Growing the seeds of peace at Warner

Tonight, Jan Moody, a Christian educator, will explore the theology behind peacemaking and Peace Corps volunteers Shelley Swendiman and Paul Massey will share their experiences of teaching young people. Both Swendiman and Massey are Warner Young Adults, a religious and social group for young adults in the area.

Also through March, the church is accepting donations of juice boxes and prepackaged snacks for Rainbow Place, a women’s shelter in Rockville. The items will be used for bag lunches given to the residents when they leave the shelter for the day.

The Warner Youth group collected 200 cans of soup and $270 on Super Bowl Sunday for Rainbow Place.

For more information on the programs at Warner Memorial, located at10123 Connecticut Ave., contact June Eakin at 301-949-2900 or WarnerMemorial@comcast.net or visit www.warnermemorial.org.

Vendors, writers welcomeat Kensington’s book day

Authors, artists, book crafters and literary groups can sign up to participate in the Kensington International Day of the Book festival planned for April 27.

Approximately 1,500 people attended the third annual event on Howard Avenue last year, and Elisenda Sola-Hopper, owner of the Kensington Row Book Shop, said more visitors and participants are expected this year.

‘‘The festival is a celebration of local authors and the importance of books in our community,” said Sola-Hopper, festival organizer. ‘‘[It celebrates] the book not just as pages of words, but as art, music and knowledge.”

A $20 participation fee covers the cost of the tents, and vendors and exhibitors supply their own set up.

Sola-Hopper said groups making a presentation, demonstration or children’s activity are asked to schedule it ahead of time by calling 301-949-9416.

For more information about the festival, visit www.DayoftheBook.com or e-mail kensingtonbookfestival@gmail.com.

Black History Monthcelebrated at temple

The Mormon temple visitors’ center in Kensington partnered with the Northern Arundel Cultural Preservation Society for a Black History Month exhibit.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple will host a fireside chat at 7 p.m., Saturday.

Preservation society members and guests will share family legacies, educational and athletic accomplishments and business achievements despite the climate of segregation.

Temple officials said the multimedia presentation is features video clips, vintage photos and rare memorabilia to vividly punctuate these accounts.

The overall exhibit ‘‘Trails, Tracks, Tarmac: Lives of African Americans in the History and Culture of Northern Anne Arundel County, 1850 to Present” will be on display through March 2008.

The visitors’ center is located at 9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington. For more information, call 301-587-0144.

Healthy heartsafter Valentine’s Day

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women, according to medical experts, and the Town of Kensington will offer a free heart and wellness clinic Saturday.

The George Washington University Hospital will offer a free health clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell St.

Free blood cholesterol and other lipids tests, electrocardiograms, blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI) calculation, cardiac risk assessment tools and diet consultations will be offered to all.

Participants are asked to fast before attending the clinic to get accurate test results.

Dr. Cindy Tracy, director of cardiac services at the hospital, and other medical professionals will be on hand to answer questions.

For more information, call 301-949-2424.

Square dancingin Kensington

Members of the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Kensington can teach anyone to square dance in a weekend, and will prove it from Feb. 29 through March 2.

‘‘It’s a family activity and it’s good for adults as well as for children,” said Lou Mastrobattista, square dancer and event organizer. ‘‘You get to meet a lot of people, make new friends and it’s just great.”

The ‘‘Leap Year Blast” classes will be taught by the Village Swingers, Saturday-in-Style, and Gerrymanders square dance clubs.

The deadline to register for the classes, held at the church at 3101 University Blvd., Kensington, is Feb. 15.

Classes run from 7:30-10:30 p.m., Feb. 29 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 1. Tickets are $30, which includes lunch on the second day. The weekend culminates in a square dance from 7-11 p.m., March 2. And all proceeds from the night are used to rent the hall.

For more information, call Kenny Farris at 301-490-6279 or Shirley Heintzelman at 301-929-1472.

This column is for you. Share your good news! Feel free to send press releases and news tips. Contact Patrick Dunne via e-mail at pdunne@gazette.net, phone at 301-280-3005, fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.