More News

The Global Game Jam, an event sponsored by the International Game Developers Association, is coming to Silver Spring for the first time later this month. This international event brings teams from around the globe for 48 non-stop hours of digital video game creation.

Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, 8230 Georgia Ave., will host the Silver Spring component of this international gaming celebration for 48 straight hours: from 6 p.m. Jan. 29 to 6 p.m. Jan. 31. To sign up for the jam in Silver Spring, visit globalgamejam.

org/sites/pyramid-atlantic-arts-

center.

"Game jams" foster innovation and experimentation and are aimed toward those who have ever wanted to make a game, be a part of a team, or go outside of their usual working method. A news release from Pyramid Atlantic touts a game jam as being "not for the faint of heart," "two days of hard work, experimentation, little sleep, collaboration, cramped quarters, new friends, great ideas, laughs, technical issues and the time of your life." In 2009, the GGJ had 1,650 participants across 23 countries and 54 venues. The GGJ already has more than 75 committed venues signed up for 2010, the release said.

For more information on the Global Game Jam, including a database of downloadable games, photos and video from the 2009 event, visit at globalgamejam.org.

New heritage grants go to county historic organizations

Heritage Tourism Alliance of Montgomery County has announced its second round of fiscal 2010 mini-grant awards to groups in the county that contribute to interpreting, promoting, preserving, researching and/or supporting the county's historical legacy. This is the first year the organization awarded a second round of grants. The grants, totaling $6,900, were awarded to the following county organizations:

-Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture: awarded $2,000 for the restoration of an historic trolley car.

-Washington Revels Inc., Silver Spring: awarded $2,000 to develop two characters for Civil War and Underground Railroad program performances.

-Latvian Museum, Rockville: awarded $1,300 for a new outdoor sign.

-Gaithersburg Community Museum: awarded $700 for a themed railroad history event for Heritage Days.

-Sugarloaf Regional Trails, Barnesville: awarded $500 to print and distribute a new trail guide/Web site companion piece.

-Menare Foundation, Germantown: awarded $400 for living history interpreter training.

The Heritage Tourism Alliance of Montgomery County is a nonprofit organization created to bring the county's rich history to the attention of its residents and visitors.

Recreation department taking applications for part-time jobs

The Takoma Park Recreation Department is looking for dedicated, active applicants to fill part-time staff positions for its winter and spring programs.

Those interested in applying are encouraged to call 301-891-7290 or submit your resumes to the department at 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD, 20912.

Ride On fares increase

As of Jan. 1, the cost of Ride On's Monthly Pass will be $30, according to a news release from the Silver Spring Regional Center. The increase will help offset budget shortfalls, the release said. With its unlimited rides, the pass still provides a discount over the regular rate, the release said.

With more nasty weather expected this winter, the release also notes that when snow, storms or other special events affect Ride On's ability to follow normal weekday schedules, bus service will operate under the "S" Service Plan. Visit www.rideonbus.com for details on your route or look for a brochure.

Curl up beside the fire

at Calvary Lutheran

Family Reading Night at the "Campfire" will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Calvary Lutheran School, 9545 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. Attendees will hear stories and songs as they gather around the "Campfire" in the Fellowship Hall at the school. The public is welcome and encouraged to wear flannel shirts and bring sleeping bags. For information, call Elda Banks at 301-589-4001, Ext. 207, or e-mail mgall@celcs.org or visit www.celcs.org.

Senior center

searching for singers

The Encore Chorale singers, ages 55 and over, will begin the winter-spring season at Schweinhaut Senior Center in Silver Spring and are looking for new recruits. The chorale rehearses from 10:30 a.m. to noon Mondays beginning Jan. 25 at Schweinhaut, located at 1000 Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring. Singers will sit to rehearse and perform; there are no auditions. The music to be performed includes Lerner and Loewe, spirituals, Gershwin and more, to be performed in free public concerts in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., with Encore Chorales from the District and Northern Virginia.

For more information visit encorecreativity.org, the Web site of Encore Creativity for Older Adults, e-mail Jeanne.kelly@encorecreativity.org or call the Schweinhaut Senior Center at 240-777-8085.

Sign up today

for snow tubing event

Just because the last of the recent snowstorm has been cleared up doesn't mean the family has missed its opportunity for a fun-filled snowday. The Takoma Park Recreation Center's Family Fun Day will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The group will meet in the parking lot of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., at 8:30 a.m. before driving to the Liberty Mountain Resort in nearby Pennsylvania for two hours of snow tubing at Boulder Ridge. Trips are designed for families with children ages 6 and up, but a family member at least 18-years-old must accompany the child.

Participants must pre-register for the event and are encouraged to bring a lunch with them, according to the department's Web site. Registration costs $30 for city residents and $35 for non-residents.

For more information or to register, visit the recreation department's Web site, www.tprecreation.org or call 301-891-7290.

Holy Cross beefs up

breast cancer care with grant

Holy Cross Hospital, 1500 Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring, received a $750,000 grant from Dallas-based Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to fighting breast cancer worldwide.

The grant provides $250,000 per year for three years and will create the Komen Community-Assisted Mammogram Program, the hospital reported. This brings Komen's total support to Holy Cross Hospital for breast cancer outreach to more than $1.3 million since 2002, hospital officials said.

Holy Cross will use the funding to collaborate with Montgomery County's African American Health Program and Asian American Health Initiative, CASA de Maryland and Community Ministries of Rockville to conduct an outreach, education, early detection and patient-navigation program for individuals facing cultural, linguistic, economic and geographic barriers to breast care in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, according to hospital officials.

In addition, the mammogram program will provide a safety net for low-income and medically underserved racial and ethnic groups ineligible for state and local cancer programs.

Send Silver Spring news to Staff Writer Jason Tomassini and Takoma Park news to Staff Writer Jeremy Arias at The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. Tomassini can be reached at 240-473-7559 or jtomassini@gazette.net; Arias can be reached at 240-473-7564 or jarias@gazette.net.

Spring-Colesville parking garage closed for two years

Silver Spring residents returning holiday gifts after the New Year shouldn't count on parking at the Spring-Colesville parking garage. Starting on Jan. 1, all 585 parking spaces in the Spring-Colesville Garage (Public Parking Garage 21), with entrances on Spring and Cameron streets, will be closed for renovations for approximately two years.

The garage has experienced deterioration and requires restoration and upgrading, according to a news release from the Silver Spring Regional Center. The newly restored garage will include: new floor slabs, elevators, stairs, new electrical and plumbing systems and a new brick exterior. Sixteen short-term spaces at the Spring-Cameron garage on Cameron Street will be converted into 10 handicap spaces to compensate for the lost handicap spaces in Garage 21. Also, 167 spaces in Garage 2 will be converted to Parking Convenience Sticker spaces to accommodate PCS parkers from Garage 21.

For more information and updates, visit www.montgomery

countymd.gov/parking or call 240-777-8740. Call the Parking Sales Office at 240-777-8744 for information on monthly Parking Convenience Stickers.