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Montgomery Connections, the new multi-lingual project of the Montgomery County Historical Society, will place several free-standing banners highlighting the county's history throughout the Silver Spring area this month.

The banners illustrate themes such as agriculture, the Civil War, the Depression, and slavery and freedom in three different languages: Chinese, English and Spanish.

In August, they can be seen at the White Oak and Silver Spring libraries and at locations in downtown Silver Spring. Variations of the banners will also be placed as public service ads in Ride On bus shelters as well as several local Chinese, English and Spanish newspapers.

The two-year project was funded through a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services. It's designed to engage people of all races and backgrounds in an introduction to local history by creating links to their daily lives.

For more information about the Montgomery Connections project, including how to share your own story, visit the Historical Society's Web site at www.montgomeryhistory.org.

Bilingual pre-K school

gets accreditation

Takoma Park-based pre-kindergarten center, CentroNia Maryland, earned accreditation for early childhood education July 31 from the state Department of Education.

The bilingual school, located at 1345 University Blvd., received accreditation in four months as opposed to the typical 18 months due in large part to its emphasis on quality, all-inclusive learning, staff development and its clean, safe environment, school officials announced.

CentroNia recently received a grant from the Judith P. Hoyer Pre-K Enhancement Program and last June graduated its first class of children. The MSDE accreditation will last through June 2012.

Parkland Pool to celebrate 50th anniversary

Celebrate Parkland Pool's 50th birthday at 7 p.m. Thursday with international entertainer and hypnotist Ronnie Baras, a Silver Spring native who has traveled the world performing "The Ronnie Baras Comedy Hypnotism and Mentalism Show."

Prior to becoming a well-known hypnotist, Baras was as a musician who once got to perform with the popular 1960s group, The Mamas and the Papas. He regularly performs in Las Vegas and has done hypnosis skits as far away as Israel and China.

The pool, located at 1124 Arcola Ave. in Wheaton, will opens to the public at 5 p.m. and Baras' show will begin at 7 p.m.

Folk festival fundraiser

in Takoma Park

The Takoma Park Folk Festival will hold a fundraising dinner from noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 18 at Mark's Kitchen Restaurant, 7006 Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park.

A portion of the sales from all meals and drinks purchased during the event will support the 2009 Takoma Park Folk Festival, set for Sept. 13. 

Participants are also welcome to sign up with on-site festival coordinators to volunteer or get advance information about the festival.

For more information, visit the festival's Web site, www.tpff.org.

Silver Spring school

holds open house

An open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Lutheran School, 9545 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring.

The school offers classes from kindergarten to eighth grade. For more information, call 301-589-4001, ext. 204, or e-mail mgall@celcs.org.

Applications for CDBG money now open in Takoma Park

Takoma Park will accept applications from community organizations through 4 p.m. Sept. 2 for portions of the $25,000 Community Development Block Grants for projects to improve community services and facilities, neighborhood revitalization and economic development.

An additional $100,000 is likely to be available to groups with capital projects aimed at helping low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, city officials reported.

Projects can be conducted individually or jointly with the City of Takoma Park. Applications for grants to be made available in 2011 can be filled out at the city's Housing and Community Development office in the Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., or online at www.takomapark

md.gov.

For more information, contact the housing department at 301-891-7224 or send an e-mail to SaraD@takoma

gov.org.

Attack of the tasty tomatoes

Love tomatoes? Then head down to Washington Gardner Magazine's second annual Tomato Tasting set for 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 22 at the Fresh Farm Market on Ellsworth Drive between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue.

Local farmers will showcase their best tomatoes and offer growing tips, recipes and more.

For more information, visit the magazine's Web site,

www.WashingtonGardener.com.

Fashion show to bring glam

to streets of Silver Spring

The Street Glam Fashion Event produced by Downtown Silver Spring, Kustom Looks Clothier and Evolutionary Man will be held from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday on Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring.

The event will feature exhibits, live mannequins, fashion art displays and two fashion shows and will conclude with a VIP Fashion Bash from 9 p.m. to midnight.

The first fashion show, titled "Street," will feature downtown Silver Spring merchants including Ann Taylor, New York & Company, Men's Wearhouse and Metamorphosis, with makeup and hair design by Ulta.

Korto Momolu, a popular semifinalist fashion designer on the Bravo show "Project Runway," will be an honorary guest at the Street Glam Fashion Show.

The event will be held rain or shine. In the event of rain, the fashion show location will be moved to 924 Ellsworth Drive.

Viewing areas of the fashion shows are free to the public. Tickets for seats surrounding the runway will be sold for $75. Tickets for seats and VIP admission will be $125. For more information or tickets, e-mail Lillian.downtownssp@gmail.com or call 301-455-5620.

Visit www.downtown

silverspring.com or www.dssfashion

show.com for detailed information about the Street Glam Fashion Show.

Long Branch Senior Center closed temporarily

The Long Branch Senior Center at 8700 Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring will remain closed for cleaning through Sunday.

Programs will resume Monday. Call 301-431-5708 for more information.

Send Silver Spring news to Staff Writer Jason Tomassini and Takoma Park news to Staff Writer Jeremy Arias at The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. The fax line is 240-473-7501. Tomassini can be reached at 240-473-7559 or jtomassini@gazette.net; Arias can be reached at 240-473-7564 or jarias@gazette.net.

Alzheimer's documentary

to be screened in Silver Spring

A special screening of the "Alzheimer's Project," an HBO documentary series on young children coping with grandparents that have Alzheimer's, will be held 6 p.m. Aug. 20 at Arden Courts Alzheimer's Assisted Living community at 2505 Musgrove Road in Silver Spring.

The screening will feature the film "Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?" with commentary from Maria Shriver.

For a reservation, call 301-847-3051 or e-mail silverspring@arden-courts.com.

Enter nonprofit raffle to win electric bike

Get into the green spirit and support the 28th annual Takoma Park Street Festival by entering the Main Street Takoma raffle at participating local businesses in Old Town Takoma Park.

The winner will be announced during the Street Festival on Oct. 4 and will receive a new eGo Cycle 2LX Electric Bike valued at about $2,400. Raffle tickets are available up until the drawing.

Tickets are available for $10 each or $45 for five at local shops including The Big Bad Woof at 117 Carroll St. in Takoma D.C., Now & Then crafts and gift store at 6927 Laurel Ave. and The Tranquil Soul at the corner of Westmoreland and Carroll avenues.

All proceeds will go to the Main Street Takoma Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to beautifying Old Town Takoma Park.