PatchCast April 14: Congressman Van Hollen, Community Garden and a US Army Veteran

Here's what happened in the towns around you over the last 24 hours - brought to you by our team of editors, reporters, photographers and videographers.

- Congressman Chris Van Hollen and professional artists from Montgomery County stressed the importance of art to young people and to the community as VisArts at Rockville hosted an awards ceremony for the 8th Congressional District Art Competition for High School Students on Tuesday. VisArts is hosting an exhibit of the juried show, "An Artistic Discovery," through May 4, featuring competition entries from students at 25 area high schools. Poolesville High's Jee-Won Park took first place in the competition with her digital media portrait titled "Justin." The winning portrait will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with other winning pieces from districts from around the country.

- A new community garden will give 50 families the chance to grow and harvest their own food. County Executive Isiah Leggett, as well as community and religious leaders, were on hand at the Emory Grove garden to break ground on Saturday.

- Volunteers from the Christ Episcopal Church pitched in with the Friends of Sligo Creek to help pick up trash at Glen Haven Park. The effort was in preparation for Earth Day.

- The Watkins Mill volleyball team lost Tuesday to the Walter Johnson Wildcats—the Wolverines' second loss in as many days. After a promising start, winning the first two games, Watkins Mill lost the remaining three.

- Kennedy High NJROTC students got to meet an Iraq War veteran recently. Having been injured in a mine explosion, Sgt. Kevin Gaston told the students what it was really like in combat. The cadets had mixed reactions, but all came away with a greater understanding of war.