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County planners have sketched a vision for a walkable, mixed-use future of downtown Wheaton as a part of the proposed Wheaton Central Business District Sector Plan. As their vision moves on to the Planning Board, residents, property owners, employers and others are invited to provide input on the plan recommendations.

A public hearing will be held 7 p.m. Thursday at the Park and Planning Headquarters, 8787 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring.

The sector plan addresses land use and zoning, design, transportation, environmental sustainability and mixed development. Residents with strong opinions on these topics can either submit a written statement or make an appointment to speak. To register to speak, visit www.mont

gomeryapps.org/planning_board/testify.asp and scroll to July 29 at the first prompt. You may also call 301-495-4600. Send written comments to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org. Anyone appearing before the board must provide 10 copies of all materials presented to the board.

Silver Spring Swings

with Latin rock

Enjoy the brand-new Veterans Plaza, just outside the Silver Spring Civic Center, Thursday with the next installment of the Silver Spring Swings summer concert series. This week, Patrick Alban and Noche Latina give the series an infusion of Latin flavor with their all-Spanish hits. Their new CD, "Ojos Verdes," includes originals and songs made popular by the Buena Vista Social Club, Gipsy Kings and more. The plaza is located at the intersection of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street, across from the Majestic movie theater. Call 301-565-7300 with questions.

County, city councils

on summer recess

Attention all activists, as the summer draws on the annual summer recess has finally arrived for councils across the county. The Montgomery County Council will be on recess and will not meet between Monday and Sept. 21 for its next regular council session in Rockville. Likewise, the Takoma Park City Council will not meet again until Sept. 7. Council-formed task forces and committees will still hold regular meetings as scheduled and building hours will also not be impacted across the county.

For continuous updates regarding the council's schedule and future agenda items for upcoming meetings after the recess, please visit the county website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov or Takoma Park's website, www.takomaparkmd.gov to view the city's rolling agenda.

Keep kids cool

in library programs

School's out for the summer, but your child can keep learning through educational programs at several area libraries this summer. Three programs this week are geared toward elementary-age children:

-Reptiles Alive!, a reptile show featuring scaley friends from around the world. Held 6:30 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) at the Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave. in Wheaton. 240-777-0678.

-Mike Rose Magic, a mind-blowing interactive magic show for children and teens. Held 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Avenue in Silver Spring. 240-777-0910.

-Reading with Diane Macklin, a storyteller with dancing hands, lyrical voice and high energy. 1 p.m. Friday at the Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Road in Silver Spring. 240-773-9420.

Avoiding bankruptcy

seminar in Wheaton

A free financial education workshop on avoiding bankruptcy will be held 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the large meeting room of the Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. Register online through Maryland Cash, http://marylandcashcampaign.cloverpad.org/browse-by-location/montgomery.

For more information, contact Elvie Lancaster at 301-565-7456 or e-mail Elvira.lancaster@

montgomerycountymd.gov.

Teen Night Out offers

3-D movie and pizza

Teens can take a trip to the center of the earth Monday night during Teen Night Out at the Silver Spring Library. The library will be screening the 3-D hit movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth" 6 p.m. Monday, with 3-D glasses available to the first 50 people, plus pizza and popcorn. Call the library at 240-773-9420 for details.

National Night Out events

in East Montgomery County

Get off your couches and into the community for the 27th annual celebration of National Night Out Tuesday. A number of Silver Spring-area communities are holding local events along with larger events at certain central locations to encourage community residents to come out and meet local law enforcement and fire/rescue personnel.

Designed to enhance the important bond of trust between police officials and residents, National Night Out events will be held at the following locations in the area (all events take place Tuesday):

-Immigrant rights advocacy group Casa of Maryland will host a candlelight vigil from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Pine Ridge/Good Acre apartments in the 8600 block of Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring.

-Windsor Court and Towers will host an event from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 13802 Castle Blvd. in the Briggs Chaney area of Silver Spring.

Several other events will be held for specific community residents:

-McKenney Hills at the Learning Center from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 2600 Hayden Drive in Silver Spring.

-Tanglewood Apartments from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the grassy area between apartments at 9002 and 9004 Manchester Rd. in Silver Spring.

-The Chateau Apartments pool area from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 9727 Mt. Pisgah Rd. in Silver Spring.

-The Fairland Gardens Apartments near the basketball court from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 12305 Treetop Dr. in Fairland.

-The Indian Spring Terrace Recreation Center from 6:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 9717 Lawndale Drive in Silver Spring.

-The Forest Estates community will meet at General Getty Neighborhood Park from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 10000 Woodland Ave. in Wheaton.

-The South Four Corners community will meet at the Forest Glen-Dallas Avenue Neighborhood Park from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at 900 Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring.

-Northwood and north Four Corners residents will meet at Forest Knolls pool from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 11105 Foxglove Lane in Silver Spring.

-Residents of the Hampshire West community will meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the pool located at 1432 Hampshire West Ct. in Silver Spring.

-The Oak Fair community will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. near the pool at McKnew Road in Burtonsville.

-Takoma Park residents are invited to attend the city's main event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Essex House apartments, 7777 Maple Ave. in Takoma Park.

New members on Midcounty Citizens Advisory Board

The Midcounty Citizens Advisory Board welcomes eight new members to the board this week, the highest turnover in recent history, according to Regional Services Director Natalie Cantor.

Other changes within the board include the induction of Blaine Charak as chair, Gamunu Wijetunge as vice chair and Rick Newman as parliamentarian. "They're all really capable people, so I think even with the turnover, I think we're going to have a good board," Cantor said.

Last chance for tickets

to Assateague Beach trip

Just a few tickets remain for a recreation-sponsored trip to the white beaches and beautiful sunsets of Assateague Beach. For $20, Montgomery County residents can hop on a bus from the Marilyn J. Praisner Recreation Center, located at 14906 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville, and spend the day at the beach.

The bus leaves from the center 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 and returns at 9:30 p.m. Bring your blankets, water, food, sunscreen, swim suits, umbrellas and folding chairs. Call 240-328-7506 for tickets. Each person — adults, children and babies — must have their own seat on the bus.

Youth DJ Battle in Takoma Park next weekend

Get ready for an old-school DJ Battle in Takoma Park beginning at 5 p.m. August 6 at Ed Wilhelm Field behind the Piney Branch Elementary School at 7510 Maple Ave. as teens ages 11 to 18 take to the mic in an all-out battle of lyrical supremacy.

Sponsored jointly by the Takoma Park Recreation Department and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the event will be free and open to youth interested in expressing themselves creatively through words and rhyme, rather than violence and crime. Participants in the battle will include youth currently involved in the county health department's Street Outreach Network mentoring program, an initiative that will launch in Takoma Park this September.

For additional information, about the DJ battle, please contact the Takoma Park Recreation Department at 301-891-7290 or visit the department's website, www.takomaparkmd.

gov/recreation. To learn more about the Street Outreach Network and other health department programs, visit the county's DHHS website through the county website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov.