A benefit dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday to support education projects in Africa. The dinner is at Way Station Inc., 230 W. Patrick St., Frederick .

The projects focus on teaching villagers low-cost methods of building schools to serve the needs of rural villages.

Projects this year include finishing one school and starting another in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both schools will have capacity for 1,000 students in first through 12th grade and a technical school with workshops and a computer lab.

At the dinner, Mike Tidwell will talk about his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Congo teaching farmers how to build fish ponds. Tidwell is also the founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness about the impacts of global warming.

The dinner menu will include spinach, cassava, sweet potatoes and beef stew.

The dinner is sponsored by the Able and Willing International Education Foundation. Donations are suggested for the cover cost. For details, call 301-685-3282.

Clothing drive to help veterans

GAITHERSBURG — From May 28 to June 14, Lakeforest Mall will be a drop-off point for donations to Operation Second Chance Inc., which provides care packages to wounded veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Only new items will be accepted. They can be dropped off at the Lakeforest Customer Service Information Desk from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Comfortable, unisex clothing such as T-shirts and sweatpants are some of the most needed items, along with mesh athletic shorts with pockets, sizes medium to extra-large; tearaway pants with side snaps or Velcro, medium to extra-large; therapeutic microbead squishy pillows; newly released DVDs; and handheld electronic games.

The items don’t have to be purchased at Lakeforest, but any stores offering discounts will be listed at the customer service counter.

Students win scholarships

GAITHERSBURG — Four Gaithersburg High School students have been awarded a total of $9,000 in W. Edward Bohrer Jr. Memorial Character Counts! scholarships in 2007. The Character Counts! program rewards students in the city who embody trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. The 2007 winners are Maria Balarezo, Fabiola Collantes, Sindy Rivadeneira and Giankarlo Vera.

School official to be honored

ROCKVILLE — Montgomery County School Board president Nancy Navarro will be presented with the 2007 Hispanic Hero Award for Education on June 7 by the U.S. Hispanic Youth Entrepreneur Education organization.

This is the first year for the Hispanic Hero awards.

Navarro has been a member of the school board since 2004 and is serving a one-year term as president. She is a co-founder of Centro Familia, a nonprofit organization that helps the economic and educational development of Latino and other immigrant communities.

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.