Montgomery Community Events Feb. 7-14, 2008

Thursday 7

VISION TALK AND SCREENINGS, for seniors, Natasha Herz, ophthalmologist and cornea specialist, talks about advancements in eye surgery and performs a basic vision screening that should not take the place of a full exam by your eye doctor. 10:30 a.m., Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-681-1255.

CHINESE NEW YEAR LECTURE, Charles Yang talks about Chinese holidays and traditions, Chinese history, cultural symbols and 2008 as the Year of the Rat, which begins today. 1:15 p.m., Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton. Free. 240-777-4999.

CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP, a monthly support group led by a clinical social worker; participants can bring pillows, mats, ice or hot packs to be comfortable. Sponsored by Pain Connection. 1:30-3 p.m. Thursdays, Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Free. 301-309-2444 or http://www.pain-connection.org.

CHOCOLATE LOVERS COOKING CLASS, for adults, Adrienne Cook, food and garden writer, and her sister Danielle Navidi, a local caterer, demonstrate how to prepare a five-course menu featuring chocolate in every dish, including chocolate soup, braised Angus short ribs with chocolate-tomato sauce and chocolate-chocolate torte. Each dish can be samples. 2:30-4:30 p.m., Brookside Gardens, Visitors Center, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. $22; online registration required: Course No. 53149. 301-962-1400 or http://www.brooksidegardens.org.

CHILDREN'S POETRY WORKSHOPS, for children 8-11 accompanied by an adult, Takoma Park poet Anne Becker teaches a series of poetry appreciation workshops. Students will listen to poems, then write their own verses and present them to the group for appreciation and constructive comments. Selected poems may be published by the Arts and Humanities Commission; series will be held three consecutive Thursdays beginning today. 3:45-5:15 p.m. Thursdays, through Feb. 21, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park. Free; reservations required. 301-891-7224.

CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION CLASSES, classes to help prepare for the three required citizenship tests in English, history and government, and interviews with an immigration officer; sponsored by Montgomery County Refugee Training Program. Residents must have a green card to participate. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays and Tuesdays, East County Community Recreation Center, 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring. Free; registration required. 240-567-1404 or 240-567-1405.

AFRICAN HISTORY BOOK DISCUSSION, a librarian leads a discussion of "Ancestor Stones," by author and filmmaker Aminatti Forna, a fictional portrayal of the lives of five Sierra Leonean women, told in the form of interrelated short stories; a Black History Month event. 7 p.m., Quince Orchard Library, 15831 Quince Orchard Rd., Gaithersburg. Free. 240-777-0200.

AUTHOR APPEARANCE AND RECEPTION, author Elinor Lipman will talk about her first novel, "Then She Found Me," which has been adapted into a movie and is scheduled for release in late April, directed by Helen Hunt and starring Hunt, Colin Firth, Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick. Lipman will also discuss her new book "My Latest Grievance;" a wine-and-cheese reception will follow; proceeds benefit the Jewish Social Service Agency respite care program for families with children with disabilities and services for young adults with Asperger's syndrome. 7-9 p.m., Ratner Museum, 10001 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda. Admission, $35; online registration is requested. 301-816-2611, http://www.jssa.org or lschrier@jssa.org.

Friday 8

SEWING WORKSHOP, how to take measurements, machine-stitch seams and alter, pin and cut a pattern; taught by seamstress Mariette Ward. 10:30 a.m. Fridays through Feb. 29, Long Branch Senior Center, Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. Free; registration required. 301-431-5700.

MOTION AND EXERCISE FOR SENIORS, Annetta Sawyer, dance instructor and performance artist from Arts for the Aging, teaches world dance rhythms and exercises. Noon, Long Branch Senior Center, Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-431-5700.

STOP-SMOKING GROU{lcub}, a 12-step support program for people who want to stop smoking and other forms of tobacco abuse; sponsored by Nicotine Anonymous. 7-8 p.m. Fridays through Feb. 29, Northwood Presbyterian Church, 1200 W. University Blvd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-587-5278.

DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP, for family and friends of people who have been diagnosed with depression or bipolar illness, sponsored by Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of the National Capital Area, Potomac Chapter. 7:30 p.m. Fridays, St. Raphael's Church, Parish Hall, 1513 Dunster Rd., Rockville. Admission, free. 301-570-9065 or 301-299-4255 or http://www.dbsanca-family.org.