Put those old jeans to good use

Guild coordinated a dropoff spot at her school.

‘‘Already we have 114 jeans,” she said. ‘‘We’re trying to get 500 because that’s how much it takes to insulate one house.”

Cotton Inc. partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County ReStore to bring the drive to Montgomery County for the first time this year, said Adeela Abbasi, marketing and communications manager with Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The goal for the county is to collect 2,500 pairs of jeans and insulate five homes, she said. Originally she hoped to use the jeans for insulation at Habitat for Humanity Homes in the county, but the houses currently under construction are past the insulation stage, she said. Instead, the insulation made from county jeans will most likely go to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

‘‘We want to raise awareness of the need for affordable housing, not only in areas affected by such a large natural disaster, but right here in Montgomery County,” Abbasi said.

Dropoff locations include Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 9100 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg; Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, Construction Site, Linganore Woods, Burtonsville; Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Boulevard, Bethesda; and Amicus Green Building Center, 4080A Howard Ave., Kensington.

Trumpet the news

Montgomery Village will host to the 289th annual Maryland Community Band Day, a free event that draws more than 600 musicians from across the state.

The event will run from noon to 8 p.m. May 18, at the ballfield behind the Montgomery Village Foundation office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road.

Each of the eight scheduled bands will perform 45-minute sets. The Montgomery Village Community Band — also marking its 29th anniversary — co-hosted the event in 1999 with the City of Gaithersburg. Coca-Cola, Alpine Dental and Cabinet Brigade are sponsoring this year’s event. For more information, contact Ed Kallas at 301-948-0110, ext. 338.

Fun-and-fit fest for seniors

If you’re 55 and over and are fun, fit and fabulous (or want to be), come on over to the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, located at 506 S. Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg on May 14.

The free Senior Fun and Fit Fest is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 14. It’s designed to introduce folks to new wellness activities from QiGong and yoga to volleyball and juggling to hip-hop for seniors.

Exercise activities will include a retro-circuit class and classes called ‘‘Flexible Strength” and ‘‘Core and More.” Dancers and performers from ‘‘Ritmo Latino” to the ‘‘Sophisticated Ladies” tap dancers will perform. The day also includes free screenings and relaxation therapies. Derma-scan and make-up help will be available too, alongside health information booths and hobby tables. For more information, call the Upcounty Senior Center at 301-259-6380.

Congratulations

*A number of Gaithersburg residents made the dean’s list at American University in fall. They include: Tatiana Blanco-Bertolo, a junior in majoring in business administration; Emily Kosciulek, a sophomore majoring in business administration; Jieun Lee, a freshman majoring in biochemistry; Andreana Lefton, a sophomore in the School of International Service majoring in international studies; Kim Thanh Nguyen, a senior majoring in biology; Claudia Soto Orozco, a senior in the School of International Service majoring in international relations; Sergio Soto Orozco, a junior majoring in business administration; and Kelly Patten, a senior majoring in elementary education.

*Montgomery Village resident Emily Stovicek, was named to the fall dean’s list at American University. She is a sophomore majoring in business administration.

*Marina Ruiz, a 2005 graduate of Quince Orchard High School and the daughter of Art and Cheryl Ruiz of North Potomac was awarded the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Undergraduate Women’s Leadership Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania on April 28. The award is based on leadership, academics, community participation and campus involvement.

Mother’s Day essay contest

Thyme Out, a Gaithersburg meal assembly store in the Kentlands, is holding a Mother’s Day Essay Contest that could really give your mom a break – by providing her a $150 Thyme Out gift certificate and a breakfast-in-bed kit. Kids of all ages are invited to submit a 150-word-or-less essay saying why their mom deserves breakfast in bed. To enter, send your essay to customerservice@thymeout.com or Thyme Out, 341 Main St., Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Deadline is Thursday. The winner will be announced on Saturday. Mother’s Day is Sunday.

Girl Scout potluck

Girl Scouts are hosting an informational potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at North Creek Community Center in Montgomery Village for parents hoping to guarantee their daughter’s placement in a Girl Scout troop this fall or hear about opportunities to be an involved parent. Parents of girls 5 to 17 are welcome. Contact Rebecca Matthews at 301-990-6553 or Rebeccam999@aol.com for more information.

Submissions for People and Places must be received by 10 a.m. Thursday. Send submissions to Patricia M. Murret via e-mail at pmurret@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.