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The 2009-2010 Resurrection Catholic Church concert series continues at 6 p.m. Sunday with a performance by Harolyn Blackwell, soprano opera singer and stage performer. One of Washington, D.C.'s own, Blackwell will perform a recital of arias by Rodrigo, Haydn, Britten, Rachmaninoff and Dvorak. Blackwell has performed on stages worldwide, in Broadway musicals and at the White House. A reception will follow the recital. All concerts in the series are free, though donations of $15 are suggested. For more information, visit http://resurrectionadw.org/

concert_series.html

Local band to play

at La Chapala

Local band Luisa & The Reverbs will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at La Chapala Restaurant at 15530 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. For more information, visit

www.chapala-restaurant.com

Take an ‘Enchanted tour'

of Forest Glen

Join the Save Our Seminary group beginning at 1 p.m. Nov. 28 for the last guided walking tour of the historic Silver Spring Seminary district in Forest Glen this season. The tour will meet at 2755 Cassedy St., and parking signs will be posted along Linden Lane.

The tour will highlight the seminary's many historic buildings, including the ballroom and other interesting landmarks in the district. Registration is not required, but there is a suggested donation of $5 per person.

For more information, please call the Save Our Seminary nonprofit group at 301-589-1715, or visit the group's Web site,

www.saveourseminary.org.

Burtonsville-based landscaping business wins merit award

Premier Plantscapes, a Burtonsville-based landscaping business, received a national merit award from the Professional Landcare Network for their installation of a green roof on the Bentley Building in Sandy Spring. The technology used by the company absorbs heat, allowing plants to grow in extreme temperatures. It also lowers energy costs and reduces storm runoff. Premier Plantscapes' Patrick Cullen is now working on his third green roof in the Washington area.

Senior brush-up course

on driver safety

Senior citizens are encouraged to stay safe on the road by attending a four-hour driver-safety class from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. The class costs $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-AARP members. Seating is limited, so register early by calling 240-777-8400.

Ideas for giving

this holiday season

The Thanksgiving season is a time when many of us think about all that we have and all that we are thankful for. Here are some opportunities to consider as a way to give back this Thanksgiving holiday.

-Help families through the Holiday Giving Project of Montgomery County. The Holiday Giving Project, led by Interfaith Works, a non-sectarian community ministry in the county, provides food and gifts to families in need for the November and December holidays. Last year 9,000 county families received food, toys and essentials from donations. Individuals, groups and families can give gift certificates for food, clothing or toys as well as sponsor a food drive or adopt a family. For more information visit www.iworks

mc.org/holidaygiving.html.

-Participate or volunteer for a 5K or half-marathon. Do good Thanksgiving Day while running off turkey by choosing from one of a plethora of 5Ks or half-marathons in and around the county. For example, the YMCA Bethesda Chevy Chase hosts the Turkey Chase. Call Pam Mintz at 301-229-1347 or send an e-mail to Pam.Mintz@ymcadc.org to volunteer. Fannie Mae also hosts a Help the Homeless Walk. Visit www.helpthehomelessdc.org for more information.

-Be a Friendly Visitor. Not everyone can be in their true home or with their families come Thanksgiving Day. Visit your local hospital, nursing home or retirement home and spend time with the people there or help serve their Thanksgiving meal.

Seeking craft vendors

for Winterfest

Resurrection Catholic Church is seeking crafters for its annual Winterfest, held from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 at the church, 3315 Greencastle Road in Burtonsville. All jewelry and cosmetic vendor spaces are full, but other types of crafters are welcome to register for a booth. The festival includes a bake sale, breakfast with Santa, a raffle and a silent auction in addition to the craft sales. Registration costs $85 for both days, though single-day registration is also available. For more information or to register, call Phyllis Bottegal at 301-260-1528 or e-mail dbottegal@aol.com.

Wanted: snacks for backpacks

Nonperishable snack items are needed for the Valley Brook Community Church's new project to supply five low-income families with backpacks full of snack items. The project gives donations monthly and organizers hope to expand their efforts throughout the school year. Donors can bring nonperishable snack items to the church at 3333 Spencerville Road in Burtonsville. Drop-off times are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For more information, call the church at 301-476-9499.

Buy local bulbs, earn

local gardens funds

The Friends of Brookside Gardens, a support group of the public Wheaton gardens, has registered for the Bloomin' Bucks fundraising program by Brent and Becky's Bulbs. Anyone planning to purchase bulbs from Brent and Becky's Bulbs should visit their Web site, www.bloomin

bucks.com, and select "Friends of Brookside Gardens." Friends of Brookside Gardens will earn 25 percent of all sales designated with their name. This program runs until mid-November, so get spring bulbs orders in now.

Friends of Brookside Gardens taking wreath sale orders

Back by popular demand, the Friends of Brookside Gardens will hold their annual Wreath and Centerpiece Sale from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12 at the visitor's center in Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave. in Wheaton. Although the sale is months away, the group is already taking orders. Two types and sizes of wreaths will be sold: 18-inch Boxwood wreaths made exclusively by Friends members and 24-inch Balsam Fir wreaths shipped in fresh from Maine. Boxwood centerpieces will also be sold. To obtain a preorder form, visit the Brookside Gardens Web site at www.brooksidegardens.org or pick one up one the next time at the gardens. For questions, call 301-962-1435.

Free legal advice for low-income residents available

Low-income residents can receive free legal advice on the first and second Thursdays of each month, courtesy of the Montgomery County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program in partnership with Eastern Montgomery Regional Services.

The clinic will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 and 9. A client intake must be completed before 6 p.m. on the night of each clinic. The clinics will be held at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Center at 3300 Briggs Chaney Road.

For more information, call the Pro Bono Program from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 301-424-7651.

Donations needed for international Christmas charity

Residents can drop off school supplies and toys for children ages 2-13 between 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday to Nicholas Dental Care, 3905 National Drive, Suite 170, in Burtonsville. The dentist's office's annual open house will be collecting supplies for Samaritan's Purse, which donates shoe boxes of supplies to children worldwide. For more information, call 301-989-0088.

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.