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Picks From Our Bethesda-Chevy Chase Event Calendar

By WTOP Staff

July will bring a new batch of summer events to our area. Here are a few selections from the BethesdaNow.com event calendar.

If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out our event submission form. Also, please check out the event calendar to see all that is going on.

Wednesday

ZannieClusterOfSaguaro_resizedSummer Visions
Gallery B: 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E
Time: 12:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday

Summer Visions is a group exhibition featuring work by Shaune Bazner, Judy Gilbert Levey, Donna K. McGee, Patricia Zannie and Michele Zugrav.

Gallery hours: Wed. – Sat., 12-6 p.m.
Opening reception: Friday, July 11, 6-9 p.m.

Thursday

KING-SOUL-2014Bethesda Summer Concert Series
Veterans Park: Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues
Time: 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

With warm summer weather approaching, patrons will be able to delight in weekly outdoor concerts in downtown Bethesda. This series, produced by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, will feature free Thursday evening concerts during May, June, and July. The concerts offer a diverse range of music including rock, funk, jazz, swing, and reggae.

The concerts begin on May 8 and take place on Thursday evenings, from 6 – 8pm in Veterans Park, located at the corner of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues.

July 3: I and I Riddim (Reggae)
July 10: King Soul (Soul)
July 17: Speakers of the House (Variety Dance)
July 24: Texas Chainsaw Horns (Classic R&B/Soul)

Saturday

thumbnail22Bethesda Big Train Baseball
Shirley Povich Field 10600 Westlake Drive
Time: 7:30 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.

Game: Gaithersburg Giants vs. Bethesda Big Train

Come out to Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Regional Park and enjoy a night full of baseball and fun and affordable family entertainment as you watch the Bethesda Big Train of the Cal Ripken League!

July 12

C&O Towpath and Greenway Trail
Parking lot on Seneca Creek Landing: Rileys Lock Road (Poolesville)
Time: 8:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.

10 km walk with 5 km and 15 km options mostly in the shade. The trails can be combined for longer distances. The 5 km and 10 km take a detour off the Towpath round the old turning basin to view the remains of the Seneca Stone-cutting Mill. The 5 km loop on the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail starts and returns to the Mill. This section of the Towpath views the retaining wall built for loading the milled stones onto barges, then proceeds downstream past Violette’s Lock to just south of Blockhouse Point and returns. Walkers should carry water. Port-a-johns are available at the start/finish point and on the Towpath. Pets are allowed but must be leashed at all times during the walk and you must clean up after them. Walkers with strollers can access the Towpath trails but wheelchairs can only access the Towpath at Violette’s Lock NOT from the start point at Riley’s Lock.

July 22

Pitch-Perfect_resizedBethesda Outdoor Movie Series
Woodmont Triangle: Corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues
Time: 9:00 p.m. — 11:30 p.m.

The Bethesda Urban Partnership will present the ninth annual Bethesda Outdoor Movies: Stars on the Avenue from July 22-26, 2014. Five evenings of major motion pictures in a variety of genres will be showcased, including new releases, action, comedy, musical and classic films. Admission is FREE and show times will begin at 9pm at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle.

Schedule:
Tuesday, July 22: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Wednesday, July 23: Moonrise Kingdom
Thursday, July 24: Citizen Kane
Friday, July 25: Pitch Perfect
Saturday, July 26: Top Gun

Residents, employees and visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring their own lawn chairs. A limited number of chairs will also be provided. Woodmont Triangle is home to numerous restaurants, ice cream and coffee shops and attendees are invited to enjoy dinner or a snack before the 9 p.m. movie start. Parking is available in the Auburn Avenue garage which is adjacent to the event site.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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