Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008
About a dozen high school students geared up in bathing suits and old tennis shoes last week and headed out to Rock Creek Park in an effort to clean up a popular trail.
About a dozen†students, mostly from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, participated in the first installment of a cleanup and informational campaign, led by Nick Schaufelberger†of Chevy Chase and Alyssa Picard of Kensington. The group hauled large items†out of the creek bed near the trail at Jones Bridge Road and Beach Drive and filled bags with trash and debris.
"Basically we just had bathing suits on and old tennis shoes," Schaufelberger said. "We marched down the stream with a bunch of equipment we got from the Montgomery County Park Services. We dug out tires, sheets of metal, bottles and other types of debris. A lot of plastic too. Milk cartons."
Schaufelberger, 17, and Picard, 16, organized the cleanup as part of their participation in the Lazarus Program, a leadership and service initiative for high school students.
"Ö most people think you have to go out to Virginia to find a nice wildlife area, but Rock Creek is so close to us and it's really nice but it's really trashy since it's near a big city, so we have to keep it clean to keep it alive and nice and keep the wildlife there alive," Schaufelberger said. "And to protect it."
As part of the project, the group will post information about†the importance of protecting the ecosystem and wildlife in area. Photographs of some of the damage caused by pollution in the area†will also be included to encourage others to help our community preserve the beauty of the trail. The students will also present information on the cleanup efforts and trail protection to†Montgomery County Department of Recreation day camps. For more information about efforts to protect this part of the local watershed, contact thosho@aol.com
†Cinema
under the stars
Pack up your beach blanket and head over to the lawn at Strathmore Hall next week for the 12th annual Comcast Outdoor Film Festival, scheduled for Aug. 15-24.
Movies will begin at 8:30 p.m., but come early for a picnic with goodies from vendors including Baja Fresh, Potomac Pizza, Hard Times CafÈ and Ben & Jerry's. The grounds open at 6:30 p.m. and food will be on sale throughout the festival. A portion of the proceeds from food and drink sales benefit the National Institutes of Health Children's Charities.
The films kick off with "Bee Movie" on Aug. 15, "Spider-Man 3" on Aug. 16, "Airplane!" on Aug. 17, "Ghostbusters" on Aug. 18, "The Bourne Ultimatum" on Aug. 19, "Evan Almighty" on Aug. 20, "Twister" on Aug. 21, "Transformers" on Aug. 22, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" on Aug. 23, and "Shrek the Third" on Aug. 24.
Parking is available at the Metro garage located at the Grosvenor Metro stop off Tuckerman Lane. SmarTrip cards are required by Metro to exit the garage and will be available to purchase at the event. Please do not park in the surrounding residential neighborhoods. For more information, call 301-816-6958 or visit www.filmfestnih.org.
Music in the park
The Dixie Rascals band will perform at 10 a.m. Saturday, in Howard Avenue Park, across from the Kensington train station farmers market. The weekly concert series is sponsored by the Kensington Historical Society.
Town meeting coming up
The Kensington Town Council will hold a work session at 7 p.m. Monday at Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell St. A regular Town Council meeting will follow.
Reunite with old friends and classmates
ïWheaton High School, Class of 1973 is having a 35 Year Reunion on Oct. 25 at the Willow Tree Inn, Montgomery Village.†For more information, contact the reunion committee at WHSClassof1973@gmail.com.
ïThis year marks the 50th anniversary of Connecticut Belair Swim & Tennis Club, a private club in Wheaton. If you were once a member, come back on Aug. 30, for the club's 50th Anniversary Feast. Bring your memories and mementoes. For more information, visit www.cbpool.org and click on "50th Anniversary Feast" on the left side, or call 301-946-4500.
Garrett Park
musicians jam
The Garrett Park Casual Musicians' Club will not hold a community coffeehouse Aug. 21 as was previously reported, however, the group will get together next month.
The next coffeehouse session will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Garrett Park Town Hall, 10814 Kenilworth Ave. The first hour of music is geared toward children and the remaining two hours of music will feature solo and ensemble artists.
The event is free and the club will provide some drinks and food. Guests are welcome to bring snacks or drinks to share. Alcoholic beverages are permitted.
The Casual Musicians' Club consists of more than 20 neighbors and friends in Garrett Park, Garrett Park Estates-White Flint Park and the surrounding communities. The group provides a casual and welcoming forum for community members' musical interests.
The music club welcomes new participants at the jam sessions from 8-11 p.m. on the first, third and fifth Thursday of each month at the town hall.
For more information about the club or about this event, contact David Meredith at 301-949-9374 or Karen Cole at 301-933-3738.
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.
