Cloverly quilter places in national competition

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Cloverly resident Marina Baudoin has made it to the semifinals of the Quilt and Show Contest April 26 to 29 in Paducah, Ky., where Baudoin’s quilt, ‘‘Southwest Mix,” will compete against 428 others.

For Baudoin, who decided to go into professional quilt- making as a career only one year ago, it’s an encouraging experience.

‘‘It means somebody’s really looked at my piece and I’m finally being recognized as a quilter,” she said. Her work draws on the landscape tones of the American Southwest, as well as the vibrant colors of West Africa.

Baudoin makes quilts on commission, but also said they are a good way of preserving memories. Many quilts she makes use old or cast-off clothes that hold nostalgic value for families.

‘‘Many people run races and they get T-shirts for participating,” she said. ‘‘Once you’ve worn the T-shirt out, you can’t use it ... a quilt helps keep that record of what you did.”

Celebrate Easterat the Ukrainian church

Ukrainian arts, crafts and foods will be available at the Easter bazaar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, 16631 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Call 301-365-2490.

Forum on being preparedfor emergencies

The East County Regional Center at 3300 Briggs Chaney Road has rescheduled Emergency Preparedness Community Forum 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Presenters include Gordon Aoyagi, director of the Montgomery County Homeland Security Department, and a representative of Montgomery County Health and Human Services. Call 240-777-2300.

Library events

The Fairland African American Book Group will discuss Michael Eric Dyson’s ‘‘Is Bill Cosby Right? (Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind?)” 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Fairland Library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. Call 240-773-9460.

The Silver Spring African American Book Group will discuss Kenji Jasper’s ‘‘The House on Childress Street,” an exploration of previous generations’ lives to understand today’s troubles. Discussion starts 7 p.m. April 5 at the Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Road in Silver Spring. Call 240-773-9420.

Muslim feminist Sharmin Ahmad will discuss her contribution to the book, ‘‘Voices of American Muslims” 7:30 p.m. April 5 at the White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Call 301-622-2492.

The White Oak African American Book Group will discuss ‘‘Small Island” by Andrea Levy 7 p.m. April 11 at the White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Set in 1948 Britain, the novel is told in four distinct voices unveiling the tale of Jamaican immigrants and native British citizens picking up the pieces of their lives. Call 301-622-2492.

The Silver Spring African American Film Circle celebrates the birthday of jazz legend Billie Holiday with the Joe Katz film, ‘‘Strange Fruit” 7 p.m. April 12 at the Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Road. The film explores the legacy of the powerful Billie Holiday anti-lynching classic. Call 240-773-9420.

The Silver Spring African American Film Circle begins a two-day celebration of playwright August Wilson’s birthday by screening Tony Buba’s ‘‘Struggles in Steel: A story of African-American steelworkers.” Showing starts 7 p.m. April 25, with discussion to follow at the Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Road in Silver Spring, Call 240-773-9420. The film features interviews with more than 70 retired black steelworkers, who tell of their struggles. At 7 p.m. April 26, the circle will feature a screening of Matteo Bellinelli’s ‘‘August Wilson.”

Hunt for eggs at Banneker

The Laurel-Burtonsville Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) is holding an egg hunt noon April 8 at Benjamin Banneker Middle School, 14800 Perrywood Drive, Burtonsville. The first 100 children will receive goody bags. Some of the eggs also will contain tokens for larger prizes. The event is free. Call Michelle McHale at 410-799-5888.

High school Jewish Culture Clubs sponsor Dance Party

The Jewish Culture Club Network, funded by the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning, will hold its first community-wide event for Jewish teens 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville.

The Israeli Dance Party, open to all local Jewish teens, will include live entertainment, snacks and the opportunity for teens to meet and mingle.

The Jewish Culture Club Network, an initiative of the Partnership’s Jewish Experiences for Teens (JET) department, connects teen leaders of Jewish Culture Clubs from area high schools.

Students from Montgomery Blair, James Hubert Blake and John F. Kennedy high schools worked together to apply for a $700 grant from the partnership to subsidize the event. At the Israeli Dance Party, teens will enjoy a teen deejay, live performance and belly-dancing lessons by Blair High School’s Middle Eastern Dance Troupe, and Israeli dancing lessons with the University of Maryland Israeli Dance team.

Silver Spring native named cultural arts commissioner

Silver Spring native and Springbrook High School graduate Christine Goodman was sworn March 3 into the Cultural Arts Commission of Jersey City, N.J. Goodman will serve through August 2009. She was nominated to serve by the Jersey City Department of Cultural Affairs due to her work as a professional multimedia performing artist and founder⁄director of Art House Productions, a multi-arts organization offering performance, broadcast and publishing opportunities for artists since September 2001.

Goodman graduated from Springbrook High School in 1996 and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2000.

Military news

Army Spec. Janinne J. Vargas has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is a 2005 graduate of Springbrook High School.

Campus notes

Burtonsville resident James Kolb, a 2005 graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, has been named to the dean’s list at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Kolb is in his first year but holds sophomore standing based on completed credits.

Mulch ado about funding

The Springbrook Athletic Booster Club is holding a spring mulch sale to benefit activities at the school. Bags of shredded hardwood mulch will be ready for pick-up at White Oak Middle School parking lot Saturday. Each bag of 3 cubic feet of mulch costs $3.75, or $4 for delivery within the Northeast Consortium area with a minimum of 10 bags. Print an order form from www.gobluedevils.net, or pick up one at the school. Call Kitty Robbins at 301-989-6070.

Let the community know what’s important – send your news items to Benjamin Hu, Burtonsville Gazette, 8650 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910; faxed to 301-562-3262; or e-mailed to bhu@gazette.net. He may also be reached at 301-562-3271. Deadline is one week prior to publication.

Volunteers needed to help sex assault victims

Volunteers are needed to assist sexual assault victims and their families through the Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Interviews are being conducted for the spring 2006 training session, which will begin in May.

Volunteers provide 24-hour crisis counseling and companion services at Montgomery County hospitals and police stations for victims of rape and sexual assault. There is a special need for volunteers to cover day and early morning shifts. Bilingual volunteers are encouraged to apply.

All volunteers must attend a training program, which covers crisis intervention skills and the specialized knowledge of the emotional, medical and legal issues that victims face. Volunteers must commit to serve for one year, in an on-call capacity, for one 12-hour shift or two six-hour shifts per week. All volunteers must be residents of Montgomery County, have a valid driver’s license and immediate access to transportation. Call 240-777-1355.

Montgomery stroke support group celebrates 25 years

The Montgomery County Stroke Association is celebrating 25 years of support.

As a fund-raiser, the Montgomery County Stroke Association is selling tickets to Olney Theatre’s ‘‘Anything Goes” 2 p.m. April 23. Tickets cost $40 each, a portion of which is a tax-exempt donation to the MCSA. Call Janet Gritz at 301-622-2282.

Volunteers also are needed for the positions of accountant, computer support, secretary, fund-raiser and program planner. Call 301-681-6272.

White Oak library events

Preschool storytime for children ages 2 to 5 with a parent or caregiver is held 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays in March at White Oak Library, 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. The events feature books, flannelboard stories and music.

For more information, call 301-622-2492.

Schools take a shot at heart disease and stroke

White Oak Middle School students are looking for sponsors for a health fund-raiser to raise money for the American Heart Association. Today and Thursday the ‘‘Hoops for Hearts” events include basketball activities. Call Cara Grant at 301-989-5780.

Free tax return help available

The RSVP⁄AARP Tax Assistance Program offers visitors free, IRS-approved help with their tax returns at the Fairland Library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. This program is all-volunteer, and by appointment only. Montgomery County citizens should call 301-468-4179 to make appointments.

Calvary Alliance Church holds ESL classes

Classes for English as a Second Language are now open for registration at Calvary Alliance Church at 12020 Old Gunpowder Road in Beltsville. Call 301-595-4393 or visit www.cmacalvary.org. Lessons are 7 p.m. Tuesdays, and continue through April 25. Fee is $35 for materials and refreshments.

‘Friendly Visitors’ needed

Volunteers are needed for the Mental Health Association’s Friendly Visitors Program. The program needs volunteers who can spend a minimum of four hours per month and commit to one year of visits to visit seniors who are frail, lonely, and isolated due to physical problems and may also have some depression and anxiety due to multiple losses.

Visiting times are flexible and orientation and ongoing training is provided. The next orientation training sessions are 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and April 15. Volunteers need to attend only one of these orientations. Applications must be received 10 days prior to training. For more information and an application, call Carolyn Wanner at 301-424-0656, Ext. 107.

Volunteer to deliver meals

Colesville Meals on Wheels needs replacement volunteers to continue serving the homebound in Woodmoor, Four Corners, Burnt Mills, White Oak, Colesville, Calverton and Burtonsville. Meals on Wheels delivers food five days a week, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., all days except major holidays and when schools are closed due to snow. Each volunteer need only commit two hours per week. Call Sarah Day at 301-384-5735.