The Silver Spring Timebank hosted its 4th annual Skill Share event on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Silver Spring Civic Building on Veterans Plaza. The event ran from 1–3 p.m. and attracted a crowd of curious individuals looking to learn something new for 2020.
Live Garra Theatre presents opening night of Sartre’s “No Exit” on Friday, while comedian Irene Tu performs the same night at Montgomery College in the Cultural Arts Center. Friends of the Library will be collecting used books on Saturday at the Silver Spring Library. On Sunday, Azalea City Recordings plans a record release party featuring songs from local musicians. Area singers will have two chances to participate in community sings this week, one on Wednesday and one Thursday evening.
The 10th annual Community Stories film festival from Docs in Progress is this week, as is the annual Community Bridges Girl Legacy gala. Other highlights include a fundraiser for veterans at UP studios, several recitals at Levine Music, a census workshop, and an online chat with the county executive.
Bud Skeleton fans will have two chances to hear the band this week, at the American Legion (with friends) tomorrow night and then at the Hell’s Bottom VFW post in Takoma Park next Friday night. The Legion will also host a garage rock night on Saturday. There are also several other types of musical performances in the area throughout the week. A highlight coming up—the initial screening of the latest work from Gandhi Brigade Youth Media at Montgomery College Tuesday evening.
Detectives from the 3rd District Investigative Section are still investigating two September incidents and are seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect, according to a press release. The department reports that about 1:27 a.m. on Sept. 17, the Children’s Hospital Foundation office located at 801 Roeder St. was burglarized.
There is no shortage of opportunities for civic or charitable involvement this week. The Victim’s Rights Foundation and Passion4Learning are both holding gala celebrations, while there are fundraisers planned for WOWD Radio and Shepherd’s Table and Takoma Park Library’s fall sale. On the civic side, there are meetings about saving trees in downtown Silver Spring, PEPCO’s ongoing work, and the Countywide Pedestrian Master Plan.
Some of the top events this week include opening night of the first Long Branch Festival on Friday night. The Nighthawks will perform at Sligo Creek Golf Course on Saturday in a benefit performance, while the second annual Montgomery Hills Street Fest is underway as well. That same day is the Takoma Foundation’s annual beer festival. The Friends of Sligo Creek will hold a Sweep the Creek clean up this weekend. On Sunday, enjoy the competition and grab a slice of the Takoma Farmers Market pie baking contest.
The Koiner Farm in downtown Silver Spring has been granted the county’s first conservation easement for urban agriculture. The easement, in partnership with the Maryland Environmental Trust, permanently protects the one-acre from ever being developed.
While the city is not thrilled to see Washington Adventist Hospital close, it does represent a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, according to Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart. The hospital will close Sunday, Aug. 25. Adventist HealthCare will open an urgent care center in the former emergency department at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26.