Super Seniors get into ‘Mischief’

This year, four Marylanders, including the Youngs, received the GERI award, she said.

The honor is commemorated with a wooden plaque featuring a child’s hand inside an adult’s hand.

‘‘These people work and work,” Farrell said. ‘‘We always like to highlight them because they do so much good.”

Among their myriad activities, Frank Young, a former Las Vegas legislator, has served as president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association; he and his wife are active with Grace United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg.

Jean Young coaches senior technology courses, writes an Asbury computer club newsletter and leads a needlework group in Montgomery Village.

‘‘We were most most surprised,” Frank Young said.

‘‘We didn’t think we had done that much,” his wife said. ‘‘Of course when we filled out the application forms, we realized it was quite a bit. We just keep busy.”

Looking for language buffs

Linguistically inclined? The Gaithersburg Library, located at 18330 Montgomery Village Ave. in Gaithersburg, is looking for volunteers to lead discussions in English for non-native speakers 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays. The library will supply materials to lead structured conversations for groups of 5 to 10. Those interested in helping language learners improve their English skills, should call 240-773-9490.

Congratulations

Five Lakelands Middle School students taught by Angela Sisk were honored by Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz for their prize-winning essays in the city-sponsored ‘‘Adult Heroes” writing contest. Seventh-grader Sarah Beautz won first place. Other winners included eighth-graders Sharon Kim, Eric Neumann and Julie Norcross, as well as seventh-grader Ally Shapiro.

Michelle Wright, daughter of Beverly Wright of Boyds, was accepted into Lambda Pi Eta, the communications honor society at Salisbury University. Wright is a senior majoring in communications. She is a 2002 graduate of Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Rockville.

It’s game time

Try your hand at trivia, board games, cards and even some retro games at the new Teen Game Time at the Gaithersburg Library on Wednesdays.

The first free game time, for those 12-18, is 3:30-5 p.m. Jan. 9.

Light snacks will be served. No registration is required.

For more information, call the library at 240-773-9490. The Gaithersburg Library is located at 18330 Montgomery Village Ave.

Weight-loss challenge

If the holidays have been too much for you — or you want to start the new year losing weight — Kentlands Nutrition has an option.

House nutritionists are hosting a 12-week ‘‘Biggest Loser” challenge starting Jan. 8.

‘‘What we’re hosting is a free activity for 12 weeks,” said Elizabeth Jaramillo. ‘‘The biggest loser wins a prize.”

Participants will throw $29 into a bowl; participants will also pay $5 for every class missed. Those who gain weight during the challenge will add $1 per pound, she said. The money will be divided among three winners from each class and Kentlands Nutrition will make no profit on the competition, she said.

Experts, including a physical trainer, an acupuncturist and a belly dancer will provide motivation and insight. Nutrition classes will enforce education on protein intake, water intake and healthy foods, as well as stress, high blood pressure and high cholesterol prevention. Meetings last about 45 minutes and are held at 9 a.m., noon, 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Pre-register at 301-990-8777 or visit Kentlands Nutrition at 240 Main St. in Gaithersburg.

You be the judge

Montgomery County’s Board of Elections is seeking individuals to serve as election judges at polling places on primary Election Day, Feb. 12, 2008.

In accordance with the Election Code, judges must be registered to vote in the State of Maryland. They must also be able to speak, read, and write English, and while acting as a judge must not hold, or be a candidate for, public or party office.

In addition, election judges bilingual in Spanish and election judge alternates are needed. Training will be provided and all judges will be compensated for Election Day.

For more information, call the Board of Elections at 240-777-8533 or e-mail electionjudge@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Senior Ethics Day

Nearly 150 seniors at Seneca Valley High School participated in the annual Senior Ethics Day on Dec. 17 at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown.

The event, sponsored by the school’s Signature Career Academies Program, gave students the opportunity to practice decision-making skills related to ethical questions they may confront in the future, according to teacher Robert Walko.

Submissions for People and Places must be received by 10 a.m. Thursday. Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gazette, 1200 Quince Orchard Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Through the ages

O’ Donnell’s Sea Grille, a family-owned seafood restaurant with roots dating 85 years, is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Gaithersburg. The restaurant got its start in Washington, D.C., and once had a branch in Bethesda but is now only in the Kentlands at 311 Kentlands Blvd.

To celebrate 10 years at its current location, the seafood hot spot held an essay contest and encouraged visitors to submit their dining memories.

About 100 diners of all ages wrote in, including Thomas and Jeannie Keating of Silver Spring who have celebrated every wedding anniversary at O’Donnell’s and will mark 50 years in February 2009, restaurant spokeswoman Lauren Meley said. Roger Warren of Bethesda captured his memory of being a young paperboy out in the winter cold of Washington, D.C., and greeted through a doorway by an O’Donnell’s waiter who handed him some of the restaurant’s famous Rum Buns.

First prize went to Richard Warren of Bethesda, whose family has frequented the eatery since World War II and has gathered at O’Donnell’s for special occasions for years. He recalled dinner at O’Donnell’s on his return home from four years of service in the Air Force in 1971, Meley said. Warren and his siblings still gather regularly at the restaurant and bring a special memory — a ring, photo or article of clothing — of their deceased parents to keep the evening special.

Warren’s essay won him a free monthly dinner for two for a year, Meley said.

‘‘We still see a lot of the same faces from Bethesda, but the Kentlands is a great area and we’re really glad to be a part of it,” said Bill Edelblut of Bethesda, grandson of original owner Tom O’Donnell. ‘‘It’s been a great location for us.

Calling All American Girls

Fans of Molly McIntire, Samantha Parkington and friends — American Girl dolls that have won the hearts of many a youngster — are invited by the City of Gaithersburg to spend a day in the Big Apple and visit American Girl Place. A bus will leave at 6:30 a.m. on April 5 from the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Ave. and arrive at American Girl Place New York at about 11:30 a.m.

Children and chaperons will have the afternoon at center, which has a café, theater, doll hair salon and photo studio. The bus departs again for Gaithersburg at 5 p.m. and should return to the Activity Center at about 10 p.m., according to city spokeswoman Britta Monaco.

The day includes lunch at the American Girl Café at noon and a showing of the ‘‘Circle of Friends: An American Girl Musical” at 1:40 p.m. After that, guests are free to shop and enjoy. Tickets are $110 for Gaithersburg residents and $140 for nonresidents. Price includes transportation, lunch and the musical show. Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult.For more information or to register, please call 301-258-6350 or use RecXpressonline at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

Submissions for People and Places must be received by 10 a.m. Thursday. Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gazette, 1200 Quince Orchard Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878.