Locked up for a good cause

The event raised more than $25,000 total to benefit the Greater Washington MDA.

The money will be used for local services such as support groups, clinic visits, summer camp, wheelchairs and research.

The top bail raisers included Linda Evans of Prosperity Mortgage, $3,250; Jeanette Harmon of Interstate Corporation, $3,020; Sara Hall of EU Services Caring Campaign, $3,000; Craig Moloney of CEM Design, $2,745; and Brooke Waskewich of Talent Pro Inc., $1,625.

Sponsors of the event include The Rockville Sheraton, which donated the ‘‘jail” site; First Watch restaurant, which donated breakfast, Safeway, which donated lunch; and Watkins Limousine, the Rockville City Police Department, and the Montgomery County Police.

Art exhibit raisesscholarship money

An exhibition and sale of South Asian art hosted by the nonprofit Upakar organization on Dec. 2 raised enough money for a $3,000 scholarship for needy, college-bound Indian American students.

Three local Indian American artists participated in the exposition, donating a portion of their proceeds to Upakar for the students.

The event showcased more than 100 paintings, sculptures, wood carvings, photographs and handmade books of artists Shanthi Chandra-Sekar of North Potomac, Shireen Holman of Montgomery Village and Ajoy Prabhu of Columbia.

‘‘It serves two purposes,” said Chandra-Sekar, who exhibited her paintings and sculptures. ‘‘It helps local artists and students headed to college. And it is for a good cause.”

Since its inception in Montgomery County in 1997, Upakar has provided 94 scholarships to students from 30 states. The scholarship was raised from $2,000 to $3,000 in 2005.

The community-based organization traditionally raises money by arranging concerts featuring noted Indian artists. This was the organization’s first foray into arranging an exhibit that brings local artists together.

Upakar Foundation was created in 1997 to assist Indian Americans who require additional financial assistance to pursue educational, artistic or athletic goals at a post-secondary institution. The nonprofit is also dedicated to the promotion and recognition of excellence through the support of the Indian American community. For more information, visit www.upakar.org.

Brookside donates tickets to Garden of Lights

For several years, Brookside Gardens has worked in conjunction with the Wheaton & Kensington Chamber of Commerce, the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Montgomery Housing Partnership, the Evergreen School and other community leaders to collect new toys for the ‘‘Angels for Children” Toy Drive.

In addition to the toys, Brookside Gardens is giving 300 families living in affordable housing units in Amherst Square, Amherst Gardens and Pembridge Square tickets to the Garden of Lights, a winter light show display now in its 11th season.

‘‘This is part of our continuing commitment to support our community. We wanted to share the holiday spirit with these families who might not be able to come on their own to enjoy the Garden of Lights,” said acting director Stephanie Oberle.

Brookside Gardens, a 50-acre public display garden located in Wheaton and part of Montgomery Parks Department, is owned and operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission.

For more information, visit www.brooksidegardens.org.

The halls are still decked out at Beall-Dawson

The Beall-Dawson House is offering ‘‘Christmas in Miniature,” drawing from the Montgomery County Historical Society collections, through Sunday.

Holiday tours will end with hot cider and homemade cookies.

The house is open noon to 4 p.m. Last tour of the day starts at 3:15. The Beall-Dawson House is located at 103 West Montgomery Avenue in Rockville

Museum admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and students, and free to Montgomery County Historical Society members.

For more information, call 301-762-1492 or visit www.montgomeryhistory.org.

Congregation to hostdiscussion on abortion

Congregation Tikvat Israel in Rockville will host a panel discussion, ‘‘Jewish Law, the U.S. Supreme Court and Abortion: Is there a Conflict?” at 10 a.m. Jan. 13.

Tikvat Israel is located at 2200 Baltimore Road in Rockville.

The panel will feature Rabbi Susan Grossman, member of the Standards and Practices Committee and rabbi at Beth Shalom congregation in Columbia; Del. Jamie B. Raskin (Dist. 20) of Takoma Park, constitutional law professor at American University Washington College of Law; and Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) of Burtonsville.

The panel will address Supreme Court decision last spring in Gonzales v. Carhart, how Conservative Judaism has interpreted that decision based on Jewish law and what guidance the case has given state legislatures as citizens press for laws restricting or liberalizing the availability of abortion.

The discussion cost is $5. Bagels and coffee will be available for purchase prior to the event.

The program is sponsored by Tikvat Israel’s adult education committee. Call 301-762-7338 or visit www.tikvatisrael.org for more information.

On campus

Faminda Lake, daughter of Agatha Wilkinson, was accepted into Sigma Theta Tau International, the nursing honor society, at Salisbury University. Lake is a Salisbury University senior majoring in Nursing. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, the freshman honor society, as well as Pi Gamma Mu, the social sciences honor society. She is also a member of the African Students Association and the NAACP. In addition, she sings in the Gospel Choir and is a Dean’s List student. She is a 2004 graduate of Col. Zadok A. Magruder High School in Derwood.

Gazette changes coming next week

Beginning next week, The Gazette’s sports coverage is moving into an expanded B-section, with Scene, a revamped arts and entertainment section. Homes will change from a broadsheet to tabloid format in the B-section.

School news and Celebrations will join local and regional news coverage in the A-section. ‘‘Mid-life Spices” by columnist Judy Kramer will be shifted online at www.Gazette.net.

The Gazette is moving, too

The Gazette’s Montgomery County newsroom is moving on Friday to a new home at what used to be known as the Comprint building at 9030 Comprint Court, just off Shady Grove Road. Our phone numbers will remain the same. Next week’s paper will reflect the changes.

Items appropriate for this column should be faxed to Judith Hruz, Editor, The Rockville Gazette, 301-670-7182 or 301-670-7183; or e-mailed to jhruz@gazette.net. Deadline is Thursday at 5 p.m. Items are subject to editing.