THE GAZETTE
Page A-2
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 s
PEOPLE& PLACES More online at www.gazette.net
Embassy experience inspires woman When Amina Aden of Silver Spring decided to pursue a summer
internship with the State Department, she never thought she’d land one at the U.S. Embassy in London. She didn’t know that was an option until she received the offer to go, but she jumped at the chance. Aden worked in the Consular Affairs office, learning how embassies assist U.S. citizens abroad with visa and passport services, and special cases. The experience spoke to Aden’s interests and inspired her to pursue a career with the State Department. Her supervisor at an internship with the U.S. Department of Labor the previous summer had encouraged her to apply. “The internship definitely made me want to be a foreign service officer,” she said. The senior at Salisbury University said she might like to work in public affairs or public diplomacy in the foreign service. She expects to graduate in the spring with degrees in international studies and communication. “When I got to London, I absolutely fell in love. London is just a great city and to be there doing something you’re interested in is above and beyond,” Aden said. She also studied abroad in Mumbai, India, last winter and said she would like to work in Mumbai or London again. But part of the excitement of joining the foreign service is also knowing that she could work anywhere in the world.
Muslim groups launch winter clothing drive The Maryland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in partnership with Project Affinity and the Islamic Society of Annapolis, recently launched a winter clothing drive for the homeless as part of its Faith in Action campaign. It is a statewide project with drop-off locations in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Accepted are new or gently used coats, gloves, hats, scarves and sweaters. Drop-off locations are at 15200 New Hampshire Ave. and 2701 Briggs Chaney Road, both in Silver Spring, and 7306 Contee Road, Laurel.
ALINE BARROS
Toy for Tots on the ICC Employees from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and Marine Corps Reserves will be collecting unwrapped toys for the national Toys for Tots campaign from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday on the Intercounty Connector. Residents who wish to donate toys should follow directions from uniformed police officers or maintenance staff. Officials will be on the righthand shoulders of the ramps from eastbound and westbound ICC to Layhill Road, and officers will direct drivers who need to re-enter the ICC. Giant Food and Marine Toys for Tots foundation also are working together in all its 170 supermarkets in the region. Each store has a collection bin where customers can drop off unwrapped gifts that will be donated to less fortunate children during the holidays.
A Silver Spring real state agency is matching donations to the Salvation Army. The Tamara Kucik Team will match donations totaling up to $5,000 to help restore $10,000 stolen Dec. 1 from the Washington, D.C., Salvation Army, which helps low-income families. Copies of checks, payable to “DC Salvation Army,” may be emailed to tamara@tamara4homes.com.
Dickerson plant processes 10 millionth ton of waste The Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility has processed its 10 millionth ton of waste, the county reported Thursday. The Dickerson facility is owned by the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority and operated by Covanta Montgomery. The plant, which began operations in 1995,
FRIDAY, DEC. 13 The United States Air Force Band Presents Spirit of the Season 2013, 7 p.m., Walter Johnson High
School Auditorium, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda. Free. 202767-4310.
Sleigh Bells, Silver Bells, Drums and Guitars, 7:30-9 p.m., Marvin Me-
morial United Methodist Church, 33 University Blvd., Silver Spring. Freewill offering to Shepherd’s Table. 301681-9498.
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ConsumerWatch
SATURDAY, DEC. 14 Santa’s Secret Shop, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Oakdale Emory Church, 3425 Emory Church Road, Olney. 301-929-1389. Holiday Art Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park. 301891-7266.
Maryland Zoo: Living Places, Living Planet, 11 a.m.-noon, White Oak
Library, 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Free. 240-773-9555. Write for Rights, 3-5 p.m., Capital City Cheesecake, 7071 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park. Free. rmarksftc@yahoo.com. Airmen of Note Live in Concert!, 3:30 p.m., Sherwood High School, 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring. Free. 202-767-4310. NIH Community Orchestra and
If you have an all-electric home, do you still need a carbon monoxide detector?
PHOTO FROM AMINA ADEN
“The internship definitely made me want to be a foreign service officer,” says Amina Aden, who spent her summer interning at the U.S. Embassy in London converts post-recycled municipal solid waste into electricity. The 10 million tons of waste have produced 5.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. That’s enough to power all of the county’s singlefamily homes for two years, according to a county news release. It has offset the generation of about 10 million tons of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of taking about 2 million cars off the road. The waste is transported by rail from the Shady Grove Transfer Station in Derwood to Dickerson, 20 miles away. The waste then is burned at very high temperatures
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and the heat is used to generate energy in the form of electricity or steam. Metal then is recovered from the ash and recycled, according to the county’s website. “The people living and working in Montgomery County have reaped tremendous benefits, both economically and environmentally, from the energy production at the [facility] and from keeping trash out of landfills,” said Robert G. Hoyt, director of the Department of Environmental Protection, which includes the Division of Solid Waste Services.
To be safe, let’s turn to Liz for our answer.
LIZ CRENSHAW
WeekendWeather FRIDAY
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Holiday Pop-Up Market, 6-9 p.m.,
The Blairs East Club Room, 1220 East-West Highway, Silver Spring. www. fentonstreetmarket.com.
MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET Chorus Present: A Seasonal Celebration, 5 p.m., Cedar Lane Unitarian
Universalist Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda. Free. 301-738-3873.
30th Anniversary of Nuclear Free Zone, 7-8:30 p.m., Takoma Park Com-
munity Center, 7600 Maple Ave., Takoma Park. Free. 301-589-2309. A Wake for Jacob Marley, 7-9 p.m., The Writers Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda. $45-$55. 301-337-8290. A C Street Holiday Concert, 7:309:30 p.m., Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, 6601 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda.
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SUNDAY, DEC. 15 Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major Concert,
5-7:15 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 633 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring. Free. 301-742-3332.
TUESDAY, DEC. 17 Aquarium, 10:15-11 a.m., Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. $10. 301-280-1660.
“Education Under Fire” Film and Discussion, 7:30 p.m., Silver Spring
Civic building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring. Free. 240-499-4392.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18 Mother’s Morning Out, 9:30 a.m.-
noon, Faith Presbyterian Church, 17309 Old Baltimore Road, Olney. Free babysitting. wellwood15@verizon.net. Fiction Book Discussion, 2 p.m., Chevy Chase Library, 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase. Free. 240-773-9590.
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Get complete, current weather information at
NBCWashington.com
$20 general admission, $15 for seniors and students. 301-365-2850.
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Winter Art and Music Festival, 6-9 p.m., Wheaton High School, 12601 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring. Free. patricia_a_broda@mcpsmd.org.
SPORTS Winter sports are underway. Check online throughout the week for coverage of high school basketball.
Real estate agency helps Salvation Army
EVENTS THURSDAY, DEC. 12
GALLERY
Northwest’s E.J. Lee makes a catch under pressure from Suitland’s Anthony Jackson during the 4A state championship game. Go to clicked.Gazette.net.
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GAZETTE CONTACTS The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350
DEATHS Edward Thomas Blongiewicz Edward Thomas Blongiewicz, 70, died Nov. 29, 2013 in Gaithersburg. A private memorial service will be held in Philadelphia.