HEALTH NEEDS Clinics provide health care to minorities A-6
NEWS: Heritage Days celebrate history in Germantown, Boyds. A-3
The Gazette
SPORTS: Woodcliffe’s swim team rises to the heights of MCSL. B-1
GERMANTOWN | CLARKSBURG DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
25 cents
Graduation marks new start for foster kids n
A dozen students awarded $500 each BY
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Dental assistant Elvie A Gurrea of Montgomery Village shows Sam Ocran, 5, of Germantown how to properly brush his teeth during the health fair Saturday hosted by Holy Cross Hospital at Germantown Baptist Church.
Mission of health
Ernest Johnson Jr., 17, was a promising football player during his two years at Northwest High School in Germantown. Then, his mother suffered a stroke and he went to live with his aunt. His mother later died. Johnson ended up at a residential vocational training program. Johnson said he has used his time there to turn his life around. This fall, he plans to attend Montgomery College to become a chef. “Food makes people happy,” he said. “You can bring people together with food.” Johnson was one of 12 graduating seniors in Montgomery County’s Child Welfare Services program who received a $500 scholarship at the department’s annual picnic for young people and their foster families. The picnic was held June 18 at Smokey Glen Farm in Gaithersburg. The scholarships for room, board and books were donated by community organizations, businesses and individuals. Tuition and fees are waived at
See ACHIEVEMENTS, Page A-7
Germantown church’s health fair unites community, care Holy Cross Hospital staff co-hosted sixth annual event n
BY
SARAH SCULLY STAFF WRITER
About 60 residents stopped by a health fair Saturday for free checkups and health information at the Germantown Baptist Church’s annual health fair, hosted with Holy Cross Hospital. Kelly Nguyen, a physician and church member, said she started the fair six years ago through the church to bring community
members together to learn about health care, and offer advice and services. She said that several community members who are uninsured rely on the yearly screenings at the fair. The event is typically held in the fall and likely will be in the future, Nguyen said. This year they held it in the summer due to Holy Cross Hospital’s schedule and its interest in co-hosting the fair. Holy Cross will open a new hospital in Germantown in October. This year, organizers offered screenings for blood pressure, vision, body fat, bone density, blood glucose and oral cancer. There were Montgomery County and state health department staff at the fair to talk about re-
sources available to the public, and staff from the Holy Cross perinatal department. “Everyone was very appreciative of the event,” said Monika Driver, community and minority outreach department coordinator for the hospital. Driver said participants included insured and uninsured residents. The event also was a way for the hospital to kick off its summer outreach leading up to its opening. “With the hospital coming, we’re making sure we’re providing information and resources,” she said. sscully@gazette.net
Music teacher shines in singing competition n
Will concentrate on work as a tour guide after retiring from school system BY
SARAH SCULLY STAFF WRITER
Bill Harris is going out on a high note, placing second in the statewide Star-Spangled Sing-Off competition as he wraps up his career as a music teacher with Montgomery County Public Schools. As he retires from teaching elemen-
INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Obituaries Opinion Sports
1934305
NEWS B-6 A-2 B-5 B-8 A-7 A-9 B-1
tary school students music in Montgomery County Public Schools, Harris will do more work as a Washington, D.C., tour guide, something he’s done on the side for years. Entrants in the competition, which is run by the Maryland State Arts Council, submitted solo a cappella renditions of “The StarSpangled Banner.” Harris, 60, of Germantown, said he entered on a whim. He was at a friend’s recording studio, working on some CDs of student performances, when he decided to step into the studio to belt out the national anthem. It’s
See SINGER, Page A-7
Fireworks planned in Germantown n
Concert, pyrotechnic display at SoccerPlex on Friday BY
SARAH SCULLY STAFF WRITER
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Bill Harris of Germantown recently retired as a public school music teacher.
A PIECE OF HISTORY FOR SALE County seeks buyer for old Germantown bank.
A-4
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Michel Portillo, 19, and David Potter, 18, both former foster children and Paint Branch High School graduates from Silver Spring, share a laugh during the Child Welfare Services foster family picnic June 18 at Smokey Glen Farm in Gaithersburg.
Volume 31, No. 27, Two sections, 24 Pages Copyright © 2014 The Gazette
Please
RECYCLE
The Germantown SoccerPlex will host the Germantown Glory Fourth of July celebration Friday. The event is open to the public and kicks off at 7 p.m. with a concert by InGratitude: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire. Fireworks will start around 9:15 p.m. Blankets, chairs and food are welcome, but no alcohol will be allowed. There will also be food vendors on site. The SoccerPlex is at 18041 Central Park Circle in Germantown, and free parking will be available.