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James Thomas, 17, a member of Troop 489 in Germantown, recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Thomas, a senior at Clarksburg High School, and 27 volunteer built a free-standing observation platform with a bench at the Wilderness Trail at the Damascus Recreational Center, according to an e-mail from his father, Dan Thomas. The rectangular platform surrounds a tree.

"We are delighted it will serve as an overlook site shaded by the tree in the center of the deck and offer a well constructed seat for on-lookers who are enjoying the surrounding nature," the center's director Linda Panagoulis, wrote in a letter of thanks to James Thomas.

Tidy up! Shred documents and donate clothes

Mark America Recycles Day this weekend and shred personal documents and donate clothing and household items.

Bring paper items for recycling and shredding from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown; and the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring. From 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, head over to John F. Kennedy High School, 1901 Randolph Road, Silver Spring; and from 1 to 5 p.m. bring items to Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda.

There is a limit of five paper bags or small boxes of paper per household. Clothing and household goods donations will benefit the Arc of Montgomery County Thrift Store, the Lupus Foundation of America, Vietnam Veterans of America and the National Children's Center Inc. Clothing, shoes and accessories should be clean. Household items, books, DVDs and some furniture will be accepted. Do not bring sofas, mattresses, televisions or other large items.

For more information, call the county's division of Solid Waste Services at 240-777-6410, fax at 240-777-6465, e-mail recycle@montgomery

countymd.gov, or online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov

/recycle.

Campus Congratulations

Eric Buratty, son of Tina and Arnold Buratty of Germantown, was named to Pi Gamma Mu international honor society of social sciences at Salisbury University. He is an editor at the school newspaper, The Flyer, and a member of the Phi Eta Sigma freshman honors society. Eric is a 2007 graduate of Northwest High School.

Youth talent search

Montgomery County's Office of Community Partnerships in the Office of the County Executive and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee announce the talent call for individuals and groups interested in performing in the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. 

Auditions are from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Executive Office Building Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.

Those selected will perform at the county's celebration Jan. 18, 2010, at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.

For details, call Sean Gibson at 240-777-1227, or e-mail sean

.gibson@montgomerycountymd.gov.

ThanksgivingCare Program looking for help

LeadershipCares will assemble and deliver baskets of ingredients to prepare a complete "traditional" Thanksgiving meal to county families as part of its12th Annual ThanksgivingCares initiative.

The baskets will be assembled Nov. 23 and 24 and delivered the afternoon of Nov. 24. The assembly and distribution center will be located at the Hilton Washington D.C./Rockville Hotel and Executive Meeting Center at 1750 Rockville Pike in Rockville.

"LeadershipCares provides baskets each year to bring attention to the needs of struggling families in our area," founder Ron Yudd wrote in a prepared statement. "It also provides an opportunity for adults and young people to volunteer as hands-on participants to help make a difference for those in need in the local community."

Truck drivers are needed to make local deliveries and other volunteers are needed to pack boxes of food and help load trucks.

Families, church groups and companies can adopt a family for $20 per basket, which is tax deductible. They can also donate money to help purchase food and beverage items. Other donations needed are toothbrushes, toothpaste, coupons and gift certificates.

To help, call 301-540-5791 or sign up online at www.leadershipcares.org.

Donations may be made online or mailed to LeadershipCares, 10181 Nightingale St., Gaithersburg, MD 20882. Send checks payable to "LeadershipCares Baskets. They must be received by Nov. 21.

Reading volunteers needed

Help second-graders at Cedar Grove, Germantown, Dr. Sally K. Ride, Stedwick, Summit Hall and Watkins Mill elementary schools improve their reading.

Three Montgomery County nonprofits, the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, Interages, and Passion for Learning, are seeking volunteer tutors for the "Ruth Rales-Comcast Kids Reading Network Program."

The weekly tutoring session may take place before, during or after school. Training and support, and tutoring materials and books will be provided. For details, call 301-279-3890 or www.montgomery

schoolsmd.org/readingnetwork.

Hospice volunteer training

Have you ever thought of volunteering? Since 1989, Hospice Caring Inc. has been providing practical and emotional support to adults and children facing life-limiting illness and grief at no charge. Hospice Caring Inc. has opportunities for those who would like to facilitate adult or children's grief groups, or become a caregiver and share in someone's end-of-life journey. The nonprofit will hold its next training from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 17-19.

For more information or to register, call 301-869-HOPE (4673).

Good try at Bible Bee

The two Montgomery County boys competing in the inaugural Bible Bee in Washington, D.C., tested their knowledge last week. The top 100 people in each of the three groups – senior, junior and primary – competed for cash prizes last week.

Joe Currie, 13, of Germantown, advanced to the quarterfinals of the junior group, ages 11 through 14, Friday before being eliminated, said Duelene Olson, Currie's sponsor. Currie was one of three eliminated from a pool of seven contestants, she said.

Jedidiah Olson, 10, of Montgomery Village, was eliminated Nov. 4 in an early round of the primary group, ages seven through 10, she said.

Share your good news! Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Germantown-Boyds-Poolesville Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.