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Just in time for Valentine's Day, ladies and gents: Stop by two farms for some sweet deals on yarn and crafts as well as free chocolate.

Dancing Leaf Farm, 21920 Beallsville Road in Barnesville, and Kiparoo Farm, 2110 D Pleasant Road in Adamstown, will host their 5th annual fiber sale from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. The sale includes hand-painted yarns, roving, jewelry and notions. Rain date is Feb. 14.

For more information, visit www.dancingleaffarm.com or www.kiparoofarmstudio.com. Call Dancing Leaf at 301-972-8089 or Kiparoo at 301-874-6348.

An evening out

Looking for a way to have a special night with your special little girl? Take your daughter dancing on Saturday at the Lodge at Little Seneca Creek in Boyds.

There will be music and refreshments. The cost is $25 per couple for dads and their daughters, ages 7-14. The fun is 7-9 p.m. at the lodge, 14500-A Clopper Road, Boyds.

Register at www.parkpass.org/

Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?cid=65048. And send your photos of your night out for possible publication in The Gazette to mchadwick@

gazette.net or post your own gallery at spotted.gazette.net.

Johnson wins oratorical contest

Two high school students went head-to-head Jan. 24 in the annual Oratorical Contest at Damascus American Legion Post 171.

Speaking about the United States constitution, Brittney Johnson, a senior from Damascus High School, edged out Eric Somasundarum, a junior at Seneca Valley High School, for first place honors. Brittney will represent the post at the Montgomery County contest at Boyds Presbyterian Church Saturday.

Johnson is president of all the Montgomery County high schools' student government associations, including the Damascus High School student government association at Damascus. In her oration, she spoke candidly about the challenges facing young Americans today.

Somasundarum was the first place winner in the post's 2008 contest, and he was also the Montgomery County winner last year. He serves as the Operations Officer of the Seneca Valley High School Naval Junior ROTC program. His oration focused on the hope America offers to the rest of the world, particularly in these extraordinary times.

Who did it?

Enjoy a night of intrigue at a murder mystery dinner in Poolesville.

The show will go on at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 20100 Fisher Ave., from 6:30-10:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 per person and benefit St. Peter's Senior High Youth Group.

The play centers around a celebrity-filled birthday party hosted by a rich Texas oilman in 1961. The guests, including Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Elvis Presley, when their host is murdered.

Dinner is a Texas-style barbecue, and there will be a silent auction. Guests are encouraged to dress as their assigned character.

For reservations, contact Amy at stpeterssenioryouth@gmail.com.

Campus Congratulations

Mallory Veillette of Poolesville was named to the fall dean's list at Frostburg State University.

Lauren T. Duvall of Germantown was named to the fall dean's list at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Tucker Eagleson of Germantown graduated from York College of Pennsylvania in December with a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations.

Elizabeth C. Hill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Hill of Boyds was named to the fall dean's list at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.

Laura M. Snyder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Snyder of Germantown, was named to the fall dean's list at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.

Help the needy

The Upper Montgomery County Assistance Network is looking for volunteers to answer phone calls from families or individuals in need of emergency financial assistance to prevent eviction or utility disconnection, according to the nonprofit.

Volunteer work could include completing intake forms and coordinating assistance with community agencies.

Spanish language skills are a plus but not required, said Regina Mastromarino, UMAN's executive director.  For more information, contact Mastromarino at 301-926-4422 or gina_mastro@uman-mc.org. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. 

Keeping Montgomery County beautiful

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation recently named business and retailers among 28 winners of its 22nd Annual Keep Montgomery County Beautiful community beautification awards. Upcounty residents were among 15 amateur photographers honored.

The Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg won a "cityscape" excellence award for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps and next to sidewalks.

Noted outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries included Montgomery County Fairgrounds' Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden in Gaithersburg, which won an award of excellence.

And for the tri-fecta: Three-time winners of an excellence award included Courts of Devon in Gaithersburg.

Keep Montgomery Beautiful's 17th Annual Amateur Photography Contest judged submitted photos on effective composition, originality, interest and relevance of the subject matter and technique, according to a county statement.

Dottie Schmidt of Rockville won third place in the color category for her photograph, "Lake Needwood in Autumn." Jin Holland of Brookville's "Morning Stroll" won first place in "Montgomery County by Day."

Beth Koller of Glenmont, Keith Kerr of Germantown and Xiyong Zhang of Rockville won first-, second- and third-place awards for their photos of county landmarks with "The Springs," "Clopper's Mill" and "Fruitful Waterfall."

Sabine Dickens of Montgomery Village took first place in the "Montgomery County, Her People" category," which called for close-up or distant photos of people involved in county activities, from leisure activity to community service, with "Enjoying a Sunny Winter Day."

Timothy Noble II of Gaithersburg won third place for "Faded Glory" in the category "Montgomery County at Work."

Police Citizen Academy accepting applications

The Montgomery County Police Department is currently accepting applications for future sessions of the Citizen Academy. The program is free, but participants must be 18 years of age or older and either live or work in Montgomery County.

Participants are required to attend 14 of the 18 classes to be eligible for graduation. Some of the topics include: Maryland Traffic Law, investigations of major crimes, drug identification, scams and fraud, firearm safety, a canine demonstration, DUI/underage drinking, and the procedures of the Emergency Response Team. Academy members may tour the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds, participate in a ride-along with a police officer and attend Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation classes.

The spring session is scheduled to begin the first week of March. Contact Officer Michele Smith at Michele.Smith@montgomerycountymd.gov, or at 301-840-2771. Learn more about the program and get an application on the Montgomery County Police Web site: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/police on the "Training and Education Division" homepage under the Management Services Division of "Divisions and Stations."

Share your good news! Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Germantown-Boyds-Poolesville Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Photos will be considered.