<sh>Missing Potomac Man

<bt>According to police reports:

The vehicle of a Potomac man who has been missing since October was located by police the morning of Tuesday, June 4.

After receiving a call for a suspicious situation near the Howard County border, police discovered an abandoned vehicle — a silver 1999 Mercedes CLK340 — with its engine running. Police also found evidence of a small fire near the vehicle and an ignitable liquid on the car.

A registration check determined that the car is registered to Santiago Hamiez Benitez, who last made contact with family members on October 6, 2001 when he was making plans to visit a friend in New York. Benitez did not show up in New York and has not made any contact with friends or family since then.

Benitez, 25, of the 8100 block of Inverness Ridge Drive in Potomac, is a white male of Hispanic descent, 6-foot-one and 190 pounds. He has short brown hair, brown eyes and has his name "Santiago Benitez" tattooed on his chest and back and a tattoo of three dragons on his left leg.

Police officers, along with bloodhounds and canine dogs, searched the area with negative results. Even though police say the situation is suspicious, they have found no evidence of foul play. The car is currently in police custody.

Call the 1st District Investigative Section at 301-279-1602 or the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 with information about the abandoned Mercedes or the possible location of Benitez.

<sh>Death on Bradley Boulevard

<bt>According to police reports:

Montgomery County Police are investigating the death of Dr. Donald S. Frederickson, 77, who was found in his swimming pool the morning of Friday, June 7 at 9:15 a.m.

Police and Fire and Rescue personnel discovered Frederickson, a former director of the National Institutes of Health, floating in the pool of the residence on the 6600 block of Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda.

Rescue units initiated CPR and transported Frederickson to Suburban Hospital where he died a short time later.

Police have not deemed the death suspicious at this time, however the investigation is being continued by the Homicide/Sex Section of the Major Crimes Division.

<sh>Transportation Forum

<bt>The Montgomery County Civic Federation will host the first of several ongoing transportation forums on the region's traffic situation this Saturday, June 15, at the County Council Hearing Room, at 9 a.m.

Council president Steve Silverman is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at the first session, according to the Montgomery County Civic Federation.

The focus of the first forum discussion will be on two topics, major transportation projects including road and rail, and funding.

Representative from county, state and federal governments are expected to speak about the prospects for future funding from their perspectives.

<sh>Maryland's Horse Census

<bt>The first official horse census is scheduled for August. A complete count of equine animals in Maryland has never been conducted before.

The Maryland Horse Industry Board is working with the Maryland Agricultural Statistics Service to conduct the survey and will mail the final version to 21,000 horse owners in August.

Gathering accurate equine statistics will be useful to measure the size and impact of the industry for public and private decision-making purposes, and is not to be part of any licensing, testing or other regulatory activity, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Anyone who owns a horse or pony of any breed, mule, donkey or burro should receive a questionnaire. The Maryland Horse Industry Board recommends that any owner or stable operator who does not receive a survey in August request one from the Maryland Agricultural Statistics Service at 410-841-5740 or 1-800-675-0295.

Visit www.mass.usda.gov/md for information on Maryland agriculture.

Visit www.marylandhorseindustry.org for information on the Maryland Horse Industry Board.

<sh>Doe! A Deer

<bt>Park and Planning will host its annual public information meeting on the county's deer management program on Tuesday, June 18, at Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville, at 7 p.m.

A presentation will be made on reducing the risk of Lyme disease, which will be followed by a summary of the Montgomery County Deer Management Work Group's annual report on the implementation of the county's deer management plan and recommendations for FY03, July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003.

The public will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions.

Copies of the report will be available at regional libraries in Wheaton, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Bethesda and on the department's Web site at www.mc-mncppc.org/environ/deer.

Call 301-949-2909. Those unable to attend may send comments to Donald K. Cochran, director of parks, 9500 Brunett Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20901 by June 28, 2002.

With input from the general public together with data collected from monitoring agencies on the county and state levels, Cochran will determine which strategies will be utilized in the hotspots in Montgomery County.

<sh>Changing Party Affiliation?

<bt>Registered voters in the County who want to change their party affiliation before the Sept. 10 Gubernatorial Primary Election have until Monday, June 17, at 9 p.m.

Visit the Board's Web site at www.777vote.org/chgnameNEW.htm to access the change of party affiliation form.

Send a written request — include the voter's full name, address, date of birth, new party affiliation and signature — to the Board of Elections, P.O. Box 4333, Rockville, MD 20849-4333 or fax it to 240-777-8505.

The Elections Office, 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, will be open until 9 p.m. on June 17 to voters who wish to deliver their affiliation change request in person. Call 240-777-8500.

<sh>No Fireworks Allowed

<bt>During the last five years, fire investigators have confiscated over 30,000 pieces of fireworks, according to police reports. All fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County as well as in Baltimore City and Prince George's County.

In the last four years, there have been nearly a half-dozen injuries related to fireworks.

"I remember one call when the roof a house caught on fire after a person set off a bottle rocket inside," said Eugene Roesser, of the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department. "Every year, people sneak fireworks from somewhere that can lead to potentially dangerous situations."

Fireworks can be a fire hazard and can cause such injuries as severe burns or trauma to the hands, he said.

See upcoming issues of The Almanac for listings of places to see fireworks displays.

<sh>100 Citations Issued

<bt>According to police reports: Approximately 100 citations were issued at an underage alcohol party in the Carderock Spring area of Potomac/Bethesda on June 7 at 10 p.m. There were 200 people at the party.

<sh>Last Week's Burglaries

According to police reports:

* A bike was taken from a residence on the 9300 block of Copenhaver Drive in Potomac between 9 p.m. on May 30 and 8:30 a.m. on May 31. Burglars entered an open garage door.

* Sunglasses were taken from Sunglass Hut International at Montgomery Mall between May 29 and May 30.

* A computer, television, brief case, coffee machine and cash were taken from a residence at the 11800 block of Forum Hill Court in North Potomac, between 2:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on May 29.

* A cell phone and cash were stolen from a residence on the 12500 block of Palatine Court in North Potomac at 1:30 a.m. on May 29.

* Although nothing was taken, the garage door of a house on the 14600 block of Country Creek Lane in North Potomac was kicked out between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on May 31.

<sh>Neighborhood Beautification Contest

<bt>To recognize community enhancements through landscaping and beautification projects, Keep Montgomery County Beautiful has launched its annual community beautification contest. The Task Force encourages landscaping that uses conservation practices to keep pesticides and fertilizers out of the Chesapeake Bay. Community groups, businesses, public institutions and other organizations undertaking landscaping projects to enhance the appearance of non-residential properties are urged to enter.

Categories include:

* Commercial/retail: outdoor projects at shopping malls, restaurants, retail centers, gas stations, etc.

* Public/institutional: outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries.

* Cityscape: municipal street plantings in median strips or near traffic ramps and sidewalks.

* Community professional: landscaping projects that are designed and maintained by professional landscape architects or contractors.

* Community non-professional: plantings or landscape projects maintained by community residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs or civic organizations.

* Environmental/Ecological: wildlife habitat, wildflower plantings, wetlands plantings and organic plantings.

* Youth: special projects initiated by young people, 18 years of age or younger.

* Sustained maintenance: one-, three- and five-year awards to previous three-time Award of Excellence winners.

Each category is judged on two levels — one for projects started since last fall and the other for projects begun prior to that time. The deadline for entries is June 15. Call the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful program at 240-777-7155, visit the website at www.dpwt.com or, write to: Keep Montgomery County Beautiful, Annual Beautification Awards, 101 Monroe Street, 10th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850-2540.

<sh>Keep Montgomery Beautiful

<bt>County residents who have captured the beauty of Montgomery County are encouraged to participate in the 11th Annual Amateur Photography Contest, sponsored by the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Task Force. All photos must have been taken in Montgomery County and will be judged in the following categories:

* Montgomery County by Day: daytime outdoor shots that depict something fun, beautiful or exciting.

* Montgomery County by Night: nighttime outdoor shots of something fun, beautiful or exciting.

* Montgomery County Landmarks: outdoor shots of a natural or manmade landmark or scene that is commonly recognized.

* Montgomery County, Her People: shots of one or more residents engaged in leisure or community service.

* Montgomery County at Work: shots of one or more citizens at work.

Photographs up to 8" x 10" in size and dry-mounted on mat board will be accepted. There is no entry fee for participation. The deadline for entries is June 30. Winners will be honored at a special ceremony this fall.

Entries should be mailed to: Keep Montgomery County Beautiful, Montgomery County Amateur Photo Contest, 101 Monroe Street, 10th Floor, Rockville, Md. 20850-2540. For complete list of entry rules, call 240-777-7155 or visit the County’s website at www.dpwt.com.

<sh>Correction

<bt>Last week's article, "Kemper's 1,200 Volunteers," misidentified the job title of Standard Bearers, youth volunteers who hold the sign posting the scores of a group of golfers. Walking Officials are adults who keep official score for the tournament.

<sh>Civic Calendar

<cal1>Thursday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.

<cal2>Western Area Recreation Advisory Board meeting, Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac. 301-983-4467.

<cal1>Saturday, June 15, 9 a.m.

Montgomery County Civic Federation hosts a debate on gridlock. County Council Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville.

<cal1>Monday, June 17, 7 p.m.

<cal2>Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board Meeting, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, Room A, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda.

<cal1>Tuesday, June 18, 7:30 p.m.

<cal2>Immigration Workshop. Saint Martin's Catholic School, 201 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. In response to recent changes in various provisions of numerous Immigration Acts, the Montgomery County Public Libraries will sponsor an Immigration Workshop. Immigration attorneys will provide information on the implications of the changes. Call Dr. Gilberto A. Zelaya II at 240-777-0024 or Luis Martinez at 240-777-8003.

<cal1>August 2002

<cal2>Park and Planning is scheduled to publish the staff draft of the Blockhouse Point Master Plan. To send comments about the park master plan in writing, or to get on the mailing list to receive information about the Blockhouse Point Master Plan, address letters to: Blockhouse Point Master Plan, 1109 Spring Street, Suite 800, Silver Spring, Md. 20910.

<cal1>September 2002

<cal2>Park and Planning has tentatively scheduled a public meeting to solicit comment and input on the staff draft of the Blockhouse Point Master Plan. Visit http:mc-mncppc.org/environment/blockhouse_mp/blockhouse_mp.htm