Girl Scouts collect items to help children in Ghana

Upcounty Girl Scouts recently finished collecting school supplies for 294 first- through fourth-grade students in Ghana.

The girls collected paper, pencils, pens, hand towels and soap for the students, 11 teachers and a cook at Anum Elementary School in Ghana, Lyons wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette.

The project was coordinated with Grace Kumi Aaron, who founded Children’s Health International to help provide medical care and education for children in Ghana. Aaron, who was born in Ghana, is a nurse at Bethesda Naval Medical Center.

In October, Aaron taught the Scouts about conditions in Ghana and shared pictures of the children and the school.

The Scouts filled care packages and labeled each box with the name of one student. They filled extra boxes with paper, soap, washcloths, pens, pencils and crayons.

Aaron’s foundation will ship the items to Ghana. She will be in Ghana to distribute the supplies and take photographs to share with the Scouts, Lyons said.

For more information, contact Lyons at 301-540-6233 or christylyons1@mac.com.

Literary events continue

The Germantown Library, BlackRock Center for the Arts and Montgomery College-Germantown have teamed up to host a series of events through the year.

The first event, a poetry reading accompanied by music, was last week at BlackRock.

The second event is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the library, 19840 Century Blvd. Author Tracy Matthew Melton will discus his book ‘‘Hanging Henry Gambrill: The Violent Career of Baltimore’s Plug Uglies, 1854-1860.”

There will be light refreshments and a book signing.

Begun as loose neighborhood social groups, Baltimore’s gangs were affiliated with the volunteer fire companies and served as shock troops for political parties. At the height of their power, the Plug Uglies perpetrated mayhem from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.

The program is sponsored by Montgomery County Public Libraries and Friends of the Library, Germantown Chapter.

ADA accommodations must be requested five business days in advance. For more information, call the library at 240-777-0110.

Poolesville book sale

Check out some books, CDs and DVDs for keeps at the Poolesville Library on Saturday.

The Poolesville Library Advisory Committee is also seeking donations of books, CDs and DVDs in good condition. Items can be dropped off at the meeting room from 2-9 p.m. today, March 5, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call the library at 240-773-9550.

Share your home

Share American culture and traditions with students from Spain this summer.

Intercultural Friends Foundation is looking for host families for the teens, 13-17, who will arrive June 24 and return to Spain July 22.

The students are coming to learn about the United States and to get to know an American family. The host families are invited to many group activities.

Service Learning Hours are available for assisting in the conversational English classes. For more information, visit www.iffusa.org and call Dawn and Steve Hancock at 301-916-1171.

Congratulations

* Germantown resident Kristen Mitchell, a sophomore at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, was elected to the 2008 Spring Court. She is the daughter of John and Robin Mitchell.

* LeslieCaroline Haymon was named to the dean’s honor roll for the fall 2007 semester at The University of Oklahoma in Norman.

MS fundraiser

California Tortilla in Germantown Town Center will be donating a portion of their proceeds to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for all food items purchased 5-8 p.m. on March 13.

Diners must mention ‘‘MS Walk” when ordering. This event will help raise money for MS research and direct assistance to local families impacted by MS.

The 2008 Walk MS takes place the weekend of April 5 and 6. To make a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, visit www.msandyou.org.

For more information about the Burrito-A-Thon, e-mail mswalk@adamhartman.com.

Handy folks wanted

The Poolesville chapter of Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit that repairs the homes of low-income individuals or families, has scheduled this year’s effort for April 26.

Organizers are looking for individuals and groups to donate money or supplies and spend the day making renovations. For more information, call 301-972-8020 or e-mail shorvath10@aol.com.

English Conversational Club starting at Little Bennett

Little Bennett Elementary School parents are invited to join an English Conversational Club beginning next week.

The club will meet once a month beginning Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

The goal of the club is to give international parents and caregivers the opportunity to practice English in a relaxed environment, learn about school regulations, and learn strategies to improve their child’s academic and social performance at school.

Principal Shawn Miller will answer questions during the meetings, which will be held in Room 211. The school is located at 23930 Burdette Forest Road in Clarksburg.

The PTA International Event committee organized the club, which is supported by the school administration. For more information, contact Ivonne Bruneau-Botello at btll@aol.com.

Sign up forspring break camp

Children ages 10-13 are invited to a basketball and chess camp at the Damascus Community Recreation Center during spring break.

Children will have a chance to play competitive basketball and learn chess skills from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 25-28. The camp is co-sponsored by Simple Living Arrangements and the county Recreation Department. The cost is $70.

For more information, call Paula Rodgers at 240-777-6952 or Trish Jeffers at 240-777-6971.

Submissions for People and Places must be received by 10 a.m. Thursday. Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.