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The East County Citizens Advisory Board will meet at 7:15 p.m. tonight at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Tonight's presentations focus on emergency assistance and wellness clinics in East County. Polly Ganz, director of the Eastern Montgomery Emergency Assistance Network; Tawanna Wheeler, director of the Peoples Community and Wellness Clinic; and Barbara Clark, clinical director of Mobile Med Care Inc., will be speaking. The first 15 minutes of each meeting are open for citizens to voice any questions or concerns about East County to the board. Call 240-777-8400 with questions.

Mutts Gone Nuts

Trainers Jesse and James are bringing their canine friends to the White Oak Library at 3 p.m. Tuesday. This program, geared toward elementary school aged children, is sure to wow audiences with the Mutts Gone Nuts dog tricks. The event is at the library, located at 11701 New Hampshire Ave. in White Oak. Call 240-773-9555.

Burtonsville native becomes Coast Guard officer

Burtonsville resident Cmdr. Doug Cameron took over as the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Air Station in Sitka, Alaska, as of June 28. Cameron joined the Coast Guard in 1990 a few years after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1984.

New Maryland quilt exhibit

"Stitches in Time/Threads of Change," a new textile art exhibit at the Banneker Historical Park & Museum, looks at Maryland community quilts and their evolution from early American quilt-making. See work from the Furnace Town Quilters of the Eastern Shore, the Faithful Quilters of Columbia and the Enon Baptist Church Quilters of Baltimore, among others. The exhibit highlights the diverse themes, applications, techniques and purposes of quilting in Maryland. The exhibit will run this month through March 31, 2011 at the Banneker Museum, 300 Oella Ave. in Oella. Call the museum at 410-887-1081 for more information.

AARP senior driver class

Senior drivers interested in brushing up on the rules of the road can attend a single four-hour class on July 17 and receive a completion certificate from AARP. The cost of the class is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-AARP members. The instructor will collect the fee on the day of the class, which will be held at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot early by calling 240-777-8411.

Farm animal coming

to a library near you

Volunteers from 4-H will be visiting area libraries to share a book, songs, crafts and information about the county fair. Kids can also have an opportunity to see a farm animal and learn about what goes into caring for farm animals. The program will be held at 2 p.m. July 17 at the Marilyn J. Praisner Library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville and 10:30 a.m. July 29 at the White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring. The program is geared toward preschool and elementary school aged children. Call the Praisner Library at 240-773-9460 and the White Oak Library at 240-773-9555 for details.

County's 21st annual

farm tour approaching

Montgomery County will celebrate its agricultural heritage, promote local farms and indulge in seasonally fresh food during the 21st annual farm tour and harvest sale. Fourteen farms across the county, including the longstanding Heyser farms in Colesville, will open their gates to hungry residents the weekend of July 24 and 25. The farm four provides residents with an opportunity to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and other local products. Several farms offer hayrides, pony rides, music, demonstrations and other fun and educational activities for people of all ages. Last year more than 7,000 people tilled their way through the tour. For maps of participating farms and more information, visit www.montgomery

countymd.gov/farmour or call 301-590-2828.

Interactive

theater presentation

The Rainbow Company will be performing "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" by William Steig at 11 a.m. July 24 at the White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Ave.. The interactive theater presentation will feature you and other members of the audience. Call the library at 240-773-9555 with questions.

Summer trip

to Assateague Beach

Make the most of your summer with a trip to the white beaches, beautiful sunsets and wild horses of Assateague Beach this summer. The Marilyn J. Praisner Recreation Center is offering a $20/seat bus trip to spend the day at the beach 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 7. Reserve your tickets early to ensure a seat on the bus. Every person — adults, children, babies — must have their own seat. Bring your blankets, water, prepared food, towels, sunscreen, swim suits, umbrellas and beach toys. Limited grills are available on the beach. For tickets, contact 240-328-7506.

Local Boy Scouts attend

pre-Jamboree shakedown

East County-area Boy Scout troops are gearing up for the 100th anniversary of the national nonprofit. The celebration, National Scout Jamboree, will take place in August at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, where President Barack Obama will speak. Last week, Wheaton Boy Scouts representing the National Capital Area Council attended a pre-Jamboree, where they participated in leadership and team-building exercises. Although that event was open to a select contingent of 12 area troops, anyone interested in attending the National Scout Jamboree should visit http://www.bsajamboree.

org/visitor.aspx for dates and more information.

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.

Family portraits to support volunteer firefighters

The Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a family portrait fundraiser to raise money for a new ambulance. Staff from Summit Productions will be traveling door-to-door July through September with sign-up sheets for $40 family portraits and more information on the fundraiser. Photo sessions by Summit Productions will take place at the station, located at 10617 New Hampshire Ave. in Hillandale.

Free legal-advice clinics

Residents in need of aid on legal matters can attend free legal-advice consultations from 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.

Free English

conversation classes

English conversation classes will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 25 at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. There is no cost for the class, but participants must purchase a book for $20. Call the center at 240-777-8411 for more information.

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 class location.

Absentee ballot applications for upcoming elections now available

Voters who are unable to cast their ballot for the gubernatorial primary election on Election Day or during early voting can start requesting an application to vote in Montgomery County and statewide elections by absentee ballot.

To obtain the application, visit www.777vote.org and select Absentee Voting. Follow the instructions for completing the application, which may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Send an e-mail to absentee@montgomerycountymd.gov, fax to 240-777-8560 or for questions call 240-777-8553. The deadline to request applications by absentee ballot by mail is Sept. 7 at 4:30 p.m.; Sept. 7 at 11:59 p.m. if submitting via fax or e-mail. After that date, absentee ballot applications may be requested in person at the Board of Elections office, 18753 N. Frederick Ave., Suite 210, in Gaithersburg. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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.