County’s Economic Development Week Highlights the Importance of Economic Development in Making Montgomery County the Best Place to Live, Work and Play

Created to highlight the importance and value of economic development, Economic Development Week celebrates professionals in the field who work to transform lives and communities. Montgomery County recognizes the importance of a thriving business community and economic prosperity in contributing to a better quality of life for our residents.

Coming in July, the County will transition to a new chapter in economic development by replacing the current Department of Economic Development with an Economic Development Corporation with leadership from the private sector.

Live Discussion with Ike Leggett

County Executive Ike Leggett will host a “virtual” town hall meeting on Tuesday, May 31 from 2 to 3 p.m. Leggett will answer as many questions as possible during the scheduled chat time. Questions may be submitted at Live Discussion Questions before the chat or during the chat.

Stories of Six Holocaust Survivors Who Became Montgomery County Residents Featured in New Documentary on County Cable Montgomery

A new County Cable Montgomery (CCM) 30-minute documentary shares the stories of six Holocaust survivors who now live in Montgomery County. “Stories of Holocaust Survivors in Montgomery County” recounts the memories of the six from their days growing up in Europe as the Nazi regime expanded its reign of terror. The documentary, created and produced by Barbara Grunbaum and videotaped by Mike Springirth, is available on YouTube.

The documentary tells the stories of Inga Borisova, Henry Greenbaum Halina Peabody and Martin Weiss of Bethesda, Nesse Godin of Silver Spring, and Manny Mandel of Forest Glen.

The Council honored the six residents featured in the documentary on April 26 and held a screening of the film in advance of the internationally-recognized May 5 date for Holocaust Remembrance Day.

New Transit Center Opens at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Montgomery County officials, joined by Westfield Montgomery Mall leaders celebrated the opening of the Westfield Montgomery Mall Transit Center on April 28.

Managed by the County, the transit center will connect riders to seven bus lines, eight Metrorail stations and a signed bike route. Features of the center include six covered bus bays, three bus layover spaces, more passenger seating and more room for buses to park, make turns and lay over between shifts. Commuter parking includes 156 automobile parking spaces and bicycle racks that accommodate 20 bikes.

The Transit Center is a public/private partnership between the County and Westfield Montgomery. The project cost approximately $7 million. Westfield Montgomery spent $6 million and Montgomery County spent $1.1 million in the jointly-managed construction project.

• Read more about this new project.
• Link to article from bethesda magazine.

Snow Shoveling Heroes Recognized at The Golden Shovel Awards

Now with warmer weather, it is easy to forget that a few months ago we were grappling with the epic 2016 blizzard. Eighteen residents who used snow shovels, along with their hearts, to help their neighbors during the harsh winter of 2015-16 were recognized with a Golden Shovel award.

Initiated by County Council President Nancy Floreen, the Golden Shovel awards program, each year acknowledges residents who reach out to give assistance to neighbors by shoveling walkways and driveways after a snowfall.

Read more about the award recipients.

 

Many of the awardees attended the ceremonies in Rockville, including, from left to right: Sofia West, Richard Hoye, Nevan West, John Malone, Council President Floreen, Adele Cohen, Gilad Cohen, Jeffrey Cohen Andrea McCarren and her Warrior Canine Connection service dog-in-training, Bunce, and Mark Ujczo.

Montgomery Serves Awards Honor Those Who Serve

County community leaders, volunteers and organizations were recognized at the 2016 Montgomery Serves Awards Ceremony held on May 2. The annual awards honor residents who provide extraordinary service through volunteerism.

The Roscoe Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Awards, presented to Vivian Bass, Judge DeLawrence Beard and Gustavo Torres, are the County’s highest awards.

These videos share the story of what make these recipients so extraordinary.

• Vivian Bass
• Judge DeLawrence Beard
• Gustavo Torres

Leggett also presented awards to volunteers in four categories including; youth, business, individual and group.

Najma Thomas received the Youth Montgomery Serves Award. The Business Montgomery Serves Award was presented to Early, Cassidy and Schilling, Inc. Jan Jablonski was honored with the Individual Montgomery Serves Award and the Group Montgomery Serves Award was presented to The Armand Center for Conflict Resolution.

Gene Counihan and Sarah Gotbaum were honored with the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award. Reverend Mansfield “Kasey” Kaseman received the Montgomery Public Citizen of the Year award for creating a welcoming environment for diverse cultural, ethnic and minority groups in Montgomery County.

Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for the Western County Outdoor Pool

Just in time for the opening of the outdoor pool season, the Department of Recreation and Department of General Services invite residents to the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Western County Outdoor Pool on May 28 at 10 a.m. The pool is located at 20151 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville. Residents who attend the ribbon cutting ceremony will be invited to swim for free.

At noon that same day, all seven outdoor pools Bethesda, Germantown, Long Branch, MLK Swim Center, Upcounty Western County and Wheaton-Glenmont – will open for the summer season. The outdoor pools will be open weekends and holidays until June 20, when they switch to a daily schedule. For more information about outdoor pool.

Wheaton Library Interim Site Scheduled to Open

Montgomery County Public Libraries announced that the Wheaton Library interim site will open on May 19 at 9 a.m. The interim location for the Wheaton Library is 2400 Arcola Avenue, in the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad Grand Ballroom.

The staffed interim location is scheduled to be open for 68 hours a week, including evenings and weekends (Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.).

In May, the following services will be available at the interim site:

Public computers, public Wi-Fi, and a computer with educational software for children

• Access to place and pick up materials on hold
• Material return during open hours
• Magazines and newspapers
• Summer Read and Learn program
• Homework Help
• Makerspace activities
• Workforce development training
• Early literacy/School readiness (Storytime, Grandreaders, etc.)

The Wheaton Library closed in mid-March to prepare the site to begin construction on the new library and community recreation center. The new facilities will be built in the same location as the old Wheaton Library.

Read more about the interim site.

Dive Into Summer with Water Safety Day

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

The event will include information booths, lifeguard demonstrations, the proper use of personal flotation devices, how to safely assist someone struggling in the water, the importance of sunscreen to prevent skin damage and free swim lesson screenings.

Anyone attending Water Safety Day who visits the various information booths can stay for a free swim. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information about the event, call the Montgomery County Recreation Aquatics Team at 240-777-8060.

New Fact Sheet Will Provide Information On the Who, What, Where, When, And Why of County Council

A new fact sheet, developed by the Montgomery County Council, will provide residents with information on how to stay connected and in touch with Council. The brochure is available in English and Spanish to continue the efforts to serve diverse populations and help residents learn about Council in a single brochure.

Look for the Fact Sheet online English and Spanish.

Heritage Days: A Celebration of History

The Heritage Days Celebration is a unique, countywide festival that offers visitors an opportunity to discover venues from Silver Spring to Poolesville, Bethesda to Clarksburg – and everywhere in between.

Heritage Days will be held Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at over 30 parks, museums, and historic locations across Montgomery County. The sites highlight local history, culture and outdoor recreation with children’s activities, music, food, and fun! All sites offer free admission.

Special programs include live musical performances, walking and biking history tours, art exhibits, games and crafts for children, history exhibits and demonstrations – fun for all ages!

Cyclists can travel local scenic byways as they peddle from site to site, and picnickers can plan a relaxed afternoon taking in nature and maybe some music, with food and friends.

For details on Heritage Days visit www.HeritageMontgomery.org or call 301-515-0753.

City of Rockville Presents Hometown Holidays Over the Memorial Day Weekend

The City of Rockville will be hosting the Hometown Holidays Music Festival, Taste of Rockville and the annual Memorial Day parade over the Memorial Day weekend. The Hometown Holidays activities will include live entertainment on the Town Square Stage, the “the beach”, children’s activities include inflatables and amusements (for a fee). The event also features community groups located along East Montgomery Avenue. Learn more about all Festival Happenings here.

Council Media Specialist Receives Outstanding Media Leadership Award

The Council’s Latino communications program is strongly supported by Councilmember Nancy Navarro (right), who on April 8 appeared on the Council’s show on Radio America, which is hosted by Little.

Julie Rios Little recently received the Outstanding Media Leadership Award” at the 2016 “Mujeres con Coraje” (“Women with Courage”) Awards for Latino community empowerment. The Latino Democratic Club of Montgomery County presented the award to Little who is the the County Council’s Spanish Communications Specialist.

Imagination Bethesda Celebrates Children and the Arts

The 22nd annual Imagination Bethesda, a children’s street festival celebrating children and the arts, is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Musical performances and professional children’s entertainers will light up the stage, while hands-on arts & crafts activities will line the streets along Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

Organized and managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, the festival will host 20 local businesses and arts organizations that will provide a variety of children’s activities. Additionally, the festival will feature face painters, balloonists, a stilt-walker, free giveaways and more.

More information is available about the festival at www.bethesda.org or by calling 301-215-6660.

Highlights from This Year’s GreenFest

Enjoy this video featuring highlights of the April 30 GreenFest.