Park Police Search for Silver Spring Man
On Jan. 8, at 10:15 a.m., Gilbert ‘Gib’ Campion of Wheaton, entered C&O Canal National Historical Park at Great Falls to go for a walk. He has not been heard from since. He was supposed to call his wife when he left, and then pick her up from work later in the evening. Campion failed to arrive at work and failed to pick up his wife. He suffers from diabetes, requiring insulin injections several times a day, and had recently not been feeling well.
An information bulletin released by the U.S. Park Police describes Campion as a 5-foot-10, 170-pound, clean-shaven white male, 48 years old, with blue eyes, bald on top and salt-and-pepper hair on the side. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mr. Campion, or may have seen him in the park, is asked to call the U.S. Park Police Criminal Investigations Branch at 202-610-8730, or 24/7 at 202-619-7105.
West Montgomery County Citizens Association Meeting
The West Montgomery Citizens Association (WMCCA) will hold it's monthly meeting Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 8:00 p.m. at the Potomac Library.
Roger Berliner (D - District 1) who in the November elections unseated Howie Denis as the District 1 representative to the County Council, will speak.
"We look forward to this first of what we hope will be an ongoing dialog regarding the issues of importance to our community," said Susanne Lee, president of the WMCCA, in her monthly newsletter. The meeting is open to the public.
Citizens Advisory Board to Discuss County Executive’s Budget
All county residents are invited to the next Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. It will be held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane.
The topic this month is The County Executive’s Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget. Beryl Feinberg, Manager, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will present an overview of fiscal constraints facing the County, County Executive Leggett’s priorities and the budget process for the Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget. Residents are encouraged to ask questions and discuss their priorities with OMB staff. The agenda is available at: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/Content/RSC/BCC/Agendas/011607.asp
Instructive Seminars for Dog Owners with Questions.
Do you share your home with a dog? "Your Dog's Friend," a non-profit organization, is offering free educational seminars in conjunction with the Montgomery County Humane Society right here at our Potomac Community Center at 11315 Falls Road.
The first seminar is entitled The Reactive Dog - When Your Dog Acts Like the Neighborhood Bully. This session will be held at the Potomac Community Center on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 7:00 PM.
The discussion will focus on why many dogs react badly on neighborhood walks - especially in the presence of other dogs. You will learn not only why it happens, but what you can do to prevent it. Ann Lincoln, a trainer with a special interest in problem dogs, will lead the discussion. If you recognize Ann's name - it is because she is also the nature contributor to the River Falls Neighborhood News.
Another seminar on how to raise kids and dogs in the same household will be held on March 4.
Again, these seminars are free. For more information and to pre-register go
to: http://yourdogsfriend.info/sessions.htm
Critical Blood Shortage
The National Institute of Health Blood Bank has announced an urgent need for type O blood donors. Both local and regional inventories of this blood type are dangerously low. If you are a donor with blood type O, please donate today by visiting the NIH Blood Bank located on the first floor of the Clinical Center on the NIH campus in Bethesda. Hours of operation are from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Please call for an appointment or directions at 301-496-1048. Convenient, free parking is available for blood donors.
If you have not donated blood before and are not sure if you are eligible, please visit www.cc.nih.gov/dtm/html/donrinfo.htm to learn more about being a donor at NIH.
County’s Class of ’06 Sets Records in AP Participation
The Class of 2006 at Montgomery County’s public schools broke Advanced Placement (AP) participation and performance records established by the Class of 2005 and capped a five-year trend of consistently higher performance for graduates from all student groups, according to a press release from county schools last month. According to the press release, 56 percent (5,282 students) took at least one AP exam and 45 percent (4,234 students) earned at least one AP score of 3 or higher.
The historic high levels of achievement for the Class of 2006 stretch across all student demographic groups, the press release said. The complete Advanced Placement Exam Participation and Performance Report for the MCPS Classes of 2002 to 2006 is on the MCPS web site at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org.
Legacy Open Space Advisory Group Members Sought\
The Montgomery County Planning Board seeks individuals to serve on the Legacy Open Space Advisory Group. The group provides public input on which irreplaceable natural resources, watershed lands and historic properties are purchased and preserved for future generations.
The Legacy Open Space Advisory Group reviews the program to protect identified Legacy Open Space sites; reviews new nominations of sites for protection under the program; comments on park management plans for already acquired properties; and identifies other funding sources, such as private donations and foundation grants.
Advisory Group applicants must be residents of Montgomery County with an interest in the future of the County’s parks and green spaces; have the ability to attend four evening meetings per year; and have an interest in learning more about natural resources, historic sites, green space preservation, and urban open space issues. Experience with these issues is a plus, but not necessary.
To apply, please send a letter expressing your interest to: Brenda Sandberg, Legacy Open Space Program Manager, 1109 Spring Street, Suite 800, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
For more information on the Legacy Open Space program and the Advisory Group, please contact Brenda Sandberg at 301-650-4360 or Brenda.sandberg@mncppc-mc.org.