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Veteran's Plaza will get a taste of Chicago Sept. 11 as the 7th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival brings a shimmy and a shake to the steps of residents. The festival is set for 3:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at Veteran's Plaza, just outside the Silver Spring Civic Building at the intersection of Fenton Street and Ellsworth Drive. Headlining the all-day event will be world-renowned New Orleans legend Aaron Neville and his Quintet featuring Charles Neville. Other performers include Silver Spring's own superstar jazz pianist Marcus Johnson, as well as Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band, Rumba Club, and vocalist Janine Carter.

East County board potluck

The East County Citizens Advisory Board's annual cookout will be a potluck this year—blame the budget, folks!—but it's still a great way to meet East County community activists and board members. Bring your appetite (and a dish) out at 6:30 p.m. tonight to The Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Stick around afterward for the first fall board meeting, set to begin promptly at 7:15 p.m. For more information, call 240-777-8411.

African Heritage Month celebration planned

County Executive Isiah Leggett and the African Affairs Advisory Group invite you to celebrate African Heritage Month 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Silver Spring Civic Center, One Veterans Plaza (at the intersection of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street) in Silver Spring. The celebration pays tribute to 17 African Nations for 50 years of independence, and will feature community speakers followed by African cuisine and entertainment. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Daniel Koroma at 240-777-2584.

Fillmore groundbreaking

Before you can rock ‘n roll, you have dig through rocks and gravel. Fillmore music hall, the Live Nation concert venue set to come to Silver Spring by Sept. 2011, will break ground this week. A ceremony will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the construction entrance off Fenton behind the former J.C. Penney façade facing Colesville Road.

Booze and brains,

but this time at Jackie's

Before you know it, the zombies will be here. Last year, zombie-costumed Silver Springers participating in the annual Silver Spring Zombie Walk gathered at Quarry House, but the crowd quickly outgrew the cozy basement bar. This year, event organizers have announced they will be starting their intoxicated walk to a 9:45 screening Dawn of the Dead at AFI Silver Theater by meeting at the roomier Jackie's Sidebar and Backroom. Join the pre-walk party 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Jackie's, 8081 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. In the meantime, start brainstorming your creepiest zombie costume.

Local nonprofit

collecting toiletries

Community Vision, a support and education program for the area's homeless, is in desperate need of soap, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant. Even one bar of soap can make a difference in the lives of your neighbors. Drop off your donations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Community Vision, 8210 Colonial Lane in Silver Spring. If you can't make it during business hours, e-mail Sandra Miller at smiller@iworksmc.org to schedule a drop-off time and location.

Takoma soccer league

kicks off

With the next World Cup just four short years away, now is the perfect time to start training your son or daughter to be the next Sergio Ramos or Birgit Prinz by enrolling him or her in the Takoma Park Neighborhood Youth Soccer League.

A local recreational league serving the down-county area, the neighborhood league will hold a walk-in registration session from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the rear entrance of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave. while online registration is already open to the public at www.takomasoccer.org.

The season will officially begin Sept. 18, with older players beginning practices the week before opening day. Three separate divisions are available based on age from 3 year-olds on up through high school seniors for both boys and girls.

Beginning at the first-grade level, girls can choose to play on either a co-ed or an all-girls team. Registration costs $50 but scholarships are available, contact Howard Kohn for additional information at kohn@erols.com.

Takoma Park Folk Festival

set for Sept. 12

A lonely banjo twangs out a catchy rhythm in the warm, late summer air as a nearby fiddle finds its voice and the melodious tunes of a full-on folk band fires up to the delight of a crowd perusing arts and craft stalls and enjoying delicious local foods from over a dozen nearby stalls.

That's right Takoma Parkans and Silver Springittes, it's September again, and that can only mean one thing: the Takoma Park Folk Festival is back!

This year's festival, the 33rd since the event began in 1978, will be held from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Takoma Park Middle School grounds, 7611 Piney Branch Road. Performances will take place on seven stages around the school's fields and in the gymnasium featuring live music from local and nationally-known bands playing the best music America has to offer. Other activities include an arts and crafts area, local food vendors, learn-to-dance stages and much, much more.

The festival is also seeking volunteers. For those interested, please visit tpff.org/09/volInfo.htm for a full list of open volunteer positions and sing up to volunteer at tpff.org/10/volApp.htm. Children ages 5 to 17 may sign up with an adult, and student service learning hours are available.

The festival, as always, charges no admission and is completely open to the public. For additional information, including a detailed program, festival map, performers list and directions, please visit the festival website at www.tpff.org and may the folk be with you!

Recreation center

plans for open house

Get a sneak peek at your local recreation center's fall schedule at an open house event. Look into taking a dance class or using the open gym to shoot some hoops, or host a special event. The open house includes activities for all ages, live demonstrations, games and prizes. Swing by the Long Branch Community Center or the Marilyn Praisner Community Center from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 to learn more about what your center offers.

Send East County items to Staff Writer Jeanette Der Bedrosian at The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. The fax line is 240-473-7501. E-mail jderbedrosian@gazette.net.

Montgomery nonprofit

to host ribbon-cutting event

Montgomery Housing Partnership, a non-profit organization that develops rental and homeownership opportunities for low income families, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for Gilbert Highlands. County Executive Isiah Leggett will give a speech celebrating the event 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at 8508 Flower Ave. in Takoma Park.

Pooch pool party

The doggy paddle will be the stroke of choice at the Wheaton/

Glenmont pool from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 12. The pool will be closed to humans and open to pooches. Bring down your pup to cool off and splash around with other canine friends. All dogs must be owned by county residents and have a current Montgomery County dog license.

For more information, call 240-777-6820. The swim costs $5.