NOTEWORTHY NOTES

An Evening with Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco

Poet Richard Blanco will present a program of readings on Friday, May 17, at the Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave. beginning at 7:30 p.m. Blanco, who was selected to read at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration ceremony, is the first Latino and the first openly gay poet laureate for a presidential inauguration.

The program is presented by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County (FOLMC) and the Latino Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender History Project. The cost is $30 for an individual; $50 per couple. Call 240-777-0020 or visit www.folmc.org.

Teen Forum

Young people in the County 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 forum will include “speak-out” sessions facilitated by Youth Advisory Committee 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 the Rec Web icon to access Registration. Sign up for course number 358458.

Highway Safety Resource Fair for Seniors

Residents are invited to attend a free event, “Driving and Beyond …Symposium and Mobility Resource Fair for Older Adults and Their Families” on Sunday, May 19 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Rosborough Center at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg. Asbury Methodist Village is located at 301 Odendhal Ave.

Staying safe on the roads is important for drivers of all ages. Older drivers are involved in fewer crashes when compared to other age groups but are more likely to suffer serious injury or death. There is a lot to learn about this issue—whether one is concerned about personal safety or that of family members and friends.

Local experts will give presentations on learning strategies for staying safe on the roads; making informed choices about driving; comfortably discussing mobility concerns with family members; and discovering alternatives to driving in Montgomery County.

To register for this FREE event, call AARP at 1-877-926-8300 or go to http://aarp.cvent.com/mddriversymposium.
For more information, call Shawn Brennan, program manager for Senior Health Promotion, at 240-777-1350.

Commission for Women Counseling Services Offered Three Days a Week

The Montgomery County Commission for Women is now offering collaborative, solution-focused, short-term counseling services three days a week. The services, which are free until July 1, are designed to help individuals effectively address challenging life transitions.

Counseling is available by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Commission for Women’s offices are on the third floor of the Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Ave., Suite 330.

Services are available in English, French and Arabic, to individuals who are:

• Montgomery County residents; 
• Adults 18 years and older; 
• Single with no dependent children and income of less than $50,000 per year; or 
• Single with dependent children and income less than $75,000 per year; or 
• Married with a combined income of less than $75,000 year. 

To schedule an appointment, call 240-777-8300 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Sign Up and Go Green

One easy way for residents to learn more about how to live a green life is to subscribe to “Your Green Montgomery,” a new monthly online newsletter from the Department of Environmental Protection.

The first issue 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.

The newsletter will also offer 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.

Subscribe at MyGreenMontgomery.org. 

Bikeshare Program Coming to the County

Thanks to the contract signed recently between Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Alta Bicycle Share, the popular Capital Bikeshare program is coming to the County.

This means about 20 bike stations with 200 bikes will be installed in the Rockville and Shady Grove/Life Sciences Center areas and 30 stations with 250 bikes will be located Downcounty along both of the Red Line Metrorail corridors between the District of Columbia and the beltway. Areas affected include Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Friendship Heights, Bethesda and Medical Center. The Mid-County and Downcounty stations are expected to be installed by the end of the summer.

Bikesharing provides short-term bicycle rentals at self-service, automated, solar-powered docking stations at publicly-accessible locations. Bikes may be picked up at one location and returned to another, creating a system that allows for one-way trips. More information on the region’s bikeshare system is available at www.capitalbikeshare.com.

Read more.

Free Walk-In Plant Clinics: Ask a Master Gardener

The gardening season has arrived, and that means Montgomery County Master Gardeners are answering questions at 13 locations around the County.

Bring your full and intact plant and insect samples, garden problems and questions to a location below and get free answers. For further information call the Plant Helpline: 301-590-9650, weekday mornings or email mgmont@umd.edu.

• Bethesda: Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Now-Sept., Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Burtonsville: Praisner Library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Now-Sept., Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Chevy Chase: Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Rd.; Now-Sept., Sat. 10 a.m.-noon 
• Derwood Extension Office: 18410 Muncaster Rd. Drop off plant & insect samples, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. year-round, lower level. Demonstration Garden Clinic: Now-Oct., Tues. 8 a.m.-noon 
• Gaithersburg/Darnestown: Quince Orchard Library, 15831 Quince Orchard Rd., May-Sept., Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Germantown: Germantown Library, 19840 Century Blvd., May-Sept., Wed. 6:15-7:45 p.m. 
• Kensington: Farmer’s Market, Train Station at Howard Ave., April-Oct., 2nd Sat. 8 a.m.- noon 
• Olney: Farmers Market, Rt. 108 & Prince Philip Dr., May 12-Oct. 13, Sun. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Poolesville: Poolesville Library, 19633 Fisher Ave., May-Sept., Wed. 1-3 p.m. 
• Rockville: Central Farm Market, 11806 Rockville Pike, Now-Oct, 3rd Sat., 9.a.m.-2 p.m. 
• Rockville: Twinbrook Library, 202 Meadow Hall Dr., Now-Sept., Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Silver Spring: FRESHFARM Market, Ellsworth Dr., between Georgia & Fenton, Now-Oct., 3rd Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Wheaton: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., year-round, Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sun. 1-4 p.m.; April-Oct., Wed. & Thurs., 1-4 p.m. 

For more descriptions of Master Gardener programs, check out http://mcmg.umd.edu.

Help Seniors in Need

Every month, approximately 400 seniors rely heavily on the services provided by a dedicated cadre of volunteers from The Senior Connection of Montgomery County, Inc.

For example, in an average month these volunteers provide more than 650 free trips to medical appointments; shop for or transport a low-income/disabled senior to the grocery store; and help seniors with their financial obligations.

The Senior Connection’s goal is to provide more trips, with shorter lead times. That means more drivers. Grocery shopping and chore type transportation is needed for weekends and medical transportation during business hours. Just two to three hours per week can make a big difference to you and to the people you serve.

The Senior Connection is partially funded through a contract with Montgomery County Health and Human Services, Department of Aging and Disability.

For more information on volunteering, contact Marcia Custer at 301-962-0820, ext.14, or download an application at http://www.seniorconnectionmc.org/volunteers/become-a-volunteer/.