Through Aug. 9
Social Skills Summer Camp. Children in grades 1 through 6 can attend camp and learn friendly behaviors, working as a team, anger management and more. Held by the Jewish Social Service Agency and the McLean School of Maryland. All potential campers will be interviewed to make sure the camp is appropriate for their needs. Visit www.summeredge.org/ for more.
Saturday/July 27
Public Hearing. 10 a.m. 18753 North Frederick Ave., Suite 210, Gaithersburg. Seeking public input on a list of proposed Early Voting Centers for the 2014 elections. Public comments will be received by the Montgomery County Board of Elections through 5 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2013. Comments should be submitted in writing to elections@montgomerycountymd.gov. Call the Board of Elections at 240-777-8525.
Workshop: Living with Multiple Pets (cats and dogs). 1:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 6030 Grosvenor Lane. This workshop is about ways to prevent problems from developing and deal with problems that already exist, so pets can all live together in harmony. Expert trainer Lennea Bower will be speaking. Leave pets at home. Visit http://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/ or call 301-983-5913.
Tuesday/July 30
County Forum. 6:30 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda. County Executive Ike Leggett will be hosting to solicit public input on the county’s next six-year capital improvements program budget. Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov.
Tuesday/Aug. 6
Drop-In Discussion. 1:30-3 p.m. Montgomery Hospice 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville. For anyone mourning the death of a loved one. Free and open to any Montgomery County resident. Registration required, 301-921-4400.
Thursday/August 8
Guest Speaker. 7 p.m. at Potomac Library,10101 Glenolden Drive. Susan Coll, author of novels ‘Beach Week’ and ‘Acceptance’ will be speaking. She has worked as a travel and feature writer and been published in such places as The Asian Wall Street Journal, NPR.org, and the Washington Post. Visit www.pwcgov.org.
Through Aug. 11
Summer Reading Program. The Friends of the Library, Montgomery County's summer reading program offers three levels. “Dig into Reading” for babies through pre-K and kindergarten through sixth grade; and “Beneath the Surface” for teens. Children and teens (or parents of very young children) can sign up online or in person at any branch library. Visit http://montgomerycountymd.libguides.com/summerreading for more information.
Monday/Aug. 12
2 Session Workshop: Beyond Words. 6:30-8 p.m. Montgomery Hospice 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville. For anyone grieving the death of a loved one. No art experience needed. Free and open to any Montgomery County resident. Registration required, 301-921-4400.
Wednesday/Aug. 21
Drop-In Discussion. 6:30-8 p.m. at Montgomery Hospice 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville. For anyone mourning the death of a loved one. Free and open to any Montgomery County resident. Registration required, 301-921-4400.
Tuesday/Sept. 3
Drop-In Discussion. 1:30-3 p.m. at Montgomery Hospice 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD. For anyone mourning the death of a loved one. Free and open to any Montgomery County resident. Registration required, 301-921-4400.
Wednesday/Sept. 18
Drop-In Discussion. 6:30-8 p.m. at Montgomery Hospice 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville. For anyone mourning the death of a loved one. Free and open to any Montgomery County resident. Registration required, 301-921-4400.
Ongoing
Effective July 1, a new parking rate structure goes into effect in Bethesda to eliminate rate differences between long- and short-term parking. Rates will be higher for spaces in highest demand - but lower in the parking garages. Here are the new rates: On-street parking meters, $2 per hour; Surface lot parking meters, $1.25 per hour; Garage parking (metered and non-metered), $.80 per hour. Garage and surface lot parking will still be free on weekends and holidays.
Ride On monthly passes for Children. $11 monthly Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card is available to riders under 18. To buy the first card, parents must apply in person and show proof of age and county residence for the prospective riders. The cards can be purchased at the TRIPS commuter store in Friendship Heights (17 Wisconsin Circle), the one in Silver Spring (8413 Ramsey Avenue) or at the county's Division of Treasury (255 Rockville Pike, L-15, Rockville).
Connect-A-Ride offers low-priced transportation to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores and more for low-income, disabled residents 50 and over. Contact the Jewish Council for the Aging at 301-738-3252.
Committee Meetings. Fridays, through September at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue.The county council’s planning, housing and economic development committee reviews the major changes proposed for the county zoning ordinance and will make recommendations to the deciding full council. Open to the public. Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov.
Montgomery County Master Gardeners will be providing free, walk-in “Ask A Master Gardener” plant clinics on Saturdays at Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd. from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. from April through September. County residents may bring their full and intact plant and insect samples, garden problems and/or questions and get free answers or advice. For further information call the Master Gardener Plant Helpline: 301-590-9650, weekday mornings or send e-mail to mgmont@umd.edu.
Alzheimer's Association support groups provide a place for people with Alzheimer's, their caregivers, family members, and/or friends to share valuable information, caregiving tips and concerns throughout the Alzheimer's journey. Groups are facilitated by trained group leaders and are ongoing, free and open to the community. Call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 703-359-4440 or 800-272-3900 before attending a group for the first time to verify meeting information, obtain directions or other information about the group. A complete list of all groups in the National Capital Area region can be viewed at www.alz.org/nca.
Zumba at Village Yoga. An easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party. Classes are offered on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday mornings at 11:30 a.m., and Sunday afternoon at 5:15. All classes at 10154 River Road. Call 301-299-1948 or visit www.villageyogayogi.com.
Beginner’s Yoga Classes at Village Yoga as well as Beginner’s Gentle Flow class throughout week. 10154 River Road. For more information call 301-299-1948 or visit www.villageyogayogi.com.
Fenton Street Market. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturdays May through Oct. The market is located in downtown Silver Spring at One Veterans Plaza, intersection of Fenton and Ellsworth streets.
Members Wanted. The Potomac Area Newcomers Club is a group of more than 200 women who have moved to the Potomac area. The club offers bridge, mah jong, book groups, golf, luncheons and museum trips as a way to help newcomers and current residents form new friendships, expand horizons and take advantage of opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area. Visit www.potomacnewcomers.com
Free Parent-Child Playgroup. Every Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Har Shalom Early Childhood Education Center. Meet new friends as you and your child play with age appropriate toys. Call 301-299-7087.
Volunteer Opportunities
A local version of the Peace Corps has been established in Montgomery County by County Executive Ike Leggett. Called Montgomery Corps., it gives five county residents an opportunity to dedicate one year of service to Montgomery County
Public Meeting. The County Council committee on planning, housing and economic development is holding three work sessions on the Planning Board's draft Chevy Chase Lake sector plan on two successive Mondays: June 17 and June 24, at 2 p.m. For more information, see the council's agenda webpage. A hearing date by the full council is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, July 9.
County Council Opening. The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for a four-year term on the county Board of Appeals to fill an upcoming vacancy. The term of Carolyn Shawwaker (Democrat) will expire in September 2013. Shawaker is eligible for reappointment to a second term and has indicated her intent to apply. By law, no more than three members of the board may be from the same political party. Applications for the position must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11.
Parks need support from the surrounding communities for volunteers to work at many visitor centers. Volunteers are needed to help visitors, take phone calls, operate the cash register and keep small gift shop stocked, and assist with special events and programming. Hours are flexible and each volunteer will receive an orientation to the Visitor Center and visitor services. Volunteers are needed at Cumberland, Hancock, Williamsport, Ferry Hill, Brunswick, Lander Lockhouse, Great Falls, and Georgetown. For locations between Cumberland and Lander, contact Curt Gaul at 301-582-0813 or curt_gaul@nps.gov. For Great Falls or Georgetown, contact Becca Jameson at 301-767-3709 or rebecca_jameson@nps.gov.
The Bethesda Urban Partnership is looking for volunteers to help assist with various local festivals including Taste of Bethesda in Oct. E-mail info@bethesda.org.
CANTER-Mid Atlantic to open a racehorse rehabilitation program with donations from Delaware Park and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association earmarked to serve Delaware Park trainers and owners. To find an ex-race horse, volunteer, or make a donation, visit www.canterusa.org/midatlantic.
To become a volunteer Bike Patrol member on the C&O Canal, contact Norman Liebow at liebow@comcast.net or 301-714-2218.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist its blood collections staff at blood drives and blood donor centers. Call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, ext. 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.
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. To schedule an interview visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/vasap or 240-777-1355.