To submit an item for the Civic Calendar, e-mail almanac@connectionnewspapers.com or fax the submission to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon two weeks prior to the event. For questions, call 703-917-6407.
Thursday/April 2
Support Group. Pain Connection Chronic Pain Support Group, 1:30-3 p.m., at Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, for anyone with chronic pain, family members and interested community residents. Free. 301-309-2444 or www.painconnection.org for more information.
Sunday/April 5
Volunteer. 9:30 a.m. at Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah, 11825 Seven Locks Road. Help make sandwiches. 301-279-7010 ext. 209.
Monday/April 6
Lecture. 7:30 p.m. at Montgomery College-Germantown. Dr. R. David Holbrook will talk about nanoparticles in aquatic environments. Free. 240-567-7740.
Monday/April 13
Voice Matters. 6:30 p.m. at the Wellness Community, 5430 Gosvenor Lane, Bethesda. Victoria Wells, D.C. State Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society, will explain how to effectively communicate with elected officials about the legislative needs of people impacted by cancer. Reservations, 301-493-5002.
Saturday/April 18
Humane Society Adoption. Noon-3 p.m. at MCHS Foster Office, 603 S. Stonestreet Ave., Rockville. Visit www.mchumane.org for more.
Wednesday/April 29
Autism Resource Fair. 3-7 p.m. at Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville. Free. Learn about recreation, employment, behavior services for individuals with autism and their families. 240-777-1216.
Ongoing
The C&O Canal Trust, in partnership with the C&O Canal National Historical Park, seeks energetic and community-minded individuals and organizations to complete maintenance and conservation projects throughout the park during the upcoming C&O Canal Pride Days. Locations and dates are as follows: April 18 at Great Falls, April 25 at Brunswick and Lander, and May 2 at Williamsport and Hancock. For more information or to get involved, visit www.canaltrust.org, e-mail peggie_gaul@partner.nps.gov or 301-714-2233.
To become a volunteer Bike Patrol on the C & O Canal, send an e-mail to Norman Liebow at Liebow@comcast.net or 301-714-2218.
Writers from the community are encouraged to participate in downtown Bethesda's annual literary festival. Young adults in grades 9-12 and adults age 18 and over can write a 500-word short story or essay about what is the one thing in their life they would change if they had the opportunity to do it all over again, for the Bethesda Literary Festival's Writing Contest. Additionally, young writers grades K-8 can share their insight in the youth writing contest featuring the topic, "What Would You do to Make the World a Better Place." Entries for both contests must be received by Friday, March 20 by 5 p.m. Completed entry forms must be submitted with each essay. For entry forms, call 301-215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org.
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. To register for training, or for more information, please call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, ext. 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.
Montgomery County has launched a new Web site feature called “My Montgomery,” which helps residents locate a variety of County facilities and services. “My Montgomery” can be found at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mymontgomery and visitors to the site need only type in their address and zip code.
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.
JSSA (Jewish Social Service Agency), a non-sectarian community agency, is seeking volunteers over the age of 18 to help enhance the quality of life of individuals and families facing life-threatening or terminal illness. The next training course is scheduled for Mondays, Feb. 23, March 2, March 9, March 23, and March 30, from 5:30-9 p.m. at JSSA’s Montrose Road office, 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. For more information, contact Amy Kaufman Goott, Volunteer Coordinator for JSSA Hospice and Transitions at 301-816-2650, agoott@jssa.org or visit JSSA on the web at www.jssa.org.