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Keep tabs on the latest East County concerns by attending the East County Citizens Advisory Board meeting 7:15 p.m. tonight at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Tami Bulla, vice president of the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department, will present an update on East County fire department services. Residents are welcome to bring up any questions or comments they have about East County during the first 15 minutes of the meeting. Call 240-777-8400 with questions.

First evening IDA sector meeting coming up

Looking to help make East County a little safer? Mark your calendars so you can join neighbors and local business owners at the January IDA sector meeting, named after the police sector of White Oak and Briggs Chaney. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the East County Recreation Center, 3310 Gateshead Manor Way in Silver Spring. Call 240-777-8412 for details.

Resurrection Church concert series to continue March 14

The Silver Spring Brass and Trio Ventoso will perform 6 p.m. March 14 at the next installment of the Living Arts Center Concert Series at Resurrection Church, 3315 Greencastle Road in Burtonsville. The performance will feature eight musicians playing the music of the Renaissance, Leonard Bernstein, Irish tunes and more. No ticket is required, but a $10 donation is suggested. A reception will follow the concert. More information and directions are available at www.resurrection.org/concert_

series.html or by calling 301-520-8921.

Eating to a healthier you

Keeping up with those "get healthy" New Year's resolutions can be tough, but a new seminar for women and teens can help. "Eat to Live Today" will go over tips on reading food labels, planning quick, healthy meals and what foods to eat before exercising. The seminar will run 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 20 at the Faithful and True Christian Center, 4040 Blackburn Lane, Suite 120 in Burtonsville. Hattie M. Freeman, the president and founder of Healthy Advisor Teaching Today's Inspirational Eating, will lead the event. Interested participants should RSVP by March 17 by e-mailing healthandwellness@fatcc.org or calling 301-879-5275. More information on the event and Faithful and True Christian Center is available at www.fatcc.org.

Tax aid for low and moderate income residents

Tax preparation assistance is being offered to residents with low or moderate incomes, with special attention given to East County senior citizens. Those in need of help filling out tax forms can schedule appointments between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. through April 13 at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Call 240-777-2577 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to schedule your appointment.

Childcare for kids' days

off of school

If school is out for the day, but you still have to work, consider dropping your child at Kidz Days Out. For $45 per child, kids can spend the day making crafts or playing sports, games and video games. Snacks are also provided. Kidz Days Out will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 6 at the Marilyn J. Praisner Community Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. To register, call James at the East County Community Center at 240-777-8090 or James at the Praisner Community Center at 240-777-4970.

Wanted: snacks for backpacks

Nonperishable snack items are needed for the Valley Brook Community Church's project to supply five low-income families with backpacks full of snack items. The project gives donations monthly and organizers hope to expand their efforts throughout the school year. Donors can bring nonperishable snack items to the church at 3333 Spencerville Road in Burtonsville. Drop-off times are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For more information, call the church at 301-476-9499.

Free legal-advice clinics

Residents in need of aid on legal matters can attend free legal-advice consultations 6 to 9 p.m. the first and second Thursdays of each month at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Clients must sign in before 6 p.m. in order to participate. For more information, call the Montgomery County Pro Bono Program Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 301-424-7651.

Seeking Miss Preteen Burtonsville International 2010

The Miss Teen Maryland International Pageant is seeking entrants for their Burtonsville pageant. Future beauty queens must be between ages 9 and 12 and attend school in Maryland. The pageant will be held April 9 and April 10, with competition categories of introduction, fashion, two-minute speech, aerobic wear and formal wear. The winner will receive a free entry into the Miss Teen Maryland International Pageant when they are of eligible age. Interested in competing? Call 410-490-0879 or e-mail mrsmaryland@msn.com.

Montgomery College Spanish classes continue in spring

Enrollment is now open for Spanish classes held through Montgomery College at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center. Residents can improve their Spanish-speaking skills at the convenient 3300 Briggs Chaney Road location. Spanish I Part 1 and Spanish I Part 2 are both available. The course fee is $190 for residents and $310 for non-residents. Register by calling 240-567-5188.

Evening English classes open to Montgomery Residents

Interested Montgomery County residents can register for English classes, which will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Episcopal Church of our Savior at 1700 Powder Mill Road in Hillandale.

The course, offered by the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation, in partnership with Crossway Community Center and CASA of Maryland, costs $20, but scholarships are available. Students are accepted on a rolling basis and can register by arriving 15 minutes early to the location.

Items for People and Places may be sent to Jeanette Der Bedrosian, The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. The fax line is 240-473-7501; or e-mail jderbedrosian@

gazette.net. Call 240-473-7505. Deadline is one week prior to publication for consideration.

Silver Spring learning center looking for high school tutors

The Gapbuster Learning Center in Silver Spring is looking for high school and adult volunteers to tutor young students.

Volunteers are needed from 3 to 6 p.m. High school students should be in grades 10 to 12.

The Gapbuster Learning Center is a community-based program dedicated to closing the academic performance gap of students in Montgomery County. For information on how to volunteer, contact Sheila Clyburn at 301-779-4252 or at gblc_office@yahoo.com.

For more information on Gapbuster Learning Center, visit www.gapbuster.org.

Senior volunteer drivers needed

The Senior Connection urgently needs Montgomery County residents to volunteer to help their neighbors 62 and older live as independently as possible by providing escorted transportation to medical appointments, helping with grocery shopping and running errands, and paying a visit or making a phone call to share companionship.

The time commitment and schedule are flexible and volunteers are provided with life-skills training and recognition events. The Senior Connection also provides volunteer liability insurance coverage.

Call The Senior Connection at 301-962-0820 or e-mail seniorconnectionmc@gmail.com.

Volunteers sought for blood collection

The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers ages 14 and older to assist its blood-collection staff at blood drives and blood-donor centers.

Responsibilities include greeting donors and serving refreshments.

Volunteers will be trained and must make a commitment of two or more blood-collection events each month. Blood drives last four to six hours.

To register for training or for more information, call the American Red Cross volunteer office at 800-272-0094, Ext. 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.