Nature photographer and Glen Echo resident John Morrow's close up shot of a dripping wet grizzly bear is one of the "highly honored" photographs currently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History as part of the Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards 2008 Exhibition.

Morrow, a self-taught photographer, first became interested in photography 20 years ago. He has had six photographs in the Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice Smithsonian exhibition over the past four years.

He first became interested in photographing grizzly bears after a trip to Alaska in 2000. He now takes several trips each year to Alaska, Montana and Wyoming to photograph grizzlies and other large mammals, such as rams, moose and wolves. But grizzlies are most captivating, he said.

"They're totally wild," he said. "When we go up there I might see 150 grizzly bears and no people," he said. "I just love watching them."

The exhibition, on display through May, features the winning photographs from the Windland Smith Rice International Awards nature photography contest, a fierce competition, which received more than 22,000 entries.

"It's a prestigious photo awards competition that runs in alliance with the National Museum of Natural History," said Stephen Freligh, publisher and editor-in-chief of Nature's Best Photography magazine. "Our main goal is to reach photographers at all levels of experience. You don't have to be a professional."

Freligh called Morrow "a great shooter and a dedicated photographer and conservationist."

More of Morrow's photographs can be seen on his Web site at http://thewildasiseeit.com/galleries.asp.

A presidential farewell

President George W. Bush stopped by Glen Echo Park's historic Spanish Ballroom on Jan. 18 to bid farewell to hundreds of White House staff members who were attending a party hosted by White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former chief of staff Andrew Card.

As Bush took to the stage to thank the audience for their service, he looked out on the crowded ballroom floor and said, "We're no longer sprinting to the finish, we're dancing to the finish."

The Spanish Ballroom, constructed in 1933, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and re-opened in 2003.

Bolten chose to host the event in the ballroom after attending several dances there. Glen Echo Park has a thriving social dance program and hosts from three to six dances every weekend of the year. On the night of Bolton's party, a nine-piece band, Marquise, played and White House staffers danced and helped themselves to Texan barbeque by Capital Q. Approximately 800 people were in attendance.

It was the first known presidential visit to Glen Echo Park, although National Park Service staff said first lady Jacqueline Kennedy brought her children to the park while her husband was in office.

Chevy Chase man

honored by France, UVA

Chevy Chase resident Mortimer Caplin, founder of Caplin & Drysdale was recently honored for his contributions to the United States' role in the liberation of France during World War II. Awarded by the President of the French Republic, the "Chevalier" of the Legion of Honor is one of France's highest honors given as a testament to an individual's outstanding accomplishments.

During the Normandy invasion, Mortimer served as a U.S. Navy beachmaster and was a member of the initial landing force on Omaha Beach. For his service, he also received the Medal of the Jubilee of Liberty. The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon in 1802 to acknowledge services rendered to France by persons of great merit.

Caplin was also named a University of Virginia's 2009 Brennan Award recipient. Established in 1987 in honor of Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. of the United States Supreme Court honorees are selected based on their invaluable contributions to the Trial Advocacy Institute and the legal profession.

County food drive

wraps up this week

The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and partnering organizations launched a Feed the Body & Soul Food Drive to benefit Manna Food Center as part of County Executive Isiah Leggett's Yes Montgomery Can! initiative.

The drive concludes on Friday, but until then, donations can be made at five county cultural facilities:

-Silver Spring, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, 801 Ellsworth Drive, 301-565-3805 or www.creativemoco.com.

-Olney/Sandy Spring, Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, 301-774-0022, www.sandyspringmuseum.org.

-Rockville, American Dance Institute, 1570 East Jefferson St., 301-984-3003, http://americandance.org.

-Germantown, BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, 301-528-2260, www.blackrockcenter.org.

-Bethesda, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., 301-280-1650, www.imaginationstage.org.

Donations benefit Manna Food Center, a nonprofit dedicated to feeding hungry families and individuals in Montgomery County.

Restaurant Week

returns to Bethesda

Bethesda-Chevy Chase is celebrating its culinary community with the return of Restaurant Week, which runs through Sunday. B-CC Restaurant Week features pre-fixed gourmet cuisine. Participating restaurants are offering a two-course lunch for $12 or $15 and/or a three-course dinner for $30.

Restaurants participating in Restaurant Week include Assaggi Mozzarella Bar, Clyde's of Chevy Chase, Gaffney's Restaurant, Hanaro Restaurant & Lounge, Jaleo, La Ferme, La Miche, McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi, Tragara, Visions Restaurant, Bacchus of Lebanon, Bice Ristorante, Brasserie Monte Carlo, Divino Lounge & Restaurant, Famoso, Faryab Restaurant, Geppetto Restaurant, Grapeseed, Jean-Michel Restaurant, Lia's, Louisiana Kitchen and Bayou Bar, Oakville Grille and Wine Bar, Old Angler's Inn, Persimmon Restaurant, Pizza Zero, RAKU- Bethesda, Redwood Restaurant, Rock Creek Bethesda, Trattoria Sorrento, and Tavira.

For more information, visit www.bccchamber.org.

On campus …

The following students were named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.:

-Hope D. Adkins, daughter of Paul and Deidre Adkins of Bethesda, and a graduate of Holton Arms School

-Madeleine L. de Boinville, daughter of Bryan and Barbara de Boinville of Chevy Chase, and a 2005 graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

-Elizabeth R. Goodman, daughter of Randolph and Paula Goodman of Bethesda, and a 2008 graduate of Walt Whitman High School

-Samantha C. Levin, daughter of Robert and Joanne Levin of Bethesda, and a 2007 graduate of Georgetown Day School

-Taylor H. Martin, son of David and Kirsten Martin of Bethesda, and a 2007 graduate of Walt Whitman High

-Alexandra A. Tadeu, daughter of Americo and Beverly Tadeu of Bethesda, and a 2005 graduate of the International School Nido De Aguilas, Santiago, Chile

-Susannah L. Tsien, daughter of Arthur Tsien and Judith McGuire of Chevy Chase, and a 2005 graduate of Bullis School.

A student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0 to receive dean's list recognition.

Fun without borders

The Autism Society of America and AMC Entertainment continue to roll out their Sensory Friendly Films program to allow autistic children and adults a pleasurable time at the movies.

Families of autistic residents are invited to bring their loved ones to see "Hotel for Dogs," a film about two children who secretly harbor nine stray dogs at a vacant house, in a 10 a.m. showing on Saturday at AMC Rio Cinemas 18 at the Rio at Washingtonian Center, 9811 Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg.

Those with autism have a special sensitivity to light and other senses. To make movie viewing more pleasurable, AMC will show the movie with the lights turned up and the sound turned down and allow families to bring gluten-free, casein-free snacks.  Guests will be allowed to dance, walk, shout or sing with no interference from theater staff, unless safety is in question. Tickets are $4-$6 and may be purchased the day of the event.

For more information on the program, call the Autism Society at 301-657-0881.

This column is for you. Share your good news! Feel free to send press releases and news tips. Contact Stephanie Siegel via e-mail at ssiegel@gazette.net, phone at 301-280-3006, fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.