Day of the Book approaches

‘‘We have quite a number of newer organizations and authors that will be participating this year,” she said. ‘‘I suspect we will end up with almost 100 authors, and this year we’ll have more of an emphasis on book artists,” she said.

Book artists could be any artist that is inspired by books or use them as a medium, she said.

Most of the authors are from Montgomery County with a few traveling from Baltimore and Philadelphia for the street festival.

Tables and tents will line Howard Avenue in Kensington from noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine.

Sola-Hopper said there will be plenty of tents so if April showers roll over the festival, authors and festivalgoers will still be out there.

The fair will also have an emphasis on interactive booths where adults and kids can create their own book covers. Kids can even record a brief reading of their books for a festival highlight film. Sola-Hopper said the popular open mic book and poetry reading will return this year as well.

For more information on the special events and information on the Day of the Book, visit www.dayofthebook.com.

Silent auction and tea raise funds for Katrina victims

Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church will host a Tea and Silent Auction to raise funds to send a team of relief workers to New Orleans in May.

The Tea and Silent Auction will be held from 1:30-4 p.m., April 19, in the Social Hall at the church, located at 10123 Connecticut Ave., Kensington.

Donations of auction items and services, as well as sponsors and volunteers are needed, according to June Eakin, church spokeswoman. Suggested items include, but aren’t limited to, jewelry, antiques, art, fine china, books and gift baskets.

A donation of $10 for each person is suggested and child care will be provided with advance registration.

Sponsors are still needed, Eakin said. Those interested in becoming a sponsor receive tickets with their donation, and can file for an Archangel package for $100, which includes four tickets; a Guardian Angel, which is $50 and includes two tickets or an Angel for $25 and one ticket.

For more information on auction donations, contact Beverly Sceery at bsceery@yahoo.com or 301-983-2383.

Call June Eakin at 301-949-2900, for sponsorship and reservations.

Photo contestat Brookside Gardens

To commemorate Brookside Gardens’ 40th anniversary, a 2009 calendar will be published featuring seasonal and historical photos taken at the Wheaton park.

Residents, including Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning staff, can submit their entries for the calendar, and winning photos will be chosen based on their appeal, content and the photographer’s skill.

Winners will receive photographic credit in the publication or merchandise in which they are used, and will also receive a complimentary copy of the product in which they are used. No other prizes or monetary awards will be given, according to Leslie McDermott, park spokeswoman.

Deadline to submit photos is May 1, and entrants are encouraged to visit www.brooksidegardens.org for a list of rules, regulations and an application form.

Contact Brookside Gardens with any questions at 301-962-1427.

Garrett Park Green fair

The Garrett Park Climate Group will host a Global Warming Fair on April 26.

Residents of Garrett Park and neighboring communities can follow a certified home energy inspector through a demonstration energy audit of the historic Garrett Park Town Hall from 10 a.m. to noon.

The interactive workshop costs $10 and will be run by Vimal Kapoor, a Building Inspector of America principal.

The tour is part of the Maryland Energy Administration efforts to educate homeowners about energy efficiency opportunities that will save money on utility bills and prevent greenhouse gas emissions.

The audit will look at sources of air infiltration, looking at the efficiency of the buildings heating and cooling systems and common air quality and energy issues found in non-commercial buildings, according to resident Karen Anderson. Specialty equipment used to detect heat loss in homes will be demonstrated.

A global warming fair with energy saving information for homeowners will run from noon to 5 p.m. at the town hall, 10814 Kenilworth Ave., Garrett Park.

For more information, or to register for the workshop, contact Anderson at 301.949.1981. For more information on MEA and Energy Star, visit www.mdhomeperformance.org.

District-wide scavenger hunt to benefit Make-A-Wish

Teams are forming for the 10th annual Make-A-Wish D.C. Scavenger Hunt on Saturday.

The Kensington-based Make-A-Wish chapter sponsors the event that challenges teams of two to six people to follow clues and answer questions about people, places and things throughout the District, according to the group’s Web site.

The hunt begins at 8 a.m., at Maggiano’s Little Italy at 5333 Wisconsin Ave. in Friendship Heights. After searching high and low throughout the nation’s capitol, participants are invited back to Maggiano’s for food, drinks and an awards ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $35 per person before April 4 and $45 per person after. Each team member is required to raise $100 in pledges. Teams that raise $1,700 or more in pledges can participate in the Challenge Course, a more intense hunt with bigger prizes.

For more information, please contact Nikki McDermott at 301-962-9474.

This column is for you. Share your good news! Feel free to send press releases and news tips. Contact Patrick Dunne viae-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.