COUNCIL VOTES TO ADOPT GULF COMMUNITY
The Montgomery County Council passed a resolution Tuesday pledging to partner with and give assistance to a Gulf Coast community affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The resolution stated that the Montgomery County would reach out to local officials in the Gulf to form a partnership, but a specific locality has not yet been identified.
The Council action follows responses to Katrina from several county agencies--the Fire and Rescue Service sent dozens of rescuers to Hancock County, Miss., and Montgomery County Public Schools moved quickly to absorb receive children from families displaced by the crisis. Montgomery College has offered to assist students who wish to enroll there, and Montgomery County has assisted with the Red Cross regional shelter project at the DC Armory.
Montgomery County has responded similarly to past disasters. In 1989, it public safety personnel to help Charleston, S.C. in response to Hurricane Hugo, and Montgomery County Public Schools helped to re-equip a Charleston school that had been badly damaged. In 1992 the County assisted victims of Hurricane Andrew in Florida.
"I have never been more embarrassed by the actions ... of my federal government [than in] past week," Council President Tom Perez (D-5) said in a statement, "and never been more proud of local governments' efforts, including our own.
"We want to do all we can as a government to help those in need, both in the short-term and beyond."
CLUB FRIDAY REGISTRATION
The Potomac Community Center will begin its 14th year of Club Friday on Oct. 7. The program offers activities for third- through sixth-graders at the center every Friday night from October-March.
From 7-9 p.m. each week, children enjoy basketball, billiards, bingo, ping pong, dancing, games, crafts, movies and special themed events.
The club accepts 550 students each year and routinely receives 800 or more applications. Spots are given out by lottery.
Applications for membership will be accepted through Sept. 10 and can be mailed or dropped off at the community center. Each application must include a $40 registration fee and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Applications have been distributed at several local elementary and middle schools, and can also be picked up at the Community Center at 11315 Falls Road.
For more information about the program or registration, call the Potomac Community Center at 240-777-6960.
CUB SCOUTS SEEK MEMEBERS
Potomac Cub Scout Pack 773 will have a membership meeting Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting hall at Potomac United Methodist Church at the corner of Glen Road and Falls Road in Potomac.
Membership is open to all boys entering first through fifth grade this September. Children of all backgrounds are welcome to join, regardless of race, creed, ethnic origin, religion or physical or mental ability. No previous scouting experience is required.
During the year, the boys will learn life skills and practice camping, hiking, swimming, canoeing and service.
Membership costs $100 annually. The fee covers, books, awards, patches, craft materials, Pinewood Derby raw materials and a subscription to the national Scouting magazine, “Boys Life.” Each boy must also purchase a uniform, which can last his entire Cub Scout career. Financial assistance is available.
For more information or to join, attend the meeting or contact Jim Schleckser, membership director at 301-765-0249 or jschleckser@comcast.net.
CABIN JOHN CRAB FEAST
Cabin John will hold its 36th annual Cabin John Crab and Chicken Feast on Saturday Sept. 10, from 2-6 p.m. at the Clara Barton Community Center, 75th Street and MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin John.
Tickets are $11 at the door or $10 in advance. Tickets offer a choice of six crabs, three crabs and three vegetables, or barbecue chicken and three vegetables. Sodas, beer, wine, lemonade, pizza and popcorn will be available for sale.
Proceeds benefit the Cabin John Citizens Association, to support advocacy efforts and publication of the Cabin John Village Newsletter.
A bicycle parade for children starts at 2 p.m. at the corner of 79th Street and MacArthur Boulevard, across from the market, and goes to the Clara Barton Community Center.
PADDLE-A-THON TO BENEFIT CAMP
Kayakers of all ability levels are invited to take part in a Sept. 18 “paddle-a-thon” to benefit First Descents, a free, week-long paddling camp in Vail, Colo., for young adults with cancer.
Started by professional Brad Ludden, First Descents uses kayaking and other outdoor activities to help campers face challenges and overcome obstacles associated with living with cancer in a fun and supportive environment.
From 10 a.m.-noon, kayakers and canoeists alike will log as many laps as possible from the Washington Canoe Club to Thompson’s Boathouse on the Potomac River. The event will be held rain or shine, beginning at 9 a.m. with a safety talk at 9:30 a.m. Participants raise money through pledges.
The event is partly organized by Potomac Paddlesports, a Potomac, Md., paddling school. The school will provide kayak rentals on-site, with all proceeds donated to First Descents.
To register, visit www.potomacpaddlesports.com/firstdescents.asp. For more information, contact Risa Shimoda at risa@theshimodagroup.com or 301-502-6548 or Sunny Pitcher at sunny@potomacpaddlesports.com or 301-831-8270. The Washington Canoe Club is located at 3700 Water Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
To learn more about First Descents, visit www.firstdescents.org.