Montgomery Community Events Aug. 7-14, 2008

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Thursday 7

COLOR PHOTO CONTEST, submissions of color photographs are being accepted for the "Great Communities" photo contest; a panel of experienced photographers will judge two categories, adult and youth (age 17 and younger); pictures should show quality of life, urban downtowns, rural life, parks and trails, residents, buildings and public spaces taken in the county since Jan. 1, 2007; photos may be entered as 4x6 or 5x7 prints or high-resolution digital images; winning photographers can receive cash awards from $75 to $300 and have their images displayed at public events, published in Planning Department publications and posted on the Web site; deadline for entries is Aug. 20 and an entry form must accompany photos; sponsored by Montgomery County Planning Department; submissions can be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily or mailed to "Photo Contest" at the following address; winners will be announced at the Magical Montgomery festival, Sept. 27 in Silver Spring. Montgomery County Planning Department, Suite 211, 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Free. 301-495-4600 or http://www.mcparkandplanning.org/planning/photocontest.

SOLAR CAR DERBY REGISTRATION, for children ages 8 to 14 accompanied by an adult, ongoing registration for a solar car derby where children will assemble and keep a working, solar-powered model car and race their cars 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 23; students will also learn about clean energy; participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a Montgomery County resident; sponsored by Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center. Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring. Free, registration required; space is limited and participants are required to show up promptly at 10 a.m. 240-777-7700 or askdep@montgomerycountymd.gov.

HEALTH AND EXERCISE PROGRAM, for seniors, Chris Haynes, a nurse from Suburban Hospital, leads a weekly walk for exercise. Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-681-1255.

LIVE BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT, Asian, Costa Rican and North American butterflies fly freely among tropical flowering plants. Learn about the butterfly life cycle; tickets may be purchased either at the Visitors Center or at the conservatory gift shops; the walk between the buildings is approximately two-tenths of a mile or an eight-minute walk along a shady but steep incline. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, through Sept. 21, Brookside Gardens, South Conservatory, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. $5; ages 3 to 12, $4. 301-962-1453 or http://www.brooksidegardens.org.

PLANT CLINIC, Montgomery County master gardeners answer gardening questions; bring in plant specimens and insect samples for identifying and diagnosing problems. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays, Montgomery County Extension Office, 18410 Muncaster Rd., Derwood. Free. Plant Hotline: 301-590-9650, weekday mornings.

SMALL BUSINESS COUNSELING, members of Senior Corps of Retired Executives provide one-on-one counseling for people with small businesses. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays and Tuesdays, Rockville Library, Meeting Room No. 2, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Free. 240-777-0001.

ORIGAMI CRAFT CLASS, for adults, Lois Dicker, an origami teacher, demonstrates the art of paper folding and makes basic paper creations. 10:30 a.m., Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-681-1255.

DRAWING AND PAINTING CLASS, for seniors, artist Maria Gonzalez of Arts for the Aging teaches a class for beginners and offers tips on drawing techniques and subjects. 11 a.m. Thursdays, Long Branch Senior Center, Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-431-5700.

CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP, for those with chronic pain, and their family and friends, neurologist Robert Gerwin talks about fibromyalgia, a chronic pain illness characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, and how to treat it; participants can bring ice or heat packs, pillows and mats to be comfortable; sponsored by Pain Connection. 1:30-3 p.m., Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Free. 240-777-0922.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP, for people widowed less than two years. 2-3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton. Free. 301-949-7398.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP, for people who are widowed two years or less; a weekly support group. 2-4 p.m. Thursdays, Leland Community Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase. Free. 301-949-7398.

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE PROGRAM, for children ages 5 to 14 accompanied by an adult, a "Play Ball" themed science program; science center staff explain how scientists search for answers to questions like "How does a baseball stay airborne?" and more; sponsored by the Maryland Science Center. 2 p.m., Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg. Free, tickets are required and can be picked up at the Children's Desk. 240-773-9490.

AFRICAN AMERICAN BOOK DISCUSSION, for adults, a librarian leads a discussion of "Mirror to America: The Autobiography of John Hope Franklin," about his childhood in Oklahoma and a career that included work on the history of segregation that formed part of the NAACP's brief in Brown v. Board of Education. 7 p.m., Quince Orchard Library, 15831 Quince Orchard Rd., Gaithersburg. Free. 240-777-0200.

Friday 8

SILVER SPRING CRAFTS CLASS, for adults, artist Sonia Rodriguez leads a craft-making class using various materials. 10 a.m.-noon Fridays, Long Branch Senior Center, Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-431-5700.

ROCK AND ROLL PIANO CONCERT, for all ages, Doug Cooke, a high-energy pianist, plays songs from the 1950s by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. 1 p.m., Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-681-1255.

Saturday 9

SILVER SPRING FARMERS MARKET, goat and cows' milk cheeses such as mozzarella and ricotta, goat-milk soap, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs, pies, preserves, salsas, cut flowers and more. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Silver Plaza, on Ellsworth Drive between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street, Silver Spring. Admission, free. 202-362-8889.

INTRODUCTORY COMPUTER LESSON, for adults, beginners will cover Web page basics and how to access library catalogs and databases. 9:15 a.m. Saturdays, White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Free. 240-773-9555.

PLANT CLINIC, Montgomery County master gardeners answer gardening questions; bring in plant specimens and insect samples for identifying and diagnosing problems. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Free. Plant Hotline: 301-590-9650, weekday mornings.

PLANT CLINICS, master gardeners from Montgomery County Cooperative Extension answer questions on indoor and outdoor plants, mystery insects, plant diseases and wildlife management; plus a demonstration on pruning. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg. Free. 240-773-9490.

MAKEOVER PROGRAM, for women and girls age 11 and older, Mary Kay cosmetologists conduct makeovers, apply makeup and offer tips on makeup trends and style. 11 a.m., Kensington Park Library, 4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington. Free, registration required. 240-773-9515 or http://drcinfo@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Sunday 10

TOASTMASTERS MEETING, for people interested in public speaking, Toastmasters representatives lead presentations and projects that focus on effective communication. 10:20-11:45 a.m. Sundays, County Council Office Building, 2nd Floor, Room 2F, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. first-time guests, free. 301-765-1090.

CHILDREN'S ROCK MUSIC PROGRAM, for children of all ages accompanied by an adult, Cowboy Kidsinger Jim, a children's entertainer, performs rock music with motivational messages including a new song called "Daddy Longlegs;" part of the Second Sundays series of summer concerts; bring a blanket or chairs or sit on the grass; sponsored by the Wheaton Urban District and Wheaton Arts and Entertainment District. 1-3 p.m., Wheaton Triangle, Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive, Wheaton. Free. 240-777-8115.

Monday 11

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSIONS, a volunteer leads a discussion on local, national or world events and encourages feedback from participants. 10 a.m. Mondays, Long Branch Senior Center, Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-431-5700.

CHILDREN'S ANIMATED FILM, for all ages, a screening of Darrell Rooney and Rob LaDuca's animated adventure "Lion King II, Simba's Pride" (1998), about Kiara, Simba the Lion King's headstrong daughter cub, who looks for adventure and meets a young mischievous lion cub. 1 p.m., Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-681-1255.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE PRACTICE CLUB, for age 13 and older, use and practice sign language skills with people fluent in the language and review available library resources; a meeting of the American Sign Language Practice Club. 7 p.m., Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville. 240-777-0140.

Tuesday 12

BETHESDA BOOK DISCUSSION, for adults, a librarian leads a discussion of John Searles's debut novel "Boy Still Missing," a coming-of-age story about abduction, abortion, adoption, alcoholism and extramarital affairs. 10:30 a.m., Bethesda Library, Large Tutoring Room, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda. Free. 240-777-0970.

BLOOD PRESSURE HEALTH DISCUSSION, for adults, a speaker from Holy Cross Hospital talks about high blood pressure, and helpful medicines and lifestyle changes that can help decrease the chance of heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease associated with the disease. 10:30 a.m., Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-681-1255.

SENIOR HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING, for seniors, a Maryland Senior Health Insurance Program counselor will meet with individual seniors and family members to answer questions about claims, supplemental insurance, and Medicare. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. Free, call for an appointment. 301-590-2819.

HEALTH TALK, for seniors, Jill Johnson, a Suburban Hospital nutritionist, gives a talk entitled "Healthy Eating for Older Adults" and explains how eating well can slow the aging process. 1:15-2:15 p.m., Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton. Free. 240-777-4999.

EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION, for adults, a discussion of Timothy Egan's book "The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl," set in 1935, about the biggest dust storm on record. 7 p.m., Olney Library, 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Rd., Olney. Free. 240-773-9545.

Wednesday 13

PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE HEALTH DISCUSSION, for seniors, a one-on-one consultation with a CVS pharmacist; information on prescription and nonprescription medications, and help with identifying duplicate and outdated prescriptions or over-the-counter medications. 10:30 a.m., Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-681-1255.

WIDOW AND WIDOWERS LUNCHEON, a joint luncheon for widows and widowers, a social outing at a restaurant; sponsored by Widowed Persons Service of AARP. Pooks Hill Marriott, 5151 Pooks Hill Rd., Bethesda. Admission, free; charges for menu orders. 301-949-7398.

MUSIC HISTORY DISCUSSIONS, Irv Chamberlain, music enthusiast, talks about the life and music of popular entertainers Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra; first in six-part series; the next discussion will be Aug. 13. 1:15-2:15 p.m., Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton. Free. 240-777-4999.

Thursday 14

FOLK MUSIC PERFORMANCE, Steve Gellman plays traditional and current folk music. 1:15-2:15 p.m., Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton. Free. 240-777-4999.

-- Compiled by LISA M. BOLTON

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