This story was corrected on June 24, 2009. An explanation of the correction is at the end of the story.
Most visit tropical paradises run for tours and fruity drinks, but the son of a Gaithersburg man has found himself among thatched huts and profound poverty travelling to port cities between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans the past few months, according to a statement from the U.S. Navy.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Chenkin, son of Barry Chenkin, joined more than 900 service members providing medical and dental care during a four-month humanitarian and civic assistance mission at ports of call throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chenkin, a day shift laundry supervisor aboard the USNS Comfort, a Naval hospital ship, is part of Continuing Promise 2009, a partnership with Latin America and Caribbean nations who share a common interest in making the Americas stable and secure, the Naval statement said.
On the ship, Chenkin, who is normally assigned to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, works in the background, but his role remains important. The laundry crew ensures the medical wards have clean linen and the officers, chiefs and crews present a clean and neat military appearance.
The ship's crew provides medical and dental care on board and on shore and does engineering projects from school playground repairs to medical clinic renovations.
Veterinarians and physicians help ensure the needs of the animal population are not forgotten.
"I am getting a once in a lifetime chance to aid others in countries that are less fortunate than ours," said Chenkin, a 2002 graduate of Wicomico High School in Salisbury, who has served in the military for eight years.
Goshen group celebrates
20 years with a picnic
The Greater Goshen Civic Association will mark its 20th year with a picnic from 4-7 p.m. Saturday.
The group was formed to preserve the history and quality of life in Goshen, according to a statement from the association. It represents homes and neighborhoods around the Goshen Branch of Great Seneca Creek.
The picnic is at Church of the Nazarene, 8921 Warfield Road. All former and current association members are invited. Reservations are required. Call 301-926-5008 or 301-670-0610 or e-mail OurGGCA@hotmail.com.
On the Village lawn
The Montgomery Village Foundation opens its updated Lawn Theater in South Valley Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7 p.m. Sunday, followed by a concert by the Montgomery Village Community Band at 7:30 p.m. The park is located at 18850 Montgomery Village Ave.
The Lawn Theater summer concert series is free and will continue through Aug. 9. Bring a blanket or beach chair to South Valley Park and relax.
Here's the line-up:
July 5: Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition, July 12: Dixie Power Trio, July 10: BG and the Mojo Hands, July 26: Rock and Roll Relics, Aug. 2: Raindate, Aug. 9: U.S. Navy Band "The Cruisers."
Parking is available behind Watkins Mill Elementary School on Watkins Mill Road. Handicapped parking is available at the site by prior arrangement; call 301-948-0110 before 5 p.m. the Friday before the concert. In case of rain, call Jana Serlo at 301-948-0110, ext. 334 after 5 p.m. for information.
Byrd scholars honored
Twenty-one Montgomery County residents were honored by the Maryland State Department of Education as Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholars.
Each honoree receives a four-year scholarship worth up to $1,500 per year.
They are: Kara Karpman, Richard Montgomery High School; Serena Bochereau, French International School; Jacob Levitt, Walt Whitman High School; Karen Qi, Northwest High School; Eric Moy, Winston Churchill High School; Natalee Black, Takoma Academy; David Peter, Walter Johnson High School; Richard Steinwand, Springbrook High School; Stephanie Huang, Clarksburg High School; Jeremy Blair, Richard Montgomery High School; LeRoy Culley, home school; Matthew Stevens, James Hubert Blake High School; Alexa Greenberg, Poolesville High School; Kathleen Hallock, Gaithersburg High School; Victoria Ward, Seneca Valley High School; David Gaynor, Watkins Mill High School; Gretta Digbeu, Watkins Mill High School; Anna Domini Roma, Wheaton High School; Tzippora Lasdun, Yeshiva Greater Washington; Vivek Patel, Gaithersburg High School; Jared Griffin, John F. Kennedy High School; and Sahar Shahamatdar, Montgomery Blair High School.
All the world loves a parade
The Montgomery Village Foundation invites residents to make memories participating in its annual Fourth of July Parade.
"Enter a decorated stroller, bicycle or even a wheelchair!" said organizer Ed Kallas in an e-mail to The Gazette. "Put together a patriotic costume, get the neighborhood together and enter as a marching group."
This year, MVF has a new prize for "Best Community Banner or Sign," a great chance for neighborhoods, streets and HOAs to show their community spirit, Kallas said, by interpreting this year's parade theme, "Going Green for the Red, White and Blue" or flaunting their patriotism.
Categories include: Best Decorated Stroller, Big Wheel or Tricycle, Bicycles; Best Motorized Toy Vehicle; Best Decorated Wheelchair; Best Hand-Pulled Float and Best Motorized Float; Most Patriotic Costume and Best Performing Marching Group and Individual.
Pre-register before July 3 at the MVF Office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road or register at 9 a.m. July 3 at the Apple Ridge ball field parking lot. Registration ends at 9:30 a.m. and the parade steps off at 10 a.m. For more information, call Jana Serlo at 301-948-0110, ext. 334.
Volunteer at golf tournament
The AT&T National Golf Tournament comes next week to the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda and organizers are looking for volunteers. Those who give their time get free admission the day they work, free parking and a free meal, as well as a chance to see their favorite golfers.
The tournament is Tuesday through July 5 at Congressional, 8500 River Road. Volunteers may work a shift at food concessions that earn money for nonprofits.
Shifts run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. or from noon to close. Volunteer hours are certified for student service credits at Montgomery County Public Schools To sign up, go to www.traveltelevision.org and click on the "Sign up for golf" icon.
Celebrate black history
The Pleasant View Historical Association hosts its annual June Festival from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the historic African-American Pleasant View Methodist Episcopal Church, 11810 Darnestown Road in Gaithersburg.
The historic church, whose land was purchased with $54 three years after the Civil War, was a home away from home for many African-Americans until 1968, when members migrated to Fairhaven United Methodist Church.
Jason Green, a 1999 Quince Orchard High School graduate and former national voter registration director for President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, will speak at this year's festival.
The 28-year-old led Obama's national "Get Out the Vote" campaign, an in-house voter registration drive that brought millions of new voters. The Yale Law School graduate now is deputy associate counsel to the president. His grandmother, 91-year-old Ida Pearl Green, attended Pleasant View Methodist until 1968 when she also joined Fairhaven United Methodist, where she still worships today. Her family roots in Gaithersburg date to at least 1868 when her grandparents helped found Pleasant View.
The June Festival at the Pleasant View Historical Site is sponsored by the Pleasant View Historical Association. The Lyles Singers and The Royal Harmonizers will perform at the event, which will also include food and drinks, a bake sale and crafts.
For more information, call Pearl Green at 301-926-1798.
Learn how children's books come alive
Award-winning children's book illustrator, Jennifer O'Connell of Bethesda will discuss the craft of picture book art at 2 p.m. on July 7, at the Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave.
In an interactive program, entitled "A Garden of Whales — An Adventure in Illustration," O'Connell will show how she meshed text with illustrations in the book A Garden of Whales by Maggie S. Davis, according to a county statement. Free tickets are required and will be available at the library's children's desk beginning June 30. No phone reservations will be taken for the program. To request ADA accommodations, at least five work days in advance, or for details, call 240-773-9490.
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.
Correction: A previous version of this story contained inaccurate information about the Pleasant View Historical Assocation's June Festival.
