Bringing Israeli film to Potomac

The film festival held its first session in November. Saturday’s session will feature four ‘‘slice of life” films that examine modern-day life in Israel from an insiders’ perspective. The films featured are written and directed by graduates of Israel’s Ma’aleh School of Television, Film and the Arts. The films explore issues such as turmoil in a family’s last days in Gaza and the life of a teen approaching the draft. Katie Green, head of international relations and special projects at Ma’aleh, will hold a discussion session during the evening, which will begin at 8 p.m. at the synagogue, located at 11825 Seven Locks Road in Potomac. The suggested donation is $10 at the door. For more information about the festival, visit www.bethsholom.org.

Library hosts memberof the Tuskegee Airmen

An original member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group that comprised America’s first African American military airmen during World War II, spoke Saturday at the Quince Orchard Library. In recognition of Black History Month, Col. Charles E. McGee, a retired member of the U.S. Air Force, spoke about his experiences fighting the war from the air at a time when racial prejudice was prevalent within the military and the country.

During the early 1940s, many Americans viewed African Americans as lacking in skills, courage and patriotism, said library branch manager Michele Sellars. ‘‘The Tuskegee Airmen fought two wars – one against the military forces overseas and the other against racism at home and abroad,” Sellars said.

In 2007, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. – an organization made up of former members of the Tuskegee Airmen – received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.

McGee’s speech was part of a broader series of Black History Month discussions and events centered around African American culture held by the Montgomery County Public Library. For more information about these events, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov⁄Apps⁄News⁄press⁄PR_details.asp?PrID=4227.

A sweet wayto help local charities

Montgomery County members of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal benefit society, gathered Saturday at St. Raphael’s Church in Rockville for an annual Tootsie Roll Awards Banquet. The event celebrated more than $50,000 raised for Montgomery County schools and charities during the organization’s fall Tootsie Roll campaign. During the fall, members of the group stood outside area grocery stores to raise money for the campaign, and in return gave donors Tootsie Rolls with specially made Knights of Columbus wrappers. The money raised will go toward 21 local schools and charitable organizations that benefit people with intellectual disabilities. Representatives from the schools and the charitable organizations were on hand to receive the monetary awards. Among the recipients were Potomac Community Resources, an organization that provides recreational and educational programs for teens and adults with developmental disabilities, the Special Olympics, and Circle of Hope Theraputic Riding, a horseback riding organization for individuals with physical disabilities. The Tootsie Roll Campaign in Montgomery County was part of a national Knights of Columbus drive. For more information about the Knights of Columbus, www.kofc.org.

Local man honoredas conservationist

Congratulations are in order for Potomac resident Lowell E. Baier, who was named the 2008 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year on Feb. 2 at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas.

The title is awarded yearly to four people who show a commitment to conservation, and the winners are chosen among dozens of finalists by Bud drinkers nationwide through an online vote at Budweiser.com.

Baier is the president of the Boone and Crockett Club, an organization founded by Theodore Roosevelt involved with hunting, wildlife and habitat issues, and co-founded the National Capital Area chapter of the Safari Club International, a game hunting and conservation organization. He is also involved with the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. Baier helped establish a post-graduate wildlife program at the University of Montana and also helped create the National Conservation Leadership Institute, geared towards government wildlife managers. Baier will receive a $50,000 award from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help fund his conservation efforts. The recognition is awarded through the ‘‘Budweiser Outdoors” program.

This column is for you. Send press releases, news tips and other information to Erin Donaghue by phone to 301-280-3007, by e-mail edonaghue@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183 or by mail to Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.