People and Places | Patricia M. Murret
Alvin Guttag, 89, of Gaithersburg was among 207 runners who competed on April 17 in the sixth annual Montgomery County Road Runners’ Club’s Firebirds Mile at Gaithersburg High School. Guttag has participated in the one-mile race every year and though his times may have slowed, ‘‘his spirits definitely have not,” said race co-director Marty Horan.
Guttag ‘‘is always upbeat and a wonderful inspiration to runners of all ages,” he said. His finish time this year was 20 minutes and 30 seconds.
The youngest participant was 3-year-old London Goines of Germantown who ran the mile in 15 minutes, 12 seconds. The overall male winner was Christian Camacho, 29, of Rockville who finished in a sweet 4 minutes, 52 seconds. Danielle Siebert of Rockville, 23, was the overall female winner; she finished in 5 minutes, 20 seconds.
Hands-Off Art
If you’re in the Kentlands, head over to the Kentlands Arts Barn to see an exhibit by artist Matthew Roth of Germantown. The quadrapalegic artist draws and paints with a pencil or brush held in his teeth. ‘‘Hands-Off Art” his exhibit of 10 original and highly intricate colored pencil drawings on display through June 1 at the Arts Barn, located at 311 Kent Square Road. Each work took ‘‘about three months to draw,” Roth said. ‘‘The more difficult it is, the more enjoyable it is, the better the challenge.”
Roth works seated before an art table with a board holding art paper resting in his lap, then works holding his tools in his teeth, stopping occasionally to sharpen pencils in an electric pencil sharpener placed on the table. Adding to his challenges is color-blindness.
Roth, who became interested in art eight years ago, spends three months intricately drawing each of his works.
Visitors will see highly detailed Russian churches, a carousel, hot air balloons, the U.S. Capitol and works starring animals as characters, such as one of a pool party where animals represent him and three brothers playing cards and billiards.
The artist, who was paralyzed at age 16, regularly shows his work with the Art League of Germantown at BlackRock Center of the Arts.
Come play a round
The Gaithersburg miniature golf course re-opens Saturday with hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends through June 13. The golf course, located at Bohrer Park, 510 S. Frederick Ave., will open daily from June 14-Aug. 22 and then run weekends only Aug. 23 –Oct. 12.
The park has 18 holes, complete with waterfalls, streams and ponds – and a misting tent to keep folks cool on hot summer days. Rates are $4 for residents and $5 for nonresidents; sign up for unlimited play for just $2 more.
This year, the city has added special promotional days. On Mother’s Day, May 11, moms play free with a paid admission; same goes for dads on Father’s Day, June 15. Not a parent? Celebrate Couple’s Day with your honey on July 13 or Friendship Day on Aug. 3 with buy-one-get-one-free specials. Grandparents play free with a paid admission on grandparents’ day, Sept. 7.
For information on birthday packages, group rates, reservations and more, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov or call 301-258-6350.
Congratulations
A number of Gaithersburg residents made the dean’s list at American University in fall. They include: Tatiana Blanco-Bertolo, a junior in majoring in business administration; Emily Kosciulek, a sophomore majoring in business administration; Jieun Lee, a freshman majoring in biochemistry; Andreana Lefton, a sophomore in the School of International Service majoring in international studies; Kim Thanh Nguyen, a senior majoring in biology; Claudia Soto Orozco, a senior in the School of International Service majoring in international relations; Sergio Soto Orozco, a junior majoring in business administration; and Kelly Patten, a senior majoring in elementary education.
Montgomery Village resident Emily Stovicek, was named to the fall dean’s list at American University. She is a sophomore majoring in business administration.
Richard Raymond Flynn of Gaithersburg, a junior management major at Lynchburg College in central Virginia was inducted to Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society on April 15. The honor society recognizes achievement in scholarship, athletics, campus and community service, social and religious activities, campus government, journalism, speech and the mass media and creative and performing arts.
Heather E. Lasslett of Gaithersburg achieved the dean’s list at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., for winter term 2008.
Keeping the peace
Alexia Stephanie Pool, a Watkins Mill High School graduate and the daughter of Douglas and Vicky Pool of Montgomery Village, left April 10 for Vanuatu, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. The 22-year-old has begun training as a coastal resources management Peace Corps Volunteer. Upon graduation from the volunteer training in June, Pool, who received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island in 2007 will be establishing conservation areas, conducting environmental education programs and establishing eco-tourism ventures in Vanuatu. Pool will serve for two years in the small country, living in a manner similar to natives of her host country. To prepare, she will live with a host family during her first three months of service to become immersed in the country’s language and culture.
Submissions for People and Places must be received by 10 a.m. Thursday. Send submissions to Patricia M. Murret via e-mail at pmurret@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.
