State delegates Jean B. Cryor (R) of Potomac, Kathleen M. Dumais (D) of Rockville and Brian J. Feldman (D) of Potomac, and state Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D) of Germantown will attend.

District 15 includes Potomac, Darnestown, Poolesville, Clarksburg and northwestern Montgomery County and parts of Germantown, North Potomac, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Bethesda.

Germantown woman

performs in junior recital

Danielle Drobny of Germantown performed her junior piano recital at Greensboro College in North Carolina Dec. 13 with works composed by Beethoven, Scarlatti and Chopin.

Drobny, a senior at the college, will graduate in May with a bachelor of arts in piano performance. Drobny, daughter of Christine and Vincent Drobny of Germantown, plans to pursue graduate studies in London after graduation.

At the college, Drobny has received many awards, including the music department's Blanche Burrus Piano Scholarship three years in a row and the honor of representing the college as the most outstanding music student in the Alma Dark Howard Piano Scholarship Competition in Asheville, N.C., in March.

Germantown resident

accepted into academy

Cadet Thomas Helms, 16, of Germantown recently was accepted to the Maryland National Guard's Freestate Challenge Academy.

Helms has begun the five-month residential phase of the academy at Aberdeen Proving Ground. In the program, Helms will take field trips, gain work experience and volunteer to help the local community. He will graduate with a high school diploma in June.

Boyds local honored

Michael J. Gresalfi of Boyds was a finalist for the 2002 "Service to America Medal" in the category of national security. For the past 10 years, Gresalfi has been the Washington, D.C., coordinator for national security at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The award pays tribute to the federal workforce. Honorees are chosen for their commitment, innovation and creativity, as well as the impact of their work on the nation.

Gresalfi was part of a team nominated for its work on the new Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program, which will provide older, refurbished radiological detection equipment to police and fire departments in 10 major U.S. metropolitan areas, including Washington, D.C.

Kiwanis Club welcomes

new members

Kiwanis clubs exist all over the world and now a local club has been established to serve the Germantown community, thanks to many dedicated individuals.

Partnerships and combined efforts within a community bring about positive results, and the Kiwanis Club of Germantown is committed to making a difference in the community. The club currently is gearing up to assist the youth in Germantown.

The club invites anyone interested to attend a meeting and consider becoming a member. The club meets Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Montgomery College's Germantown campus, 20200 Observation Drive. For information, e-mail Germantown2002@aol.com or fax 301-528-4039.

American Legion Oratorical contest Sunday

The annual American Legion oratorical contest will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Damascus American Legion Post 171, 10201 Lewis Drive, Damascus. Students in grades nine to 12 are invited to compete. First-place winners receive $700, second-place winners receive $400 and third-place winners receive $200. Information is available at Damascus, Seneca Valley and Northwest high schools or by calling contest chairman Jack Talamo at 301-253-4457.

Local artist to hold exhibit

Artist Alastair Bolton of Darnestown will present an exhibit of his paintings and drawings beginning Sunday until Feb. 26 at Glenview Mansion, 603 Edmonston Drive, in the Rockville Civic Center Park. A reception will be held 1-4 p.m. Sunday in Conference Room 5 at the park. Call 240-314-8682 to check when the exhibit will be open during the week.

Silent vigils planned

Dayspring Church in Germantown will hold a silent candlelight prayer vigil against war with Iraq from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Friday at the northeast corner of the intersection of Route 355 and Middlebrook Road in Germantown. Out of Dayspring Church's commitment to peace, the theme is "We seek peace with Iraq." All individuals and church groups who share this vision are invited to participate. Additional vigils are scheduled for Feb. 14 and 28 at the same time and location. If Iraq is attacked, there will be a vigil the night bombing begins at the same time and place. For information, call Dayspring Church at 301-428-9560.

Dance and cheer

teams win honors

The Seneca Sports competition dance team won second place at the Atlantic Cheer and Dance Championship Classic Jan. 19 at Dundalk Community College.

In addition, Laura Tinkleman was selected as an All-American by All-American Cheer and Dance and received an invitation to participate in a scholarship tour in 2004, during which she'll perform at the NFL Pro Bowl in February 2004. SSA is sending 10 members to the 2003 event.

The SSA's cheer and dance teams also participated in the Spirit Unlimited Charm City Classic held at the Baltimore Convention Center Dec. 14. Each team gave excellent performances and placed first in their divisions.

Against tough competition, the 8 and under squad picked up its first first-place trophy of the season and in this event. Members of the squad include: Elaina Alvarez, Ashley Babyak, Jayla Edwards, Destiny Fisher, Miranda Gray, Nichole Jonker, Nilija McBeth, Kimberly Moreno, Madison Pizer, Danielle Spencer, Laura Stall, Sierra Tothill, Ola Uwazie and Rachel Wims.

The SSA dance team will compete next Feb. 22 in Ocean City.

Seneca Valley graduate

to perform at NBA game

Seneca Valley High School and University of Maryland graduate Cara Bibbiani will travel to Atlanta in February to perform at the National Basketball Association All-Star Game.

Bibbiani, a four-year member of the Seneca Valley pom squad, currently lives in New York and is pursing a career in entertainment. Bibbiani, daughter of Germantown resident Barbara Bibbiani, has performed with the Washington Wizards' dance team, the Washington Redskins' cheerleaders and the New York Knicks' city dancers.

She also has entertained American military personnel in Europe and throughout the United States with the United Service Organizations.

Have an item appropriate for Town Crier? Or is there something you've seen or heard recently that you just have to know about? Call 301-670-2071, fax 301-670-7183 or e-mail eshiau@gazette.net by 9 a.m. Thursday.