Connected Communities Newswire - County Government Newswire

AT&T National at Congressional Country Club

Howard Hartman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:41:11 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 18, 2013

AT&T National at Congressional Country Club

Public reminded of parking, other public access arrangements in effect for tournament;
Ride On Adjusts T2 Bus Schedule on Weekend to Benefit Spectators

The AT&T National Tournament will be held at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, June 25 through June 30.
Many County departments and agencies have been working on pre-tournament arrangements and logistics with representatives from the PGA TOUR and Tiger Woods Foundation to help spectators get to and from the tournament and to enjoy the overall experience.

Public Parking and Shuttle Bus Options

County officials remind anyone planning to attend the tournament that, if driving, they must use one of the official tournament parking and shuttle lots. There is no general admission parking available in the immediate vicinity of the golf course.
Public parking for the tournament is available at:

Rock Spring Lot (Blue Lot), 6720 Rockledge Dr., Bethesda (seven miles from Congressional at I-270 and Democracy Blvd.) This is the best location for those coming from Virginia and other areas south of Congressional Country Club. Operating: Tuesday, June 25-Friday, June 28, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, June 29-Sunday, June 30, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Single-day and weekly passes available.
Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St, Gaithersburg. Operating: Thursday and Friday only, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A single-day pass (Thursday or Friday only) is $7. Cost includes one-day parking and shuttle pass from the Fairgrounds to Congressional Country Club (less than 15 miles). Get single-day pass for fairgrounds.

Shuttles will depart from both lots approximately every 15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Security checks will be conducted on all passengers prior to boarding the bus. No bags larger than 6�x6�x6� will be allowed.

VIP Preferred Parking Lot F, 7727 Persimmon Tree La., adjacent to AT&T National main entrance, providing walking access to tournament. Operating: Tuesday, June 25-Friday, June 28: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Single-day passes are available for specific days, ranging from $30 to $50, depending on the day of the week.

Public Transportation

Tournament and County public safety and transportation officials remind spectators that no public walk-ins are allowed through the main entrance of Congressional Country Club on River Rd. The closest bus stops are noted below.

T2 bus from Friendship Heights and Rockville (operated by Metro on weekdays and by Ride On on weekends). On Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30 � as a convenience for spectators using public transit -- route T2 Ride On buses will operate every 15 minutes from 4 to 8 p.m. between the Friendship Heights and Rockville Metro Stations. The service operates every 30 minutes between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The additional service will be operated as regular T2 service and will be open to all passengers. Regular Ride On fares will apply. The last scheduled trip in the evening in the direction of Rockville Station will pass through the intersection of River Rd. and Bradley Blvd. at 8:04 p.m.; the last trip passing through that intersection in the direction of Friendship Heights Station will be at 8:10 p.m. Bus operators working the additional T2 service will be provided a schedule. Passengers should use stops on River Rd. just west of Bradley Blvd.

Ride On bus 36 from Bethesda (no Saturday or Sunday service). Use the stops at the end of the route on Bradley Blvd. at the Connelly School.
After departing the bus, walk south on Bradley Blvd. and follow signs and directions to the shuttle that will drop off passengers at the tournament�s main entrance. Attendees who prefer to walk should go south on Bradley, then left on Persimmon Tree Rd. and proceed to Persimmon Tree La. and the tournament�s main walk-in entrance.

Public Safety Reminders for Pedestrians

Pedestrians walking along Bradley are reminded that they must cross only at marked crosswalks and stay alert for oncoming traffic. The public should also be aware that the only authorized exit from the Country Club grounds is the tournament main entrance on Persimmon Tree La.

Taxi/Limo/Private Vehicle Drop-Off & Pickup

Tournament and County public safety and transportation officials remind spectators that no public drop-offs or pickups are allowed in or around the main entrance of Congressional Country Club on River Rd. Spectators who wish to be dropped off at Congressional must utilize the designated taxi, limousine or private vehicle drop-off, located near the Tournament Main Entrance on Persimmon Tree La. No parking or standing is allowed, so attendees are asked to coordinate their pickup times accordingly.

Bike racks

Spectators who want to bike to the tournament are reminded that bike racks are available at the Touranment�s Main Entrance on Persimmon Tree La.

Economic Impact

The AT&T National not only provides a first-rate golf experience for area fans, it benefits local charities and has a positive impact on the local economy. For exmaple, the econmic impact from the 2012 tournament was more than $10.9 million, with total attendance of more than 136,000 for five out of six days of the tournament (no spectators were allowed on the course on Saturday due to the aftermath of the derecho that hit the area).

More information about do�s and don�t�s on the course and other details about the tournament are available at www.attnational.org (Spectator Information).

Montgomery County Receives 18 NACo Achievement Awards

Howard Hartman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:37:08 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 18, 2013

Montgomery County Receives 18
NACo Achievement Awards

Montgomery County has received 18 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards this year for outstanding programs.

Among the NACo awards was a �Best of Category� given to the Office of the County Executive for its submission, �Doing More With Less on Language Access.� This additional category was initiated in 1998 to highlight outstanding model programs submitted to the awards competition.

�Our employees constantly strive to initiate and implement programs that serve the residents of Montgomery County,� said County Executive Isiah Leggett. �I am proud of their accomplishments and happy that NACo has recognized their efforts.�

The following departments and programs received awards:

Consumer Protection � Commission on Common Ownership Communities Dispute Resolution Program; �Wheel of Employment� Transportation Needed to Keep Residents Working;
Correction and Rehabilitation � Cell Phones for Correctional Work Release Program; Library Book Repair Program;
Office of the County Executive � Doing More With Less on Language Access; White Flint Implementation Program;
General Services � Facilities Lighting Fixtures Energy Efficiency Upgrade and Operating and Maintenance Cost Reduction;
Health and Human Services � DHHS Website Redesign;
Human Resources � The Rewarding Excellence Program;
Liquor Control � iPad and iForm Inspection Project; Nighttime Economy Summit;
Public Information � Emergency Medical Services Transport Law Public Education Campaign; MC311 Customer Service Center and Website; �Montgomery al Dia� (Montgomery Today) � Montgomery County�s Spanish Language Radio Show;
Public Libraries/Correction and Rehabilitation - Library Book Repair Program;
Recreation � Montgomery County Recreation Sports Academy Fitness Challenge;
Technology Services � Ask the CIO; BikeShare Research Tool; and openMontgomery.
For more information about the NACo Achievement Awards, go to www.naco.org.

Storm Damage? Helpful Tips from the Office of Consumer Protection

Howard Hartman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:44:19 GMT

Storm Damage? Helpful Tips from the Office of Consumer Protection

The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) warns County residents to be cautious when hiring contractors to repair damage caused by this week�s severe storm and advises consumers to do their homework before signing a contract for any home repair, improvement or tree service work.

�The storm that ripped through Montgomery County this week caused significant damage in many neighborhoods,� said OCP Director Eric Friedman. �While we understand the urgency to have repairs done as quickly as possible, homeowners need to proceed with caution before signing any contracts, by verifying that the contractor is properly licensed and experienced.�

The Office of Consumer Protection offers the following advice to homeowners:

Only hire a home improvement contractor that is licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC). You can check licensing status by calling 410-230-6309 or online at http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic/. Also, make sure the contractor is familiar with and has expertise in repairing the type of damage that your house has sustained, such as roofing or foundation repair.
Tree service or removal companies must also be licensed. Check to see if the business is a licensed tree expert with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Forestry Division at 410-260-8521 or online at www.dnr.maryland.gov. If an unlicensed company is used, it is often impossible to track down the company, particularly if they have been paid in advance.
Get estimates from three contractors. Some fraudulent contractors will capitalize on the situation and overcharge consumers or lead them to believe the damage is worse than it really is. State law requires a written contract for any work completed. A home improvement contract should include the terms and conditions of the warranty. The manufacturer�s warranty should be a separate, written document. The contract must also include: the contractor�s name, address and home improvement license number; the approximate starting and finishing dates; and a description of the work to be done and materials to be used.
State law prohibits home improvement contractors from collecting more than one-third of the contract amount as a deposit. If the contract is signed in your home, the contract must allow the consumer three days in which to cancel the contract. Under emergency situations only, the consumer may waive this three-day right to cancel, but must sign a special form to do so.
Check the contractors� complaint records with the Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636 or online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer and the Better Business Bureau at 202-393-8000 or online at www.dc.bbb.org, and with the MHIC and DNR.

OCP, the County�s consumer protection agency, investigates thousands of complaints each year involving automotive sales and repairs, new home purchases, home improvements, credit issues, retail sales, internet services and most other consumer transactions. For more information, contact the Office of Consumer Protection at T: 240.777.3636, Email: consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.gov, or visit OCP�s website at http://montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer.

County Economic Development Launches Online, Interactive Farmers Market Map

Howard Hartman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:36:02 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2013

County Economic Development Launches
Online, Interactive Farmers Market Map

From Annuals to Leeks and Peaches to Tomatoes �
Find Something for Everyone at Local Farmers Markets

To make it even easier to find locally grown products, the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development (DED) recently added an interactive map on its website of all 22 farmers markets in the County.

�The County�s agricultural sector remains a vital contributor to our local economy, contributing $243 million annually,� said Steve Silverman, director, Montgomery County Department of Economic Development. �More than 93,000 acres of land in the County is designated as Agricultural Reserve. Shopping at farmers markets is a fun and healthy way to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and more and support this historic and still thriving part of the County�s business community.�

Montgomery County is home to more than 500 farms, including 8,000 horses on horse farms; 78 fruit, vegetable, nut, flower and Christmas tree farms; and 80 cattle farms with more than 2,400 cows.

A printable brochure of all County farmers markets is also available on the farmers market page of the DED website.

For more information about local farmers markets, call 301-590-2823. Farmers interested in participating in one or more of the markets can call 301-590-2810 for more information.

Montgomery County �Nighttime Economy� Task Force Begins Work

Howard Hartman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:10:26 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2013

Montgomery County �Nighttime Economy�
Task Force Begins Work

The Montgomery County Nighttime Economy Task Force, appointed by County Executive Isiah Leggett in May, has established seven committees to study and address different topics relating to their charge of creating changes in the County to encourage increased nighttime business and social activity for residents, employees and visitors of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

The seven committees and their areas of research include:

Entertainment � dining/social/performance venues, events, talent retention, marketing and assessment of the economic impact of these
offerings;
Public use and amenities � geographic boundaries, multi-use sidewalks, outdoor dining, street performers, vendors/kiosks, food trucks, public markets, pedestrian safety and access, ADA compliance, lighting and panhandling issues;
Qualify of life � affordable housing, noise control, soundproofing of venues, trash and cigarette pick-up and communications with the public;
Transportation � nighttime transportation services and amenities, safe rides, shared rides, valet parking, taxi services, parking lot safety and DUI prevention;
Public safety � crime prevention, issues related to closing times and crowd control;
Venue operations � liquor laws, safety plans, server training, security training, patron behavior, age identification and safety alliances; and
Business engagement � permitting process, customer service training, identification of nightlife networks, hours of operation and business incentives.

The Nighttime Economy Task Force meetings are held on the third Monday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m., and the committee meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Members of the public are encouraged to attend these meetings to offer ideas and solutions. For meeting times and locations, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/nighttimeeconomy. In addition to information about upcoming meetings, the website will contain up-to-date information on the progress of the task force and its committees.

For more information, contact Task Force Chair Heather Dlhopolsky at nighttimeeconomy.cex@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Liquor Control to Host Alcohol ServerTraining Classes for Local Latino Business

Howard Hartman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:06:41 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2013

Department of Liquor Control to Host Alcohol Server
Training Classes for Local Latino Business Owners

The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) will hold free Alcohol Law Education and Regulatory Training (ALERT) classes for Latino business owners who serve or sell alcohol to help curb sales of alcohol to those under 21 years of age.

The three classes will be held according to the following schedule:

Tuesday, July 9, 9 a.m. to noon at the Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown;
Tuesday, July 16, 9 a.m. to noon at Gil�s Restaurant, 8200 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring; and
Friday, July 26, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Mid-County Regional Services Center, 2424 Reedie Dr., Wheaton.

The ALERT program was developed in 2006 by DLC and since then has become a national model. Designed to educate servers, sellers, managers and owners of licensed County businesses in alcohol beverage regulatory compliance, the training program is offered to current County businesses or potential licensees. Participants learn how to develop responsible alcohol policies and review issues identified by County and State enforcement agencies. They also have an opportunity to meet and network with peers and County officials. Last year, more than 600 County license holders and their staff were trained by DLC�s Licensure, Regulation and Education Division.

�The ALERT program helps people understand the legal and social responsibilities that accompany alcohol service and sales,� said DLC Division Chief Kathie Durbin. �We strive to act as a resource and build relationships with the local business communities.�

For more information, or to register for one of the upcoming ALERT classes, call Sonia Nieves, 240-606-5352 or email dlc@montgomeryountymd.gov.

OCP Advises Homeowners to Use Only Licensed Contractors for Home Repairs

Howard Hartman — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:13:33 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 14, 2013

Office of Consumer Protection Advises Homeowners
to Use Only Licensed Contractors for Home Repairs

Do not panic and hire someone because they are the only company that can come out to the house right away. Make sure the home improvement contractor is licensed with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) by calling 410-230-6309 or check online. Also, make sure the contractor is familiar with and has expertise in repairing the type of damage that your house has sustained, such as roofing or foundation repair.
For tree service or removal, check to see if the business is a licensed tree expert with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Forestry Division at 410-260-8521 or online at www.dnr.maryland.gov. If a licensed company is used, there is a complaint process through the Department of Natural Resources. If an unlicensed company is used, it is often impossible to track down the company, particularly if they have been paid in advance. In addition, consumers should ask to see written verification of the company�s insurance and workers compensation coverage.
Get estimates from three contractors. Some fraudulent contractors will capitalize on the situation and overcharge consumers or lead them to believe the damage is worse than it really is. State law requires a written contract for any work completed. A home improvement contract should include the terms and conditions of the warranty. The manufacturer�s warranty should be a separate, written document. The contract must also include: the contractor�s name, address and home improvement license number; the approximate starting and finishing dates; and a description of the work to be done and materials to be used.
State law prohibits home improvement contractors from collecting more than one-third of the contract amount as a deposit. If the contract is signed in your home, the contract must allow the consumer three days in which to cancel the contract. Under emergency situations only, the consumer may waive this three-day right to cancel, but must sign a special form to do so.
Check the contractors� complaint records with the Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636 or online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer and the Better Business Bureau at 202-393-8000 or online at www.dc.bbb.org, and with the MHIC and DNR.

OCP, the County�s consumer protection agency, investigates thousands of complaints each year involving automotive sales and repairs, new home purchases, home improvements, credit issues, retail sales, internet services and most other consumer transactions. OCP provides pre-purchase information to consumers, as well as speakers to the community on consumer issues.

For more information, call 240-777-3636 or visit OCP�s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer.

Severe Weather May Impact Region in Coming Days

Howard Hartman — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:04:21 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 12, 2013

Severe Weather May Impact Region in Coming Days

Residents Urged to Prepare for Heavy Rainfall, High Winds and Flooding

In light of severe weather predictions that are forecast for the region over the next 48 hours, County Executive Isiah Leggett reminds residents that they should prepare for the possibility of high winds, power outages and flooding.

Currently, Montgomery County has been upgraded to a moderate risk of severe weather throughout the day on Thursday. The primary threat with any storm is damaging winds and flooding rain, but large hail and isolated tornadoes are also possible. The fast-moving system is expected to include one to two inches of heavy rainfall and winds up to 30 � 40 mph likely, and 60 � 70 mph possible.

�A few minutes of preparation can make all the difference in how well an individual fares during a severe storm,� said Leggett. �Many of our residents have already signed up for the free Alert Montgomery service that will keep them updated on storm activity and warnings. These alerts are the fastest, most accurate way to keep up with emergency situations in the County.�

Anyone who has not already signed up for the County�s Alert Montgomery notification system is encouraged to do so by going to https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov and selecting the types of emergency alerts they are interested in receiving regarding weather, severe traffic, schools, park and government facilities, athletic fields and public events. They can also select the devices they would like the messages sent to (cell phones, text pagers, wireless PDAs, home and work emails).

During severe weather and all other times, residents are reminded to call 911 only in emergencies that threaten life or property, which includes any type of fire or serious medical condition, when there is fear for personal safety or the safety of others, or during a crime in progress. Calling 911 for the wrong reason or calling the number inadvertently may keep someone else from getting the help they need. DO NOT call 911 to ask for directions; check on power, phone, or cable outages; inquire about road or weather conditions; check on the status of school closings; for information about public services; or to report situations that are not emergencies. If you do call by mistake, please stay on the line until the call taker can confirm that you do not require emergency assistance.

Below are some more preparedness tips for severe summer storms:

Before a Storm

Put copies of important documents in a safe place, preferably a waterproof container. Important documents can include passports, birth certificates, insurance policies or anything else that might be needed immediately or cannot be easily replaced.
Have enough cash for a few days � ATM�s may not work during power outages and stores might not be able to take debit and credit cards.
Make sure vehicle gas tanks are full.
Secure or bring inside exterior items that might become windborne, such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools.
Fill prescriptions that might be needed and stock up on any necessary medical supplies.
Keep flashlights and battery-powered radios with extra batteries on hand, along with a basic first aid kit, emergency food and water, and a non-electric can opener. Have enough non-perishable food and water for at least 72 hours.
Listen to the radio or television for storm reports.
Clean out gutters.
Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in anticipation of a power outage. Open the doors only when necessary and close quickly.
Refrain from putting out trash cans the night before the regular pickup.

During a Storm

Avoid using candles for lighting. Use a battery-powered flashlight.
Never use a candle when fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern, since the candle flame can ignite fumes from the fuel.
Try to stay in an interior room or away from windows.
Stay calm and do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
If flooding occurs, turn off electricity at the main breaker.
During a power outage, turn off major appliances. This will minimize losing power again through a power surge and protect the equipment when power returns.
Do not go outside. Flying debris from high winds is a danger.

After a Storm

Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires of any kind under any circumstances. Stay away from puddles with wires in or near them. Do not touch trees or other objects in contact with power lines.
Call police or your utility companies immediately to report hazards such as downed power lines, broken gas or water mains or overturned gas tanks.
Avoid areas subject to flooding, including low spots, canals and streams. Do not attempt to drive on a flooded road �you can be stranded or trapped. The depth of the water and the condition of the road is not always obvious.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers, downed wires and other hazards.
For downed trees on public property, call 311 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays (or 240-777-0311 from outside the County or from a cell phone) or go to www.MC311.com at any time to report the problem. If live wires are involved, the tree is blocking a roadway, the tree is on a structure, or if persons are trapped under the fallen tree, call 911.
Trees that have fallen on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The County�s Office of Consumer Protection advises homeowners to deal with established businesses only, and to call Consumer Protection first to check a business� complaint record. Consumer Protection can be reached at 240-777-3636.
For non-emergency police assistance, call the police non-emergency number, 301-279-8000.
In case of a power outage, residents are urged to take steps to ensure that food left in the refrigerator and freezer is safe. According to the United States Department of Agriculture�s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service, meat, poultry, fish and eggs should be refrigerated at 40� F and frozen food at or below 0� F, which may be difficult with a prolonged power outage. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. A refrigerator will only keep food safely cold for about four hours if it is unopened. Food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, soft cheeses, butter and leftover cooked meats, casseroles and pizza should be thrown out if they have been held above 40� F for over two hours. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. To be sure a particular food is cold enough; take its temperature with a food thermometer. Never taste food to determine its safety.
Do not operate charcoal grills, propane camping stoves or generators indoors.

Montgomery Parks Urges Caution in Parks

Residents should use caution and avoid parks, trees and waterways during and immediately after severe weather incidents. Information regarding any park program and facilities closures, cancellations or delays will be available at www.MontgomeryParks.org. To report a fallen tree or hazard in a County park, call the Parks Service Center at 301-670-8080 or a report can be submitted via the online Service Center.

Important Utility Numbers and websites:

Pepco: 1-877-737-2662, www.pepco.com
BG&E (Baltimore Gas and Electric): 1-877-778-2222 or 1-800-685-0123, www.bge.com
Potomac Edison (Allegheny Power): 1-800-255-3443, www.firstenergycorp.com
Washington Gas: 800-752-7520, www.washgas.com
WSSC: 1-800-828-4002, www.wsscwater.com

For more information about emergency preparedness, go to the County website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov, check the County�s Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com or sign up to receive County tweets from Twitter, http://twitter.com/#!/MontgomeryCoMD.

Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District Receives Outstanding Achievement Award

Howard Hartman — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:57:16 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 12, 2013

Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District
Receives Outstanding Achievement Award

In recognition of significant contributions made to Maryland�s economy through art and culture, the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment (A&E) District received the State of Maryland�s Arts & Entertainment District Outstanding Achievement Award on June 4. Silver Spring tied for the award with Prince George�s County�s Gateway Arts District.

The award was presented by Hannah Byron, assistant secretary of Maryland�s Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) and Pamela Dunne, program director of the Maryland State Arts Council. Accepting the award were representatives of the Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment District, including Reemberto Rodriquez, director of the Silver Spring Regional Center; Mike Diegel, chair of the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment Advisory Committee; and Elizabeth Gallauresi, arts coordinator for the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District.

�Having Silver Spring recognized by the State of Maryland with the Arts and Entertainment District Outstanding Achievement Award is indeed an honor,� said County Executive Isiah Leggett. �Over the past two decades, Downtown Silver Spring has undergone a transformation making it the vibrant office, residential and entertainment destination that it is today.�

The award recognizes Silver Spring�s success in marketing and promoting events within the district as well as the district�s role in economic and community revitalization. Last year, Silver Spring celebrated its first decade as an arts and entertainment district and was re-designated as a State A&E District. The opening of the Fillmore Silver Spring brought a unique music, entertainment and community-use performance venue to the A&E District marking the culmination of 10 years of revitalization efforts and community partnerships spearheaded by the Montgomery County Government.

With the Fillmore Silver Spring�s opening as another anchor to the A&E District, performance space within the district now includes Round House Theatre, Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) auditorium, the Silver Spring Civic Building, the Blair Mansion Inn, and outdoors at Silver Plaza and Veterans Plaza. The opening of The Fillmore Silver Spring complemented the existing nightlife of live entertainment performed in many downtown restaurants.

Within its 369 acres, the Silver Spring A&E District hosts more than 40 arts and entertainment businesses, enterprises and non-profit organizations, including the American Film Institute (AFI), Discovery Communications and Peterson Companies, as well as more than 50 pieces of public art.

Administered by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development through the Maryland State Arts Council, the A&E program provides tax benefits designed to boost economic development and create districts filled with artists and arts enterprises. As part of the designation�s benefits, artists working in the districts can receive an income tax credit. Developers who create spaces for artists to live and work can apply for qualified property tax exemptions for up to 10 years. The State of Maryland currently has 19 A&E districts designated, including three in Montgomery County � Silver Spring, Wheaton and Bethesda.

A new economic impact study conducted by Regional Economic Studies Institute in Towson, MD, shows that in fiscal year 2012, the 19 Maryland arts and entertainment districts collectively supported an estimated 4,188 jobs that paid more than $128.1 million in total wages, plus a total State Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $379 million and total tax revenue of $29 million.

The Arts & Entertainment Districts Program is administered by the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency of DBED within the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts. For information on the program, visit www.msac.org.

New engageMontgomery Topics Posted on Alert Montgomery and Zoning Codes

Howard Hartman — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:15:39 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 11, 2013

New engageMontgomery Topics Posted
on Alert Montgomery and Zoning Codes

Residents Encouraged to Weigh In and Provide Feedback

Two new topics were posted this week on Montgomery County�s engageMontgomery website (http://engage.montgomerycountymd.gov), giving residents an opportunity to voice their opinions and share ideas about emergency notifications and the County�s zoning codes.

The questions up for discussion are:

Hurricane season has started, and residents can get timely emergency notifications about weather and traffic via Alert Montgomery (https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov). What other kinds of information would be useful to receive via phone texts or emails?
The County is in the process of re-writing its zoning codes for the first time since 1978. What ideas do you have for improvements?

The two discussion topics will remain on the site for the next month, and residents are encouraged to visit and weigh in often with their opinions and ideas. The engageMontgomery website is a social media platform that is part of the new open government efforts that were launched in December to enhance government transparency and accessibility.

The engageMontgomery site serves as an informal online Town Hall Meeting. Users who sign up for an account are encouraged to express their ideas on key issues, as well as support the ideas that they like best from others. This offers elected officials, department heads and program managers with valuable feedback on issues that affect the community. Users gain points for signing up for an account, points for sharing good ideas, and even more points when others support their ideas. Points can be �cashed in� for various prizes such as a free round of golf at a County golf course, a home security evaluation by a County police officer and a story time and tour for up to four children at a County library.

For access to additional information about the County�s open government efforts, go to the openMontgomery website at (http://montgomerycountymd.gov/open).

County to Host Fireworks Displays in Germantown and Kensington

Howard Hartman — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:27:22 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 11, 2013

County to Host Fireworks Displays
in Germantown and Kensington

Montgomery County will again host two Independence Day fireworks displays on July 4 -- Germantown Glory at the SoccerPlex in the South Germantown Recreational Park, 18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds and Mid-County Sparkles at Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Road, Kensington. Both fireworks displays will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m.

Germantown Glory will kick off at 7 p.m. with a concert by Bobby and the Believers. To reach the South Germantown Recreational Park from I-270, take exit 15B (Route 118 south) toward Germantown; go for 2.8 miles and turn right onto Richter Farm Road. Go one mile and turn left onto Schaeffer Road. The park entrance is 0.3 miles on the right. Ample, free parking is available.

Mid-County Sparkles activities begin at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by Quiet Fire Soul. Since there will be no on-site parking at the school or at adjacent properties, except for handicapped parking, shuttle buses will pick up passengers, beginning at 6:15 p.m., at Westfield Wheaton Metro Parking Garage adjacent to the JC Penney Department Store. Overflow parking will be available in the south parking lot by Penney�s.

Low lawn chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome at both events. Food vendors will be on site. No alcoholic beverages are permitted. The rain date for fireworks only is July 5. No shuttle service will be available on the 5th.

For more information, call 240-777-6821 or go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec.

Montgomery County Files Opposition to PEPCO Rate Increase

Howard Hartman — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:58:10 GMT

For Immediate Release
June 5, 2013

Montgomery County Files Opposition to PEPCO Rate Increase

Yesterday, Montgomery County filed its initial brief, with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC), in Case No. 9311 - In The Matter of the Application of Potomac Electric Power Company for an Increase in its Retail Rates for the Distribution of Electric Energy.

A copy of the County�s brief is available below. All of the parties� initial briefs, including the County�s initial brief (Docket No. 142), can be downloaded at the PSC�s website at www.psc.state.md.us.

The County is taking a very aggressive position with Pepco.

The County proposes a revenue requirement for Pepco of $6.5 million, which is a reduction of $54.3 million (or 89%) from Pepco�s requested $60.8 million dollar increase in rates.

The County opposes the Grid Resiliency Charge (GRC).

The County originally included the Commission-approved Rate of Return (�ROR�) of 7.96% from the prior rate case (Case No. 9286) as a placeholder in its revenue requirement calculations for this rate case. After reviewing the position of all of the parties, the County supports a ROR of 7.50%.

The County brought the issue of Pepco�s Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes (�ADIT�) on the Net Operating Loss Carryforward (�NOLC�) to the PSC�s attention. Since Pepco has not filed its tax returns for 2012 and 2013, the ADIT carried on its books is not a loss that has actually been incurred, but is merely forecasted. Since Pepco has not proven actual tax losses at this point time, a NOLC based on forecasted tax losses should not be included in the rate base. The County argues for the removal of the $66 million NOLC from the rate base.

Attachment 1 to the County�s brief (the last two pages) is a chart that reflects the parties� positions with respect to all of the proposed ratemaking adjustments.

Download This Document

Registration for Summer Reading Program at Montgomery County Public Libraries

Howard Hartman — Fri, 31 May 2013 00:39:29 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 30, 2013

Registration for Summer Reading Program
at Montgomery County Public Libraries

Begins June 1; Special Programs Scheduled

Children and teens of all ages are invited to participate in this year�s Summer Reading Program at Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) which will run from June 1 to August 11. The themes are �Dig into Reading� for birth thru Grade 6 and "Beneath the Surface" for teens. Online registration at the MCPL website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library, begins June 1.

Participants can sign up for the program and keep track of the books they read, or have read to them, using the designated summer reading registration computer or a public computer in the library, or sign up on computers at home or elsewhere. Recommended reading lists by grade also will be available on the MCPL website.

�Studies have shown that children who continue to read during the summer months retain their reading skills and perform better in school,� said MCPL Director Parker Hamilton. �The Summer Reading Program at the library is a great way to include reading activities into summer family time.�

Magicians, musicians, storytellers, jugglers, and puppets are among the various entertainers that will perform for children at all MCPL branches this summer. Schedules of programs are on the library�s calendar of events. All programs are funded by the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc. (FOLMC) and by local Friends of the Library chapters.

Summer Reading t-shirts are on sale at http://www.folmc.org/bookstores/locations. For more information, call 240-777-0020.

To request ADA program accommodations for any of the Summer Reading programs, call the library hosting the program at least five work days in advance.

For more information about the program

Go to this site

Montgomery County Celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month

Howard Hartman — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:47:10 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 30, 2013

Montgomery County Celebrates
Caribbean American Heritage Month

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will participate in a special celebration for Caribbean American Heritage Month on Thursday, June 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building, located at One Veterans Place in downtown Silver Spring.

Leggett will present a proclamation designating June as Caribbean American Heritage Month, followed by a reception featuring Caribbean-themed music and food. This year�s theme is �Accessing Montgomery County Services & Resources: Health, Education & Housing.� A panel discussion is planned featuring Housing Opportunities Commission Director Stacy Spann; Montgomery County Public Schools Chief Engagement and Partnership Officer Tim Warner; and Department of Health and Human Services Director of the Office of Community Services Betty Lam.

As part of Caribbean American Heritage Month activities, on Saturday, June 15, the fifth annual Aspen Hill Caribbean American Heritage Celebration will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville. The celebration will feature Caribbean music by Lennard Jack & Fusion, dance by Caribbean Dance Traditions and food from Nice �n Spicy Jamaican Restaurant. The free celebration is sponsored by the Friends of the Aspen Hill Library.

For more information about Caribbean Heritage Month events, contact Daniel Koroma, African and Caribbean community liaison in the County�s Office of Community Partnerships at 240-777-2584.

Food and Wine Tastings, Cooking Demos Highlight 18th Annual Taste of Wheaton

Howard Hartman — Thu, 30 May 2013 13:03:40 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 30, 2013

Food and Wine Tastings, Cooking Demos, Book
Signings Highlight 18th Annual Taste of Wheaton

Downtown Wheaton will host the 18th annual Taste of Wheaton on Sunday, June 9. The area�s signature event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Wheaton at Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive. Local participating restaurants include The Limerick Pub, Hollywood East Caf�, Moby Dick Sushi, Los Cobanos and Green Plate Catering, offering food samples at prices ranging from $1 to $5 per �taste.�

For the first time, the Taste of Wheaton will feature cooking demonstrations from area chefs. Scott Squire of The Limerick Pub, Janet Yu of Hollywood East Caf� and Kit Wood of Green Plate Catering will cook up dishes and offer samples. Special guest Joe Yonan, a two-time James Beard Award-winning food and travel editor of The Washington Post and the author of the upcoming �Eat Your Vegetables: Fresh Recipes for the Single Cook� will also participate in the demo. Bonnie Beswick, deputy editor of The Washington Post Food section and author of �The Washington Post Cookbook: Readers� Recipe Favorites,� will serve as the cooking demo moderator. Both will have their books available for purchase.

This year�s �Food and Wine Tasting� tent will highlight select wines from Elk Run Vineyards, Mt. Airy; Old Westminster Winery, Westminster; and Linganore Wine Cellars, Mt. Airy. Local culinary artisans including Three Little Pigs Charcuterie & Salumi, Shepherds Manor Creamery and Caked-Up will also participate.

Tasting tickets must be purchased for this event. All of the proceeds benefit the Mid-County United Ministries food pantry in Wheaton. Attendees who bring canned food donations will be eligible for a variety of fun giveaway items.

Live music and entertainment will round out the event with performances from Ted Garber, Diamond Alley, Alma Tropicalia and Natty Beaux, along with live band karaoke with HariKaraoke. Children�s activities include caricature drawings, balloon artists, and arts and crafts.

Grandview Avenue and parking lot 13 in the Wheaton Triangle will be closed during the event. Free parking will be available at the Wheaton Metro garage on Veirs Mill Road and at the County garage at Amherst Avenue and Reedie Drive. The Wheaton Metro Station is one-half block south of the event.

For more information, call Sidney Cooper at 240-777-8106, or visit www.wheatonmd.org.

Leggett Participates in Walking Tour of the Wheaton Urban District

Howard Hartman — Wed, 29 May 2013 22:55:45 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 29, 2013

Leggett Participates in Walking Tour
of the Wheaton Urban District

The Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (WUDAC) and the Smarter Growth Coalition will conduct a walking tour of the Wheaton Urban District on June 1 from 10 a.m. to noon. The tour will help participants envision the future of a walkable Wheaton by discussing improvements to lighting, signage, storefronts, the greening of public spaces, the addition of street art and the creation of art venues. Kelly Blynn from The Coalition for Smarter Growth will lead the tour and provide examples of successful efforts in other urban areas similar to Wheaton.

County Executive Ike Leggett will initiate the tour at the Mid-County Regional Services Center, which will coincide with the County�s release of a Request for Proposals for the long-awaited mixed-use development of County properties in the Wheaton Urban District. The County expects to begin negotiations with a selected developer by December 1, 2013, to construct the new headquarters for the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which includes the Mid-County Regional Services Center, private residential and commercial space, public parking, and a town square located in the heart of the Wheaton Triangle. The project will complement private investment taking place in Wheaton that will add more than 900 residential units over the next two years.

WUDAC hopes to improve lighting and signage to facilitate pedestrian traffic through the Wheaton Urban District so residents and visitors will take advantage of the local businesses and restaurants as they head to and from Westfield Shoppingtown Wheaton or the Wheaton Metro station.

The Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee consists of 11 members appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council to provide advice on all matters affecting the Wheaton Urban District area (downtown). Members represent businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, residents and the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB).

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Their mission is to promote walkable, inclusive and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies and investments needed to make those communities flourish.

For more information about the June 1 walking tour, contact Ana Lopez van Balen, Mid-County Regional Center director at analopez.vanbalen@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Program at the Rockville Memorial Library

Howard Hartman — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:35:48 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 29, 2013

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Program
at the Rockville Memorial Library

A Power of Parents Workshop will be presented by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on Monday, June 17 at the Rockville Memorial Library, beginning at 7 p.m. The library is located at 21 Maryland Ave. in the Rockville Town Center.

The free program will focus on underage drinking in Maryland, how it can be eliminated and the roles played by peers and the media. Participants will be provided information and handouts on how to communicate with children concerning the dangers of underage drinking. MADD workshop leader Herman Bonaparte will conduct the program. Registration is not required.

For more information, call the Rockville Memorial Library at 240-777-0140 or Herman Bonaparte at 410-964-5757, ext. 2455.

Montgomery County Partners With Anheuser-Busch to Help Prevent Underage Drinking

Howard Hartman — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:34:35 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 29, 2013

Montgomery County Partners With Anheuser-Busch
to Help Prevent Underage Drinking

In an effort to prevent underage drinking in Montgomery County during graduation season and into the summer months, the Department of Liquor Control (DLC) is teaming up with industry leader Anheuser-Busch to launch an educational effort aimed at alcohol retailers.

The materials, provided in kind by Montgomery Eagle and Anheuser-Busch, will be distributed by DLC as an expansion of the award-winning �Keeping It Safe� public education campaign designed to educate businesses and the community on alcohol laws and social host responsibility. The retailer-focused materials include ID checking guides, clocks, clerk buttons and posters featured at the point of purchase and carrying the Anheuser-Busch ID tagline reminding retailers to be vigilant about checking IDs.

�The Department of Liquor Control will continue to act as a resource for businesses licensed to serve and sell alcohol,� said DLC Division Chief Kathie Durbin. �We are delighted to collaborate with Anheuser-Busch, and together we will do all we can to prevent the sale of alcohol to individuals under the age of 21.�

The materials can be viewed online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dlc under Licensing, Regulation and Education, Resources.

�We are proud to partner with the Department of Liquor Control as we continue to promote alcohol responsibility programs with both consumers and retailers in an effort to help prevent underage drinking,� said Carol Huebner, region director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Anheuser-Busch. �Delivering the message that an ID will be requested at the point of purchase will help deter youth access to alcohol.�

For more information, call Emily DeTitta at the DLC Office of Community Outreach at 240-777-1904.

County Recognizes Volunteers at Community Action Month Celebration

Howard Hartman — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:26:42 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 29, 2013

County Recognizes Volunteers at
Community Action Month Celebration

At the Community Action Month Celebration held last night in Rockville, County officials honored individuals and organizations for their contributions to better the lives of low-income residents. Charles L. Short, special assistant to the County Executive joined Community Action Board Chair Walter Woods, Jr. and Vice Chair Matthew J. Green, Jr. in recognizing dozens of volunteers, including those from Community Action�s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (�VITA�) partnership and the Takoma East Silver Spring Center (TESS).

Through the VITA partnership, 64 volunteers served 1,770 low-to-moderate families at Community Action�s VITA sites, helping residents claim over $3.6 million dollars in refunds and credits, including more than $1.1 million in federal, state and County earned income tax credit (EITC). The partnership, with its main office at the County�s MidCounty Regional Services Center in Wheaton, delivers free tax help in collaboration with TESS; the City of Rockville; City of Gaithersburg at Family Services, Inc.; the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Maryland CASH Campaign; Spanish Catholic Center of Catholic Charities; the University of Maryland at College Park and Maryland Hunger Solutions.

At the event, winners of the Community Action Board�s Henry L. Dixon and Marcia Plater Community Action Awards were recognized.

The Emmanuel � Brinklow Seventh Day Adventist Church received the Henry L. Dixon Community Action Award for Organizational Service for their volunteer work with youth at the Housing Opportunities Commission�s (HOC) Towne Centre Place.

The Credit Union Foundation of Maryland and D.C. received an honorable mention for volunteer efforts conducting the �Millionaire�s Club� at multiple Montgomery County Public Schools sites.

The Marcia Plater Community Action Award for Individual Service was given to Gaithersburg resident Clara Navarro for her volunteer service with the Spanish Catholic Center, part of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. Clarence Coleridge, a Beltsville resident and Keith Walcott, a Hyattsville resident were recognized for their volunteer efforts organizing a soccer program for Takoma Park youth.

Germantown resident Geri Drymalski and Silver Spring resident Javel Wilson each received an honorable mention for volunteering as mentors with HOC�s Family Self-Sufficiency program. Jackie Mayers, a Silver Spring resident, received an honorable mention for her volunteer work as counselor for HOC.

Volunteers with the Community Action Board (CAB) serve as the governing body for the Department of Health and Human Services� Community Action Agency�s federal Community Service Block Grant and Head Start grants. The Board encourages the use of public and private resources to help low-income individuals and families become self-sufficient and seeks to reduce poverty in Montgomery County, engaging low-income residents as it advocates for government services responsive to their needs.

County to Host Local �Hackathon� for National Day of Civic Hacking, June 1-2

Howard Hartman — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:54:16 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 23, 2013

County to Host Local �Hackathon� for
National Day of Civic Hacking, June 1-2

Montgomery County will bring together residents, software developers and entrepreneurs for a �hackathon� event on June 1-2 at the Universities of Shady Grove, Building III at 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. The County�s Hack for Change Hackathon will be part of the first annual National Day of Civic Hacking that is designed to leverage the power of public data with the expertise of residents and entrepreneurs in finding technology solutions for the common good. Other agencies hosting civic hacking events on that date include the White House, NASA, the Census Bureau, HHS, FEMA, the National Archives and departments of Labor and Energy.

The Montgomery County event, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on June 1, will offer County residents a unique opportunity to get involved and improve community life by developing new applications for smart phones and other devices. Government challenges, potential solutions and desired outcomes will be pitched by County staff to spur ideas for technology solutions, and participants will have an opportunity to pitch their own ideas for new apps that could benefit the public. Participants will select the idea they find most compelling and will form a development team to work on it. Some ideas may have multiple teams and others may have none.

Software development skills are not a requirement for participation. With the exception of County employees who are prohibited from serving on a development team, participants only need to be willing to collaborate with others to create, build and invent solutions using public data to address challenges relevant to the community. That includes students, educators, community members, engineers, technologists, civil servants, scientists, designers and artists.

Each team will develop a solution for the idea they select, and County staff will be available throughout the event to answer questions and provide guidance. At the end of the event, teams will be judged on what they have created.

Meals will be provided, and the event will conclude at 6:30 p.m. on June 2 following team presentations and judging.

To register for the Montgomery County Hack for Change Hackathon

Go to this site

.

For more information on the National Day of Civic Hacking

Go to this site

County Recognizes Excellence in Recycling Achievement During Recycling Awareness Week

Howard Hartman — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:37:25 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 23, 2013

Montgomery County Recognizes Excellence in Recycling
Achievement During Recycling Awareness Week 2013

As part of its annual Recycling Awareness Week activities, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection�s Division of Solid Waste Services (DSWS) recognized outstanding achievements in recycling, waste reduction, reuse, buying recycled-content products and educational efforts by local businesses, organizations, multi-family apartment and condominium properties, residents and individuals.

Honorees were announced at the annual Recycling Achievement Recognition Program held at the Silver Spring Civic Building on May 22. The Federal Environmental Executive, Jonathan Powers, who gave the keynote speech, joined County Executive Ike Leggett, Council Vice President Craig Rice and DEP Director Bob Hoyt in presenting awards to the recipients.

Recognition was given for efforts including: recycling more than 70 percent of waste generated; implementing increased recycling and waste reduction activities; and contributing volunteer service to increase overall awareness and participation in the county�s recycling programs.

Awards were presented to the following recipients in the designated categories:

Outstanding Leadership Efforts to Increase Recycling Awareness
Five individuals were recognized for their efforts to increase overall awareness of recycling to others in the community, including volunteers who contributed their time and talents to support the County�s recycling efforts:

Janani Chakravarthi, Gaithersburg; Paolo M. Nardone, Derwood; Jeong-Yoon Wu, Olney; and Jiaxuan Wu and John Wu of Boyds.

Multi-Family Property Excellence in Recycling
The following multi-family properties were recognized for their efforts to recycle 70 percent or more of their waste stream in 2012:

The Bennington at Silver Spring, Silver Spring and 4620 North Park Avenue Condominium Association, Chevy Chase.

Multi-Family Property Outstanding Effort in Recycling
The following multi-family properties were recognized for establishing and/or contributed to excellence in their on-site recycling programs:

1200 East West, Silver Spring; Decoverly IV Condominium, Inc., Rockville; Grosvenor Park II Condominium, Rockville; Highland House Apartments, Chevy Chase; Highland House West Apartments, Chevy Chase; Highland Square, Gaithersburg; Huntington at King Farm, Rockville; The Residences at Rollins Ridge, Rockville; Riderwood Village, Silver Spring; The Riviera of Chevy Chase, Chevy Chase; The Sterling Home Owner�s Association, Inc., North Bethesda; The Veridian Apartments at Silver Spring Metro, Silver Spring; The Villages at Decoverly, Rockville; The Whitney at Bethesda Theatre, Bethesda; and The Wisconsin, A Condominium, North Bethesda.

Multi-Family Property Outstanding Individual Achievement in Recycling
The following residents living in multi-family properties were recognized for their outstanding efforts to improve the recycling programs at their properties and/or increase resident recycling awareness and participation:

Austin Creel, Maplewood Park Place, Bethesda, and Barbara Person, Ingleside at King Farm, Rockville.

Multi-Family Property Outstanding Individual Achievement in Recycling
The following staff at multi-family properties were recognized for their outstanding efforts to improve recycling programs and/or increase resident recycling awareness and participation:

Edna Kweti, Rock Creek Village Condominium, Silver Spring, and Joe Podson, Homecrest House, Silver Spring.

Excellence in Recycling � Business
The following businesses, organizations and commercial properties were honored for their efforts to recycle at least 70 percent of their waste stream generated in 2012:

Crawford Tire, Inc., Bethesda; Dow Jones and Company, Inc., Silver Spring; The German School � Washington, D.C. in Potomac, Potomac; Lockheed Martin Center for Leadership Excellence, Bethesda; and Ridgewells Catering, Bethesda.

Outstanding Achievement in Recycling � Business
Businesses and commercial properties recognized for continuing their outstanding efforts in improving their on-site recycling, waste reduction and/or buying recycled programs were:

Axcelis Technologies, Rockville; Best Buy #819, Germantown; Bethesda Green, Bethesda; Bialek Environments, Rockville; Brooke Grove Foundation, Sandy Spring; Brookfield Office Properties � Three Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda; Capital Bank � One Church Street, Rockville; Chevy Chase Club, Inc., Chevy Chase; Community Support Services, Inc. � 9075 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg; Convergent Wealth Advisors, Potomac; Family and Nursing Care, Silver Spring; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Rockville; Germantown Veterinary Clinic, Germantown; Georgia Crossing at the Anchor Inn, Bethesda; Good Earth Garden Market, Potomac; Hickman�s Exxon, Rockville; Jones Lang LaSalle � 6705 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda; Kaiser Permanente � Shady Grove Medical Office Building, Rockville; La Bamba Restaurant, Silver Spring; Landow Building Limited Partnership, Bethesda; National Institutes of Health � 5 Research Court, Rockville; Negril, Silver Spring; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish/School, Bethesda; Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Olney; Rainbow Laundry, Silver Spring; Royco, Inc. � The World Building, Silver Spring; Shady Grove Professional Park, Gaithersburg; St. John�s Episcopal Church and Oneness Family School, Chevy Chase; Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Bethesda; Travel Place, Potomac; The Universities at Shady Grove � Camille Kendall Academic Center, Rockville; Viers Mill Village, Silver Spring; Wellbeing Caf�, Inc., Rockville; Woder Ethiopia Restaurant and Carry Out, Silver Spring; and Zuckerman Gravely Management � Potomac Place Shopping Center, Chevy Chase.

Outstanding Achievement in Recycling � Individual
The following individuals were honored for their outstanding contributions in implementing or improving the recycling, waste reduction and/or buying recycled programs at their place of business:

Ellen Bennett, Montgomery County Parks, Wheaton; Howie Boyd, WABTEC Railway Electronics, Germantown; Sara Carleton, Parkway Plaza Associates, Kensington; Michael Deyo, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, Rockville; Kay Dietrich, Washington Gas � Northwest Station, Rockville; Christine Johnson, Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Clarksburg; Keith Norwood, McShea Management, Rockville; Amy Pangburn, Hughes Network Systems, Germantown; Mary Pedersen, McLean School of Maryland, Potomac; and Harry Vaughn, Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Rockville.

Detailed information about each award recipient is available on the DSWS website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/recycling.

County�s openMontgomery Program Receives National Technology Award

Howard Hartman — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:23:17 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2013

County�s openMontgomery Program
Receives National Technology Award

The Public Technology Institute (PTI) has honored Montgomery County with a 2012-2013 Technology Solutions award. The openMontgomery program was recognized in the Web, e-Government and Mobile Technology category. Two additional County programs were recognized for Significant Achievement: a Cloud-Based BikeShare Research Tool, and a Mobile IT Service Desk. Montgomery was the only county in the State of Maryland - and the only jurisdiction in the Washington DC metropolitan area - to be recognized with an award by PTI in this year�s technology solutions awards competition.

The openMontgomery website was developed as part of a close collaboration between the County�s Department of Technology Services (DTS), the County Executive�s Office, the Office of Public Information, and the County Council. The goal of the openMontgomery initiative is to make County government even more transparent, responsive, accessible and accountable to its residents and constituents. The openMontgomery program is the County�s umbrella Open and Digital Government initiative that is comprised of four pillar programs:

dataMontgomery: providing on-line access to County datasets in consumable format;
mobileMontgomery: providing mobile device access to County information, services and programs;
engageMontgomery: providing an on-line forum for resident collaboration and idea-sharing; and
accessMontgomery: providing on-line access to County services, reports, budgets, and contracts.

Additional information about openMontgomery is available online at http://montgomerycountymd.gov/open.

The new and innovative BikeShare Research Tool developed by DTS allows the County�s Department of Transportation to collaborate with organizations outside of County government to research and identify potential bikeshare station locations in the County. DTS also instituted a Mobile IT Service Desk program in response to County employee requests for enhanced mobile computing services support.

�We value Public Technology Institute�s recognition of the County�s openMontgomery program,� said Harash (Sonny) Segal, Chief Information Officer for Montgomery County. �This award is relevant to all governments that are contemplating expanding transparency and civic engagement well beyond the traditional channels.�

PTI is a national technology organization created by and for cities and counties. The organization identifies opportunities for technology research, shares best practices, offers consultancies and pilot demonstrations, and promotes technology development initiatives. Every year, PTI recognizes local government technology programs that have demonstrated how, through the use of technology, governments improve service delivery and/or reduce costs.

An independent panel of judges identified the winners of PTI�s 2012-2013 Technology Solutions Awards. �Montgomery County continues to be recognized nationally for its use of technology to not only effect government performance and service delivery, but to also improve the way the community can interact with government,� said PTI Executive Director Alan R. Shark. �I congratulate Montgomery County for its efforts; and for the willingness of county leaders to share their insight with other governments.�

Solid Waste Services: Memorial Day 2013 - Modified Schedule

Howard Hartman — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:22:10 GMT

Solid Waste Services: Memorial Day 2013 - modified schedule -

Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services
Holiday Recycling and Trash Reminder

In this announcement:

Holiday schedule for Memorial Day 2013
Did you catch these recent posts to our blog?
This week is Recycling Awareness Week 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013 - Memorial Day - is a recycling and trash collection holiday. After the holiday, all County-provided recycling and trash collections will slide, and be one day later than normal.

If your collection day is	Your collection day this week is
Monday	Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tuesday	Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Wednesday	Thursday, May 30, 2013
Thursday	Friday, May 31, 2013
Friday	Saturday, June 1, 2013

If you have questions or concerns about your County-provided collection, please call the Montgomery County Customer Service Center (MC311) at 311 (out-of-County: 240-777-0311, TTY: 301-251-4850)

If you (or your community) have a private contract for your trash collection, or if you live in a municipality, our schedule announcements may not apply to your trash service -- check with your hauler or community manager.

Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station

Transfer Station location, hours and other details

Saturday, May 25, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Sunday, May 26, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Monday, May 27, 2013: Entire facility closed.

Poolesville Beauty Spot

Beauty Spot location, hours and other details

Saturday, May 25, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Sunday, May 26, 2013: Open with normal hours.

Did you catch these recent posts to our blog?

This week is Recycling Awareness Week 2013

May 20 to 24 is Recycling Awareness Week 2013 in Montgomery County! We'll post the list of Award winners to our website on Wednesday.

O welcome, lovely summer,
Wi' thi golden days so long,
When the throstle and the blackbird
Do charm us wi' ther song;
When the lark in early morning
Takes his aerial flight;
An' the humming bat an' buzzard
Frolic in the night.

O! welcome, lovely summer,
With her rainbow's lovely form;
Her thunner an' her leetnin',
An' her grandeur in the storm:
With her sunshine an' her shower,
An' her whirlin' of the dust,
An' the maiden with her flagon,
To sleck the mower's thirst.

O! welcome, lovely summer,
When the woods wi' music ring,
An' the bees so heavy laden,
To their hives their treasures bring:
When we seek some shady bower,
Or some lovely little dell,
Or, bivock in the sunshine,
Besides some cooling well.

O! welcome, lovely summer,
With her roses in full bloom;
When the cowslaps an' the laalek
Deck the cottage home;
When the cherry an' the berry
Give a grandeur to the charm;
And the clover and the haycock
Scent the little farm.

O! welcome, lovely summer,
Wi' the partridge on the wing;
When the tewit an' the moorgam,
Up fra the heather spring,
From the crowber an' the billber,
An' the bracken an' the whin;
As from the noisy tadpole,
We hear the crackin' din.
O! welcome, lovely summer.

—Bill o'th' Hoylus End, O Welcome, Lovely Summer

Send me your questions and comments
I love hearing from our subscribers! Susanne Wiggins, Division of Solid Waste Services

Follow the Division of Solid Waste Services

Read "Talkin' Trash", our Division of Solid Waste Services blog

Like us on Facebook

See our photos on Flickr

Watch our videos on YouTube

Recycling and Trash Resources

How-to-recycle information

Subscribe to our electronic calendar for changes to recycling/trash collection schedules and facility hours

Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services • 101 Monroe St, 6th Floor • Rockville, MD 20850 • Customer Service Center: 311 (out-of-County: 240-777-0311, TTY: 301-251-4850)

Solid Waste Facilities: Memorial Day 2013, Transfer Station Closed

Howard Hartman — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:13:35 GMT

Solid Waste Facilities: Memorial Day 2013, Transfer Station closed

Facilities Update
Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services

Memorial Day Weekend 2013

Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station

Transfer Station location, hours and other details

Saturday, May 25, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Sunday, May 26, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Monday, May 27, 2013: Facility drop-off areas and administrative offices closed.

Poolesville Beauty Spot

Beauty Spot location, hours and other details

Saturday, May 25, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Sunday, May 26, 2013: Open with normal hours.

Do you need paint or stain for your next project? Visit our Paint Giveaway at the Transfer Station.

Send me your questions and comments
I love hearing from our subscribers! Susanne Wiggins, Division of Solid Waste Services

Follow the Division of Solid Waste Services

Read "Talkin' Trash", our Division of Solid Waste Services blog

Like us on Facebook

See our photos on Flickr

Watch our videos on YouTube

Recycling and Trash Resources

How-to-recycle information

Subscribe to our electronic calendar for changes to recycling/trash collection schedules and facility hours

Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services • 101 Monroe St, 6th Floor • Rockville, MD 20850 • Customer Service Center: 311 (out-of-County: 240-777-0311, TTY: 301-251-4850)

Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day

Howard Hartman — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:43:29 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2013

Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Memorial Day on Monday, May 27:

County Offices � closed
Libraries � closed
County liquor stores � all retail stores open 10 a.m. � 6 p.m.
Recreation � indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities will be open; administrative offices, senior centers and community recreation centers will be closed
Montgomery Parks � for holiday operating schedule on Parks� facilities, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks, tennis centers, trains and carousels, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
Ride On � Sunday schedule
Metrobus � Sunday schedule
Metrorail � Sunday schedule
TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) � closed
Refuse/recycling pickup � no collection*
Transfer Station � closed
Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters � free
MCPS Administrative Offices � closed
State offices & courts � closed

Collection provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday).

County Announces Events for 2013 "Recycling Awareness Week" May 20 - 24, 2013

Howard Hartman — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:10:45 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 17, 2013

County Announces Events for 2013
"Recycling Awareness Week" May 20 - 24, 2013

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
May 20, 21, 23 and 24 (various times and locations)
SCHOOL RECYCLING ASSEMBLIES

The �Magic of Recycling� show, an interactive educational program on recycling and saving natural resources, will be presented to students in a number of private schools located in the County. Each school selected was identified by Division of Solid Waste Services (DSWS) staff for their outstanding recycling efforts. The program will motivate and educate students and school employees to participate in the County�s recycling program at school and at home.

Note: For specific school locations and times, call Alan Pultyniewicz at 240-777-6480.

Wednesday, May 22 � 10 a.m. � Noon
RECYCLING ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION PROGRAM
The Federal Environmental Executive to present Keynote Address
Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
(Grand Hall)

County Executive Ike Leggett will present remarks. Jonathan Powers, Federal Environmental Executive, will give the keynote address. Appointed to his position by President Obama, Powers is responsible for promoting environmental and energy sustainability across federal government operations. DSWS will recognize 50 businesses, organizations and employees, 21 multi-family properties, property managers and staff, and residents in the following categories: excellence in recycling for businesses and multi-family properties which recycled more than 70 percent of their waste generated in 2012, and outstanding achievement for those businesses, employees, property owners/managers, and multi-family properties, staff and residents for their contributions to successful recycling, waste reduction, buying recycled and educational efforts. In addition, five DSWS recycling volunteers will be recognized for contributing their time and talents to increase overall recycling awareness in the County.

Thursday, May 23 -- 6 - 7:30 p.m.
RECYCLING VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION CEREMONY
Executive Office Building (EOB) Cafeteria, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville

DSWS will recognize the contributions of its dedicated recycling program volunteers who are vital to the Division�s efforts to increase awareness of recycling, waste reduction, reuse, buying recycled products, grasscycling and backyard composting to others in their community to reach the 70 percent recycling goal. Volunteers who contributed more than 20 hours of service during the fiscal year to date will receive special recognition.

County to Test Displaying Ads in Four Parking Garages

Howard Hartman — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:48:36 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2013

County to Test Displaying Ads in Four Parking Garages

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation�s Division of Parking Management (DPM) will begin a six-month pilot project to test ad-based marketing opportunities in County parking garages. Ads should be posted in the garages by early June. The test will help DPM evaluate business demand for the ads, revenue potential for the County, the types and sizes of displays that are attractive to businesses and ways to ensure that garage signage continues to be clear and visible.

The four test garages are:

Garage 61, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring;
Garage 7, 8530 Cameron Street, Silver Spring;
Garage 57, 4841 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda; and
Garage 11, 7730 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda.

Montgomery County operates public parking lots, garages and on-street parking meters with about 12,000 parking spaces in four areas of the County: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Wheaton and Montgomery Hills.

More information about parking in Montgomery County

Go to this site

Annual Summer Concert Series Kicks Off on July 11 in Downtown Silver Spring

Howard Hartman — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:20:20 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2013

Annual Summer Concert Series Kicks
Off on July 11 in Downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County Recreation announces this year�s line-up for the long-running Silver Spring Summer Concert Series, presented by Discovery Communications. The free concerts will be held on Thursday evenings, July 11 � August 1, from 7 to 9 p.m., on Veterans Plaza at the Silver Spring Civic Building, Ellsworth Dr. and Fenton St. Performances are canceled due to weather only if it is raining at 7 p.m.

Concerts feature a raffle with prizes for children and adults. Attendees can bring a picnic or enjoy food from one of the many nearby restaurants.

Following is a schedule of concerts:

July 11 � Bruce Ewan, The Red Harmonica King (Blues)
July 18 � David Bach (World Jazz)
July 25 � Elliott Levine (R&B, Funk)
August 1 � Second Wind (Rock & Roll)
For more information, call 240-777-6821.

Residents Invited to Participate in Live Online Discussion with County Executive

Howard Hartman — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:49:46 GMT

Remind Me

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2013

Residents Invited to Participate in Live Online
Discussion with County Executive Ike Leggett

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will hold a �virtual� Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, May 21 from 1 to 2 p.m. County residents will be able to ask questions of the County Executive before or during the chat at Live Discussion with Ike Leggett.

Questions and answers will be posted both during and after the chat.

For more information, call the Office of Public Information at 240-777-6507.

Go to this site

This Thursday: A Woman's Guide to Money Matters

Howard Hartman — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:34:35 GMT

The Montgomery County Commission for Women

And the Montgomery County (MD) Alumnae Chapter - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Present:

A Woman�s Guide to Money Matters

Thursday, May 16, 2013

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Rockville Memorial Library Building

21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 330

Rockville, MD 20850

At this seminar participants will learn strategies for:

� Taking control of your finances in 5 easy steps

� Setting specific, realistic, achievable and measurable financial goals

� Developing a strategy to help achieve your financial goals

� Preparing for retirement - now

� Paying for a child's or grandchild's education

� Understanding investments and investment strategies � and developing strategies that work for you

Presenter: Nick Martinez, Financial Advisor

Edwards Jones, Inc.

Pre-Registration: $10 at: http://moneymatters4women.eventbrite.com/#

At the Door: $15 (Cash or Check only) Call 240-777-8300 for more information

County Executive�s Youth Advisory Committee To Hold Teen Forum

Howard Hartman — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:48:45 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2013

County Executive�s Youth Advisory
Committee To Hold Teen Forum

Young people will have an opportunity to share their experiences, insights and solutions to problems with County Executive Ike Leggett, members of the County Council and representatives from Montgomery County Public Schools at a Teen Forum to be held on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East County Community Recreation Center, 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring.

The free event is being organized by members of Leggett�s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) that provides Montgomery County teens the opportunity to develop leadership skills while serving their communities. Appointed by the County Executive, YAC members from across the County work to strengthen students� voices in the schools through �speak outs� and contact with County government. Another part of the committee�s mission is to help eliminate violence, alcohol and other drug use, and help fight racial discrimination through multicultural education.

The forum will include �speak-out� sessions facilitated by YAC members, entertainment provided by popular artist Christylez Bacon, a fashion show by the Red Sprinkle Fashion Club from the Springbrook Sports Academy and prizes.

Space is limited so pre-registration is recommended. To pre-register, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec, go to Registration and sign up for course number 358458.

Leggett Announces County's Nighttime Economy Task Force Members

Howard Hartman — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:44:26 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 9, 2013

Leggett Announces County's Nighttime Economy Task Force Members

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett today announced his appointments to the County�s Nighttime Economy Task Force designed to evaluate and push forward changes to encourage increased nighttime business and social activity for residents, employees, and visitors of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

The Nighttime Economy Task Force will examine policies, resources and amenities that address Montgomery County�s nightlife offerings. Specifically, the task force will address policies that can boost entertainment offerings throughout the County, increase financial prospects of employment and business development while also helping to enhance the sense of community throughout the communities that make up our county.

�This initiative reflects my vision for a 21st century Montgomery that is innovation-driven, transit-friendly, connected, and multi-generational,� said Leggett. �A thriving nighttime economy is an opportunity to enhance Montgomery�s attractiveness to all generations, businesses and visitors. In its first phase, the focus will be on Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, Germantown, and Wheaton.�

Through the Nighttime Economy Task Force, the County will examine the following questions and opportunities:

What kind of mix of business, entertainment and arts would make a vibrant and attractive urban center?
How do we attract businesses in defined geographic areas that appeal to multiple generations?
What are the national trends and models on nighttime economy?
How do we develop local models to enhance the County�s nighttime offerings in its urban centers?

The Task Force is expected to complete its policy recommendations within six months of its first meeting.

The Task Force members announced today are:

Name	Role	Area they represent	Industry
1. Heather Dlholopolsky	Chair	Bethesda	Chair of BCC Chamber
2. Henriot St. Gerard	Vice Chair	Wheaton	Chair of the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee
3. Kristina Bigby	Transportation lead	County	Barwood Transportation
4. Andy Chod	Public Space and Amenities lead	Upcounty	Minkoff Development
5. Mike Diegel	Arts & Entertainment lead	Silver Spring	Chair of the Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment Advisory Committee
6. Miti Figueredo	Transportation lead	Downcounty	Chevy Chase Land Company
7. Evan Glass	Quality of Life	Silver Spring	Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Committee
8. Will Jawando	Quality of Life lead	Silver Spring	Discovery Communications
9. Erica Leatham	Public Space and Amenities lead	Bethesda	Ballard Spahr, Chair of Arts & Humanities Council
10. Alice Nappy	Arts & Entertainment lead	Rockville	VisArts
11. Megan Pagado	Arts & Entertainment lead	Silver Spring	Assistant Manager of Digital Media at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
12. Dan Reed	Transportation lead	Silver Spring	Community Activist
13. Vanessa Rodriguez	Business Engagement lead	Bethesda	FRIC
14. Alan Pohoryles	Venue Safety lead	Bethesda	Tommy Joes Restaurant
15. Jonathan Sachs	Business engagement lead	County	Adventist Healthcare
16. Holly Sears	Business Engagement lead	County	Montgomery Business Development Corporation
17. Will Smith	Public Safety lead	Silver Spring	Resident
18. Stephanie Steele	Venue Safety lead	Silver Spring	Fillmore
19. Gam Wijetunge	Public Safety lead	Wheaton	Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad & Member of Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board
20. Doug Wrenn	Quality of Life lead	Upcounty	Rodgers Consulting
21. Linda Price		Council Staff

Lead County staff for the effort will be Ana Lopez van Balen, Mid-County Regional Director; Kathie Durbin, Chief, Department of Liquor Control; Gabe Albornoz, Director, Department of Recreation; and Dan Hoffman, Chief Innovation Officer.

Additional representatives will come from the County Council staff and local municipalities. Additional members of the community will be involved through issue group meetings or through community forums that will be established to vet recommendations from the task force.

Serving as ex-officio members will be County Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin, Nancy Floreen, and Hans Riemer.

Task Force chair Heather Dlholopolsky can be contacted at nighttimeeconomy.cex@montgomerycountymd.gov for questions related to the task force.

New engageMontgomery Topics Posted Today On �Civic Hacking� and More

Howard Hartman — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:33:14 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 9, 2013

New engageMontgomery Topics Posted Today On �Civic Hacking�
and Building a Gas Station at the Wheaton Costco

Residents Encouraged to Weigh In and Provide Feedback

Two new topics were posted today on Montgomery County�s engageMontgomery website (http://engage.montgomerycountymd.gov), giving residents an opportunity to voice their opinions and share ideas about what kinds of government services they would like to see provided on their smart phones, and how they think the issue of building a gas station at the Wheaton Costco could be resolved.

The questions up for discussion are:

Montgomery County is sponsoring a �National Day of Civic Hacking� event on June 1-2 at the Universities of Shady Grove. What kind of government service would you like to have available for your smart phone? (Go to http://www.hackforchange.org for information on the national event)
How would you resolve the issue of building a gas station at the Wheaton Costco?

The two discussion topics will remain on the site for the next month, and residents are encouraged to visit and weigh in often with their opinions and ideas on these and other active topics, which include the budget and Wheaton revitalization. The engageMontgomery website is a social media platform that is part of the new open government efforts launched in December to enhance government transparency and accessibility.

The engageMontgomery site serves as an informal online Town Hall Meeting. Users who sign up for an account are encouraged to express their own ideas on key issues, as well as support the ideas that they like best from others. This offers elected officials, department heads and program managers valuable feedback on issues that affect the community. Users gain points for signing up for an account, points for sharing good ideas, and even more points when others support their ideas. Points can be �cashed in� for various prizes such as a free round of golf at a County golf course, a home security evaluation by a County police officer and a story time and tour for up to four children at a County library.

For access to additional information about the County�s open government efforts, go to the openMontgomery website below.

Go to this site

Community Super Block Party to be held at Long Branch Library

Howard Hartman — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:28:06 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 8, 2013

Community Super Block Party
to be held at Long Branch Library

Live music, kids activities/entertainers, an art exhibit and a sense of community will highlight the Long Branch Super Block Party to be held on Saturday, May 11 at the Long Branch Library from 2 to 5 p.m. (rain date, May 18). The library is located at 8800 Garland Ave. in Silver Spring.

The free event celebrates the 10 temporary, site-specific sculptures that are on display at the library and along Flower Ave. until May 20. The sculptures, that honor the Long Branch community and culture, were composed by students from the University of Maryland Art and Architecture Studio.

A variety of live music will be performed by The Relics (Reggae), Jumpin Jupiter (Rockabilly) and Trimbaldi�s Band (Latin). Children�s activities include face painting, kitemaking, storytime, bubblemaking, Little Garden Art project, Imagination with Magic Clay and T-shirt screen printing.

Special appearances are scheduled by McGruff the Crime Dog; Talon, the D.C. United mascot; magician George Bradley and The Tricycle Man Harry Connelly.

The Long Branch Super Block Party is co-sponsored by the Long Branch Business League, Montgomery Housing Partnership, Montgomery County Public Libraries, the County�s Department of Housing and Community Affairs, IMPACT Silver Spring, the University of Maryland Architecture and Department of Art programs, Giant and Capital One.

For more information, call 301-622-2400, ext 33.

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Montgomery County to Kick Off Be Active Montgomery! Campaign

Howard Hartman — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:38:40 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 7, 2013

Montgomery County to Kick Off
Be Active Montgomery! Campaign

The County�s new �Be Active Montgomery!� outreach campaign -- aimed at promoting overall health and wellness through participation in healthy recreation and leisure activities � will kick off with a variety of special activities for all ages on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Germantown Recreation Park, 18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and County Council Vice president Craig Rice will join Montgomery Recreation, Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) representatives at the kick off.

The free event will include the United Way Fun, Fly and Fit obstacle course; healthy food vendors; fitness walks; and interactive demonstrations such as Quick Start tennis, Zumba and golf clinics. Attendees who complete the fitness challenge will receive free admission to the Germantown Indoor Swim Center and the miniature golf course.

�Montgomery County offers hundreds of recreation and leisure programs and facilities that provide more than ample opportunities for residents to participate in activities that contribute to their improved health and well being,� said Leggett. �I encourage all our residents to join me in kicking off the Be Active Montgomery! campaign and in making a commitment to be active and stay active.�

�Being active is a core tenet of the Healthy Montgomery initiative that we rolled out here in the County four years ago,� said Rice. �I hope our community will support the idea that being healthy and active is imperative, especially in our priority areas like the fight against obesity in young adults and children.�

Montgomery County Recreation has worked collaboratively with community agencies that are dedicated to promoting health and wellness in the County. In addition to Montgomery Parks and MCPS, partners include United Way of the National Capital Area, Maryland Soccer Foundation and Montgomery Tennisplex.

For more information about the Be Active Montgomery! campaign, call 240-777-6821.

Taste the World in Fenton Village Event on June 2

Howard Hartman — Fri, 03 May 2013 01:13:38 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 2, 2013

Taste the World in Fenton Village Event on June 2

Showcases Local Venues, International Cuisine;
This year�s event features wine tasting at select restaurants

More than two dozen restaurants featuring cuisine from around the globe will be showcased in the third annual Taste the World in Fenton Village on Sunday, June 2 from 1 to 5 p.m. Fenton Village is located just south of downtown Silver Spring between Wayne, Georgia and Burlington avenues and Fenton Street.

More similar to a �pub crawl� than an event assembled on sidewalks or public space, Taste the World welcomes participants into 26 restaurants to sample not just their food but their special atmosphere. Restaurants will offer appetizers or small tasting plates at a minimal cost of $2 to $5 apiece. This year�s event introduces a wine tasting option at select restaurants, featuring local producer, Black Ankle Vineyards.

Participating restaurants include: Abyssinia Restaurant, Addis Ababa Restaurant, Bombay Gaylord, Fenton Caf�, Fire Station Restaurant, Gebeta Ethiopian Restaurant, Ghar-E-Kabob, Golden House, The Greek Place, Jackie�s Restaurant, Kefa Caf�, La Madeleine Country French Caf�, Langano Ethiopian Restaurant, Lesaac Ethiopian Caf�, Lizbeth�s Caf�, Lotus Caf�, Lucy�s Ethiopian Restaurant, Manny & Olga�s Pizza, Pacci�s Neopolitan Pizzeria, Piratz Tavern, Roger Miller Restaurant, Taqueria Distrito Federal, Thai Derm, Thai Market, Vicino Ristorante Italiano and ZED�s Caf�.

Hosted by the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, with help from Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., the Taste the World in Fenton Village stage will feature a wide array of free musical entertainment from around the globe, including Latin, jazz, reggae, Persian percussion, rock and blues.

Event attendees may pick up their Taste the World passports at Parking Lot 3 on Fenton Street between Thayer and Silver Spring avenues beginning at 1 p.m. Once participants have their �visas� stamped with three or more restaurants for tastings, they can enter a free drawing for prizes from local merchants.

In addition to more than 30 independent restaurants, Fenton Village is home to two spas, a martial arts academy, jewelers, music stores, a travel agency, a comics store, art supply store, thrift shop, international groceries, dry cleaners, art non-profits and more.

The Silver Spring Metro Station is a 10-minute walk from the stage area. Free parking will be available at Parking Lot 3 as well as Parking Garage #4 on Silver Spring Avenue and at all other nearby County-owned parking facilities.

Additional information about Fenton Village and downtown Silver Spring is available at www.silverspringtowncenter.com

For more information

Go to this site

Montgomery County Job Growth Up 4 Percent From 2010 - 2012

Howard Hartman — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:45:03 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 2, 2013

Montgomery County Job Growth Up 4 Percent From 2010 - 2012

County Adds Nearly 25,000 Jobs

The Montgomery County Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today that employment in the County between 2010 and 2012 grew by nearly 25,000 jobs - from 631,154 jobs in 2010 to 655,824 jobs in 2012. That represents a 3.9% job growth rate. During the same period job growth in Fairfax City & County was 3.6% and the District of Columbia was 2.8%. The Department used data provided by Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI).

The County�s top job-gaining sector was professional, scientific and technical services, which added almost 5,300 jobs from 2010 to 2012. The other top growing sectors were government, retail trade, and health care and social assistance, each adding over 3,000 jobs during the three year period.

�The positive job growth in the County from 2010-2012 is good, but we can�t stop there,� said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. �We can do even better.

�The County, primarily via our Department of Economic Development, continues to work proactively with large and small, public and private sector members of our business community to support their continued growth and success in Montgomery County. This outreach ranges from strategic grants and loans in targeted industry sectors, to assistance with permits, zoning, and site selection to initiating or facilitating partnering and networking opportunities.�

Contributing to the County�s increase in jobs were several Top 50 employers. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), with four offices in Rockville, added nearly 330 jobs, the most of the Top 50 employers. Just behind them was Capital One, adding almost 300 jobs, followed by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and MedImmune, which each added more than 200 jobs.

As part of the County�s ongoing efforts to retain and attract businesses, DED teamed with the Conference and Visitors Bureau of Montgomery County (CVB) to buy and produce a 3 minute promotional video. The video has aired the entire month of April on hundreds of national and international US Airways flights and select American Airlines business class flights. It is also featured on the DED (www.choosemontgomerymd.com) and CVB (www.visitmontgomery.com) websites and is being pushed out via social media outlets and will soon play on the lobby monitors at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The ad buy also included a full-page, color ad in the April 2013 US Airways Magazine.

In addition, DED showed the video at its booth in the Maryland Pavilion during the 2013 BIO International Convention held April 22-25 in Chicago. This year�s Convention attracted nearly 14,000 top biotech executives from around the world.

Montgomery County Celebrates Excel Beyond the Bell Middle School Program

Howard Hartman — Wed, 01 May 2013 22:22:37 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 1, 2013

Montgomery County Celebrates Excel
Beyond the Bell Middle School Program

Celebrating the success of the local Excel Beyond the Bell program, County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Montgomery County Recreation, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families at the Germantown Community Recreation Center to highlight accomplishments of the program introduced in the fall of 2011 as part of Leggett�s Positive Youth Development initiative.

Due to its success to date, Leggett has proposed expanding the program to include summer programming and an additional school in the fall. It currently operates in five middle schools � Argyle (Wheaton), Roberto Clemente and Neelsville (Germantown), Forest Oak (Gaithersburg) and Loiderman (Silver Spring). The program operates four days a week at three of the schools and two days a week at two schools. The long-range plan is to expand to all 38 middle schools in the County.

�Our partnership with the Collaboration Council and MCPS ensures that our students have the extra enrichment they need in a safe, nurturing environment after the academic school day ends,� said Leggett. �This very successful program has served more than 750 youth during the 2012-13 school year, and our ultimate goal is to make it available in every middle school in Montgomery County.�

The Excel Beyond the Bell partnership is charged with creating a system of high quality out-of-school time programs in the County that leads to academic success and positive youth development. Under the program, students receive after-school recreational and social programming, academic support, hot nutritional meals and bus transportation home. Excel Beyond the Bell is open to any student from the five participating schools. Activities include recreation; career exploration; leadership and civic engagement; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education; creative arts; and health and wellness.

Following are some of the highlights of this year�s Excel Beyond the Bell program:

More than 760 youth from five middle schools participated in out-of-school activities that included designing and building cars and lie detectors, drawing their favorite heroes and heroines, participating in cooking contests, performing onstage through dance and theatre productions, and developing team spirit through sports.
In recognition of providing quality STEM after-school programming in Maryland, two Argyle Middle School students were invited to be youth ambassadors and present on Capitol Hill about the importance of after-school programs at the �Breakfast of Champions� event hosted by the Afterschool Alliance.
To learn more about cyber bullying, more than 100 families from Clemente Middle School recently participated in the IBM-sponsored Family Night for children and families.
More than 36,800 hot meals have been served so far this year to these and other students participating in out-of-school time programs.

In addition to the celebration at the Germantown Recreation Center, a second celebration will take place on May 7 at 6 p.m. at the Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Rd., Silver Spring. Both celebrations feature activities that highlight the year-long student accomplishments, a proclamation presentation, and a recognition and awards ceremony.

For more information about the Excel Beyond the Bell program, call 240-777-6870 or visit www.excelbeyondthebell.org.

County Joins Cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville to Promote Water Safety Day

Howard Hartman — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:53:09 GMT

For Immediate Release
May 1, 2013

County Joins Cities of Gaithersburg and
Rockville to Promote Water Safety Day

Montgomery County Recreation is joining the Recreation departments of Gaithersburg and Rockville to host a free Water Safety Day event on Friday, May 31 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Water Park at Bohrer Park, 512 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg.

�I encourage participation in this free and educational event as an opportunity for our residents to learn effective ways to protect themselves and their loved ones from unnecessary injury as the summer swim season gets underway,� said County Executive Isiah Leggett.

The free event will include information stations that provide resources on a variety of topics, including swim level testing, the importance of personal flotation devices, how to safely reach and assist someone struggling in the water and the importance of sunscreen to prevent serious skin damage. �Coastie the Safety Boat� and �Sammy the Otter� will be on hand to promote the Youth Education, Boating and Water Safety Program, of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 24-08.

Anyone attending Water Safety Day who visits the various information booths is welcome to stay and enjoy a free swim. Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information about the event, call Carrie Headen at 240-777-8060.

Leggett Announces Launch of Green Landscape Business Certification Program

Howard Hartman — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:41:49 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2013

Leggett Announces Launch of Green
Landscape Business Certification Program

Seven Businesses Already Certified

At an event in Garrett Park today, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett recognized the first seven businesses to be certified under the County�s new Green Landscape Business Certification Program (GLBCP). The GLBCP is a collaboration between the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) and Montgomery College. The program expands eligibility for the Green Business Certification Program beyond businesses with office-based operations to the landscaping sector. It emphasizes actions landscape companies can take for their clients to enhance County environmental goals, including reducing or eliminating pesticides and fertilizers; planting native canopy trees; installing rain gardens to capture and filter stormwater; creating conservation landscapes; reducing mowing areas to cut emissions; and conserving water.

�The Green Landscape Business Certification Program is another tool Montgomery County is using that engages every resident and business in promoting environmental quality -- one yard and one property at a time,� said Leggett. �Using green landscaping practices not only helps the County achieve our stormwater management requirements, which are among the most stringent in the country, but also helps improve air quality, reduce the use of chemicals in the environment, decrease use of gas and oil, and enhance water quality. Adopting just a few green landscaping practices allows individuals to truly make a difference as environmental stewards.�

Landscape businesses, such as garden centers, or those offering design, installation or maintenance services are eligible for the program. To be certified, a landscape business must meet requirements from a checklist of over 130 actions in four broad areas:

Air quality, energy efficiency, waste management and procurement;
Integrated pest management and plants;
Water and soil; and
Organizational commitment and office operations.

DEP staff visits an applicant�s office and two to three of its worksites to confirm they are meeting sustainable practice guidelines.

�The new landscape certification program leverages two of the Department�s most effective initiatives, the RainScapes Rewards Rebate Program and the Green Business Certification Program, and enables us to engage the business community, academia and our homeowners to help us all achieve our shared goal of having clean water in all of our County streams� said DEP Director Bob Hoyt.

The GLBCP application was developed by staff from DEP and Montgomery College�s Landscape Technology Program, with input and testing by landscape business representatives. Although certain checklist actions are required within each category, the certification process is very flexible, allowing businesses to choose from a broad range of actions. Or, businesses can develop their own innovative actions that are consistent with the program�s principles.

All of the Rainscapes rebate-eligible actions qualify under the landscape certification guidelines. The County�s Rainscapes program offers $2,500 rebates to residents and $10,000 rebates to businesses for eligible projects that reduce stormwater pollution.

�I am delighted that landscapers can now receive Montgomery County Green Business Certification,� said Gigi Godwin, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. �The expansion of the program will allow more business leaders to adapt to the green economy and build their supply chain in a sustainable way. The Chamber is thrilled to partner with DEP and Montgomery College on a program like this that makes an impact.�

Three years ago, DEP, MCCC and Montgomery College established the Green Business Certification program, which now has certified 50 businesses. The partners also recently established the Green Business Forum, a quarterly discussion focusing on the benefits and opportunities associated with greening business operations.

Landscape businesses seeking to enhance their understanding of sustainable practices can take classes at Montgomery College through its Landscape Technology Program.

�We are pleased to offer landscape professionals the opportunity to learn from courses that enhance their understanding of sustainable best practices,� said Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, president of Montgomery College. �Montgomery College believes in training businesses to thrive and lead during the transition to a new green economy.�

The seven certified landscape businesses are:

The Abundant Backyard, Silver Spring, helps homeowners and community groups protect watersheds and increase pollination of our local food chain -- one garden at a time. Providing educational resources, a network of sustainable local suppliers and design skills to clients, The Abundant Backyard provides gardeners with easy-to-obtain plants and the knowledge to develop successful and abundant sustainable gardens. Since its inception in 2011, the company has used only eco-friendly practices as it educates clients on options to grow and maintain their yards in cost-effective, eco-friendly ways.
A.I.R. Lawn Care, Rockville, is an eco-friendly lawn care company that uses electric-powered equipment that is charged with solar panels mounted on a truck and trailer. The company�s mission to improve and renew the air through business, education and service is reflected in its acronym, A.I.R., which stands for Atmosphere, Improvement and Renewal. It is meeting this goal by providing clean, quiet and quality mowing as well as organic fertilization services. Its ideal customer is an environmentally conscious homeowner who is concerned about their kids� and/or pets� health, the long lasting health of their lawn or making a small contribution to the earth.
Backyard Bounty, Silver Spring, is dedicated to improving the environment by re-imagining the American garden. It believes that gardens should be good for people and good for the earth. Its gardens eschew the use of dangerous pesticides and fertilizers; reduce the amount of polluted water residential properties send to the Chesapeake Bay; limit fossil fuel use by creating space for clients to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit onsite; eliminate invasive plants where possible; and use plants that increase the diversity of flora and fauna.
The Brickman Group, Ltd., Clarksburg, as a long standing steward of the environment, has become increasingly focused on reducing emissions, water use and nutrient application. The company�s account and senior managers have hybrid vehicles; it recycles and composts 100 percent of its green waste; it uses low-emission grounds maintenance alternatives, such as propane and electric equipment; and offers site assessment services to help property owners reduce their environmental impact, resulting in improved water quality, air quality, and soil and vegetation health.
Gracefully Green, LLC, Rockville, offers landscape consulting and design services, specializing in sustainability. It recognizes the functionality and beauty of landscapes and strives to achieve these qualities in harmony with nature and the needs of the people. Its specialty is conducting a site assessment, or landscape audit, to guide property owners in selecting sustainability best practices that make the most sense for their landscapes and achieve better water and soils management, better biodiversity, better ecology and better gardens.
Green Scene Landscaping, Inc., Silver Spring, since its inception, has focused on the environmental impact of its operations. Internally, the company stresses reducing the use of paper, energy and water. It also has a comprehensive recycling program and always purchases �green products,� including 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Green Scene also encourages sound environmental practices when designing and caring for its customers� properties. This includes minimizing areas that need mowing; reducing water use; developing responsible pest management and chemical application strategies; and designing effective water runoff management systems.
Kit Gage � Gardener�s Advisers, Silver Spring, specializes in environmental education with a particular emphasis on reducing stormwater pollution through techniques that promote water infiltration into yards. The company also recommends ways to reduce water use, pesticides, fertilizers and turf and promotes the use of native perennials, shrubs and trees.

The cost to become a certified landscape business is $100 for small businesses with fewer than 25 full time staff and $250 for large businesses. Recertification is required every three years.

The event was held at a private residence that received a Rainscapes rebate to defray part of the cost of its landscaping project, which was installed by one of the newly certified businesses, Backyard Bounty. The project includes:

A front yard rain garden that captures and filters stormwater, reducing runoff into storm drains;
Conservation landscaping in the back yard that attracts pollinators and also manages stormwater;
A small grassy area of �Eco Lawn,� which is deeply rooted, drought tolerant and requires only once-a-month mowing, saving water and resources;
A permeable driveway that allows stormwater to percolate and recharge ground water and stabilize stream flow;
No use of pesticides or fertilizers; and
Use of native plants in over half the yard.

Beginning April 29, Montgomery County will promote the program using ads on 25 Ride On buses. The ad reads: �Make Sure the Grass is Greener on Your Side of the Fence. Use a Montgomery County Certified Green Landscape Business,� and features a photo of conservation landscaping.

To learn more about the Rainscapes Rewards Rebate Program on DEP�s website.

To view the Landscape Business Certification
application and other information about the program

Go to this site

Leggett Joins Conservation Montgomery for National Arbor Day Tree Planting

Howard Hartman — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:35:16 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 26, 2013

Leggett Joins Conservation Montgomery
for National Arbor Day Tree Planting

Encourages Passage of his Tree Canopy Conservation Law

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today celebrated National Arbor Day at a tree planting event initiated by Conservation Montgomery. The event was held at the Bethesda Library where participants planted a yellowwood tree and a native white dogwood. Leggett took the opportunity to promote the passage of Bill 35-12, the Trees and Tree Canopy Conservation Law, which is currently before the County Council.

�Montgomery County has a lot of trees � and I would like to keep it that way,� said Leggett. �Although trees cover over half of our County, our urban tree canopy is now being endangered by new development patterns that are redeveloping our older, urban areas. My Bill 35-12 proposes creation of a dedicated tree replacement fund to replace tree canopy that is significantly disturbed during development. This legislation is a balanced, commonsense approach to ensure that future generations can enjoy the pleasure and privilege of a robust and vibrant tree canopy.�

Bill 35-12 was introduced in the Montgomery County Council on November 27, 2012. The bill would fund the planting of new trees to replace what is being lost through new development and redevelopment of existing neighborhoods. Redevelopment, particularly in the older parts of the County, is significantly reducing the number of trees.

�In replanting and restoring our tree canopy, we have the opportunity not just to create cooling shade for urbanizing areas, but importantly, to naturalize our landscapes to create sustainable biodiverse environments where birds and animals can thrive,� said Department of Environmental Protection Director Bob Hoyt.

During development, if tree canopy is significantly disturbed, a fee would be assessed to pay for planting new trees to replace those that are lost. The bill would apply when a land development permit is required from the County�s Department of Permitting Services. The bill:

Does not prevent residents from trimming or removing one or two trees;
Does not prevent development on a resident�s own property; and
Does not apply to agricultural activities.

The Tree Canopy Bill will apply to any activity that requires a sediment control permit, including new residential or commercial building; the cutting of 5,000 square feet or more of tree canopy (which is considered ground disturbance); or 100 cubic yards or more of earth movement.

Fees will be used to establish new, replacement trees as close to disturbed areas as possible. The legislation acknowledges that many sites cannot accommodate canopy trees after development and sets up a process for determining where additional trees will be planted, such as along streets, in backyards, in parking lots, and other areas in the community which have lost trees.

Trees contribute to the economic and social vitality of a community. They clean the air and water, reduce the cost of cooling and heating homes and businesses and provide habitat for wildlife. Equally well documented is that trees increase the value of neighborhoods; shopping areas with trees generate more revenues; and studies show trees even reduce domestic violence and aggressive driving.

�As the Council further deliberates on Bill 35-12, my staff will continue to engage in discussions with them and the community on how to improve the bill,� said Leggett. �However, the bottom line is this � we cannot take our trees for granted and Bill 35-12 will help ensure that more trees are planted for the enjoyment of future generations.�

For 17 years, Montgomery County has been honored as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Foundation for its demonstrated commitment to caring for and managing public trees.

More information about Bill 35-12 is available on the County Council�s website. Scroll down to Bill 35-12.

CCOC News and Legislative Report for April, 2013

Howard Hartman — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:54:26 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 25, 2013

CCOC News and Legislative Report for April, 2013

New Commissioners
The County Council has approved County Executive Ike Leggett�s nominations for the CCOC:

Professional members: Aimee Winegar and Terry Cromwell, who are managers employed by Community Association Services.

Residential members: Marietta Ethier, president of Parc Somerset, and Rand Fishbein, vice-president of the Maryland Homeowners Association.

They will replace retiring members Ralph Caudle, Gwen Henderson, Janet Wilson and Allen Farrar, all of whom we are sorry to lose.

Recent Decsions
#02-12, Kessler v. Leaman Farms HOA. In this case a majority of the hearing panel ruled that a homeowner, who was also the president of the HOA�s board of directors, could not take advantage of the HOA�s failure to follow strictly its procedures for dealing with architectural violations when the president could have prevented the failure but chose not to do so. The panel ruled that the homeowner�s duty to his association as a member of its board of directors took precedence over his own private property interests. In this case, the president installed tall privacy panels on his deck without permission and then, after the board received complaints about the panels, he made an oral application for permission to install the panels. He then voted on his own application, but a majority of the board rejected it. The HOA�s Declaration of Covenants requires that the board must give a written decision on an architectural application within 60 days, and the board did so; but the decision failed to state, as required by a Guideline (but not by the Declaration) that required the board to give a reason for any denial of an architectural application. On the 61st day after the application, the president notified the HOA that because it did not give a written reason for its denial within 60 days, the application should be deemed approved. A majority of the hearing panel ruled that the 60-day deadline applied only to board action to approve or disapprove an application, but it did not apply to whether the board gave a reason, especially since another Guideline stated that if a member did not understand the reason for the denial, he could ask for clarification. But the majority also concluded that the president knew of the Guideline requiring a written reason, and intentionally failed to remind the board of it so that he could then use the board�s error as an excuse to keep the modifications he had installed without permission. The majority ruled that board members, even when they had private disputes with their associations, were still under a duty of loyalty to their associations to act in the best interest of the association, and could not intentionally allow the association to make mistakes for their private benefit.

The majority ordered the homeowner to remove the privacy panels and to pay approximately $8000 in legal costs to the association.

#19-12, Tanouye v. Decoverly I HOA. The president of the board of directors refused to allow an annual election and adjourned the annual meeting on his own initiative, giving as his reasons complaints about voter intimidation by one of the candidates and concerns about the proxy ballots and election materials distributed by that candidate. The CCOC hearing panel ruled that the president did not have good cause for his actions. He did not produce any evidence at the CCOC hearing on voter intimidation and the panel found no errors in the proxy ballots distributed by the candidate. Moreover, since there was a quorum, the president did not have the legal authority to adjourn a meeting without taking a vote of the members present on a motion to adjourn.

The panel ordered the HOA to hold the election, to refund the costs of the complaint to the homeowner filing the dispute, and to provide a copy of its ruling to all the HOA�s members.

New Laws from Annapolis
Bills to license property managers, and to relieve common ownership communities of strict liability for injuries caused by pit bulls owned by any members of the communities, did NOT pass. Therefore, common ownership communities are still strictly liable for any injuries caused by pit bulls when they know the dogs are living within the community.

Authority of Condominium to close a board meeting: House Bill 388 passed the Assembly. This bill brings the Condominium Act into conformity with the Homeowners Association Act by allowing a condominium�s board of directors to close a meeting for the purpose of discussing contracts under consideration but which have not yet been approved.

Foreclosure limitations: House Bill 286 also passed the Assembly. This law prevents an association from foreclosing on a lien filed under the Contract Lien Act for any amount that is more than the total of the unpaid assessments plus costs and attorneys fees in connection with the lien, and those costs and attorneys fees cannot be more than the amount of the unpaid assessments. This law applies only to foreclosures, and it does not limit the amount of the lien itself, or prevent the association from trying to collect its costs and legal fees in other proceedings, such as a debt collection action.

Protection of Association Liens: House Bill 88 passed the Assembly. It allows mortgage companies to refinance their mortgages and for the new deed of trust to take the same position as the original deed of trust in terms of priority. However, it does not affect liens filed by associations under the Contract Lien Act. Hence, if there is a refinancing of a lot or unit on which an association has already filed a lien, the new deed of trust will be subordinate to the association lien in terms of priority. The old deed of trust will be removed. As a practical matter, this will probably mean that in the event of a refinancing the lender will require the borrower to pay off the association�s lien, so that the new deed of trust will be at the top of the list.

Reminder: Free Seminar on �Unusual Solutions to Common Problems�, April 30 at 6:30 pm in Rockville.

The DC Chapter of the Community Associations Institute is sponsoring a free seminar for homeowners from 6:30 to 9m at the Cafeteria of the Council Office Building (100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville):

Struggling with delinquencies? Trying to handle difficult people in your community effectively? Think you've tried everything? Think again.
Community associations struggle with these types of issues and board members get frustrated when they aren't resolved quickly and effectively. The purpose of this session is to review some of these more difficult issues and to offer creative solutions to help get them solved.

Our dynamic, experienced panel of professionals will answer your questions and give you creative ideas on resolving these problems in your community associations.

For more information, go to www.caidc.org and visit the �Meetings� section.

If you have any questions, please visit the CCOC website (www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccoc) or email us at ccoc@montgomerycountymd.gov

Green Montgomery E-Newsletter Launched This Week

Howard Hartman — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:36:25 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 25, 2013

Green Montgomery E-Newsletter Launched This Week

Residents Can Sign Up to Learn More About Living Green

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to a new e-newsletter launched this week by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) entitled �Your Green Montgomery.� The monthly publication about how to live a green life will include a calendar of events, a Community Corner, a Green Living idea of the month and three articles on a variety of environmental, recreation, social and health topics.

The first newsletter features articles on Earth Month activities in the County, the importance of community greening organizations and the Sierra Club�s work to promote energy efficiency education.

Sign up for the newsletter below.

The Your Green Montgomery newsletter is the latest outreach effort from DEP�s MyGreenMontgomery.org, a service to help Montgomery County residents think and live in a way that safeguards and sustains the health of residents, the County and the planet.

For more information about My Green Montgomery, visit the Twitter page and the Facebook page.

Go to this site

DEP to Celebrate Restoration of Booze Creek

Howard Hartman — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:04:50 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2013

DEP to Celebrate Restoration of Booze Creek

Bannockburn Area Residents Invited to Attend and Participate in Activities

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will celebrate the restoration of Lower Booze Creek and invites the Bannockburn community to attend the event and learn more about the project. The event will be held Saturday, May 18 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the project entrance along Helmsdale Road and Selkirk Drive. The rain date is May 19.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the design and construction of the project; view educational displays; participate in assessments of aquatic life; and take a tour of stream restoration techniques. Representatives from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and the Friends of Cabin John Creek will participate in the event and explain what residents can do to help improve their local waterways. Attendees will also learn more about a similar project planned for the Bannockburn Branch, east of Wilson Lane.

Residents who wish to walk the length of the project with staff should be prepared for walking on uneven, wet and possibly rocky terrain for approximately three-quarters of a mile. Participants are asked to wear appropriate footwear, preferably knee boots (no open-toed shoes), and be aware of possible exposure to wildlife, poison ivy, ticks and other flying insects.

Partially funded with grants from the Maryland Department of the Environment, the restoration project involved installing 35 habitat improvement structures along more than 4,000 feet of stream using natural channel design principles. The project required coordination with local residents and collaboration with the WSSC to reline eight exposed sewer lines and protect three manholes and an eight-inch water line.

For more information, contact Ryan Zerbe at Ryan.Zerbe@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-7744.

Department of Liquor Control Stresses Underage Drinking Prevention to Local Students

Howard Hartman — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:07:04 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2013

Department of Liquor Control Stresses Underage
Drinking Prevention to Local Students

Representatives from Montgomery County�s Department of Liquor Control (DLC), Montgomery County Police and the Keeping It Safe on Under 21 Alcohol Use Coalition will visit St. Mary�s School in Rockville on Tuesday, April 23 at 1:15 p.m., in an effort to help raise community awareness on the dangers of underage drinking. The school is located at 600 Viers Mill Road.

�Students in grades 5 � 8 and their parents will be given the opportunity to �ask the experts� questions, voice concerns or suggest ideas for preventing young people from using alcohol,� said DLC Division Chief Kathie Durbin. �Research indicates that families exert a great deal of influence on whether a child chooses to drink alcohol. Many parents find it difficult to know how or when to start a conversation with their children about underage drinking. We hope the students come away from this event feeling empowered to start the conversation at home.�

According to a 2011 study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than one in 10 (13%) eighth graders reported drinking an alcoholic beverage during the preceding month. Nearly five out of 10 (52%) eighth graders reported binge drinking.

For more information, contact Kathie Durbin at 240-777-1917.

Public Information Office Wins National Media Award For Its Weekly Cable News Show

Howard Hartman — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:32:36 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 18, 2013

Public Information Office Wins National Media Award For
Its Weekly Cable News Show, County Report This Week

County Report This Week, the weekly half-hour cable news show produced by the Montgomery County Office of Public Information Office�s cable programming section has just received a 2013 Hometown Media Award by the Alliance for Community Media. The national award recognizes the County�s overall excellence in public, educational and governmental access programming.

The award-winning show was among more than 800 entries from across the country. The Hometown Awards recognize the best community media programming, and include student, independent producer and access center professional categories.

Show #140, produced on December 20, 2012, features news segments about a transportation summit, a pedestrian safety anniversary, a senior summit, and a package from the County�s weekly Montgomery al Dia Spanish language show with a year in review by Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown. Other topics included updates on police and transportation issues, a �pet of the week� and packages on open government (provided by Montgomery Community Media), a Rockville historic building tax credit (provided by Rockville Cable Channel 11), a Montgomery College program (provided by Montgomery College), Greencastle Elementary School Holiday dinner (provided by Montgomery County Public Schools), and news about sober ride and Christmas tree recycling. To see show #140, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHaravByWJ8.

�I am very pleased that the outstanding work of our Office of Public Information has received this well-earned national recognition,� said County Executive Isiah Leggett. �I hope our residents who have not yet had a chance to see the show will tune in. It offers valuable information on a wide variety of issues, and is available in English and Spanish on both the County government�s cable channel and online.�

County Report This Week was launched by the Office of Public Information in April 2010 in order to provide County news highlights to residents on a weekly basis. The show includes County Executive and County Council reports, along with regular contributions from the other Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) access channels � Montgomery Community Media, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and cities of Rockville and Takoma Park. The show airs on County Cable Montgomery (Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN cable, and Channel 30 on Verizon). It is also available to watch on demand at http://montgomerycountymd.gov/ccm/archives.html and is available on YouTube in English and Spanish.

The Public Information Office production staff includes cable manager Tracy O�Connor, anchor Lorna Virgili, producer Michael Bruen, videographer Andre Dunston, and video editor Joelle Modderman. County Council staff members who contribute to the show include co-anchor Susan Kenedy, videographer Mike Springirth, and video editor Loren Olson.

Office of Consumer Protection Warns of Dish Network Phishing Scam

Howard Hartman — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:18:36 GMT

Office of Consumer Protection
Warns of Dish Network Phishing Scam

The Office of Consumer Protection recently received a National Fraud Information Center alert about phishing activity in our area. A Montgomery County resident was contacted by a fraudster claiming to work for Dish Network. The scammer offered the resident a promotion where, if the customer prepaid for six months of service, he would receive six months free plus an additional two free premium channels.

The scammer then obtained the resident's Dish Network account information and changed his service. The resident was tricked into believing that the scammer was a Dish Network representative because he could actually see additional channels on his television.

The scammer's ultimate goal was to get the resident to �prepay� using green dot MoneyPak, a prepaid service provider that makes fraud activity untraceable.

OCP Director Eric Friedman warns consumers to use extreme caution when they are asked to send payments using prepaid cards. Transactions involving prepaid cards and money transferring services have been used to defraud thousands of victims throughout the United States, making it virtually impossible for victims to get their money back.

OCP offers these tips to avoid being victimized:

Avoid wire transfers, cashier�s check, prepaid cards, and money orders.
Verify that a person calling you or an email is really from where they say � call the company yourself and verify the information being provided to you.
Use a credit card to take advantage of your ability to dispute charges.
Do not fall prey to last minute deals. If you are being rushed to make a decision, treat that as a red flag.

Montgomery County Recognized with Four Awards from Alliance for Workplace Excellence

Howard Hartman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:38:39 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 16, 2013

Montgomery County Recognized with Four
Awards from Alliance for Workplace Excellence

Awards to be Presented on May 15 at Annual Awards Luncheon

Montgomery County government has earned four awards from the Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE) for its exemplary commitment to the workforce by creating a culture that allows employees to be successful in the workplace, at home and in the community. The awards received this year by the County are the Workplace Excellence Award, the Health & Wellness Trailblazer Award, the Diversity Award and the EcoLeadership Award.

The awards honor organizations that promote professional fulfillment and personal wellness for their employees. Montgomery County was among 68 employers, representing more than one million employees, that met stringent standards regarding the benefits and work environments that they provide. Organizations were judged on supportive corporate culture and management practices, family- and employee-friendly practices, health and wellness initiatives, growth and learning opportunities, and commitment to social responsibility and employee volunteerism.

AWE is a public/private, nonprofit coalition committed to empowering employers to create and become recognized as �excellent places to work.� The awards were made based on reviews by an independent panel of professors; PhD professionals; and doctoral candidates in business, industrial and organizational psychology and human resources.

The Alliance has recognized the Washington, D.C. area�s best places to work for the past 14 years. This year, the AWE launched a Diversity Champion application and companies were asked to detail their diversity and inclusion practices in leadership, workforce demographics, employee programs and communication, corporate philanthropy, diversity recruitment, inclusion programs, supplier diversity and diversity in products and services.

The presentations to recipients will be made at AWE�s annual awards luncheon on May 15, at noon, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road.

Montgomery County has Highest Waste Diversion, Recycling Rates in Maryland

Howard Hartman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:11:55 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 16, 2013

Montgomery County has Highest
Waste Diversion, Recycling Rates in Maryland

According to the Maryland Department of the Environment�s (MDE) Calendar 2011 Maryland Waste Diversion Rates & Tonnages, Montgomery County has the highest recycling rate (57.68 percent) and waste diversion rate (62.68 percent) of all jurisdictions in the state.

The Maryland Recycling Act (MRA) requires all Counties and Baltimore City to recycle 15 or 20 percent of their municipal solid waste, depending on population, and report annually to the state. Results are tabulated and published by MDE.

�The comprehensive waste reduction and recycling programs we offer allow our single-family residents, multi-family (apartment and condominium) properties, and businesses to reduce waste, reuse, and recycle a very long list of materials that we generate,� said County Executive Ike Leggett. �However, this recycling achievement is also due to the keen awareness about the importance of reducing waste and recycling more, and the outstanding commitment and continued efforts of everyone living, working and visiting Montgomery County.�

Leggett also noted that �We continue to look for ways to expand our recycling programs and provide more opportunities for everyone to recycle additional materials, in order to bring about even higher recycling achievement for the future.�

Ongoing participation in recycling initiatives by residents, employees and others is critically important as the County strives to achieve its goal to reduce and recycle 70 percent of the waste stream by 2020. The new recycling goal, established in 2012, is the highest in the region and among the highest in the nation.

More information about the County�s recycling programs can be found online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/recycling.

Montgomery County Public Libraries Celebrates National Library Week

Howard Hartman — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:45:25 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 12, 2013

Montgomery County Public Libraries
Celebrates National Library Week

Residents Invited to �Get Appy�

In celebration of National Library Week, April 14-20, Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) invites residents to take advantage of the free apps the library offers by installing them on their mobile devices during the �C�mon, Get Appy� campaign.

Once the apps are installed, residents, regardless of their location, can connect to their favorite library materials. They can search the catalog and place holds, download e-books, audiobooks and music, learn languages, find business and residential directory information, and read magazine and journal articles. Apps are available for use on both Apple and Android devices.

Residents who need to get a library card to access the apps can learn how to get one at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library.

Sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) since 1958, National Library Week is celebrated across the country and highlights the value of libraries, librarians and library workers. This year�s theme is �Communities matter @ your library.�

Additionally, April 16 is National Library Workers Day, a time to honor the contributions of library workers who are responsible for a wide variety of services that customers come to expect from their libraries. They do much more than just checking books in and out. Library workers catalog and shelve materials; handle requests and send them to other libraries; answer phone calls and emails; organize programs and events; administer computer networks; update the library�s website; select and obtain books, CDs, videos, and databases and much more.

�I encourage our customers to stop by a branch on April 16 to say �thank you� to the very-deserving staff,� said MCPL Director Parker Hamilton. �I applaud all the staff of MCPL for the excellent customer service they provide on a daily basis to the residents of Montgomery County,�

For questions about National Library Week, contact Regina Holyfield-Jewett at 240-777-0106.

For details on the apps

Go to this site

Streamlined Fire Inspection Process Results in Faster Construction Completions

Howard Hartman — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:30:15 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 11, 2013

Streamlined Fire Inspection Process Results in
Better Service to Business and Faster
Construction Project Completions with Less Cost

Supports Job Growth and Increased Tax Base Sooner

County Executive Isiah Leggett announced today that collaborative efforts by the Department of Fire & Rescue Services (DFRS) and the Department of Permitting Services (DPS), working closely with the business community, have improved the fire inspection process � helping County businesses better understand their role in fire safety, and saving them significant time and costs.

�We could not have done this without the help of our business community,� said Leggett. �I�d like to recognize Ginanne Italiano of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, Jane Redicker of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce and Shaun Pharr of The Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC -- along with their respective organizations -- for their valuable guidance in helping us to make improvements and streamline our process.�

Efforts to improve the fire inspection program began with the creation of a Fire Safety Working Group that included County staff and business representatives. The group implemented a fire protection agreement, clarified various existing building code definitions, and developed a brochure, �Your Guide to Fire Code Compliance� that helps businesses better understand the fire code inspection process and their rights. The fire inspection program for new construction was transferred from DFRS to DPS in fiscal year 2012, where it is now more conveniently located with other building construction and land development permits, plan reviews and inspections processes that are also being improved.

In the past two years, more than 2,600 fire inspections have been completed, and County businesses have saved, in aggregate, approximately $1 million as a result of the streamlining. New construction fire inspections that once required as much as a six-week time frame are now completed in one day with only 24 hours notice, enabling businesses to open their doors faster and at less expense.

Overall streamlining of the County�s permit, plan review and inspection processes are expected to cut approximately one year from development and construction projects. This translates into major cost savings � including a reduction in engineering fees, carrying costs for construction loans and legal fees -- and a quicker return on investments.

�We are substantially changing the way we do business in Montgomery County,� said Leggett. �A streamlined process is good for everyone. This improves customer service and will add more investment, more jobs and more properties to the County�s tax base sooner, not later.

�These collaborative efforts demonstrate how much can be accomplished when agencies are willing to work together, transfer responsibilities so that they make more sense, and clarify processes to better serve the public,� Leggett added.

�This effort shows that when business and government come together and focus on solving problems, everyone wins,� said Jane Redicker, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce. �We thank Chief Bowers, especially, for his leadership in continuing to make public safety a priority, while making the fire code inspection process more understandable, less cumbersome, and more customer-friendly for business owners.�

�It was through Richie Bowers� leadership and the hard work of Hadi Mansouri, Tina Benjamin and the staffs of their departments that the business community can now have a more streamlined and customer-friendly process for the inspections and future safety of the hundreds/thousands of existing buildings throughout the County,� said Ginanne Italiano, Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.

�AOBA was pleased to participate in the Fire Safety Working Group that was established by County Executive Ike Leggett and given the mandate of �developing ways in which the business community, DPS and the Fire Marshal�s office can work together collaboratively so that code enforcement is efficient and consistent.� The Group met for well over a year and addressed a multitude of issues. The guidance documents and informational brochure that resulted provide needed clarity regarding how and when the County�s building and fire codes are to be applied to existing commercial, multifamily and retail spaces,� said Shaun Pharr, Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC.

The Department of Permitting Services is located at 255 Rockville Pike, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD. 20850, and hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The department�s website is located at http://permittingservices.montgomery...eral/Home.aspx. For more information about fire inspections for current businesses and building owners, go to http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/f...e/business.asp

Leggett Celebrates Annapolis Session Accomplishments

Howard Hartman — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:47:07 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 10, 2013

Leggett Celebrates Annapolis Session Accomplishments

Executive�s Top Priority to Expand Transportation Funding Succeeds

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today celebrated the accomplishments achieved by Montgomery County in Annapolis this year.

�Montgomery County�s number one priority for more than 10 years has been to obtain more transportation funding,� said Leggett. �Six years ago, I virtually stood alone in advocating for an increase in the state�s gasoline tax, which hadn�t been increased since 1992 when George Bush Sr. was President. Since then, I have testified at every hearing on this issue and have been relentless in its support.

�An increase in transportation funding is vital to helping commuters who are stuck in traffic congestion and to our ability to attract jobs and investment in the future. Thanks to our continuing efforts and the hard work and diligence of our state legislative delegation, we finally will have the sustainable funding source to help us build the transit, road, pedestrian and bike projects we so desperately need.�

Joining Leggett were Senators Jamie Raskin, Montgomery County senate delegation chair; Jennie Forehand and Brian Frosh; Delegates Anne Kaiser, Montgomery County house delegation chair; Susan Lee, Montgomery County house delegation vice chair; Charles Barkley; Al Carr; and Richard Madaleno; and. Montgomery County Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Council president; Craig Rice, Council vice president; Marc Elrich; Nancy Floreen and George Leventhal.

�This is a great moment exemplifying what �One Maryland� means,� said Navarro. �The need for more transportation funding is directly tied to the future of our economic development. Transportation funding increases were our number one priority. The gas tax sets us on a path towards a vibrant future. I�m very proud of our delegation.�

The new revenue raised by the gas tax increase is expected to raise $4.4 billion over the next six years. This funding will help support the costs of key County transit projects, including the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway and a backlog of major road projects.

�The Montgomery County delegation, the County Executive and the County Council were a model of political cohesion and determination in fighting for a major new investment in the transportation infrastructure that is so critical to our future,� said Raskin. �Everyone knows Montgomery is the engine of the Maryland economy but the engine needs a tune-up, and that means we need to address the traffic congestion that�s altering our quality of life and slowing down economic activity. The coming infusion of transportation funds will allow us all to get moving again, both on the roads and on public transit with the Purple Line. Meantime, our delegation led the efforts to pass the strongest gun safety law in America and to repeal the death penalty, so we vindicated both our priorities and our values.�

�Not only was transportation our number one priority, it was also our number two and number three priorities,� said Kaiser. �Montgomery County needs money for the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway, the Watkins Mill Interchange and a backlog of road projects. We are recognized as the economic engine of the State, and increased transportation monies are needed to keep our engine humming. I�m also proud of the funding we got for education and the progress we made on social issues.�

Leggett strongly supported other measures that passed this session, including the State�s strong gun violence law, the abolishment of the death penalty and drivers licenses for undocumented residents.

For public school construction, the County received more than $28 million. Montgomery College received nearly $6 million to complete the Germantown Campus Bioscience Education Center and to begin the Rockville Campus Science West renovation. The Universities at Shady Grove received an additional $5 million for planning and design of a fourth building on campus. This investment is critical to expanding the County�s biotech and life sciences focus. A major investment in the University of Maryland system will benefit County students by helping to keep tuition rates stable. State allocations to public education increased by $13.7 million in operating aid.

Other capital project funding of more than $7 million included housing for low income residents and those with mental health issues; Holy Cross Hospital; a number of parks; arts programs; and a variety of other projects.

Among the other services with significant increases in state operating aid are public safety, with a more than 50 percent increase; Program Open Space, increasing nearly 110 percent; libraries; and Montgomery College. About $2 million will be added for adult literacy. Money for health care was provided that will allow Maryland to open its health insurance exchange in October. An estimated 55,000 Montgomery County residents could be eligible to enroll in the federally-subsidized health plans offered through the exchange.

Economic development measures that will directly benefit Montgomery County businesses include a new cyber-security investment tax credit, greater financial commitment to the biotech tax credit and improvements to the InvestMaryland program.

Environmental initiatives approved are new laws that require the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to construct green buildings where feasible; require the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to provide more notice about sewage leaks and give the County more flexibility in managing storm water and restoring streams.

Training for Alcohol Servers to be Held Thursday in Bethesda

Howard Hartman — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:12:27 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 10, 2013

Training for Alcohol Servers to be Held Thursday in Bethesda

Class Helps Prevent Sales of Alcohol to those Underage

The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC), in partnership with the Montgomery County Police Department and the Bethesda Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, will hold a free ALERT class to help curb sales of alcohol to those under 21 years of age. The class will be held on Thursday, April 11 at 2 p.m. at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Service Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Room A, Bethesda. DLC developed the Alcohol Law Education and Regulatory Training (ALERT) program to educate staff at facilities that serve or sell alcohol about what to look for to avoid selling alcohol to those who are under the age of 21.

ALERT classes are open to all Montgomery County liquor licensees and their staff. Those interested in attending are asked to register in advance. To register or get more information, contact the DLC Outreach Office at 240-777-1989 or dlc@montgomerycountymd.gov.

To prevent alcohol sales to those under 21, DLC and the Montgomery County Police Department conduct 400 compliance checks a year. During a compliance check, local trained volunteers, who are under the age of 20, enter licensed establishments and stores and attempt to purchase alcohol. The volunteers use their own state-issued vertical drivers licenses (ID). Those 21 and older have a horizontal drivers license, while underage teen drivers receive vertical drivers licenses. The volunteers follow a strict protocol and are not allowed to have facial hair, wear excessive makeup, hats or talk on the phone while making a purchase.

Recent alcohol compliance checks have revealed that one in four businesses sell or serve alcohol to a teen. In about a third of the sales, a server asked for and viewed the teen�s vertical drivers license and still sold alcohol to the teen.

�The compliance rate has remained fairly steady within the last few years,� says DLC Division Chief Kathie Durbin. �We are continually striving for increased compliance. The Department is measured on the program�s pass rate.�

Through ALERT, alcohol sellers and servers are educated to ask for an ID of anyone who looks under 35 years old and use tools such as ID checking calendars. DLC prints and mails a free calendar annually to each licensed business that shows the cut-off date for purchasing alcohol. As part of the Liquor Board licensing hearing, prospective licensees are asked to describe the under 21 IDs and the Compliance Check program.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in its Guide to Community Preventative Services, recommends compliance checks as an evidence-based strategy for preventing excessive alcohol consumption among youth.

�Compliance checks are known to prevent underage alcohol sales and that is a top priority for the Department,� says Durbin.

Leggett Helps Celebrate Grand Opening of Wheaton Costco

Howard Hartman — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:11:04 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 10, 2013

Leggett Helps Celebrate Grand Opening of Wheaton Costco

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett this morning joined Costco executives and employees, Westfield representatives and local residents to celebrate the grand opening of the new Costco at Westfield Shoppingtown Wheaton.

�Today�s opening is significant on several fronts,� said Leggett. �This new Costco fills a four-year-long hole left at Westfield Mall following the closure of Hecht�s, it brings a sought-after, major retailer to the eastern part of the County and, most importantly, adds 475 new, permanent jobs to our local economy.�

The project was spurred by a $4 million investment ($2 million in FY12 and $2 million in FY13) from the County�s Economic Development Fund to Westfield to assist with site acquisition and construction of the new Costco, which is located at the site of the former Hecht�s store. The Costco project supported several hundred construction jobs and leveraged more than $50 million in private investment. Costco has hired roughly 475 new, permanent employees. In addition, Montgomery County will now begin receiving property taxes, income taxes, and impact fees � and the State of Maryland will receive sales tax.

�The investment in Costco from the County�s Economic Development Fund has helped create jobs, strengthen Wheaton revitalization, and provide individuals and small businesses with increased consumer choices,� said Montgomery County Department of Economic Development Director Steve Silverman. �It�s a win for consumers, a win for the County and a win for Costco�s 450-plus new employees.�

Costco is a membership warehouse club dedicated to bring its member the best possible prices on quality, brand-name merchandise. The new Wheaton store is the second in Montgomery County. There is also a store in Gaithersburg. Visit www.costco.com for more information.

Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee Selects Winner of Revitalization Award

Howard Hartman — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:51:57 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 9, 2013

Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee
Selects Winner of First Annual Revitalization Award

Montgomery County�s Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee (WRAC) has selected The Shops on Amherst and its owner, Chris Georgatsos as the recipient of WRAC�s first annual Revitalization Award. The award recognizes a local business or commercial property owner who initiates and executes projects or programs that enhance the retail or commercial viability of the Wheaton urban core. The award will be presented to Georgatsos at the Wheaton-Kensington Chamber of Commerce�s Annual Awards Banquet on Wednesday, April 24 at Hollywood East Caf� in Wheaton.

�The Shops at Amherst are evidence that if you invest in Wheaton, Wheaton will invest in you,� said WRAC Chair Michael Kallens. �Anyone who sees Georgatsos� property and how the restaurants are thriving can attest to that fact. The committee chose Georgatsos for this award to recognize that improving Wheaton pays off for everyone involved. We encourage other property owners to follow his lead.�

After acquiring the property two years ago, Georgatsos decided that the 52-year-old building needed a new fa�ade. The Shops on Amherst, located at 11401-07 Amherst Ave., house three popular Asian restaurants offering distinctive cuisines. The improved fa�ade has broadened the appeal of the businesses and serves as an example to other commercial property owners in Wheaton that curb appeal and strong tenants help to ensure continued success.

�The new, updated improvements are a �win-win� for everyone involved � the tenants, the center and the overall Wheaton business community,� said Georgatsos. �It is a great honor to receive this award and I am grateful to have my efforts recognized. As a dedicated property owner, my ongoing support is a worthwhile investment in the future economic growth of Wheaton.�

Seven businesses/commercial property owners were nominated this year by the WRAC Planning and Visioning Subcommittee based on criteria including innovation, success, environmental impact, community impact, area revitalization and greenness. The six other nominees were: Montgomery Art Association, Good Time Ol� Fashion Service, The Royal Mile Pub, Limerick Pub, The Yarn Spot and Ruan Thai.

For information about the award or WRAC, contact Rob Klein in the County�s Department of General Services at 240-777-6016. For information about the Wheaton-Kensington Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet, visit www.wkchamber.org.

MCPL Celebrates Poetry Month with Creative Poem Contest

Howard Hartman — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:48:17 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 5, 2013

MCPL Celebrates Poetry Month with Creative Poem Contest

Participants Entered in Drawing for Poetry Program Tickets

In celebration of National Poetry Month (April), Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) invites residents to compose a poem from book and/or movie titles, take a picture of the poem/titles and submit it to MCPL�s Twitter or Facebook sites.

On Twitter, mention libraries @MCPL Libraries, hashtag #NPM13. On Facebook, post a direct message. The poems may appear on MCPL�s Twitter or Facebook pages. Participants will be entered in a drawing to win two tickets, donated by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc., to see Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco on May 17.

All poems must be submitted by April 30.

�We felt this would be an interactive, fun way to have residents appreciate and celebrate poetry by using their own creativity to come up with a short poem from titles,� said MCPL Director Parker Hamilton. �The possibilities are endless,� she added.

For a sample �poem,� visit the MCPL website below.

Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers and poets throughout the United States celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture.

For questions about the poem titles contest, contact Susan Moritz at 240-777-0156

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Coal Tar Products Commonly Used in Driveway and Parking Lot Sealants Banned

Howard Hartman — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:37:38 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 5, 2013

Coal Tar Products Commonly Used in Driveway and
Parking Lot Sealants Banned in Montgomery County

Residents, businesses and contractors planning to reseal driveways or parking lots should be aware that coal tar, a common ingredient in resealing products, can no longer be used in Montgomery County. Last year, the Montgomery County Council passed Bill 21-12 that banned the use of coal tar products, effective December 18, 2012. Under the law, use of a coal-tar based sealant can lead to a fine of up to $1,000�for both the property owner and the applicator.

Coal tar is a byproduct of coal processing and contains high levels of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Some PAHs are known human carcinogens. Studies have shown that when coal tar-based sealants are applied on parking lots and driveways, PAHs can be released into nearby surface waters, where they can accumulate in sediments at levels potentially harmful to aquatic wildlife. The presence of PAHs in sediments may increase costs to businesses, homeowner�s associations and others charged with maintaining stormwater management facilities.

Alternatives to coal tar-based sealants are widely available. For do-it-yourselfers, local home improvement stores carry asphalt-based or latex sealants. For those hiring a contractor, ask to see the ingredient list of the sealing product to insure it does not contain the prohibited substances coal tar, refined coal tar, coal tar pitch or RT-12.

To learn about sealant options, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/coaltarban.

An informational flyer about the ban is available

Download This Document

Montgomery County to Begin Residential Street Sweeping April 8

Howard Hartman — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:54:40 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 4, 2013

Montgomery County to Begin Residential Street Sweeping April 8

Starting April 8, Montgomery County�s residential roadways will get a spring cleaning with the launch of the annual street sweeping program on about 4,000 of the County�s 5,000 curb miles of roads.

This joint effort between the Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) removes abrasives and other debris left behind after the winter snow season and improves the appearance and safety of County streets. Based on past results, officials expect the effort will help remove about 2,000 tons of material that could otherwise be washed into County streams.

�Street sweeping is an important part of the County�s efforts to improve water quality in our local streams and reduce pollutants to the Chesapeake Bay,� said MCDOT Director Arthur Holmes Jr. �Street sweeping not only improves the appearance of our neighborhoods, it also protects the environment by keeping salt, sand and other debris out of our storm drains, our stormwater management facilities and our streams.�

Removing excess debris and abrasives from road surfaces helps to keep drainage systems clean. Roads in areas identified by DEP as priority watersheds will be swept first and, if needed, will receive additional sweepings.

Brightly colored signs are posted in neighborhoods a few days before street sweeping begins. To improve the quality of service and the effectiveness of the sweeping program, residents are urged to find alternative parking while their streets are cleaned.

Daily updates detailing which areas are scheduled for street sweeping are available online on the County�s website.

Additional information about the street sweeping program is available on MC311�s website or by calling the Customer Service Line from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by dialing 311 from within the County or 240-777-0311 from outside the County.

Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco to Speak at Rockville Memorial Library

Howard Hartman — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:44:41 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 4, 2013

Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco to
Speak at Rockville Memorial Library

Friends of the Library, Montgomery County (FOLMC) and the Latino Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) History Project (LHP) will host an evening with Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco at the Rockville Memorial Library on Friday, May 17, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The library is located at 21 Maryland Ave. Blanco, the first Latino and the first openly gay poet laureate for the presidential inauguration, will present a program of readings.

When he was nearly two months old, Blanco�s family emigrated from Cuba to Spain, moved to New York City, and eventually settled in Florida where he was raised and educated. Blanco is the author of three books and a fourth, a bilingual triptych of poems submitted for the inauguration, to be released on May 6.

Montgomery County Council President Nancy Navarro is honorary chair of the event and Mayor Jeffrey Z. Slavin of the Town of Somerset is chair. Event sponsors include Steven R. Snapp and Lawrence S. Jacobs, Tina M. Martin, Carol and Michael Leahy, Michael J. Bobbitt and Montgomery County Public Libraries.

�The Latino GLBT History Project is excited to partner with Friends of the Library, Montgomery County to bring Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco to the Rockville Memorial Library,� said LHP Latino Pride co-chair Wilmer Gutierrez. �His presence and memorable words shared during the second inauguration of President Barack Obama were monumental, and the Latino, immigrant and GLBT communities were proud to have one of their very own placed into the history books. LHP members look forward to hearing selections from his new book."

�FOLMC is committed to showcasing the literary talents and contributions that GLBT writers, poets and filmmakers have made to our community,� said Ari Z. Brooks, FOLMC Executive Director. For the past several years, FOLMC has funded the purchase of additional GLBT library resources and materials for Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). It is especially significant to have as our honorary chair, County Council President Nancy Navarro who made history when she was elected the first-ever Latina to serve as the president of a county council in Maryland.�

The cost for the poetry reading is $30 for an individual and $50 for a couple. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Sponsors are invited to attend a pre-event reception with Blanco.

For sponsorship information, to register to attend or to find out more about FOLMC call 240-777-0020 or visit www.folmc.org. For more information about LHP, visit www.latinoglbthistory.org.

April 14 Bicycle Ride to Benefit Tree House Child Assessment Center

Howard Hartman — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:45:36 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 4, 2013

April 14 Bicycle Ride to Benefit Tree
House Child Assessment Center

Join cyclists of all ages and abilities at the inaugural Tour de Cookie, a 14 or 40 mile bicycle ride on Sunday, April 14 to benefit the Tree House Child Assessment Center.

The ride begins at 9 a.m. on the campus of Montgomery College at the corner of Route 355 and North Campus Drive in Rockville. Participants will ride between 10 cookie stands hosted by local clubs and organizations and collect and enjoy cookies and other sweet treats along the way.

Participants will receive a collectible long sleeve t-shirt and a custom medal. Awards will go to the top three finishers (male and female), best cookie stand and the highest fund raiser (raising money is optional).

In addition to the ride, a family expo will be held with exhibits and activities for children and families. The Tour de Cookie is hosted by Montgomery College, Foremost Graphic Communications and the City of Rockville�s Bike Advisory Committee.

A public-private partnership, the Tree House Child Assessment Center is dedicated to reducing trauma and promoting healing for child victims of physical and sexual abuse, and neglect.

For more information or to register, go to www.TourDeCookie.com.

For more information about The Tree House Child Advocacy Center

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Leggett Kicks Off Child Abuse Prevention Month With �Power Of One� Campaign

Howard Hartman — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:39:42 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2013

Leggett, Councilmember Rice Kick Off Child Abuse
Prevention Month With �Power Of One� Campaign

County Executive Isiah Leggett was joined today by County Council Vice President Craig Rice to kick off April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. They urged residents to help families and children in Montgomery County through the �Power of One� campaign. The backdrop for today�s event was a sea of blue pinwheels, which are part of a national campaign �Pinwheels for Prevention.� Blue is the color designated for child abuse and the pinwheels serve as a reminder of childhood and the bright future that all children deserve.

�The message of the campaign is simple,� said Leggett. �One person can make a difference in a child�s life. We as a community should do everything we can to raise awareness that child abuse happens in our community and that includes reporting it. We can also help children affected by abuse and neglect through foster parenting and adoption.�

In 2012, there were more than 1,500 children in Montgomery County abused or neglected by their caretakers and there were more than 2,500 investigations into reports of suspected abuse or neglect.

�About five children in our nation die every day as a result of child abuse,� said Rice. �This campaign emphasizes that ONE person can save a life, making a choice to make a difference, whether it is through reporting suspected abuse or caring for an at-risk child. We all must do our part to help children in our community.�

The campaign recognizes that one person can make a difference in the life of a child or struggling family by becoming a foster parent or mentor, by reporting suspected abuse or neglect, by taking time to listen to a parent having a difficult time coping or by adopting a child from the community.

�Montgomery County has a committed group of foster and adoptive parents and child welfare staff who every day help abused children,� said Agnes Leshner, senior administrator for Child Welfare Services, part of the County�s Department of Health and Human Services. �But, we are also asking each person to think about how they can help children and families who are in need right here in our community.�

In addition to the Power of One campaign, residents are urged to register for the �Tour de Cookie,� a 14 or 40-mile bike ride on Sunday, April 14 that begins and ends at Montgomery College, Rockville Campus. Proceeds from the bike ride will benefit the Tree House Child Advocacy Center for Montgomery County. A public-private partnership, the Tree House is dedicated to reducing trauma and promoting healing for child victims of physical and sexual abuse, and neglect. For more information, go to www.TourDeCookie.com.

The �Power of One� campaign is sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse, a national organization.

For more information on how to get involved, please call Child Welfare Services at 240-777-3500.

Employers Invited to Hear Experts Discuss Telework

Howard Hartman — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:40:18 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 1, 2013

Employers Invited to Hear Experts Discuss Telework

Free Breakfast Workshop will Include Limited Number of Personalized Consultations

Employers interested in learning more about telework and its impact on productivity and employee morale are invited to a free breakfast presentation on April 11 from 8 to 10 a.m. The workshop will be held in the Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Lobby Level Auditorium, Rockville. Sponsors are the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce; Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Commuter Connections Program; and Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Commuter Services Section.

Recent media reports about telework have prompted discussions about whether this alternative work arrangement benefits employers. Experts on telework will explain what factors businesses and organizations should consider in making telework decisions and the benefits and challenges of telework. Local employers who are successfully implementing telework programs will discuss their experiences.

Speakers at the workshop include:

National Telework Expert Elham Shirazi, Principal, ePlanning
Nicholas Ramfos, Director, Alternative Commute Programs, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Representatives of businesses that have telework programs, including Microsoft, MayaTech and Europ Assistance USA

A limited number of free, one-on-one consultations with Shirazi may be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis to help employers evaluate whether telework is right for them.

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Renters and Homeowners are Invited to 13th Annual Housing Fair

Howard Hartman — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:56:27 GMT

For Immediate Release
April 1, 2013

Renters and Homeowners are Invited to Montgomery
County 13th Annual Housing Fair and Financial Fitness Day

The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) invites all County residents�renters, homeowners, and anyone with housing questions�to attend the 13th Annual Montgomery County Housing Fair and Financial Fitness Day. The fair will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 30 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Activity Center, Summit Hall Farm, 506 S. Frederick Ave., in Gaithersburg.

Fairgoers will have access to a wealth of useful information about housing programs and resources in Montgomery County, as well as information about eligibility for federal and state-level housing assistance. Special features of this year�s fair include:

Free credit reports provided on site;
Homeownership assistance by certified counselors, attorneys, and lenders tailored to fairgoers� specific needs;
Educational resources on the pros and cons of renting versus buying; and
Information on managing money, credit, and utilities.

On-site loan modifications from the major lenders will also be available.

�We welcome at the fair anyone in the market for reliable housing information�prospective first-time homeowners, senior citizens who want to rent or buy, veterans returning to the area from overseas, county residents eager to refinance, and persons who have been rejected for mortgage relief by their lenders and want to explore their current options,� said Myriam Torrico, DHCA administrator of Community Programs. �Whatever your housing situation, you will be able to receive sound advice and personal attention.�

Attendees can also receive one-on-one assistance from Housing Fair sponsors and exhibitors. Last year more than 90 sponsors and exhibitors participated�corporations, businesses, banks, realtors, credit unions; government officials, education groups and 501(c)3 nonprofits.

The fair is organized by the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs in partnership with the Housing Fair Planning Committee whose members include: the cities of Gaithersburg, Rockville and Takoma Park; Asian-American Homeownership Counseling; Housing and Community Initiatives, Inc.; Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.; Housing Opportunities Commission; Latino Economic Development Corporation; Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development; Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; Montgomery County Department of Recreation; Montgomery County Office of Human Rights; and the office of U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen.

For more information about the fair, or to find out how you can become a sponsor or exhibitor, please contact Myriam Torrico, 240-777-3627, or email myriam.torrico@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Leggett Helps Celebrate Allentuck Landscaping�s 25th Anniversary

Howard Hartman — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:18:07 GMT

For Immediate Release
March 28, 2013

Leggett Helps Celebrate Allentuck Landscaping�s 25th Anniversary

Clarksburg company donates Children�s Garden at
Hospice Caring, Inc. in memory of owner�s grandparents

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Bruce Allentuck, founder and president of Allentuck Landscaping Company, Gaithersburg elected officials and other invited guests to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Clarksburg-based Allentuck Landscaping.

Allentuck started working as a landscaper in his Montgomery County neighborhood while still in high school. He started his business by the time he was 22, and has grown the company from two employees to more than thirty.

�We are very proud to have a home-grown company like Allentuck Landscaping expand and succeed in Montgomery County and contribute to our local economy in the process,� said Leggett. �Twenty-five years in business is truly an impressive milestone and a testament to Bruce�s hard work, commitment and savvy management skills.�

Allentuck Landscaping has been recognized as one of Maryland's Most Exceptional Companies by The Gazette and as one of the top area landscape contractors by The Washington Business Journal. The company was also awarded Montgomery County�s 2008 Environmental Green Innovation Award.

�When I started Allentuck Landscaping Company in Rockville I was just 22 years old with no idea that the company would become what it is today,� said Allentuck. �We consider ourselves very fortunate to work with such wonderful team members, customers and partners. It has truly been an amazing ride and we look forward to seeing what the next 25 years will bring.�

Allentuck's grandparents were cared for by Hospice Caring, Inc. in Gaithersburg during their final days. To commemorate his company�s anniversary and in memory of his grandparents and the care they received, his company donated and dedicated a Children's Garden at Hospice Caring, Inc. as part of today�s ceremony.

Recipients of 2013 Montgomery Serves Awards Announced

Howard Hartman — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:47:17 GMT

For Immediate Release
March 28, 2013

Recipients of 2013 Montgomery Serves Awards Announced

Awards will be Presented at April 29 Ceremony

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett announced the winners of the 2013 Montgomery Serves awards, the Neal Potter Path of Achievement awards and the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership awards. The awards will be presented to nine honorees at the Second Annual Montgomery Serves Awards event to be held on Monday, April 29 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda.

Leggett selected Odessa Shannon, Carol Trawick and Teresa Rios Wright as recipients of the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award. This award was established by the County Executive to honor community icon Roscoe Nix, who gave a half century of public service to Montgomery County. First presented in 2012, the Nix award honors an individual or individuals who over the course of their distinguished lives of community service have made extraordinary contributions to the quality of our community at the very highest levels of excellence.

�In Montgomery County, our people are our greatest resource,� said Leggett. �Montgomery County is the very special place it is today because of people like Odessa Shannon, Carol Trawick, Teresa Rios Wright and the other winners and nominees we will honor at the Montgomery Serves Awards celebration.�

As a federal executive, elected member of the Board of Education, director of the Office of Human Rights and community activist, Shannon has worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and has an opportunity to thrive.

During and after an extraordinarily successful business career, Trawick � cofounder with her husband of the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation � has devoted her time, talent and resources to serving others and promoting the arts.

From a key position within the school system, Wright has been the heart and soul of a network of community organizations and government agencies dedicated to making Montgomery County one of the nation�s most immigrant friendly communities.

The Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award, named for the former County Councilmember, County Executive and civic activist, honors seniors age 60 and older who have given a lifetime of volunteer community service. Representatives from the Commission on Aging chose Marcine D. Goodloe and Joyce B. Siegel as winners from a large pool of nominations made by the public. Goodloe was nominated by the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association for her more than 40 years of service as a tireless advocate of fire and rescue issues at the County, state and federal level. Members of the Bernie Scholarships Award Program nominated Siegel for this award based on her work addressing housing issues of the poor in Montgomery County. Siegel was a driving force in the movement to revitalize the Scotland neighborhood, a historically African American community in Potomac. For five decades she has worked to ensure affordable and decent housing for all Montgomery County residents.

The 2013 Montgomery Serves Awards recognize special volunteer accomplishments during the 2012 calendar year in four categories: Alfredo Colina Iturralde was selected in the youth category; MedImmune in the business service category; Robert Zagorski for community service by an individual; and the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for community service by a group. Judges chose these winners from nearly 100 nominations.

The Montgomery Serves Awards ceremony is hosted by the County�s Volunteer Center in partnership with the Corporate Volunteer Council and the Fund for Montgomery (FFM). The Fund for Montgomery, a fund of the Community Foundation of Montgomery County, with special support from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation and other partners, are event sponsors.

The awards ceremony is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and pre-registration is required.

For more information or to register for the event on April 29, go to http://www.montgomeryserves.org/mont...es-awards-2013 or call 240-777-2600.

Solid Waste Facilities: March 30 + 31, 2013 - Modified Schedule

Howard Hartman — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:37:33 GMT

Solid Waste Facilities: March 30 + 31, 2013 - modified schedule

Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services
Facilities Update - March 30 + 31, 2013

Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station

Transfer Station location, hours and other details

Saturday, March 30, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Sunday, March 31, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Monday, April 1, 2013: Open with normal hours.

Poolesville Beauty Spot

Beauty Spot location, hours and other details

Saturday, March 30, 2013: Open with normal hours.
Sunday, March 31, 2013: Closed.

How do we process your MC311 Solid Waste service requests? Read our latest blog entry on "The Back Office.

Help us improve our website with a few quick clicks.

We have two studies open this week.

Each one has three quick tasks, and takes about 5 minutes to complete. If you have the time, we encourage you to complete both studies.

Learn more about this project, and sign up to participate in future studies. Our testing will continue into the Spring and Summer.

For questions or comments, please contact susanne.wiggins@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services • 101 Monroe St, 6th Floor • Rockville, MD 20850 • Customer Service Center: 311 (out-of-County: 240-777-0311, TTY: 301-251-4850)

Volunteer Center Celebrates Earth Month with Variety of Events throughout April

Howard Hartman — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:23:18 GMT

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2013

Montgomery County Volunteer Center Celebrates
Earth Month with Variety of Events throughout April

Montgomery County will celebrate Earth Day in April with a variety of volunteer opportunities and events scheduled in numerous locations. Check the Volunteer Center website for a complete list of opportunities at www.MontgomeryServes.org/earth-day-2013.

The following activities are approved for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for Montgomery County Public School students.

April 2, 6, 13 and 27 � Montgomery Parks Annual Garlic Mustard Pull. Help remove one of the fastest spreading, non-native, invasive weeds. Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Dress appropriately for the weather and to be out in the woods. For more information go to www.WeedWarrior.org or call 301-495-2504.
Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m. - noon � Alice Ferguson Foundation�s 25th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. Volunteers will pick up trash from hundreds of cleanup sites around the region. To find a site, visit www.potomaccleanup.org, or call 202-973-8203.
Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m. � noon � Rock Creek Conservancy Extreme Cleanup. Clean up the streams of Rock Creek and its tributaries, the parks connected to Rock Creek and the neighborhoods near Rock Creek where trash originates. Over 50 locations are available. Visit www.rockcreekconservancy.org for more information or call 301-775-2960.
Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. � noon � Montgomery County Road Runners Club Rock Creek Trail Cleanup. Take part in the cleanup of the Rock Creek Trail, the Matthew Henson Trail and feeder paths as well as dry feeder streams, roadways, playgrounds and the Lake Needwood area. For more information go to www.mcrrc.org or call 301-933-2919.
Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. � 1 p.m. � Montgomery Parks Cabin John Trail Workday. Improve the Cabin John Natural Surface Trail in Bethesda. Volunteer trail workdays typically include repairing eroded tread surfaces, stabilizing drainage issues, and building new trails and bridges. For more information, go to www.MontgomeryTrails.org or call 301-495-2504.
Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. � noon � Anacostia Watershed Society Cleanup. Take part at 20 different cleanup sites along the Anacostia Watershed. For more information, visit www.anacostiaws.org/earthday2013 or call 301-699-6204.
Sunday, April 21, 9 a.m. � noon � WSSC Invasive Weed Removal. Help get rid of kudzu and other weeds so the trees and wildlife can thrive. Students under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit www.wsscwater.com or call 301-206-8233.

For a guide to living a green life in Montgomery County year round, check out www.MyGreenMontgomery.org.

For more information and additional opportunities for Earth Day, call Montgomery County�s Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600 or visit the Volunteer Center website at www.montgomeryserves.org.

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