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A community playground next to St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Derwood re-opens Saturday, with the help of Kelsey Smith of Derwood. The Magruder High School senior has been working on her Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest achievement in Girl Scouts and is similar to the Boy Scout's Eagle Scout Award.

"It's pretty much a leadership project where you learn how to handle things on your own and run the show, I guess," said Smith. "Mine was rejuvenating the community playground."

A troop advisor and project advisor, Debbie Knuth of Rockville and Joe Ashcraft of Gaithersburg especially helped with planning and organizing the work, creating a proposal and purchasing supplies, Smith said. She recruited the help of friends, fellow Girl Scouts and her brother's Boy Scout troop — and over one month, the group flattened and replaced old mulch, did critical weeding, cut down overgrowth, removed leaves and debris, Smith said. When the dirty work was done, they stained wooden playground equipment.

Smith is hosting the park's grand re-opening from 1 to 3 p.m. at the playground, 17740 Muncaster Road, Derwood. She promised refreshments, balloons and fun for all.

For more information, contact Diana Smith at 301-978-9898 or

ddkesmith@yahoo.com.

Tell us what you're thankful for

Before the holidays get too hectic, take a minute to reflect on what you are thankful for. Tell us in 50 words or less what or who you will be giving thanks for during the holidays.

E-mail thoughts and photos to mchadwick@ gazette.net by Friday. Some responses will be printed in upcoming editions or on www.gazette.net.

Thanksgiving tradition

Reuse, recycle decorations

Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County launched its second annual Holiday Shoppe this month, offering an opportunity to reuse and recycle holiday decorations.

"The community has really responded," said Nicole Kunard, ReStore sales manager assistant in a statement announcing the Holiday Shoppe. Customers who bring in donations receive 10 percent off purchases.

The nonprofit retail outlet opened last year and specializes in the resale of new and gently used furniture, appliances and building materials. All materials are donated by retail businesses, suppliers and residents and resold to the public at 50 to 75 percent below retail prices.

Kunard said that the Holiday Shoppe helped build returns for the ReStore by 65 percent in November 2008, and by 18 percent in December 2008.

Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 6 p.m. on Thursdays at the ReStore, 9100 Gaither Road. Donations are tax-deductible and proceeds support the county Habitat for Humanity to build houses for low-income families. For details, call 301-947-3304 or visit www.ReStoreMoCo.org.

Shop for crafts, help the hungry

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival and Manna Food Center of Gaithersburg are partnering to help raise money and food donations to help feed the hungry in Montgomery County. Residents may bring nonperishable food items to a Manna booth near the festival's food court or buy special discounted tickets with a Manna rate online, said Kim Damion, director of development.

"Manna has a list of foods Manna needs on our Web site, but really it's all the good you have stuck in your pantry: Pasta, cereal, peanut butter, tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, rice beans, all those kind of things," Damion said.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Buy a "Friends of Manna" ticket at www.sugarloafcrafts.com/manna/ and receive a $2 discount and Sugarloaf will donate $2 to Manna. Tickets are $8.

An added bonus: Donate $5 or more at the Manna Food Center booth at the festival and Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will give you a complimentary ticket to the Sugarloaf Craft Spring Show.

Volunteers are needed to staff this event. Contact Manna's Volunteer Coordinator at 301-424-1130 or

volunteer@mannafood.org.

Help pets during the holidays

Long & Foster real estate agent Deborah Hartten is reaching out to help animal rescue groups. The Kentlands businesswoman has organized "Warm Hearts, Happy Paws," an in-kind donation drive to benefit participating rescue groups that spend volunteer hours and dollars to foster pets and find them permanent homes.

Rescue groups including Lizzy's Lodge, McWag Rescue and the Montgomery County Humane Society are participating and have posted wish lists on Hartten's Long & Foster Web site, http://WarmHeartsHappyPaws.info. Needed items run from leashes and pet collars to bowls, toys and blankets.

Drop off your new or almost-new items Nov. 21-Dec. 13 at Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Gaithersburg, 218 Kentlands Blvd., Maple Springs Veterinary Hospital, 14925 Dufief Mill Road in Gaithersburg.

In Rockville, two animal hospitals are also collecting donations. Bring items to Kenhaven Animal Hospital, 12311 Wilkins Ave. and Nebel Street Animal Hospital, 12100 Nebel St.

Donations can also be brought to King Farm's Pawlitics, 404 King Farm Blvd., Suite 140, Pro-Feed Pet Nutrition Center, 5542 Randolph Road and Plow & Hearth, Congressional Plaza, 1625 Rockville Pike.

Girl Scout fun

Come see what Girl Scouts is all about at an event for Kindergarten-5th grade from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Stedwick Community Center, 10401 Stedwick Road, Montgomery Village.

For $5, girls will visit stations where they will decorate a bandana, help pitch a tent, make crafts, learn some songs and make s'mores.

The day is designed to allow area elementary students to come by and see what Girl Scouts do and enjoy a simulated camping trip. Girls can also register to become Scouts for an annual fee of $12.

Pre-registration is necessary. For more information, contact Rebecca Matthews at Rebeccam999@aol.com.

Fall for the stars

Drink and dine Saturday night to benefit animals at Star Gazing Farm in Boyds, a safe haven for unwanted, abused and neglected farm animals.

The second annual "Fall for the Stars: a Wine Tasting Event to Benefit Star Gazing Farm" runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Germantown Historical Bank, 19320 Mateny Hill Road, Germantown.

Supporters can enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres, a gallery exhibit and a sale of paintings and prints by equine artist Francine d'Antuono. The night includes a silent auction and holiday craft shop with beautiful handcrafted items made from wool culled at the farm.

All funds raised by the nonprofit will go to house and feed the animals.

For more information, call Anne Schroeder at 301-349-0802 or e-mail farmeranne@stargazingfarm.org.

Dinner at the firehouse

The Laytonsville Fire Department Auxiliary is hosting a spaghetti dinner Saturday — all you can eat and carryout from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Laytonsville District Volunteer Fire Department, 21400 Laytonsville Road. For details, contact Patricia Baker at 240-370-2065 or bakersmom_17@yahoo.com.

Photography show at Arts Barn

Well-travelled photographer Les Grinspoon of Potomac will show his work through Nov. 29 at Arts Barn Invitational Gallery in the Kentlands, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg.

Grinspoon's travels have taken him to South America, Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Italy. Scenes of the Amalfi Coast, Positano, and vibrant Italian streets "punctuate his portfolio with colorful landscapes and insightful close-ups," said city spokeswoman Britta Monaco in a statement.

Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For details, call 301-258-6350 or 301-258-6394 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn.

Send items to Patricia M. Murret via e-mail at pmurret@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.