Eat People, an indie-emo band comprised of natives of Middletown, Brunswick and Frederick, is planning a benefit concert, tour and release of its first full-length album.

First up is a benefit concert to help fund medical expenses for a severely injured dog. The band's drummer and co-vocalist, John Nahwooksy of Frederick set up the Aug. 7 concert at the Braddock Heights Community Center after his mother rescued a "half-dead" beagle during a trip to South Carolina. The proceeds from the show will help pay for thousands of dollars in veterinary bills she accrued to treat the dog's injuries.

Eat People, which guitarist and co-vocalist Rick Marin of Frederick described as "an indie band reminiscent of bands from the mid-90s emo movement like Jawbox, Hurl, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Braid," formed in January.

Nahwoosky, 24, and Marin, 22, are joined by guitarist Chris Wolfe, 24, of Middletown and bassist Joe Raum, 24, of Brunswick.

The band is planning a tour to coincide with the release, on strictly no capital letters records, of its first full-length recording, which is due to hit shelves by the end of the year. The group has already released an EP and has played about 50 shows from North Carolina to Pennsylvania.

To hear Eat People's music and see a list of the band's upcoming live performances, visit them online at www.myspace.com/eatpeopletheride.

Area native graduates from basic training

Air Force Airman Pearson D. Buasen of Jefferson recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Buasen is a 2004 graduate of Brunswick High School.

On campus

- Shannon Sturtz of Middletown was chosen as one of the first 10 recipients of a $2,500 scholarship from the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown. The scholarship will apply to her next year of education at Frostburg State University. She is pursuing a master's degree in education with a concentration in special education.

- Emily K. Hubbard of Middletown graduated from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania in May with a bachelor's of science in education.

- Rachel K. Brinker of Myersville was named to the Oregon State University spring honor roll by earning better than a 3.5 semester grade point average as a liberal studies major. She is a senior at the university.

- Five area students were named to the spring dean's list at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., meaning they earned better than 3.4 semester grade point averages. The students were: Jefferson interior design major Kaitlin E. Herber; Jefferson dairy science major Rebecca D. Tucker; Myersville industrial and systems engineering major Alex R. Leatherman; Middletown mathematics major Patrick S. Carney; and Middletown computer science major James C. Welch.

- Joshua Clark of Brunswick earned a spot on the spring dean's list at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass., with a better than a 3.2 semester grade point average.

- Paul Daniel Crone of Braddock Heights earned a spot on the spring dean's honor list at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, meaning he earned better than a 3.6 semester grade point average.

Sergeant retires from Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Keith A. Bowerman of Frederick has retired from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office after 17 years of service.

Bowerman, 42, retired on July 1. During his career, Bowerman held many positions, including evidence technician, criminal investigator, accreditation manager, patrol supervisor, internal investigations supervisor and the tactical medic for the Special Services Team.

In 2001, he was promoted to the rank of corporal, and in 2003, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Frederick resident wins national award

John Tobiason, a Frederick resident and multimedia designer at the U.S. Government Printing Office, received top honors at the 7th Annual American Business Awards. Tobiason accepted the award for Public Relations Production of the Year.

The award recognized the printing office's video on the printing of the official photograph of President Barack Obama. Tobiason was the videographer and editor for the video.

Tobiason's submission was chosen from more than 2,600 entries nationwide, submitted in 40 categories. The American Business Awards honor the accomplishments and contributions of organizations, executives and workers nationwide.

Café deemed ‘good neighbor' by state association

Frederick's Café 611 is being recognized by the statewide restaurant association for being a good neighbor to city residents.

The Maryland Restaurant Association has selected Café 611 for its Restaurant Neighbor Award. The award honors restaurants that excel in community service and aim to inspire other restaurateurs to get or stay involved in their communities, according to the state organization.

The nomination puts Café 611 in the running for the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Neighbor Award, given in September.

Karen and Randy Jones, owners of the restaurant, located at 611 N. Market St., said they were surprised not only to hear that there was an award for such a service, but that they won it.

"We know people are keeping an eye on us, looking to see if there are any problems. We didn't know they were also looking at how positive we've been," Randy Jones said. "We never thought about being good neighbors for recognition, we thought about buying an empty building filled with squirrels and how can we make it better."

The Joneses opened Café 611 in March 2007, and joined the Maryland Restaurant Association and numerous community organizations in Frederick right away, Jones said. They sit on local boards, including Frederick's recreation council, Tourism Council of Frederick County and planning boards for the city's "In the Street" celebration.

In addition, the family has adopted a garden on 6th and Market Street to bring some color to the neighborhood by purchasing flowers. The Joneses have worked with downtown businesses and volunteers to host free Thanksgiving meals for more than 100 less fortunate city residents.

"Everybody has to do just a little bit, then we don't have to wait for our stimulus checks to come and save Frederick County, we can help ourselves," Jones said.

He said that he shares his award with the residents of Frederick city. "Frederick city has been so kind to a family who just wanted to make things better one thing at a time," Jones said. "That's a true reflection of us, we give and we get back, that's what this award is all about."

Do you have an item for Valley Voice? Contact reporter Connor Adams Sheets at 301-846-2130 or csheets@gazette.net.