Reminder: The Takoma Park Street Festival is scheduled for Sunday, October 2nd, 10-5 (map).
Also upcoming:
Going to College series begins Library September 29
Becca's Run St. Bernadette's October 1
Citizenship Tests free training begins Northwood October 1
Civil Discourse with Chris Phillips Library October 4
Saturday October 1st. 8:30 AM. 5K run and 2 mile walk in Honor of Rebecca Erin Lilly. Proceeds aid children with cancer and their families. Last year's run had over 1,200 participants and more than $25,000 was donated to support research at Children's National Medical Center. Register online, pick up your packet at St. Bernadette's School Hall 6-8 Friday evening, and show up with shoes on between 7 and 8 Saturday morning. Course Map
Map showing 80 University Blvd East which is St. Bernadette's. The School Hall is at the far right of the church, the athletic field is behind it.
Takoma Park has a lovely playground named for Becca.
And by the way - we do subscibe to Runner's World and also have many books on running in both the J and adult rooms, most of them somewhere near 796.424.
Also on Saturday: Housing Fair and Consumer Protection Day. 10 AM to 4 PM. Activity Center at Bohrer Park, next to Gaithersburg High School. Information on home buying, consumer scams, managing credit, the new Medicare prescription plan. Food and prizes, including six $500 prizes towards your rent or mortgage.
Feria de la Vivienda y Dia de Protección al Consumidor. Sábado, 1 de Octubre. Centro de Actividades de Bohrer Park. 506 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg. Entretenimiento, comida, premios, actividades para niños.
Montgomery County Public Schools no longer offers the Adult Literacy and ESOL classes. Montgomery County College is now hosting these programs. Contact them here (301) 962-8950 or take a look at their Class Schedules etc:
http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/aelg/ged.htm
Here are a few more links if you want to help someone you know find Adult Literacy programs:
The America's Literacy Directory searchable database (nationwide):
http://www.literacydirectory.org/
A clickable Map of Maryland to find local programs, by County:
http://www.umbc.edu/alrc/Programs/dir.html
If you want to do more to help, the Literacy Council of Montgomery County accepts volunteers to teach Literacy. Call directly 301.942.9292 or see their site here for details:
http://literacycouncilmcmd.org/Volunteer.htm#top
Please pass this information on to anyone you know who might be planning to take the citizenship test.
Free classes and tutoring for the citizenship tests. Northwood Center, University Avenue near Arcola, in the back of the old Northwood School building.
Starting October 1 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturdays
Starting October 3 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM Mondays and Wednesdays
Starting October 3 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Mondays and Wednesdays
Starting October 6 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays
Map of 919 University Blvd West, Silver Spring
Public transportation: take the Metro two stops to the Wheaton station and then take Ride-On #9
- or take about a 20 minute trip on Metrobus C2 or C4 from Langley Park or from University Blvd. near Piney Branch. (Get the bus on the far side of University as you want to go toward Wheaton.). Schedule (pdf, sorry)
A note about pdf files. Here are a few of the various ways to avoid them, or at least avoid any long waits or printing problems.
1. If you are using Firefox, install the PDF download extension.
2. If you are not using Firefox, find the pdf file you want by performing a Google search with appropriate words, and then choose "view as html".
3. If you are using a Linux machine at the library (or perhaps at home) - save the file to the desktop and then use an alternate program to open it, ggv or xpdf.
The local governments in the DC area want you to make an emergency plan for yourself and your family. Forms that fold neatly into small wallet sized packets are available in the Municipal Building or you can download a pdf version that has the same text. Folding that into an 8x5 cm. object would require origami skill.
Here are the basic preparation steps. Please flip through this small outline now so that you won't be caught unaware.
Do you use Metro? Consider an alternate route planning guide (pdf). Metro also asks that people page through their instructions concerning emergency evacuations from trains, stations and buses, flash or text.
Are you reading this in an aggregator? You can also subscribe to a Metro service announcement rss feed or sign up for text messaging.
And in the library you can still pick up a copy of the Home Guide to Emergency Planning in any of five languages. Print. Paper. Readable with a flashlight even when the power is out, in case you left it to the last minute.
Program reminder:
Civil Discourse with Chris Phillips October 4
FOR THE COLLEGE BOUND ... 2005 !
You may call 301.891.7259, or stop by the Takoma Park Maryland Library to pre- register for these scheduled programs, which are free and open to the public. All will be held in the Library except Judith Bass on October 27, which will be held in the Lilac Room of the new community center, adjacent to the Library.
Thursday, September 29, 7:30 PM: "Going to College: Overview"
Dr. Lori Potts-Dupre will help you get started on the selection process. Which schools might provide the right fit - academically, financially and personally- for you? Topics include sorting out your personal criteria and goals, the admissions process, competitiveness, where do I go from here? Dr. Potts-Dupre has a private Counseling practice in Takoma Park. She advises students and families on college options and choices. A former faculty research associate at the University of Maryland, where she taught in the honors undergraduate scholarship program, Dr. Potts-Dupre has visited and evaluated over 300 colleges nationwide.
Thursday October 6, 7:30 PM: "Financial Aid for College"
Dr. Herm Davis, author of Financial Aid for Dummies, will discuss the financial aid timetable, scholarships, loans, work-study, college savings plans, the FAFSA application and more. One of the nation's foremost college aid authorities, Dr. Davis heads the National College Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization providing information to students, and directs College Financial Aid Counseling and Education Services, Inc. He is a 30 year veteran in providing financial aid and scholarship information.
Thursday October 20, 7:00 PM: "How to prepare SATs/ ACTs" [note earlier time]
Ms. Ilhan Cagre returns with her talented son Yahya Mokhtarzada to demystify the dreaded SAT. They have spent the past year preparing students for the new SAT that was introduced in the Spring of 2005, and they will bring along their experiences and insights on this new format. Ms. Cagri is a linguist who has taught and designed SAT preparation classes for MC Public Schools, in private schools and as a private tutor. Parents and students have found her insights, as well as those of her son Yahya, practical and helpful.
Thursday October 27, 7:30 PM: "Is there a College for My Child?"
Judith Bass will educate families in the types of college support services available for students with learning disabilities and AD/HD and how to determine which is best for your adolescent. Attendees will also learn about documentation needed for college level services, accommodations to expect at the college level, standardized testing options and self-advocacy skills. Ms. Bass has more than 27 years experience as an educator, tutor, admissions counselor, and college consultant. She has extensive experience working with students with AD/HD and learning disabilities in a variety of settings.
Presented by the Takoma Park Maryland Library
101 Philadelphia Avenue
with the support of the Friends of the Library
For the panda cam addicted ....
The Animal Planet panda cam seems to be more likely to work properly than the Zoo's own cam broadcast. However the zoo puts up daily notes, creating a sort of baby-book.
The San Diego Zoo also has a new baby, born August 3, and are blogging a baby book. This is the third cub born there. The Atlanta and Memphis zoos have cams, but no babies.
The Memphis zoo sells Elvis® and His Panda merchandise, but to get into their shop to buy it you will have to fib and say you are from Montana or somewhere because their drop-down list of states does not include Maryland.
A juried art show will accompany the opening of the first part of the new community center. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Sept 16, 5 PM. Photos or slides need to be submitted to Sara Anne Daines, Director of Economic and Community Development, 7500 Maple Avenue, by that time.
Artists must live or make art in Takoma Park.
Additional info: 301.891.7224 or ahc@takomagov.org
Program reminders:
Summerquest Finale September 19
Civil Discourse with Chris Phillips October 4
Reminder: the folk festival is scheduled for this coming Sunday, September 11th. 11-6:30 at the Middle School (maps). This year many of the community organizations will be fund raising for the hurricane victims.
We have had requests for articles explaining what would happen when a hurricane hit New Orleans.
National Geographic October 2004 "Gone with the Water"
Scientific American October 2001 "Drowning New Orleans"
Popular Mechanics September 2001 "New Orleans is Sinking"
Go to Electric Library and search for
Time Magazine July 10 2000 "The Big Easy On the Brink" search terms: flood orleans suhayda cohen
CNN Presents June 8 2002 "When the Big One Hits" (transcript) search terms: big one hits brown zarrella
with a little ingenuity you can find others.
footnote: Popular Mechanics has an interesting blog.
Program reminders:
Fire Hats September 10
Civil Discourse with Chris Phillips October 4
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with so many Americans seeing up close the effects of decisions made by our politicians, it is ever more evident that there is a burning need for citizens to talk with one another about what affects our lives and our souls, in an honest way that asks real questions and listens to the ponderings of others.
Chris Phillips, the peripatetic teacher of philosophy for children, returns to the Takoma Park Maryland Library on Tuesday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m. Phillips will lead adults and children ages 8 and up in an evening of philosophical discussion using the elenctic, or indirect mode of inquiry, that Socrates used.
Chris and his wife Cecilia have visited the Takoma Park Maryland Library on many occasions to lead these discussions. Each time there has been a new crowd with no way to anticipate which way the discussion will go! But each adventure into philosophical inquiry has been fascinating.
Chris and Cecilia Phillips have founded the Society for Philosophical Inquiry (SPI). At their website can be found inspiring information about this grass-roots organization committed to supporting dialogues for democracy.