 5-Sunday, May 7 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day at the school, 6101 Wilson Lane in Bethesda. Admission and parking are free, though some activities within the event have an admission charge.
Gardeners can tour the dazzling azaleas in full bloom in Landon's historic Perkins Garden and shop from a wide range of plants, wildflowers, annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables and ornamental shrubs on sale.
Antique lovers and collectors will enjoy shopping at the Landon Azalea Garden Festival Antiques Show offering furniture and accessories from over fifty American dealers. Antique show hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday, with a $10 admission fee at the door of the Barton Alumni Sports Center.
There will also be shopping, a flea market and rides, games, crafts and prizes for children.
For more information, call 301-320-1006 or visit www.landon.net.
RUMMAGE SALE AT POTOMAC PRESBYTERIAN
There will be a rummage sale at Potomac Presbyterian Church, 10301 River Road, Saturday, May 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The sale is to raise money for the church's youth work camp trip to upstate new York where the youth will build and repair houses for the needy.
COMMUNITY DAY AND OPEN HOUSE AT POTOMAC HORSE CENTER
The first annual North Potomac Community Day and Potomac Horse Center Spring Open House will take place Sunday, May 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Horse Center, 14211 Quince Orchard Road, at the corner of Quince Orchard and Dufief Mill. Admission is free and the event will include hayrides, horse and pony rides, barn tours, horseback riding demonstrations, children's activities, food and more. Call 301-208-0200 or visit www.potomachorse.com for more information.
VAN HOLLEN TOWN HALL MEETING
U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-8th) will hold a town hall meeting for residents of the eighth congressional district Monday, May 8, 7:30-9 p.m. at Westland Middle School, 5511 Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda.
Van Hollen will report to residents about the activities of the 109th Congress, including issues such as the war with Iraq, Medicare, education, health care, gang violence, the economy, homeland security, disaster preparedness and transportation. He will answer questions and respond to comments from the audience. All residents of the district are invited to participate and a sign language interpreter will be provided.
For more information, call 301-424-3501.
ART SHOW AT VICTORY TERRACE
The public is invited to an art show and sale featuring local artists at Victory Terrace, 9440 Newbridge Drive, Saturday, May 13 10 a.m.-3 p,m. For more information, call 301-983-3123.
FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS AT WHITMAN
The Walt Whitman High School's Festival of the Arts, will be held on Wednesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 18 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. each day.
The festival showcases the school's award-winning visual arts and music programs through performances as well as a student art sale and silent auction.
The Festival concludes with a Student Fashion Show featuring the works of emerging designers on Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
Admission to all events is free. Walt Whitman High School is at 7100 Whittier Boulevard in Bethesda. Call 301-320-6600.
JOIN THE RACE FOR HOPE
The ninth annual Cassidy and Pinkard Race for Hope 5K run and walk takes place Sunday, May 7 at Freedom Plaza in Washington, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The race raises money for the non-profit Brain Tumor Society, a research and education organization.
Several Potomac families are major organizers and fund-raisers for the Society and the annual race. Seven Locks Elementary School parents Chris and Lisa Peabody raised more than $20,000 last year. They have participated annually since their nine-month-old daughter Caroline died from a brain tumor.
To learn more, register, or contribute visit www.curebraintumors.org. An Almanac story about the Peabodys and the Race for Hope—published a year ago—can be found at http://www.potomacalmanac.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=46047&paper=70&cat=104.
COUNCIL EXTENDS PLANNING BOARD APPLICATION DEADLINE
The Montgomery County Council has extended the deadline for applications for the position Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman.
So far the only applicant is the current chairman, Derick Berlage, who is seeking a second term.
The deadline extension comes amidst public criticism of Berlage who has been chairman throughout the recent Clarksburg controversy.
The new deadline is 5 p.m. on May 31. Berlage's term will expire on June 14.
No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and all members must be residents and registered voters of Montgomery County when appointed. Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two full terms.
The Planning Board serves as the Council's principal adviser on land use planning and community planning. The Prince George's Planning Board and Montgomery County Planning Board together form the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission,
The Montgomery County Planning Board meets all day every Thursday. The entire Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission meets the second Wednesday of every month. Two full days a week are spent in meetings. Substantial additional time is required for preparatory work and other activities related to Planning Board responsibilities.
To apply, send a letters of interest and a resume to Council President George L. Leventhal, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850, by 5 p.m. May 31.
Letters of application are made public as part of the appointment process.