Party with pooches in the pool

The pool, located at 12621 Dalewood Drive, will host dogs and their owners. Animal-oriented businesses and animal rescue groups can set up information tables.

Dogs will not be allowed to enter the party unless their owner can show proof of a current rabies vaccination and written proof of a current dog license. Licenses will be available onsite for purchase but owners must still provide proof of a rabies vaccination.

Registration is required for the event, but registration is free and each dog will receive a gift bag. Registration can be completed at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec or by calling 240-777-6820.

Go behind-the-scenes

at trolley museum

Residents can learn about the work involved in operating a streetcar system at the special exhibit "Trolleymen at Work," at the National Capital Trolley Museum, 1313 Bonifant Road in Colesville. The exhibit will run noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Visitors can also watch the employee orientation film, "It's a Big Job," produced by Los Angeles Transit.

Fire safety for seniors

Seniors can test their fire smarts or make a personal fire safety checklist with Bill Delaney from the Home Safety Council, a national nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to preventing home-related injuries. The program is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road.

Siena School student chosen to perform at U.S. Open

Washington, D.C., resident Elijah Lawrence, a seventh-grader at The Siena School in Silver Spring, is among 20 vocalists age 12 and younger chosen to perform patriotic-themed songs at the 2008 U.S. Open tennis championships, held Aug. 25 through Sept. 7 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, N.Y. Each of the 20 children will perform in front of anticipated sellout crowds. The performers were selected at the second-annual open casting call held at Radio City Music Hall. Performances were conducted in front of a panel of three celebrity judges - former Top 10 "American Idol" contestant Constantine Maroulis, Broadway star Laura Bell Bundy and former MTV "Total Request Live" host Susie Castillo. Lawrence is the only performer from the Washington, D.C., area selected and one of four chosen from outside the metropolitan New York area.

Students organize run

to benefit Katrina victims

A 5K run to benefit survivors of Hurricane Katrina and organized by students from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring will take place 8:30 a.m. Sunday at Silver Spring International Middle School, 313 Wayne Ave. The race course goes along Sligo Creek Parkway between Wayne Avenue and Colesville Road. Registration starts 7:30 a.m. and a picnic will follow the race. Funds from race registration and donations will go to Hands on New Orleans, an organization assisting in rebuilding efforts.

Neva Bowers, Eliot Gold and Camille Huang, who will be seniors at Blair High in the fall, came up with the idea after watching the Spike Lee documentary "When the Levees Broke," about the impact of the 2005 hurricane, in a class taught by Kevin Shindel.

"After a lot of class discussions, we decided we should do something to raise awareness abut the situation," Bowers said. "I enjoy running and I've done a lot of 5Ks, so this has always been an idea of mine to have my own. … It's going to be fun and it's for a really good cause."

A 1K Fun Run for children too young to run the 5K will be held 9:30 a.m. No registration is required, but prizes will be offered. The race will include Washington Redskins cheerleaders, free food and shirts.

To register for $25, go to www.signmeup.com/61540. Race-day registration will be $35. Extra donations are also accepted through the Web site and on the day of the race.

Donations needed

at Wheaton food bank

The Mid-County United Ministries Capt. Joseph A. Mattingly Food Pantry, located in the Mid-County Regional Services Center, 2424 Reedie Drive in Wheaton, will have an outreach booth and food drive Monday at the Kensington Labor Day Parade and Festival.

Residents are invited to stop by at the MUM booth and donate canned or packaged food items to help keep the pantry stocked for needy residents who need help. The deacons at Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church, 10123 Connecticut Ave. in Kensington, also are helping MUM and will be happy to accept donations. For more information, contact MUM at 301-929-8675 or midcountyunited

ministries@gmail.com.

On campus

Wheaton resident Luke Farrell has won the Rensselaer Medal, awarded by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. for students worldwide that have distinguished themselves in math and science. Farrell, a student at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, will receive a scholarship of $60,000 if he enrolls at the insititute.

Rummage sale

at Wheaton Church

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, located at 818 University Blvd. W. in Silver Spring, will host its 35th annual Rummage Sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 5 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 6. The sale will include clothing, toys, household goods, furniture, books and more, all in good condition. Fresh baked goods are also available.

Proceeds will benefit the church's operating funds and outreach programs. For more information, call 301-593-3282.

Volunteer to help a child

Adults age 50 and older looking to mentor and tutor a child are invited to visit the Interages Volunteer Open House 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 3. Volunteers will tutor children one to two hours a week in a school-based program throughout Montgomery County. Training, materials and on-site staff support will be provided to volunteers. The open house will be on the second floor of the Holiday Park Senior Center, at 3950 Ferrara Drive in Wheaton. For questions, contact Sara Cartmill at 301-949-3551, ext 19, or Cartmill@interagesmd.org.

All federal, state and county offices, courts and libraries will be closed Monday, Sept. 1.

Schools will be closed and Montgomery County Public Schools administrative offices will not be open.

Trash and recycling will not be collected. The Transfer Station will be closed.

Ride On and Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule; Metrorail will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight.

Parking at county lots, garages and meters will be free.

County liquor stores will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Auburn, Cabin John, Diamond Square, Gaithersburg and Twinbrook, which will be closed.

Items for People and Places may be sent to Jason Tomassini, The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. The fax line is 240-473-7501; or e-mail jtomassini@gazette.net.

Call 240-473-7559. Deadline is one week prior to publication.