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Two Poolesville High School students are helping the environment one battery at a time.

Stephanie Boulter and Lori Defnet are collecting rechargeable batteries and cell phones for Call2Recycle, a battery collection program operated by the nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, as their senior project for Poolesville High's Global Ecology House. They have collected 50 pounds of batteries since late October and are creating a movie about the proper way to recycle batteries that they plan to enter in the annual Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital.

Highly toxic heavy metals like cadmium and lead can leach into landfills as the batteries break down, posing a health threat to people and animals, Boulter and Defnet wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette. Common household batteries are safe to throw away, they said.

"We chose to do this project because we both think recycling is important and an easy way to help the environment. However, there is little information out to the public about the different types of recycling so we wanted to help inform the local community about rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling," they wrote. "...We wanted to teach the community that recycling is easier than most people think."

There are five drop-off locations in Poolesville: Town Hall, 19721 Beall St.; Healthworks Fitness Center, 19942 Fisher Ave.; Poolesville Presbyterian Church, 17800 Elgin Road; Poolesville Hardware, 19961 Fisher Ave.; and Selby's Market, 19610 Fisher Ave. The boxes will be collected and sent to the INMETCO recycling facility in Ellwood City, Pa., at the end of March.

To learn more about the project, visit www.gotdeadbatteries.com.

Hit the right note with someone special

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and one area organization is offering an opportunity to hit the right note with a loved one this year.

The Montgomery County Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society will send a costumed quartet to deliver a musical message to your special person anywhere in Montgomery County — home, office, school, hospital, nursing home, restaurant, you name it — on Valentine's Day or the day before. (Just a reminder: That would be Feb. 13 and 14.)

The recipient will get two songs — the "classic, sentimental" type, organizers say — a long-stemmed silk rose and a Valentine's Day card.

Members of the group say they enjoy the visits as much as the recipients.

Prices are $40 for visits made within a four-hour period, $50 for visits made within a two-hour period and $75 for visits made at a specific time. All proceeds will help the nonprofit group, part of the Hometown USA Chorus.

The dealine for orders is Feb. 9.

For details, call George Martin at 301-929-3446.

County Farm Bureau awards scholarships

The Montgomery County Farm Bureau awarded six scholarships at its recent annual meeting.

Lori Mangum presented the $2,000 Robert T. Mangum Memorial Scholarship to Amber Phaire of Silver Spring. Phaire is a senior at University of Maryland majoring in landscape architecture.

Five students received $1,000 scholarships: Kaylene Lyons of Olney, a senior at Blake High School who plans to major in animal science/pre-veterinary medicine in college; Julia Huang of Rockville, a freshman at Montgomery College who plans to major in agricultural and resources economics/business management at University of Maryland; Alex Huntley of Damascus, a freshman at University of Maryland, Institute of Applied Agriculture, majoring in ornamental horticulture; Cody Fletcher of Laytonsville, a junior at University of Maryland majoring in agricultural science and technology; and Cameron Irons of Laytonsville, a freshman at University of Wyoming majoring in large animal pre-veterinary medicine.

During the meeting, Maryland Farm Bureau President Michael Phipps presented county Farm Bureau President George Lechlider of Etchison with state Gold Level Awards of Excellence for legislative affairs, young farmers, outstanding county program, leadership development, member benefits and membership, and women and agricultural education.

The Montgomery County Farm Bureau is part of the Maryland Farm Bureau, a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to promote and protect agriculture and rural life.

Student trades foundation accepting vehicle donations

The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation is accepting donations of vehicles of all makes and models to be used in the automotive technology classes of high school students within Montgomery County Public Schools.

For details, visit www.autocareers.org or call 301-929-2190.

Docents sought for historic Boyds school

Volunteers are wanted at the historic Boyds Negro School, 19510 White Ground Road.

Volunteers per month are needed to work as assistant docents at monthly open houses. Tasks include preparing the school for the open house, greeting visitors, setting up and running video, answering questions and providing informational hand-outs.

Contact Elaine Fors-MacKellar at 301-461-4646 or pking.ooomc@verizon.net or visit www.boydshistory.org.

Flea markets

Turn your attic treasures into cash or go bargain-hunting this winter and spring at indoor flea markets sponsored by the City of Gaithersburg at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center, 16 Chestnut St. The Saturday dates are Feb. 20, March 20 and April 17. The markets run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Vendors are sought to sell gently used and new items. Registration for residents selling used items is $17 per space. The cost for nonresidents is $22. Residents selling new items may register for $22 per space. The cost for nonresidents is $27.

Application forms are available at www.gaithersburgmd.gov. For more information call 301-258-6350.

Share your good news! E-mail Melissa A. Chadwick at mchadwick@gazette.net or fax 301-670-2071. Or snail mail to 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.