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Resurrection Catholic Church will celebrate its annual Winterfest from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the church, 3315 Greencastle Road in Burtonsville. Visitors can shop for friends and family at the festival's jewelry, cosmetics and craft booths. The free festival includes a bake sale, a raffle and a silent auction in addition to the craft sales. For more information, call the church at 301-236-5200.

East County board

meeting tonight

East County residents are invited to voice their opinions and ask questions at the monthly East County Citizens Advisory Board meeting at 7:15 p.m. tonight at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. An open forum is held at the start of each meeting for residents to bring up topics of interest. For more information, call 240-777-8400.

Burtonsville Toastmasters member commended

Ashok Joshi of the Voice of Burtonsville Toastmasters club came to the United States speaking only Hindi. Now a federal employee, Joshi recently completed the educational requirements for designation as a Toastmasters Competent Communicator, according to Susan Ellsworth, vice president of public relations for the chapter. To celebrate the occasion, Joshi received an e-mail from Deepak Menon, a distinguished toastmaster and the district governor for all Toastmasters clubs in India and Sri Lanka. "I am delighted to learn of a fellow countryman who has gained from his Toastmasters membership thanks to your efforts and those of the members of your club," read the e-mail.

‘Tis the season for carols

The Church of the Resurrection will be hosting a concert of contrasting Christmas carols for women's voices and harp 6 p.m. Sunday at the church, 3315 Greencastle Road in Burtonsville. Voix de Femmes will perform "A Ceremony of Carols" by Benjamin Britten and "Dancing Day" by John Rutter. The concert will feature harpist Julia Mae Staley and three a cappella pieces by the chamber choir. A reception will follow. Though the concert is free, a donation of $10 is suggested. For more information, call 1-866-364-6418 or visit http://

resurrectionadw.org/concert_series.

html.

Free legal-advice clinics

The Montgomery County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program, along with the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, provides free legal advice to low-income residents. Clinics will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 at the center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Clients must sign in before 6 p.m. For more information, call the Pro Bono program 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 301-424-7651.

Pulitzer Prize-winner to speak at White Oak Library

Michael Dirda, a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Washington Post, will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 at the White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. He will discuss his latest book, "Classics for Pleasure," and his work reviewing books for the Post. Books will be available for sale and signing. The event is free and is sponsored by The Friends of the Library, White Oak Chapter. For more information, contact the White Oak Library at 240-773-9555.

Registration open for winter-recreation programs

Get a head start on your New Year's resolution, whether it's losing weight, learning to swim or taking a belly-dancing class. Registration is now open for the Montgomery County Recreation Department's winter-session programs. A full list of programs is available on the department's Web site, http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec. For more information, call 240-777-6840.

Get in the holiday spirit

with the Garden of Lights

Brookside Garden's Garden of Lights, which features nearly a million twinkling lights arranged in displays of the four seasons, is open at the conservatory, 1800 Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton. Now in its 13th season, the light show has new, moving displays of a flock of geese and an 11-foot giraffe. Visitors can also listen to music performances and do some shopping at the holiday gift shop, Marylandica. The display is open nightly through Jan. 3, with the exception of December 24th and 25th. The Conservatory Winter Display with Train Exhibit is only open from Dec. 5 through Jan. 3. Tickets are cash-only and cost $15/car on weeknights and $20/car on weekends. For more information, visit http://www.montgomeryparks.org/

brookside/garden_lights.shtm.

Christmas trees for a cause

The Burtonsville Lions Club is again selling Christmas trees to support various local charities. The sale will occur 3 to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends through Dec. 21 on the south side of Route 198, just east of Route 29 toward Laurel. Tree prices are the same as last year, $25 for concolor firs, $40 for Douglas firs and $55 for Frazier firs. Santa Claus will visit the tree lot from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13. Each child will receive a toy and a photograph with Old Saint Nick.

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.iworksmc.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.

Friends of Brookside Gardens taking orders for wreath sale

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 12th at the visitor's center in Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave. in Wheaton. 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.

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 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For more information, call the church at 301-476-9499.

On the horizon: January

police-safety meeting

Looking to help make East County a little safer? Mark your calendars so you can join neighbors and local business owners at the January IDA sector meeting, named after the police sector of White Oak and Briggs Chaney. The meeting will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Call 240-777-8400 with questions.

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.

Noncredit Spanish classes to be held in Briggs Chaney

Montgomery College is offering two non-credit Spanish classes to be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday evenings at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center at 3300 Briggs Chaney Road. Spanish I (part 1) and Spanish I (part 2) will be held through Dec. 14. To register, go to www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/ce/foreignlanguages02.html. For information about class schedules or cost, contact Martha Price at 240-567-5515 or Martha.price@montgomerycollege.edu.

Evening English classes open to Montgomery Residents

Interested Montgomery County residents can register for English classes, which will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Episcopal Church of our Savior at 1700 Powder Mill Road in Hillandale.

The course, offered by the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation, in partnership with Crossway Community Center and Casa of Maryland, costs $20, but scholarships are available. Students are accepted on a rolling basis and can register by arriving 15 minutes early to the class location.

Silver Spring learning center looking for high school tutors

The Gapbuster Learning Center in Silver Spring is looking for high school and adult volunteers to tutor young students.

Volunteers are needed from 3 to 6 p.m. High school students should be in grades 10 to 12.

The Gapbuster Learning Center is a community-based program dedicated to closing the academic performance gap of students in Montgomery County. For information on how to volunteer, contact Sheila Clyburn at 301-779-4252 or at gblc_office@yahoo.com.

For more information on Gapbuster Learning Center, visit www.gapbuster.org.

Senior volunteer drivers needed

The Senior Connection urgently needs Montgomery County residents to volunteer to help their neighbors 62 and older live as independently as possible by providing escorted transportation to medical appointments, helping with grocery shopping and running errands, and paying a visit or making a phone call to share companionship.

The time commitment and schedule are flexible and volunteers are provided with life-skills training and recognition events. The Senior Connection also provides volunteer liability insurance coverage.

Call The Senior Connection at 301-962-0820 or e-mail seniorconnectionmc@gmail.com.

Volunteers sought for blood collection

The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers ages 14 and older to assist its blood-collection staff at blood drives and blood-donor centers.

Responsibilities include greeting donors and providing them with essential reading materials, serving refreshments and observing donors for post-donation reactions to giving blood.

Volunteers will be trained and must make a commitment of two or more blood-collection events each month. Blood drives last four to six hours.

To register for training or for more information, call the American Red Cross volunteer office at 800-272-0094, Ext. 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.