The following information was sent to us by Brie Hall:
 
Lent will begin on February 22, 2012, with Catholics around the world fasting and receiving ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross as a symbol of penance and conversion. In the Archdiocese of Washington, Lent...more also marks the beginning of “The Light is On for You” initiative and also “Operation Rice Bowl.”
 
            Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and is the 40-day penitential period before Easter and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The imposition of ashes is an ancient practice found in the Old Testament. Once a public sign of an individual’s repentance, it became part of the Church’s Lenten preparations by the seventh century. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), Catholics between 18 and 59 years old observe a modified fast. Guidelines allow for one full meal per day. Catholics age 14 and over abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every

 
The following information was sent to us by Deborah Knuckey:
Bethesda’s Purée Artisan Juice Bar™ has partnered with Bradley Wellness to offer a guided juice cleanse which kicked off Sunday, February 19  with a workshop on how to prepare for the cleanse. The participants received...more guidance as they prepared for a three days juice fast that runs from Thursday 23 through Saturday 26 and is followed by a post cleanse workshop.
Amy Waldman, Founder of Purée and a self-confessed “Juice Junkie” has partnered with Karen Bradley, a Certified Nutritional Consultant, to hold the program.
“Many people want to try a cleanse but don’t know where to begin,” said Waldman, “A group cleanse is a great way to both understand the process better and gain the support of a like minded community throughout the cleanse.”
“We’re excited to pair Purée’s three day organic juice cleanse package with Karen’s nutritional coaching for our first group cleanse because we believe the

 
The following information was sent to us by Donna Bigler:
The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) invites residents to attend a planning meeting on Friday, March 2 to review and update the Montgomery County Hazard Mitigation Plan, which must...more be updated and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency every five years.  The purpose of the update is to ensure that the mitigation plan reflects relevant information, enhanced analysis and revised community priorities. The current plan was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2007. 
The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. in the first floor auditorium of the Stella B. Werner Council Office Building (COB), 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD.  Paid visitor parking is available at the first level of the COB garage at the corner of Monroe and E. Jefferson streets.
For more information, contact Lisa Connor of OEMHS by phone at 240

The following information was sent to us by Montgomery County Public Schools:
Superintendent Joshua P. Starr will hold four forums this spring to discuss specific topics of importance to staff, students, parents and the community.  

The forums will delve into four topics mentioned...more frequently during the Listen and Learn events Dr. Starr held in the fall—English Language Learners, Gifted Education, Special Education, and Social and Emotional Learning. The forums will provide an opportunity for the MCPS community to hear about the latest trends and research, find out what is happening in schools, and share thoughts with the superintendent, guest panelists and other participants.

“I look forward to a robust discussion in which we come together to discuss these important topics, share ideas and learn from each other,” Dr. Starr said.  

The forums have been scheduled as follows: 

- March 12: English Language Learners, John F. Kennedy High School,

The following information was sent to us by Daniella Cummins:
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) InterCounty Connector (ICC) Commuter Bus passengers will soon have access to a new Park & Ride in Montgomery County. The new lot is located just west of Georgia Avenue (MD 97) and just...more south of the ICC in Silver Spring. It opens February 20, 2012 with limited ICC Commuter Bus service. Full service will begin February 21, 2012 after the President’s Day holiday. The new lot will 
 
include 202 parking spaces and two bus shelters with benches located immediately adjacent to the drop- 
off and pick-up area for passengers’ convenience. The lot built by the State Highway Administration 
(SHA) is a part of the InterCounty Connector (ICC) project, and will be monitored by Maryland 
Transportation Authority Police. 
  
ICC Commuter bus route #201 will begin serving the lot February 20, 2012. Routes #202, #203, #204, 
and #205 will begin service

Thanks to our caring community, we found the foster homes needed and then some for the dogs who were temporarily displaced during a renovation project at our New York Avenue adoption center. We can’t thank our friends and supporters enough for stepping in to help animals in need. In an effort...more to provide a better environment for all of the animals in our care, major improvement projects continue at our New York Avenue facility, and this time, it is our cats who are looking to their community for help.

The current construction project will displace numerous cats from their temporary homes in our adoption center – once again, as the only open access shelter in Washington, DC, this impacts us tremendously. WHS takes in an average of 30 animals every day and we never turn away an animal who needs our help. We hope we can count on you to help by providing short-term emergency foster care, or by spreading the word your families, friends and communities.
 
Foster

Target Corp. will host free in-store reading events at all Target stores nationwide this Saturday, February 25 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m., in celebration of the National
Education Association’s (NEA’s) Read Across America program. Each event will include a reading nook inspired by Dr. Seuss’ “The...more Lorax,” a reusable Target
bag filled with activities for children, readings by Target team members, and more.
 
Since 2003, Target has supported the NEA’s Read Across America program, which calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on or around
March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss. As a result of its support of programs like this, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education
by the end of 2015.
 
Click here to find the Target store in your community.

MThe following information was sent to us by Marylou Berg:
 
The work of Rockville's student artists will be featured at the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery at Rockville Civic Center Park in a free exhibit during March. The annual student art show will run at the gallery, 603 Edmonston...more Drive, Sunday, March 4, to Friday, March 23.
 
The show will open with a free community reception Sunday, March 4, 1:30-3:30. Awards and ribbons will be presented to students at 2 p.m. and light refreshments from Whole Foods will be served.
 
This annual event is a popular community event and is open to all students in grades kindergarten through 12 who live in or attend school in the City of Rockville. Students who would like to participate in the show should visit www.rockvillemd.gov/arts for more information about how to enter.
 
Admission to the gallery is free. Gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.;

 
Take a look at these photos, courtesy of the Washington Humane Society, of dogs currently available for adoption at the WHS Georgia Avenue location.
To find out more information about the Georgia Avenue shelter or more information about any of the dogs you see above, visit the Washington Humane Society's website.

 
The following information was sent to us by Mike Bailey:
The Family & Youth Casting Call (FYCC) is a fun family and youth fishing event at Fletcher's Cove on the C&O Canal in Washington DC. The 2012 event is scheduled for Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21.
What better way...more to get kids “hooked” on nature than by teaching them how to fish?  This April, local and national fishing and conservation organizations will once again host the Family & Youth Casting Call to help “set the hook” for children to learn about nature and fishing in the Washington, DC area. A wiggling fish on the end of a taut line can be one of the most tangible connections between having fun outside and learning about conserving our natural resources.
During this action-packed event, partners will provide all the tools and training necessary for youth to catch fish in the C&O Canal. Volunteer instructors will teach safety and basic fishing techniques and our sponsors will supply the bait

 
The following information was sent to us by Samantha Jimenez:
 
Chefs from Whole Foods Market Friendship Heights, Bethesda, Silver Spring and Tenley will compete in the inaugural Health Starts Here Chef’s Challenge!
Chefs will create a meal using kale, a grain and an HSH...more approved protein and will be judged by special guests.
Come sample the delicious health inspired meals this Saturday, February 25, from 2-3:30 pm at Whole Foods Market, 4420 Willard Avenue in Chevy
Chase.
 
Find out which store reigns supreme!
 

The following information was sent to us by Marylou Berg:
 
The Rockville City Police Department arrested a Bethesda man in connection with a burglary and assault that occurred Monday, Feb. 13, at 199 Rollins Ave., Rockville, MD.
 
Stanley Williams (09/15/1955),of the 7700...more block of Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD was arrested and charged with one count each of first and fourth degree burglary, one count each of first and second degree assault, and one count of fourth degree sex offense.
 
Rockville City Police were called at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Feb. 13, for the report of a burglary that had just occurred. The victim was asleep in her bed and awoke to find a subject holding a knife standing next to her. The victim was eventually able to separate herself from the subject and lock herself in the bathroom. A short time later, the subject left the apartment.
 
Investigators were able to pull surveillance footage from the night of the incident and

February is known as Heart Month in American, and for good reason. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. Each day, across the country, roughly 2,200 people that die from the disease. It’s also the...more leading cause of disability across the country, preventing people from working and living their lives as they would like to. With this in mind, it’s a good time to pay attention even to the little things that can either help or hurt the heart.
“Snacks may seem like trivial things, overall,” explains Jolly Backer, the chief executive officer of Fresh Healthy Vending (www.freshvending.com). “But if you think about it in terms of a year, you will end up eating around 400 to 750 snacks per year, if you have one or two per day. That really adds up and can make a big difference in your heart health.”
Snacks, for most people, are a reality of life. Not many people will go day in and day out

Social networking has been and still is a big part of our lives. For some of us, it's our whole lives.
But, it can ruin your life before the blink of an eye and put you to shame. I’ve always said that Facebook should come with a sign that says: “handle with care.” Every time I tell someone...more that, I get the same reaction: the silent smile, the nod and shaking of the head at the same time. How tragic.
Facebook was invented in 2004 and has 845 million active users with different opinions, different personalities from different locations. That’s what makes it so fun, so mysterious and makes it so easy to find friends that you didn’t even know you had.
Who needs them? Nobody knows, but what we do know is that 5000 friends on Facebook makes you cool. How tragic.
As a 24-year-old Swede with roots from Iran and family all over the world, I am really thankful that Facebook was invented. It has helped me a lot in my work and with family connections. But some people are just