Crossing Georgia earns award

Natalie Cantor, director of the Mid-County Regional Services Center, said her staff looks for an association that is just starting to create a sense of community or one that is very active and doing something for the betterment of the community.

‘‘[Crossing Georgia] has done such marvelous things in a short time,” she said.

The award will be presented at the Wheaton-Kensington Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner 6:30 p.m. March 21 at Hollywood East Café, 2621 University Blvd., Wheaton. Adam Pagnucco, chairman of the subcommittee, also was named ‘‘Citizen of the Year.”

Paul Gordon, president of the Forest Estates Community Association, said he was very excited to hear the news.

‘‘I am just so glad to live in my neighborhood,” he said. ‘‘It’s an incredible neighborhood [with] a fantastic community association.”

He said he was also happy to see Pagnucco recognized for his work.

‘‘A lot of people have worked really hard on this effort, but no one has worked as hard as Adam,” he said.

Pagnucco remained modest about his recognition.

‘‘The recognition is nice but our purpose is to protect people at Georgia Avenue and Forest Glen Road,” he said. ‘‘That’s why we were organized and that’s what we will continue to do.”

The Forest Estates Community Association consists of 700 homes on the eastern side of Georgia Avenue between Dennis Avenue and Sanford Road.

Meditation sessions offered at church

The New Creation Church will offer meditation 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. every second Saturday of the month at the church, 11005 Dayton St., Wheaton. For more information, call 301-649-6000.

On campus

Silver Spring residents Marian Seat, Jonathan Selby, Kimberly Dunn, Meera Alexander, Ryan Freed, Kimberly Coyle and Lindsay Propes were all named to the dean’s list for the fall 2006 semester at the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University.

Salib Yoler of Silver Spring studied in India during Salisbury University’s Winter Study Abroad Program. Yoler, a 2003 John F. Kennedy High School graduate, is a senior psychology major and on the dean’s list.

Joshua Paul Wiedermann of Silver Spring was named to the dean’s list at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., for the fall 2006 semester.

Sara Pierce, a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2006 semester at the College of Wooster, Ohio.

Samantha Widder of Silver Spring earned highest honors for the fall semester at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Marina Cathrine Callahan and Carmen Sanders of Silver Spring graduated in December from Hood College, Frederick.

Stroke associationholds programs

The Montgomery County Stroke Association will sponsor a stroke support program 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. today at Leisure World of Maryland, 14901 Pennfield Circle, Silver Spring. The group will meet at Club House No. 1 on Rossmoor and Leisure World boulevards within the complex. MCSA will hold a second support group for stroke survivors and family caregivers 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 28 at the same location. For more information, call Abbott Roseman at 301-598-3904. For more information about MCSA, call 301-681-6272 or visit www.mcstroke.org.

Focus on Wellness Series continues at Holiday Park

Caregiver stress will be the topic of part 2 of this year’s Focus on Wellness Series 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. March 21 at Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton. Elia Femia of Arden Courts of Kensington will discuss signs of caregiver stress and how to cope with it. The event is free. For more information, call 240-777-4999.

Holiday Park happenings

Eric Johnson, a clinical pharmacologist and geriatric medication management specialist, will hold a lecture on how multiple medications can affect seniors’ health 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. today at Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton. This program is part of the Focus on Wellness Series 2007, which is cosponsored by Arden Courts of Kensington.

Mark Gottleib, an insurance agent and expert on the mature market, is holding the first of his two information sessions on financial products 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. March 14 at Holiday Park. Call 240-777-4999.

Harlem MagicMastersto perform at Wheaton HS

A basketball group known as the Harlem MagicMasters will put on a show 7 p.m. Thursday at Wheaton High School, 12601 Dalewood Drive. The Harlem MagicMasters is a New York City group of male and female basketball players, which tours the country to perform. The tickets are $6 for students and $8 for adults in advance. Prices are $2 more at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Wheaton High School Athletic Department. For more information, call Ron McGaw at 301-929-2080.

Northwood mulch sale

Northwood High School is holding a mulch sale to benefit student athletes and after-prom activities. Orders will be taken through Friday. Bags may be purchased for pickup at $3.50 a bag or delivered for $3.75 a bag. The minimum order for delivery is 12 bags and bags cannot be delivered more than five miles from the school. Bags will be delivered March 17 and 18. People can pick up their orders March 17 at Northwood High School, 919 University Blvd. W., Silver Spring. For more information, contact Louise Jung at 301-589-0374 or ljungatheart@yahoo.com.

What can kids do?

Find out the kind of skills youngsters can do on their own at the seventh annual Can Do Kids Fair, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center, 2450 Lyttonsville Road.

The fair is sponsored by the non-profit Parent Encouragement Program and allows children to demonstrate practical skills they have mastered. Some activities include preparing healthy foods, writing thank-you notes, folding a shirt, learning manners, pet care, shopping within a small budget and painting a wall.

Kids will also be able to brush up on their manners and skills like cleaning their rooms. Teenage volunteers will help and encourage children.

Cost is $10 per person with a maximum of $40 per family. Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling the PEP office at 301-929-8824. Those interested should call before Friday.

Items for People and Places may be sent to Kristina Gawrgy, The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. The fax line is 240-473-7501; or e-mail kgawrgy@gazette.net. Call 240-473-7559. Deadline is one week prior to publication.

Nominate acounty volunteer

The Montgomery County Volunteer Center is seeking nominations for two awards that recognize outstanding county volunteers, the ‘‘Marriott Spirit to Serve Community Award” and the ‘‘Path of Achievement Award.”

The Marriott award honors people who represent diversity in the types of volunteer activities and ages and geographic locations they serve. Five nominees are honored at a ceremony in April and will receive $500 for each volunteer program.

Nominees must serve the Montgomery County community. Fraternal, professional or religious groups that serve only their members are not eligible. Organizations, however, may nominate an individual or volunteer within the group, and he or she must either reside or volunteer in the county. If it is a group nomination, most members must reside or volunteer in the county. Only a nonprofit charitable organization with tax-exempt status is eligible.

The ‘‘Path to Achievement Award” honors county residents age 60 or older for achievement in advocacy, arts and humanities, community service, sports and fitness, and workplace contribution. Submissions for the Marriott award must be for volunteer efforts that occurred in 2006. The deadline for nominations is Thursday and forms are available online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov⁄volunteer or at the Volunteer Center, 401 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.

Nomination forms may be emailed to latitia.gaines@montgomerycountymd.gov, faxed to 240-777-2601 or mailed to Montgomery County Volunteer Center, ATTN: Marriott Spirit to Serve Community Service Award, 410 Hungerford Drive, first floor, Rockville, MD 20850.

Nominations for the ‘‘Path of Achievement Award” are due March 19. Forms are available online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov⁄volunteer or at the Volunteer Center, 401 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.

Completed nomination forms may be emailed to latitia.gaines@montgomerycountymd.gov, faxed to 240-777-2601 or mailed to Montgomery County Volunteer Center, 410 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.

For information on either award, call 240-777-2600.

Youth PoWR requests proposals for grants

The Youth Philanthropists of the Washington Region, or Youth PoWR, are putting out a request for proposals for grants awarded to youth-led community projects in the area. Youth PoWR is a youth-led, grant-making council of The Greater Washington Youth Philanthropy Initiative. To qualify, youth-led groups must provide programs or services relating to education; violence or gang prevention; teen health; youth empowerment; arts; recreation; employment and job training; homeless youth; academic achievement, substance abuse prevention; discrimination prevention; domestic violence prevention; tutoring or mentoring; prenatal and day care services for teen mothers; teen driving safety; or abuse affecting youth.

Groups of young people ages 12-24 in the Washington, D.C., area may apply. Grants will be awarded in the range of $1,000 to $7,500. Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. Friday and must be sent through standard mail to Youth PoWR, c⁄o Alicia Reid, Grants Manager, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, 1201 15th St. NW, Suite 420, Washington, D.C., 20005. For the application, more information and instructions, visit www.cfncr.org.

Take a sneak peak at summer camps

It’s never too early to start planning for summer camps and programs, especially with the Montgomery County Department of Parks posting information on-line at www.ParkPASS.org.

This summer, the department is offering more than 50 camps and program options at locations ranging from Wheaton to Cabin John regional parks to the Brookside Gardens, Locust Grove, Black Hill and Meadowside nature centers. Registration can be done online or by calling 301-495-2580.

This year, the department also is teaming up with the Montgomery County Department of Recreation to showcase all the summer camps and programs offered in the county through both agencies at a Summer Camp Expo, which will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Little Seneca Lodge, 14500 Clopper Road, Boyds. The expo offers an opportunity to register for camps as well to speak to park experts about the programs.

Einstein ‘Swings into Spring’

Albert Einstein High School will hold a ‘‘Swing into Spring” event 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the school, 11135 Newport Mill Road, Kensington. Tickets are $15, and dance lessons are included. The event features the Einstein jazz bands. Call 301-962-1028.

Trolley Museum announces spring hours

The National Capital Trolley Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays from March 15 to May 15 in addition to usual weekend hours, which are noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays. Reservations are now being accepted for spring school field trips or other interested groups. Trolley fares are $3 for seniors and children ages 2-17 and $4 for adults.

For more information, visit www.dctrolley.org. To make a group reservation, call Joanie Pinson at 301-384-6352.

Volunteers needed at the Literacy Council

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County seeks volunteers to teach adults to read, write and speak English. A session will be held 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville.

No foreign language skills are necessary. To register, call 301-610-0030 or e-mail info@literacycouncilmcmd.org.

Get the buzz on beekeeping

The Holiday Park Senior Center is offering an introductory course on beekeeping 7 p.m. Thursdays through March 29, and 2 p.m. March 31 to April 14 at the center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton. A $45 materials charge includes the course text, ‘‘An Introduction to Beekeeping” by Diana Sammataro. To register, visit www.montgomerycountybeekeepers.com, call 301-414-2317 or e-mail amazing.bee@verizon.net.

Boating classes offered in Rockville

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering boating safety classes at Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Rockville. The courses include ‘‘Boating Safety” and ‘‘Seamanship,” ‘‘Let’s Go Sailing,” and ‘‘Advanced Coastal Navigation.” Call Ed Duffy for more information including times, cost and course details at 301-816-0045, ext. 109.

Conversation clubs meet at Wheaton Library

The Spanish Conversation Club meets 7 p.m. Mondays at Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave. This is an addition to the English Conversation Club, which meets 7 p.m. Thursdays. Call 240-777-0678.

Edison High School to open café

Thomas Edison High School of Technology is opening the student-operated Café Edison 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. for breakfast and 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for lunch Mondays through March 29 at the school, 12501 Dalewood Drive, Wheaton. The cuisine will be prepared by student chefs in the Professional Restaurant Management program, and the professional table service provided by the student servers from the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Reservations are required. Call 301-929-2267 to book reservations. For more information, call 301-929-6920.

Volunteers needed for county parks

The Montgomery County Department of Parks is looking for volunteers to help out with various projects, cleanups and exhibits. Some of the opportunities include:

*Weed Warriors: Interested volunteers will be trained the last Wednesday of every month from April to October. Volunteers age 18 and older are eligible for this free training on how to remove nonnative invasive plants from our parks. Call 301-495-2464.

*Arbor Day: Volunteers are needed April 29 to help with setup, tree giveaway, face painting, games and to dress up as tree-friendly characters for Montgomery Parks Arbor Day Celebration. Student service learning approved. Visit www.parksvolunteers.org.

*Wings of Fancy: Brookside Gardens will need volunteers for its Wings of Fancy butterfly exhibit opening in May. Volunteers are training this spring and will learn about native and exotic species and how to share that knowledge with school groups, individuals and kids of all ages throughout the summer. Call 301-962-1421.

*Camp counselors: The Montgomery County Department of Parks will run weeklong nature centers for summer camps and volunteers are needed. Volunteers will share what they learn with kids who attend one of the four camps. Free training is offered and volunteers are asked to commit to at least one weeklong session. You must be 14 years old or older to volunteer. Student service learning approved. Visit www.parksvolunteers.org.

For more information on these or other volunteer opportunities, call 301-495-2504.

Shutterbugs wanted

Gazette.net is now home to a new feature titled You Spotted, a designated space on the Gazette Web site for photos readers take.

So, if you are a photographer or just someone who has captured something cool on film, or memory stick, here’s your chance to show the world.

Photos of almost anything can be posted on Gazette.Net You Spotted. Think of photos you’ve taken outdoors, at celebrations, historic or interesting sites, community, school and sporting events or anything else (within reason, of course) that you’ve captured with your camera.

Posting and sharing your photos is easy to do. Just visit www.gazette.net, and look for the You Spotted section.

Montgomery College offers citizenship test classes

The Montgomery County Refugee Center at Montgomery College will provide residents with free citizenship preparation classes, tutoring and practice interviews Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning in February and lasting through April. The classes will be held in two locations: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Montgomery County Refugee Center, 8561 Fenton St., Suite 210, Silver Spring; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the refugee center; or 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the upcounty branch of the Charles W. Gilchrist Center, located at the Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown.

Residents can register at any time for classes and are asked to bring their green cards with them.

Call 301-650-1404 or 301-650-1405.

Brookside’s annual sculpture show is back

The annual Brookside Gardens Sculpture Show will be on display through April 15. The show features regional sculptors and their works in a wide variety of styles and materials. Brookside Gardens is located at 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. For more information, call 301-962-1420.

Hospice Caring offers support groups

Hospice Caring will sponsor bereavement support groups for adults grieving the loss of a loved one. These groups include ‘‘Anticipatory Grief,” ‘‘Coping with a Suicide Death,” ‘‘Loss of a Parent,” ‘‘Loss of a Sibling or Friend” and ‘‘Widows and Widowers.” Groups are found in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village and Rockville.

For more information or to register, call 301-990-0854 or visit www.hospicecaring.org⁄adult.html.