It’s Tee Time for the AT&T

The 2013 AT&T National Tournament is being held at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda through June 30. Many County departments and agencies have been working on arrangements and logistics with representatives from the PGA TOUR and Tiger Woods Foundation. Their goal is to help spectators get to and from the event as efficiently as possible so they can enjoy the overall experience.

Public Parking and Shuttle Bus Options

County and tour officials remind anyone planning to attend 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.

See more details about where to park.

Public Transportation

No public walk-ins are allowed through the main entrance of Congressional Country Club on River Rd. Public transit options are:

• 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 leaving the tournament and using public transit -- T2 Ride On buses will operate every 15 minutes from 4 to 8 p.m. between the Friendship Heights and Rockville Metro Stations. Until that time, the service operates every 30 minutes, beginning at 7 a.m.
• 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 Blvd. are reminded that they must cross only at marked crosswalks and stay alert for oncoming traffic. Spectators 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 use 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 spectators 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 tournament’s Main Entrance on Persimmon Tree La.

Do’s, Don’ts, Etc.

More information and details about the tournament are available at www.attnational.org (Spectator Information).

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 example, the economic 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).

Heritage Days: When the Past Comes to the Present

The Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will be among the musical entertainers performing during
“The Civil War Comes to Rockville” event.

 Each year, on the last weekend of June, Heritage Montgomery hosts its signature event – the annual Heritage Days Celebration. The 16th annual countywide celebration on June 29 and 30 will offer visitors an opportunity to sample numerous sites representing the history, culture, and natural beauty of Montgomery County. See a short video of what the weekend has to offer.

This year, Heritage Days will include an added special event on June 29, “The Civil War Comes to Rockville,” a commemoration marking the 150th anniversary of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuarts’s ride into town. The event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at sites throughout the downtown area, will offer reenactments, music, crafts, dancing and lectures.

Meanwhile, many other locations around the County will be hosting activities for all ages and interests. This is a fun way to learn a lot about local history.

For the most up-to-date information and rundown of all that’s happening at the free event, visit the Heritage Days website.

County Residents 80 and Older Sought to Participate in Healthy Aging Study

County residents 80 years of age and older who are in excellent physical and mental health are invited to participate in The National Institute on Aging’s IDEAL Study to learn more about healthy aging. This research will help scientists observe the aging process and identify the secrets of aging well.

Learn more about IDEAL, its parent study the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and how to participate by visiting www.blsa.nih.gov.

Office of Consumer Protection Advises Homeowners about Post-Storm Home Repairs

The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) warns County residents to be cautious when hiring contractors to repair damage caused by the recent severe storm that tore through the area. Do your homework before signing a contract for any home repair, improvement or tree service work.

OCP Director Eric Friedman said, “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.”

Read the advice to homeowners that is good information to keep in mind anytime.

OCP 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. The office 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 www.montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer.

Find Local Farmers Markets with New Online, Interactive Map

View Montgomery County 2013 Farmers Markets in a larger map

From annuals to zucchini, chances are a local farmers market has it. And, now, it’s even easier to find locally grown products thanks to the new interactive map of all 22 farmers markets found on the Department of Economic Development’s website. Or, download a brochure of all County farmers markets pdf.

For more information about local farmers markets, call 301-590-2823.

Farmers interested in participating in one or more of the markets can get more information by calling 301-590-2810.

County to Host Two July Fourth Celebrations

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 Mill 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, while Mid-County Sparkles activities begin at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by Quiet Fire Soul.

Get more information about parking, etc.

Changes Coming in July for Reporting Animal Emergencies and Complaints

Residents are advised that beginning at 6 a.m., Monday, July 1, calls  reporting animal emergencies and complaints in Montgomery County will be answered by the County Police Emergency Communications Center or MC311 call takers.

Animal-related emergencies in progress should be reported to 9-1-1. Some examples are:

• Animal attacks in progress
• An animal locked in a hot car (particularly important this time of year)
• Animal cruelty in progress
• An animal creating a traffic hazard

Calls to report animal-related complaints should go to the police non-emergency number 301-279-8000. Use that number to report:

• A sick or injured animal or one that appears abandoned
• An animal neglect situation
• An animal in a trap issued by Montgomery County
• An animal in distress due to severe weather conditions (Animals without shelter or water)
• An animal threatening the well-being of a community member (Not in-progress)
• An animal bite/attack (Not in-progress)
• An animal nuisance such as an animal at large, a barking dog or not cleaning up after a pet

If you spot a dead deer along the roadway, you can report the location through the County’s MC311 Customer Service Center:

• Call 311 or 240-777-0311 (from a cell phone), Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., or
• To report a dead deer on a 24/7 basis, go to www.MC311.com

To reach the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, continue to call 240-773-5960 to inquire about:

• pet adoptions
• the low-cost spay neuter program,
• pet licensing,
• reporting a lost pet or
• other animal shelter matters.

To reach the Police Animal Services Division, continue to call 240-773-5925 :

• To speak with an Animal Services Officer
• Follow up on a previously reported complaint,
• Inquire about the Animal Matters Hearing Board or
• Inquire about rabies vaccination clinics.

Coming July 1: New Parking Rates for Bethesda, Montgomery Hills

The new public parking rate pricing structure in Bethesda will charge more for the spaces in highest demand and will eliminate differences between long- and short- term parking.

Effective July 1, charges will be based on the type of parking used. The new rates will be: $2 per hour for on-street parking meters; $1.25 per hour for surface parking lots; and $.80 per hour for garage parking. Current rates in Bethesda are $1.25 per hour for short-term parking (four hours or less) and $.80 per hour for long-term parking (greater than four hours). Time restrictions still apply, and parking spaces may be restricted to short- or long-term parking.

In Montgomery Hills, the new rates will be $.50 per hour for both short- and long-term parking.

For additional information on parking rates and options in Bethesda, Montgomery Hills and the other County parking lot districts, visit the Division of Parking Management’s website, call 240-777-8740 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or email the Parking Division at parking@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Silver Spring Summer Concert Series Kicks Off July 11

The long-running free Silver Spring Summer Concert Series, presented by Discovery Communications, will be held on Thursday evenings, July 11 to 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.

Following is the 2013 schedule:

1. July 11 – Bruce Ewan, The Red Harmonica King (Blues)
2. July 18 – David Bach (World Jazz)
3. July 25 – Elliott Levine (R&B, Funk)
4. August 1 – Second Wind (Rock & Roll)

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

For more information, call Montgomery Recreation at 240-777-6821.

New Public Service Announcement Offers Details about 311 Call Center in Spanish

A new public service announcement (PSA) in Spanish about the services of the County’s 311 call center has been added to the 311 website.

Nighttime Economy Task Force Begins Work

The County’s Nighttime Economy Task Force, appointed by County Executive Ike Leggett in May, has established committees to study and address various topics relating to their charge -- 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 task force meets monthly on the third Monday from 5 to 7 p.m.; the committees will meet monthly on the fourth Tuesday. The public is invited to attend the meetings to offer ideas and solutions.

For meeting times and locations, visit the task force website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov/nighttimTaseeconomy. 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.

Project Search Montgomery Graduates First Class

The first Project Search Montgomery interns are happy graduates as they received their diplomas following 10 months on the job with various County departments and agencies. On hand to congratulate the graduates were County Councilmember Phil Andrews (front left), County Executive Ike Leggett (front center) and Human Resources Director Joe Adler (back center).

 The first class of 12 interns participating in the Project Search Montgomery program recently took part in a “graduation” ceremony after successfully completing one year with Montgomery County Government.

Project Search Montgomery is designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are either in their last year of high school or are recent graduates. It targets individuals whose main goal is competitive employment and who will benefit from an extensive period of training, long-term job coaching and continuous feedback from teachers, job coaches and employers.

The interns spent the last 10 months working at job sites in the departments of Environmental Protection, Finance, General Services, Housing and Community Affairs, Liquor Control, Parks, Permitting Services, Police, Public Libraries, Recreation and Transportation, in addition to the Office of the County Executive and Office of Human Resources.

The County collaborated on the program with the Rockville-based Ivymount School and SEEC, an adult rehabilitation provider.

Learn more about Project Search Montgomery.

County Achievements Honored with 18 National Association of Counties 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, initiated in 1998, highlights outstanding model programs submitted to the awards competition.

See complete list of award-winning programs and departments.

Maryland’s Low-Income Students Rank First in Country in Academic Progress

According to a new report by the advocacy and research organization Education Sector, during an eight-year period, Maryland’s low-income students made more academic progress than any other state.

Maryland fourth- and eighth-grade students who qualify for free and reduced meals raised their reading and math scores by a combined 55 points between 2003 and 2011 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress -- the standardized test known as "the Nation's Report Card."

See more.

Read the full report.

County Files Brief Opposing Proposed Rate Hike by Pepco

Taking an aggressive position with Pepco, Montgomery County has filed its initial brief with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) strongly opposing the company’s request for a rate increase and the company’s proposed Grid Resiliency Charge, a surcharge passed on to customers that would fund projects to guarantee reliability across the grid during severe weather and other conditions that could threaten the grid.

The County proposes a revenue requirement for Pepco of $6.5 million, a reduction of $54.3 million (89%) from its requested $60.8 million increase in rates.

Read the County’s brief on the Pepco Reliability page (June 3, 2013 entry).

case_No_9311 by Public Information Office

Public Education Meetings Scheduled on Bikeshare Program Coming to County

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will host three public meetings in June on the extension of the Capital Bikeshare program into Montgomery County. Bikesharing allows travelers to rent a bike from on-street stations and drop it off at other stations within the bikeshare network.

The following meetings will focus on selected urban centers of Montgomery County where bikesharing stations will be installed in late summer 2013. However, information on bikesharing throughout the County will be available at each meeting. All meetings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.

• Bikeshare in Bethesda and Friendship Heights: June 24
  Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor La., 2nd Floor 
• Bikeshare in Silver Spring and Takoma Park: June 25
  Fire Station 1, 8110 Georgia Avenue, 3rd Floor, Silver Spring; and
• Bikeshare in Rockville, Shady Grove and the Life Sciences Center: June 26 Executive Office Building Lobby Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.

Get more information about the meetings online or contact Margie Boumel at 240-777-7170. For more information on Bikeshare in Montgomery County, visit the new Bikeshare website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/bikeshare.

Safety Tips for Storm Season

June is traditionally the start of the summer storm and hurricane season. That’s why County officials are urging residents to take precautions to stay safe, including heeding storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service and taking shelter when appropriate.

One -- free and easy --step to take to help keep yourself and family safe is to sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive up-to-date information on hurricane watches and warnings and other storms. Alert Montgomery sign up information is also available online at the County’s Call Center or by calling 311 or 240-777-0311, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Alerts can be sent to one or more electronic devices, including cell phones, text pagers and wireless PDAs, along with home and work emails.

Read tips for before, during and after a storm.

Fire and Rescue Service Reminders to Motorists during Storm Season

Since the arrival of the summer storm season in our area, there have been numerous flash flood warnings issued to residents. While the basic message from the Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) is “Turn Around -- Don’t Drown and Try an Alternate Route,” there are other things to think about if you’re driving when flash flood warnings have been issued.

Although flash floods more often occur in mountain streams, hilly areas or low-lying areas, remember, they do happen in urban and suburban areas like Montgomery County, as well.  Flash floods can occur even though it's not raining where you are.  But, it may be raining so hard farther upstream that the water can’t be absorbed into the ground.

  

If you’re driving and hear about a flash flood warning, know your location.  If you needed rescue, would you be able to direct emergency crews to your location?  Distracted driving can lead to a situation where you are stranded and unable to direct emergency crews to you.  Be alert! 

You don’t have to be caught off guard.

Sign up for Alert Montgomery, so you’re never out of touch with the latest in storm (and other emergency) updates.

Get full list of  safety tips, including a rundown of local roads subject to periodic flooding.

“Dig Into Reading” with Summer Reading Program at Public Libraries

Children and teens of all ages are invited to participate in this year’s Summer Reading Program at Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). 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, runs until August 11. Recommended reading lists by grade also will be available on the MCPL website.

Participants can sign up for the program and keep track of the books they read, or have read to them, through August 31, using the designated summer reading registration computer or a public computer in the library, or sign up on computers at home or elsewhere. All children who register can pick up a free voucher for Frederick Keys games, August 11 or 18.

Learn more about Summer Reading.

Recognizing Diversity through Two June Observances

LGBT Month

First recognized by President Bill Clinton in 2000 as Gay Pride Month, June is now designated as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Month.

In support of the rights of all people to equal respect and treatment, County Executive Ike Leggett states that “Gay Pride Month is a time to appreciate the contributions LGBT individuals have made -- and are making -- to all walks of life – from public service and the corporate community to entertainment and sports. As we embrace ethnic and cultural diversity, so too, should we embrace a broad-based ‘universal diversity’ of thought, lifestyle and the like.”

The County Office of Human Rights works, year-round, toward “creating a culture of service and a climate of fairness and inclusion,” while the Commission on Human Rights works to eliminate discrimination, prejudice, intolerance, and bigotry…and promote goodwill, cooperation, understanding and human relations among all residents.”

Leggett said, “I salute the efforts and tireless dedication of these two entities as they work toward an all-inclusive society.”

Caribbean American Heritage Month

 In 2006, June was designated as the National Caribbean American Heritage Month in recognition of the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States and an official Proclamation was issued by President George W. Bush.

In Montgomery County, Caribbean immigrants make up six percent of the foreign-born population.

County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Nancy Navarro have issued a proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean American Heritage Month. In it, they “pay tribute to the culture and bonds of friendship that unite the United States and the Caribbean countries, our common values and our shared history.”

See more about Caribbean community resources.

Help Ensure Quality Programs for Therapeutic Recreation: Take a Few Minutes, Take a Survey

 Montgomery County Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Team is conducting a survey in order to ensure that quality programs and services are provided to their customers. All individuals with disabilities, family members and caregivers are invited to participate by completing the survey, which only takes about five minutes to complete.

Questions about the survey?  Call Judy Stiles at 240-777-6875.

For information about Therapeutic Recreation programming, contact any Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at 240-777-6870.

Click here for survey.

New Online Summer Activity Calendar for Kids

Montgomery County Recreation, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), as part of the “Be Active Montgomery!” initiative, has created an online Summer Activity Calendar for children. Much like a summer reading list, the calendar lists games, activities and fitness challenges for kids to mark off each day of the summer break.

Helping to address the problem of childhood obesity in the Washington, D.C. area, the campaign makes residents aware that a healthier lifestyle can be achieved in incremental steps.

In addition to the calendar, the “Be Active Montgomery!” website features weekly wellness tips, opportunities for recreational activities in Montgomery County, wellness resources and suggestions for pool games, outdoor neighborhood games and other fun summer activities.

For more information, call 240-777-6821 or visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec.

Weigh in: Latest Topics on engageMontgomery

Two new topics have been posted 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:

1. 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?
2. 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 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.

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

Reminder: New Smoking Ban on County-Owned/Leased Property

The County’s recently passed law prohibiting smoking on County-owned or leased land is intended to discourage smoking and to prevent exposure to second-hand smoke by those working on or visiting County properties.

Residents and visitors are reminded that the new prohibition encompasses areas outside of County buildings, including

• County parks; 
• County parking lots and parking garages; 
• County-owned vehicles; and 
• Bus stops and bus shelters. 

Exempted from the ban are:

• County golf courses; 
• County rights-of-way, including public sidewalks; 
• Any occupied residential unit owned or leased by the County for as long as the occupant on May 27, 2013 retains possession of the unit; and 
• Any outside area where the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services determines that a complete prohibition would impede a program’s mission or effective delivery of services. 

Questions about the exact boundaries of County property should be directed to the building manager at each site or to the Department of General Services, Facilities Management, at 240-777-5399.

To register a complaint, call 311 or 240-777-0311 (from outside the County).

See the smoking ban bill.

Recruiting Pedestrian Safety Outreach Volunteers in Wheaton

The SWAG Team and the Protectores del Camino are made up of Wheaton residents who are working to promote pedestrian safety to their communities, such as Connecticut Avenue Estates, Montclair Manor and Rock Creek Palisades.

The group works hard to distribute information – bags and brochures -- at local community-wide events. At the Salvadoran-American and World of Montgomery festivals, the Taste of Wheaton and the Kensington Labor Day parade –they handed out more than 4,000 yellow bags with the message “I’m Walking Here! Be Safe. Be Seen.”.

More volunteers are always welcome. And, help will be needed when the group participates in the County’s Thanksgiving Parade on November 17 in Downtown Silver Spring where they will distribute reflective handouts.

To get more information or to volunteer, contact Joana Conklin at joana.conklin@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month

June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat month. It’s kitten season and the Montgomery County Humane Society (MCHS) is celebrating with reduced adoption fees for shelter cats and kittens all month long!

Knowledgeable, friendly adoption counselors at MCHS can be your “matchmaker,” and help you find the purrfect cat for your family’s lifestyle.

Get the details

Two Students Receive Highest Award for AAA Safety Patrol Members

Photo caption: Award recipients Alanna Miller(left) and Daceris Mendez (right) are shown with their awards and (back, from left) Sgt. James Whalen, Officer Anna Walker, Officer Terese Guilday, Officer John Johnson and Capt. Thomas Didone.

The Police Department has announced that two Montgomery County Public School students -- Alanna Miller, an 11-year-old 5th grader at Rock Creek Forest Elementary School in Chevy Chase, and Daceris Mendez, a 10 year-old fifth grader at Rock View Elementary School in Kensington -- have received the 2013 AAA School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Award, the highest award given to members of the AAA School Safety Patrol.

Recipients are school safety patrol officers who have saved the life of a person while on safety duty. Each year, a National Review Board selects award winners from the nominated candidates.

The day before Thanksgiving (2012), Alanna was at her post, with a County Police Crossing Guard, at the corner of East-West Hwy. and Grubb Rd. A large truck driving against the red signal was traveling toward the crosswalk. A third grade student saw the pedestrian Walk signal and proceeded into the crosswalk. Alanna realized that the crossing guard had not given the OK to cross. She saw the approaching truck and immediately stepped into the crosswalk, grabbed the arm of the young boy, and pulled him to the curb just as the truck drove past. The crossing guard stated that if not for Alanna’s quick actions, the young boy would have been struck by the truck.

On December 10 (2012), Daceris was at her assigned post in her school’s Kiss and Ride parent pick-up area when she saw a kindergarten student dart from the curb into the school’s driveway and into the path of a moving car. Daceris immediately used both hands to grab the child around the waist and pull him back to the sidewalk. A teacher who witnessed the event stated that had Daceris not acted, the child’s feet would have been run over by the car.

Read more about the winners.

Montgomery County Recreation and Montgomery Parks Earn Project Excellence Award

Montgomery County Recreation and Montgomery Parks, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, recently received the prestigious Project Excellence Award from the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) for their Vision 2030 Strategic Plan and the 2012 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan.

The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the field of outdoor recreation research, planning, management and policy.

The Vision 2030 Strategic Plan and the 2012 PROS Plan include an innovative, long-term vision and a practical, analysis-based implementation component to guide the two agencies in meeting the needs of Montgomery County, one of the fastest growing communities in the country.

For more information about recreation and parks in Montgomery County, contact Judy Stiles, Montgomery County Recreation at 240-777-6875 or judy.stiles@montgomerycountymd.gov; or Melissa Chotiner, Montgomery Parks at 301-650-2866 or melissa.chotiner@montgomeryparks.org.

Read more.

Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment District Receives State Award

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

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. 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 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.

Read more.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

June 24 – June 30 -- AT&T National at Congressional Country Club.

Check out all details on the tournament website.

Thursday, June 27 – Latino Leadership Roundtable. Silver Spring Civic Building, corner of Fenton St. and Ellsworth Dr. 7-9 p.m. The event will promote Latino participation in County and non-profit boards, committees and commissions. Presented by the County Executive’s Latin American Advisory Group. Call 240-777-2525 or email Karla.Silvestre@montgomerycountymd.gov.



Thursday, July 4 – County-Sponsored Independence Day Celebrations.



Germantown Glory. At the SoccerPlex in the South Germantown Recreational Park, 18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds. Kick off at 7 p.m. with a concert by Bobby and the Believers. Mid-County Sparkles at Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Rd., Kensington. Activities begin at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by Quiet Fire Soul. Both fireworks displays will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. Get more details.

Tuesday, July 9 – County Executive’s Online Chat. 1-2 p.m. Submit questions/comments in advance or during the chat. 

Tuesday, July 9 -- Linkages To Learning 20th Anniversary Celebration/Fundraiser.

Imagination Stage, Bethesda. 6- 8 p.m. Silent auction, artwork by Linkages children for sale, dance performances by Linkages children, success stories from the past 20 years, appetizers and more. $35 includes tax-deductible contribution to LTL. Linkages works to improve the well-being of children and their families through the collaborative delivery of school-based services that support success at home, in school and in the community. More information at www.LTL20.info.