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More than 200 children and their parents packed the Germantown Library Saturday to watch the Washington, D.C. Chinese Youth Club perform the traditional Lunar Year lion dance.

Library manager Nancy Savas said the library has held the event each year since opening in 2008. This year the program was arranged for by the Montgomery County Public Libraries Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, she said.

The loud crowd cheered the dancers on as they paraded through the library, Savas said. The dancers will perform the lion dance at 10:30 a.m. March 13 at the Gaithersburg Library and the Damascus Library at 2 p.m., Savas said. The dancers will again perform the dance at 11 a.m. March 27 at Chevy Chase Library and 3 p.m. at the Bethesda Library, Savas said. For more information, contact Michelle Sellars with Montgomery County Public Libraries at 240-777-0196.

Live music in Germantown

Grammy-nominated musician ChristyLez Bacon, a progressive hip hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Washington, D.C., will perform in Germantown on Saturday.

Bacon beat-boxes, plays acoustic guitar and djembe drum and incorporates the oral tradition of storytelling into his lyrics, according to his Web site. He performed on folk duo Cathy & Marcy's "Banjo To Beatbox," which received a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Musical Album for Children.

The free event is at 2 p.m. at the Germantown Library, 19840 Century Blvd. Call 240-777-0110 or visit www.christylez.com.

Campus Congratulations

Kevin James Campbell, of Germantown, was named to the fall dean's list at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. He is a junior studying sport and business management.

Vann Ramos Crucilla, of Germantown, received his Master of Education degree on Dec. 12 from Averett University in Danville, Va. Cruicilla is also certified to teach math to students in grades six through 12.

Sarah M. Nelson, of Poolesville, made the fall dean's list at High Point University in High Point, N.C. Nelson is a freshman majoring in biology.

Alana Parsons, of Germantown, made the fall semester dean's list at Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. Parsons is a sophomore with a double major in advertising management and cultural anthropology and a minor in Chinese studies.

Lavinia Fefer, of Germantown, made the fall semester dean's list at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Green up, clean up

Help Landscape and Nature Discoveries Inc. meet its goal of clearing litter from 15 miles of community roadways this month.

Clean-ups are scheduled on three upcounty roads: Route 109 in Beallsville on March 7 (meet at the corner of Route 28 and Route 109), Route 107 in Poolesville on March 14 (meet in the parking lot at Healthworks Fitness Center, 19942 Fisher Ave., Poolesville) and Barnesville Road on March 21 (meet at the Barnesville School, 21830 Peach Tree Road).

The clean-ups are rain or shine and run from 10 a.m.-noon. Wear long boots and pants and dress for the weather. Snow conditions may affect the clean-up schedule. Students in grades six to 12 can earn Student Service Learning Hours.

To register, e-mail garth@landandnature.org or call 301-972-7266. Visit www.landandnature.org.

Fundraiser for suicide prevention is Friday

Trish Traylor, a Germantown parent of a victim of suicide, will host a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 4 p.m. to midnight Friday. The event will be held at Hard Times Café and Cue at 13032 Middlebrook Road in Germantown. Traylor said 10 percent of food and beverage sales will be donated to AFSP.

Traylor started the event after her son, Jim Edmonds, committed suicide in 2006.

"People don't really want to talk about suicide, so we want to bring it out," she said. Traylor organized the first Out of the Darkness Walk in October of 2007. The walk raised more than $35,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Donations can be made out to AFSP and brought to the restaurant during the fundraiser. Contact Traylor at trishtraylor@comcast.net.

Connect with autism resource providers

Learn more about programs and services for children with autism at a free Autism Resources Fair at Montgomery College's Rockville campus next month.

The free fair will feature information about recreation, employment, behavior management services, family supports and respite and other support systems for people with autism and their families from more than 50 organizations and businesses.

The event is sponsored by the county Department of Health and Human Services' Community Support Network and is from 3 to 7 p.m. April 9 at the college's PE Main Gymnasium Building, 51 Mannakee St. Free parking is available in student-only lots.

For more information, call 240-777-1216 (voice), 240-777-1217 (TTY) or 711 (Maryland Relay) by March 19. Call by March 19 to request services or aids.

Tax season help for seniors

Tax help for seniors is available at the Poolesville Library this spring.

The AARP is providing tax assistance and preparation for seniors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays at the Poolesville Library, 19633 Fisher Ave., until April 9. Appointments are required.

To reserve a time, call 240-777-2577 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, call the library at 240-773-9550.

Got a green thumb?

Master Gardeners Terri Pitts and Pam Hosimer will answer questions about plants and gardens at the Poolesville Library, 19633 Fisher Ave., at 7 p.m. on Thursdays beginning May 6 and ending Aug. 19. Registration is not required. For more information, call 240-773-9550.

Donate old bicycles to new families, overseas

Together with Bikes for the World, Mother Seton Parish Confirmation Class, for youth in the parish who aspire to be baptized, will collect used bikes on March 13 in the church's parking lot. Bring old bikes to 19951 Father Hurley Blvd. in Germantown, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Bikes for the World is a sponsored project of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. The project collects unwanted bicycles and delivers them to poor, developing countries and low income areas in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

All bicycles will be reconditioned in the parking lot by children from the parish and distributed by Bikes for the World overseas, said parish member Donna Sacco, organizer of the event.

For more information contact Michaela Radziszewski at the parish at 301-444-3495.

Bingo!

The Poolesville Community Preschool hosts its annual Basket Bingo fundraiser in Barnesville on March 20.

There will be 20 regular bingo games, specials, raffles, door prizes and refreshments available for purchase. The event is at St. Mary's Pavilion, 18320 Barnesville Road. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., games begin at 7 p.m. Tickets for the fundraising event cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Contact Robin LeMarr at 301-349-0781 or robinlemarr@aol.com.

This column is for you! Share your good news! Send items to Germantown reporter Andre L. Taylor at ataylor@gazette.net and send Poolesville, Boyds and other upcounty items to Meghan Tierney at mtierney@gazette.net. Or mail to The Germantown-Boyds-Poolesville Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Don't forget to send us photos!