Silver Spring arts groups take part in Bethesda Beatniks event

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Mitch Berkowitz⁄Special to The Gazette At Alfio’s Trattoria in Friendship Heights, (from left) Tamar Hendel, director of Studio Downstairs⁄CREATE Arts Center in Silver Spring and Rochelle Banta, manager of the New Hope Foundation in Kensington, browse the artwork on display at a recent Bethesda Beatniks dinner club event.

The club is an independent social organization for mental health consumers, family member and friends.

During the event, held at Alfio’s Trattoria in Friendship Heights, more than 80 people attended.

Jamison spoke on the connection between creativity and mental illness.

The visual arts show featured original paintings, sketches, photos and sculpture by mental health consumers from around the region. Organizations represented included Studio Downstairs⁄CREATE Arts Center of Silver Spring, St. Luke’s House of Bethesda and Silver Spring, Montgomery College Office of Disabilities of Rockville, On Our Own of Montgomery County of Gaithersburg, the DC Mental Health Consumers’ League of Washington, D.C., the Silver Spring Drop-in Center and the Beatniks.

Musicians Steve Gellman and Julia Rose, both mental health consumers, performed original live music.

The Beatniks club plans to host a musical showcase on Jan. 5. For more details, visit www.bethesdabeatniks.org or call 301-279-2578.

AIDS candlelight vigil

An international World AIDS Day candlelight vigil will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Veterans Field, 8515 Fenton St. The event is organized by A Global Healthcare Public Foundation with Abbott Laboratories and the Embassy of the Republic of Benin.

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is ‘‘Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.” There will be singing by a women’s choir, a documentary of the last 18 World AIDS Days and speeches. To volunteer or learn more, e-mail info@aglobalhf.org or go to www.aglobalhf.org.

Parents: Learn how toadvocate for your child

Impact Silver Spring and Patrick Hoover Law Offices will hold a seminar called ‘‘Children’s Rights: What Parents Need to Know” 7 p.m. Monday at Adventist Community Services Center, 501 Sligo Ave. The seminar will include participatory exercises and collaborative problem solving using role-playing scenarios. There will be reference materials for parents to keep. To learn more, call Ray Moreno at 301-495-3336.

Resident isToyota truck champ

Shervin Sheibaini of Darcars Toyota in Silver Spring has been certified as a Toyota truck champion after completing four days of specialized training on the 2007 Toyota Tundra at the manufacturing plant in Indiana.

Board of Ed seeks applicants

People who live in Board of Education District 4, which includes parts of Takoma Park, Silver Spring and Wheaton, are invited to apply for the vacancy created by the impending resignation of Valerie Ervin. Ervin was elected to the County Council. The appointment of the person chosen to complete the remaining two years of the current term will be made by the current Board of Education.

People who want to be considered for appointment must submit a signed letter expressing willingness to serve, a resume with relevant civic and professional experience, a statement certifying that they are registered voters and contact information. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Monday. They can be mailed to 850 Hungerford Dr., Room 123, Rockville, MD 20850; e-mailed to roland_ikheloa@mcpsmd.org ; or faxed to 301-279-3860.

Piano recital

There will be a piano recital by the Piano Society of Greater Washington 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 9545 Georgia Ave. The event is free with a reception to follow. Call 301-309-2470.

At the Silver Spring Library

The Silver Spring African American Book Group will discuss Andrea Levy’s ‘‘Small Island” 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Road. Call 240-773-9420⁄TTY 301-565-7505.

At 2 p.m. Dec. 2, the Heyday Players, Round House Theatre’s senior acting troupe, will present three folktales for children in kindergarten through second grade. A short creative-writing lesson will follow.

At 7 p.m. Dec. 6, an English conversation club will meet.

Help Hearts & Homes

Hearts & Homes for Youth counsels and shelters more than 1,000 troubled, neglected, abused and homeless children each year in the Washington, D.C.⁄Baltimore area. The organization needs help in filling the wish lists of 150 youths from birth to 21 years old who will stay with the organization during the holidays.

The youths ask for a variety of gifts, such as toys, clothing, art supplies, books and sports equipment. Companies, organizations, churches or synagogues, or civic groups can donate new items, gift certificates or a special outing by calling Loretta d’Eustachio at 301-589-8444, Ext. 212 or writing to her at 1320 Fenwick Lane, Suite 800, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Help the hungry

Whole Foods Market will donate $2 for every clementine tote bag sold to local hunger relief organizations, including Food for Others, the Capital Area Food Bank and Manna Food Center.

Bags will be sold through Dec. 31. Whole Foods’ goal is to raise at least $150,000 through the sale of clementine bags.

Send Silver Spring news to Meredith Hooker at The Gazette, 8650 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. The fax line is 301-562-3262. Items can be e-mailed to mhooker@gazette.net. Deadline is one week prior to publication.

Help keep kids warm

The Montgomery County Public Schools Prekindergarten⁄Head Start Program is seeking donations to give 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old students winter coats. New coats in sizes 5 through 8 or donations can be sent to MCPS Prekindergarten⁄Head Start Programs, Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, MD 20852, Attn. Lisa Conlon. Call 301-230-0676.

On campus

Rebecca Frances Adler of Silver Spring was named to the honors list for the spring 2006 semester at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa.

Silver Spring residents Victoria Anderson and Salina Giri were honored recently for academic achievements at Hood College, Frederick.

Marilyn Tran of Silver Spring recently received an academic excellence award to study at Frostburg State University. She is a 2006 graduate of Albert Einstein High School.

Alicia Toland Hutchins of Silver Spring recently received a doctorate in audiology from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry’s School of Audiology, Elkins Park, Pa.

Sarah Randles of Silver Spring was among 150 students in Providence College’s class of 2010 who participated in the Rhode Island college’s 16th annual Urban Action program. Students worked to improve the status of city-planted trees and restored urban parks.

Katherine A. Lafen of Silver Spring recently participated in the Adirondack Adventure program at Hamilton College, N.Y., an eight-day outdoor program for incoming students. She is a Montgomery Blair High School graduate.

Kinuthia Macharia of Silver Spring was recently inducted into the ‘‘Legal Eagles,” the student community of the Department of Justice, Law and Society at American University.

Anne Powell of Silver Spring received a University Honors Citation from the University of Maryland, College Park. The citation signifies the successful completion of the first two years of honors coursework.

Military news

Army Reserve Pvt. Kimberly Montgomery graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is a 2004 graduate of Montgomery Blair High School.

Army Pvt. Francisco J. Inestroza graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is a 2004 graduate of Montgomery Blair High School.