Class on storytelling offered at Kensington Row Bookshop

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006

Everyone’s got a story. Learn how to tell yours at a new class on storytelling led by professional storyteller Ellouise Schoettler.

‘‘Storytelling is a subversive activity for me. When I tell family stories, it’s all about getting my adult children and grandchildren to hear my stories of family members they never knew and places that are now gone,” Schoettler said. ‘‘I want to encourage everyone to tell their stories to their families and to keep their family stories alive. In this day of far flung families telling our stories, especially to our grandchildren, is more important than ever — so we won’t forget who we are and where we came from.”

The classes will be held from 7-9 p.m. on five Monday evenings: Nov. 6, 13, 20 and Dec. 4 and 11 at Kensington Row Bookshop, 3789 Howard Ave., Kensington. The cost is $125.

Classes are limited to eight people. Call Schoettler to register before Oct. 31 at 301-951-1213.

Carve a pumpkinin Garrett Park

Celebrate Halloween this weekend in Garrett Park.

Bring a pumpkin and some tools to participate in the pumpkin carving contest starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Penn Place, 4600 Waverly Ave., Garrett Park. After dark, take a trip through the haunted Porcupine Woods.

For more information, call Matt Stavish at 301-946-7082.

Get on the ghost trainat Wheaton Regional Park

This is the last weekend to ride the haunted train and carousel at Wheaton Regional Park.

Rides are from 6-9 p.m. through Sunday at the park, 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton.

Admission is $5, or $4 with a canned food donation.

For more information visit www.wheatontrainandcarousel.com or call 301-942-6703.

Scary stories for Halloween

Professional storyteller Ellouise Schoettler will tell stories about ‘‘Haunts and Stuff” at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Friendship Village Community Center, 4433 S. Park Drive, Chevy Chase.

Schoettler stories will explore the weird, world of spirits and the plain scary. This is a program for audiences 11 years old and older.

Glen Echo Park holdsFall Frolic

‘‘Glen Echo Park: Fall Frolic,” an open house with a festive Halloween theme, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.

Visitors can explore the arts through hands-on crafts, live performances, and Halloween activities, followed in the evening by a free outdoor Halloween classic film and a swing dance with the Tom Cunningham Orchestra.

For information, call 301-634-2222 or visit the Web site at www.glenechopark.org.

Get ready for a ‘Big Night’in Garrett Park

As the last film of the 2006 season, the Garrett Park Film Society will present the 1996 movie ‘‘Big Night” at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Come at 7 p.m. for food and socializing.

The movie, directed by Campbell Scott, stars Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub as two brothers running a failing Italian restaurant. They gamble on one special night to save the business, in this emotional drama that also features Marc Anthony and Minnie Driver.

‘Urinetown’ comesto Kensington

The Kensington Arts Theater’s production of the musical ‘‘Urinetown” opens on Friday. The show tells the story of a future dystopia where citizens must pay to use public toilets.

Performances are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 18 at Kensington Town Center at 3710 Mitchell St.

Tickets cost $18 for adults, $16 for KAT members, $15 for seniors and students, $13 for children under 13 and $10 for Kensington residents. They are available at the door or online at www.katonline.org.

For more information, call 240-396-4307.

Holy Redeemer to host run

Holy Redeemer School will host the Cardinal 5K and half-mile Kids’ Fun Run⁄Walk at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 4 at the school, 9715 Summit Ave., Kensington.

The race benefits Holy Redeemer, a Catholic, parochial, co-educational school for grades kindergarten through eight, and The Washington Jesuit Academy, a middle school for boys from disadvantaged families in Washington, D.C.

For more information, or to register for the run, visit www.cardinal5k.com⁄registration.html.

Craft fair to benefitnursery school

Unique crafters from around the region will be on hand to sell their wares at Garrett Park Nursery School’s 40th annual Craft Fair.

The event, which also features a bake sale, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 18 and 19 at Garrett Park Town Hall, 10814 Kenilworth Ave.

Admission is free and all proceeds benefit the Garrett Park Nursery School.

For more information, visit www.garrettparknurseryschool.org.

This column is for you. Share your good news! Feel free to send press releases and news tips. Contact me via e-mail at jgrbach@gazette.net, phone at 301-280-3001, fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 1200 Quince Orchard Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878.