Montgomery County Issues Update on Prepayment of 2018 Real Property Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service issued an Advisory on December 27, 2017, that states, “A prepayment of anticipated real property taxes that have not been assessed prior to 2018 are not deductible in 2017.” Montgomery County tax assessments are made each July—the 2018 tax assessment will be made in July 2018.

Please see the guidance from the IRS here.

The County continues to advise taxpayers to consult their own tax advisor about the tax consequences of making a prepayment of the taxpayer’s 2018 County real property taxes on their federal income tax return.

Residents who still want to prepay their 2018 County real property taxes may do so by mail or in person; however, the County still encourages residents to pay by mail.

As stated in the County’s Notice of Intent document, in accordance with law passed by the Montgomery County Council on December 26, 2017, there can be no refunds until there is a 2018 tax bill for your account, the prepayment of 2018 tax is posted to your 2018 tax bill, and the prepayment exceeds the amount due on the 2018 Real Property Consolidated Tax bill.

Residents seeking to make prepayments in person may do so Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Treasury office located at 255 Hungerford Dr., Rockville.

Only checks and cash will be accepted as a prepayment of 2018 County property taxes.

Send or deliver your payment to:

Department of Finance
Division of Treasury
ATTN: 2018 Prepaid Property Taxes
255 Rockville Pike, Suite L-15
Rockville, MD 20850

For more detailed instruction and required supporting documentation, you should visit the County’s Finance Department’s homepage at montgomerycountymd.gov/finance/ or https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/realpropertytax/.

Montgomery County Accepts Prepayment of 2018 Real Property Taxes

Effective today, Montgomery County will accept the prepayment of 2018 County real property taxes.

It will be up to the Internal Revenue Service to determine whether prepayment of 2018 County real property taxes may be deducted for Federal, State, or local income tax purposes. The County advises taxpayers to consult their own tax advisor about deducting a prepayment of the taxpayer’s 2018 County real property taxes on their federal income tax return.

Montgomery County makes no representations about how or whether the prepayment of 2018 County real property taxes affects escrowed taxes. Escrowed taxes are a matter for the taxpayer and the taxpayers escrow agency to resolve.

Montgomery County residents interested in possible 2017 tax deductibility must mail their payment, together with a Notice of Intent, to be postmarked on or before midnight, December 31, 2017.

Residents who want to prepay their 2018 County real property taxes may do so by mail or in person. The County is strongly encouraging residents to pay by mail.

Residents seeking to make prepayments in person may do so between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. -- from December 26 to December 29, 2017, for the purpose of possible deductibility. Only checks and cash will be accepted as payment.

Send or deliver your payment to:

Department of Finance
Division of Treasury
ATTN: 2018 Prepaid Property Taxes
255 Rockville Pike, Suite L-15
Rockville, MD 20850

For more detailed instruction and required supporting documentation, you should visit the County’s Finance Department’s homepage at montgomerycountymd.gov/finance/ or https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/realpropertytax/.

Schedule for Christmas and New Year’s Holiday’s

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays:

• County Offices – Closed December 25 and January 1
• Libraries – Closed December 24, 25 and January 1
• County Liquor stores (DLC) – December 24 and December 31, DLC stores will open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed December 25 and January 1
• Recreation – Aquatic, community recreation and senior centers are closed December 25, and January 1. For complete details on facility closures and modified schedules between December 24 and January 1, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec
• Montgomery Parks - For operating schedule, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org
• Ride On – Sunday schedule (Riders can access the route schedule). Ride On services end at 10 p.m. on December 24
• Metrorail – Information available at www.wmata.com
• Metrobus – Information available at www.wmata.com
• TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center and TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store – Closed December 25 and January 1
• Refuse/recycling pickup – No collection December 25 and January 1. Collection will be one day later for the week of December 25 and January 1
• The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station – Facility will close at 3 p.m. on December 24 and 31. Closed December 25 and January 1
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – Free
• State offices and courts – Closed Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1

Statement by County Executive Ike Leggett on Possible County Lawsuit on Opioid Crisis

County Executive Ike Leggett discussed the decision by Montgomery County to investigate legal action against the manufacturers of opioid products to recover damages incurred by the County. Leggett was joined by Council President Hans Riemer, County Attorney Marc Hansen, and Dr. Raymond Crowel of Health and Human Services. Leggett asked for – and the Council approved – the hiring of outside counsel, the firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, to investigate the culpability of opioid producers and distributors and move to take legal action for reimbursement to the County for taxpayer resources that have been, are, and will be used to respond to the crisis.

“Every day brings fresh evidence of the very real damage that the Opioid crisis in wreaking on individuals and communities throughout our great nation. I wish I could stand here and tell you that Montgomery County is immune to this epidemic. Unfortunately, I cannot do that. Ask our first-responders in our Fire & Rescue Service and in our Police. Ask our front-line personnel in Health & Human Services. Death. Addiction. Broken families. Broken lives. We are living this reality today.

“As we continue to respond as a County to the critical needs created by this epidemic, I wanted to do more. I wanted to reach out and ask that those manufacturers and distributors of opioids who marketed the drugs and possibly downplayed their addictive nature be held responsible somehow for the consequences of those actions.

“That is why I asked for – and the Council approved, today – the hiring of outside counsel – the firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP -- to investigate the culpability of opioid producers and distributors and move to take legal action for reimbursement to the County for taxpayer resources that have been, are, and will be used to respond to the crisis.”

The lawsuit will be done on contingency. No County monies will go to the lawsuit and the firm will only be paid if they are successful in winning damages for the County.

Montgomery County’s Priorities for the 2018 Maryland General Assembly Session

County Executive Ike Leggett released Montgomery County’s priorities for the session of the Maryland General Assembly due to convene in Annapolis on January 10, 2018.

Highlights of the County’s priorities include increased state funding for school construction, education, transportation, affordable housing, environment, economic development, victims’ rights, public safety, core government functions and capital projects. 

Read more about Montgomery County priorities.

Montgomery County’s New Safe Passage Center Enables Supervised Visitation and Monitored Exchange for Families with Custody-Related Court Orders

The County’s new Safe Passage Center is a “family-friendly” and safe access site for families with a Montgomery County Court Order for shared custody and child visitation. The Center’s goal is to provide children safe options to be in contact with both parents regardless of the family situation or parental conflict. The Center is staffed by trained visitation monitors and security guards who remain neutral in family disputes. It features separate parking lots, entrances and waiting rooms so parents do not meet on site.

Services available at the Center are supervised visitation, which allows parents in high conflict or high-risk situations to maintain their bond with their children and have access to their children in a safe and supervised environment, and offers a monitored exchange program for parents with visiting rights.

Referrals to the Center are from the District and Circuit Courts. Services are free for Montgomery County residents. The Safe Passage Center is funded by the County’s Department of Health and Human Services and operated by Family Services, Inc.

More information about the program is available from press release.

Link to Bethesda Beat article: Montgomery County Opens New Center for Child Visitation and Monitored Exchanges

Give the Gift of Safety to School Bus-Riding Students

As 2017 comes to a close and 2018 begins, the danger to school bus-riding students remains a concern. Far too many drivers do not obey the Maryland School Bus Law.

Do you know the law? Throughout the state of Maryland, drivers must stop, and remain stopped, for a stopped school bus with red lights flashing and the stop arm activated. A driver may not proceed until the flashing red lights go off and the bus begins to move. The only time a driver doesn’t have to stop is if the vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction of the bus and there is a physical median/barrier separating the lanes of traffic.

In the beginning 40 days of this school year (with 500 cameras), 7,919 drivers were recorded illegally passing buses stopped to load or unload students. The total citations issued from cameras averaged 198 per day. Last school year in 153 days (between October 13 and June 16), 17,235 citations (112 a day) were issued as the camera program expanded from 108 to 217 camera-equipped buses. Since October 13, 2016, 633 drivers have been repeat offenders.

With camera citations confirming a lack of compliance to the law, it is likely only a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or killed. Make sure you know, understand and obey the school bus law. Let’s work together to make those violations decrease in 2018.

Learn more about school bus safety. Please share the Understanding the School Bus Law information flyer with friends and family. One of the best gifts we can give our children is doing our best to keep them safe! 

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration Opens the Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Quince Orchard Branch

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen the Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) Quince Orchard branch. The library is the sixth to be completed under the County’s “refresh” program, which allows the branches to close for a shorter amount of time while saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Hundreds of residents turned out for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen the Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) Quince Orchard branch. The library, located at 15831 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg had been closed to be “refreshed” under the Library Refurbishment Level-of-Effort initiative in the County’s Capital Improvement Program.

The improvements to the library included new flooring and painting throughout the library, renovated public restrooms, improved book checkout and customer service area, a new book drop, LED lighting, enhancements to the meeting room, modern furniture and workstations in public and workroom areas, motorized shades, and exterior accessibility (ADA) improvements to the grounds and parking lot and a new bike rack at the entrance.

The library opened immediately after the ribbon-cutting. Branch hours are Sunday 1-5 p.m., Monday -Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

One Hundred Percent of Students Passed First National Green Infrastructure Training Offered in Montgomery County

In September, the County’s Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with Montgomery College, introduced a new National Green Infrastructure Training and Certification Program. The exam results, posted on December 7, indicated that 100% of the students who took the exam, passed the test. The national pass rate is 84%. DEP staffers, Ann English and Ryan Zerbe taught the curriculum that was offered at Montgomery College’s Germantown campus.

The new training and certification program ensures that individuals have the foundational knowledge needed to properly perform tasks in construction, inspection, and maintenance of green infrastructure, a fast-growing approach to reduce stormwater pollution. These practices are essential to effectively managing stormwater to minimize flooding risk and protect property and natural resources. The practices, which can include green roofs, pervious pavement, rain gardens, rain barrels, and other approaches, mimic and restore the natural water cycle.

The introduction of the 22 newly-certified professionals helps to generate a trained, green workforce to connect skilled workers to in-demand jobs that protect and preserve the environment. This workforce development work supports the design, construction and installation and maintenance work that DEP is doing to meet the regulatory requirements that the County must meet in their MS4 stormwater permit. The training program is consistent with the DEP mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water and land in a sustainable way while fostering smart growth, a thriving economy and healthy communities.

County Executive Ike Leggett and First Lady Catherine Leggett Receive Imagine Award for Services to Children and the Arts

Montgomery County Executives Ike and Catherine Leggett- Gala 17 Tribute Video from Imagination Stage on Vimeo.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and First Lady Catherine Leggett were honored with the Imagine Award at the 2017 Imagination Stage Gala. The Leggetts were honored for their outstanding contributions to Imagination Stage and the arts and humanities in Montgomery County. The event was held on December 8 at the Embassy of Italy located in Washington, D.C.

During his 12-year tenure as County Executive, Leggett increased the operating budgets of Montgomery County Arts organizations by 39 percent. Mrs. Leggett’s leadership has played an integral role in the County’s arts programming.

Watch this tribute video to learn more about the Leggetts impact on the arts in Montgomery County.

Stay Safe this Holiday Season and Throughout the New Year

The holiday season is in full swing and while there are types of crimes that unfortunately are related to it, many of the safety tips provided this time of year apply to the entire winter season and beyond.

It is always important to Be Seen, Be Alert, and Be Responsible.

Be Seen: If you are buying a new winter coat, consider purchasing a light-colored one, or at the very least, wear a white scarf and white gloves. Look for athletic clothing with reflective patches and check out what is available at running stores that increases visibility. Don’t assume that just because you can see a vehicle, that the driver can see you.

Be Alert: Give full attention when walking or driving. Remember, Maryland is a Hands-Free state, no texting or even holding a cell phone while driving. Distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of collisions. And, when walking by a roadway or crossing streets don’t wear ear buds and don’t be looking down at a cell phone.

Be Responsible: Don’t drink and drive and don’t host a party for teens that includes alcohol. The most responsible party hosts ensure that no guest drives after drinking and enforces a zero tolerance for alcohol use by guests under age 21.

Read more about Safety Tips.

Montgomery County: The Address of Choice

Montgomery County, MD Economic Development 2018

Publish at Calameo

The 2018 issue of Montgomery County Economic Development is now available, and inside the publication readers will learn why Montgomery County is the address of choice for many leading-edge businesses. The publication touts the County’s dynamic economy, highly educated talent pool, robust arts community, great outdoors and proximity to the nation’s capital. Read more, here.

Bus Route Changes for the Wheaton Area

Several Ride On and Metrobus routes in the Wheaton Downtown area have changed and some bus stops are relocated, as Montgomery County’s transportation system keeps in step with the Wheaton Downtown Revitalization Project that is ongoing through 2020.

Over the next three years, the Wheaton Revitalization Project will transform Wheaton’s central business district with mixed-use, transit-oriented development. The project will provide a new 14-story Montgomery County Government office building, about 400 below ground parking spaces, retail and residential space and a new town square. The most significant area impacted during construction is the Wheaton Triangle area between Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue. The local roads of the Triangle area include Grandview Avenue, Reedie Drive and Triangle Lane.

No bus routes have been eliminated, but their paths have been somewhat altered. The affected bus routes are:

• Ride On Routes 7, 8, 9 and 31. 
• Metrobus Routes C2, C4, Y2, Y7 and Y8. 

The locations of the new bus stops are:

• Near the southwest corner of University Boulevard and Fern Street. 
• On the east side of Grandview Avenue at Kensington Boulevard.

The route changes necessitated the elimination of the following bus stops:

• Amherst Avenue: Metrobus Stop ID: 2000519; Ride On Stop ID: 20022. 
• Georgia Avenue: Metrobus Stop ID: 2000507. 
• Georgia Avenue: Metrobus Stop ID: 2000525, Ride On Stop ID: 22770. 
• Reedie Drive: Metrobus Stop ID: 2005422, Ride On Stop ID: 25238. 

Ride On RealTime will reflect the bus stop changes beginning January 8 (the Ride On service change date). Routes 7, 8, 9, and 31 are changing on December 17 to coincide with the Metrobus service change date.

Read more about from press release.

Montgomery County Sustains Viable Agricultural Industry

The Montgomery County Agriculture Reserve encompasses 93,000 acres and includes hundreds of farms and thousands of horses. Jeremy Criss, the director of the Department of Agriculture, talked about the economic impact of those farms, including the booming horticulture business and the equine community, during a recent video interview about farming in the Montgomery County suburbs. (Video Credit: Amber Gerard)

Watch the video from YouTube.

Montgomery County Public Libraries to Offer Free Children’s Animation Workshops

This winter break Montgomery County Public Libraries will offer free Animation Workshops for kids ages 10 to 14 years old. The hands-on, one-hour programs are designed to show participants how to animate their drawings and create a flipbook. All supplies are provided.

The free workshops, supported by a grant from the Montgomery County Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, are scheduled at the following branches:

• Germantown, Century Blvd., Germantown, December 26 at 1: 30 p.m.
• Gaithersburg, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg, December 27 at 10:30 a.m.
• Gaithersburg, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg, December 27 at 1:30 p.m.
• Twinbrook, 202 Meadow Hall Drive., Rockville, December 28 at 10:30 a.m.
• Aspen Hill, 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville, December 28 at 1:30 p.m.
• Silver Spring, 900 Wayne Ave. Silver Spring, December 29 at 10:30 a.m.
• Long Branch, 8800 Garland Avenue, Silver Spring, December 30 at 1:30 p.m.
• Marilyn Praisner, 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, December 31 at 2 p.m. 

For more information, or to register, visit County's library calendar.

County Executive Ike Leggett Developing a Recommended Savings Plan to Address FY18 Revenue Shortfall

Montgomery County’s November income tax distribution for the state of Maryland is forecast to be short $64 million below expectations. County’s Department of Finance projects a total revenue shortfall of $95 million in expected FY18 resources. Adding a $25 million revenue shortfall from the previous year, the total savings required are $120 million

To address the shortfall County Executive Ike Leggett has asked all Executive Branch departments to identify a two percent savings in the current FY18 budget.

Leggett will present his recommended savings plan to Council in mid-December.

County Executive Ike Leggett Developing a Recommended Savings Plan to Address FY18 Revenue Shortfall by Public Information Office on Scribd

County Executive Wants to Hear from You to Determine Priorities for the FY19 Budget

County Executive Ike Leggett will host five budget forums in January to gather resident input on their priorities for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) budget.

Suggestions and ideas submitted during the forums will assist the County Executive to prepare his FY19 Budget. The budget is submitted to the County Council on March 15.

Forums are scheduled throughout January across the County:

• Monday, January 8 - Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda. 
• Wednesday, January 24 - Mid-County Community Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring.
• Monday, January 29 - BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown.
• Tuesday, January 30 - Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring.
• Wednesday, January 31 - Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring.

Join Montgomery County’s conversation about the FY19 Operating Budget on social media and help raise awareness by using #MoCoBudget19.

What’s "On Tap" at the Department of Liquor Control

It’s been almost one year since Robert Dorfman was appointed as director of the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC). On a recent episode of County Report This Week, Dorfman talked about operational improvements at the warehouse and what customers can expect in terms of selection, pricing and improved customer service at the DLC’s 27 retail stores this holiday season.

• Watch the interview here. 

During the next few weeks, the DLC will assist the Montgomery County Police Alcohol Holiday Task Force with compliance checks of businesses that hold alcohol licenses.

Public safety is a top priority for the DLC, and the department recently won a national award for its Legislative Outreach Program at the Maryland Alcohol Forum. The forum, “Innovative Solutions to Keeping Communities Safe,” highlighted alcohol licensing needs and educated attendees about the public safety benefits of alcohol regulation.

In case you missed it, the president of the Maryland Public Health Association noted the importance of the “health and social costs” of the alcohol industry in a recent op-ed in The Baltimore Sun.

With Montgomery County’s system of alcohol regulation, the County is a leader in protecting public health and safety. For example, the system allows the County to refuse to carry alcohol-industry products designed to encourage underage drinking.

A Johns Hopkins University study reported that Montgomery County has the second-lowest rate among all Maryland counties in alcohol-related treatment admissions and the second lowest rate of alcohol-related crashes. In addition, the County has lower rates of youth binge drinking and alcohol-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

For more information go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/local-liquor-control.

Leggett’s Mobile Integrated Health Care Program Connects Frequent Callers of 9-1-1 to Needed Health Services to Save Dollars, Deliver Better Health Care

County Executive Ike Leggett has sent the County Council a supplemental appropriation of more than $400,000 to begin the implementation of the Montgomery County Mobile Integrated Health care project. The program is a bold, new program that more efficiently and effectively serves frequent callers for County ambulance services.

The Montgomery County Mobile Integrated Healthcare program is a collaborative effort by the County Fire & Rescue Service and the County Department of Health & Human Services designed to reduce the growth rate of system demands on the County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and provide better health care for County residents who are frequent ambulance users.

The Montgomery County Mobile Integrated Health care project follows a pilot project that involved frequent EMS callers who needed healthcare but not ambulance services. By providing those individuals with the medical and social services they needed, the calls to EMS were cut more than half and residents received healthcare to meet their needs.

More information is available in the press release.

Office of Human Rights to Host Employment Law Updates & Information Breakfast

download flyer

The County’s Office of Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission will host a free seminar for employers to learn about emerging employment laws and regulations including sexual harassment, Earned Sick and Safe leave, age discrimination, tipped employee reporting requirements, minimum wage and the Ban the Box law.

The free breakfast will take place Thursday, December 7, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The event will be held in the second-floor conference room at the Rockville Memorial Library located at 21 Maryland Avenue.

Space is limited for this free workshop. Registration is available online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/humanrights or by contacting Beverly Marshall at 240-777-8479. A complimentary continental breakfast will be served.

Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection Continues to Reduce the County’s Carbon Footprint

Yard Trim Composting Facility

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has taken another step to protect the environment in Montgomery County. DEP has partnered with Braskem’s I’m Green polyethylene (PE) and ProAmpac’s Trinity Packaging Division to provide packaging for Leafgro®, which is the County’s composted soil enrichment product. The new wrapping is a sustainable resource made from sugarcane.

Leafgro® is made from composted leaves and grass collected from around the County which is converted into a soil conditioner. If not for the composting option, the leaves and grass clippings used to make the rich organic compost would be combusted.

The partnership with Braskem and ProAmpac ensures that future Leafgro® compost packaging will be 100 percent based on I’m Green sugarcane bioplastic. This means it is produced from renewable resources that are carbon negative to help the County reduce its carbon footprint. Leafgro® brand compost, is sold throughout the U.S. mid-East Coast in “big box” stores and in select home and garden centers. Once the composting facility has worked through its existing stock of regular (fossil-based) bags, Leafgro® will begin to be sold to distributors in its new, plant-based packaging — early April, 2018.

For more information on the DEP composting program, visit Montgomery County Yard Trim Composting Facility website.

County Executive Ike Leggett and Catherine Leggett Host 32nd Annual Executive’s Ball Benefitting Arts and Humanities

County Executive Ike Leggett and the First Lady Catherine Leggett hosted the 32nd annual Executive’s Ball on Sunday, December 3. The event was held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel located at 5701 Marinelli Road. The Montgomery County Executive’s Ball brings together the arts and humanities community with elected officials, the business community and philanthropists to support, sustain and promote cultural assets in our community. Proceeds from the event support arts in education programs in Montgomery County, which provide cultural and learning opportunities for youth throughout the County. The ball is administered by The Community Foundation for Montgomery County and is funded solely through corporate and private donations.

Montgomery Community Media produced a video to honor Mr. and Mrs. Leggett for their dedication to the arts throughout the years.

Volunteer Opportunities for the Holiday Season

The winter holidays inspire many people to give back to the community, and local nonprofits and government agencies have many opportunities for volunteers to help during the holidays. The Volunteer Center provides hundreds of opportunities to connect volunteers to meaningful community service opportunities during the holiday season and all year long.

If you would like to volunteer this holiday season, visit the Volunteer Center website to see the opportunities available for all ages and interests.

Comcast created this video that highlights the Volunteer Center’s amazing volunteers and nonprofits in Montgomery County.

Calling Montgomery College and High School Student Artists for the 2018 Wheaton Arts Parade Poster Contest

Montgomery college and high school students are invited to submit designs to illustrate themes for the September event highlighting the arts and diverse cultures in Wheaton. The winning design will be used in promotional materials for the 2018 Wheaton Arts Parade scheduled for September 23. The deadline for entries is December 31.

The artist of the winning design will receive a $300 prize, presented by the IHOP of Wheaton. The student will work with Wheaton artists on the details that will refine their design into the poster and other promotional materials. Design entries should include space for graphic elements that will be added with event information (such as a logo, hashtag and web address).

View more information from the press release.

Montgomery Parks Garden of Lights Show is Open

For the last 19 years, Brookside Gardens has transformed into a whimsical winter wonderland with twinkling lights and glimmering displays. More than one million dazzling and colorful LED lights are handwoven into original works depicting animals, flowers, and other natural elements.

Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, hosts the Garden of Lights Brookside Gardens’ annual walk-through light show every night through January 1, 2018, except December 24 and 25. Find more information here.

Register Now for the 100 Mile Challenge

The Montgomery County Department of Recreation is ready to help jumpstart your 2018 fitness resolutions. The 100 Mile Challenge is back for its third year, and registration is now underway.

This program encourages residents – and their dogs – to log 100 miles of physical activity in 100 days. For this challenge, you can walk, run, or bike one mile a day or engage in 20 minutes of continuous physical activity. It all counts as you move to a fitter you. The Department of Recreation is partnering with the City of Gaithersburg and Montgomery Parks on the program.

The 100 Mile Challenge runs from January 24 - May 4, 2018. The kickoff event is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2018, from 2 - 4 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Executive Office Building located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville.

More information is available at the 100 Mile Challenge website. Register online at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org, activity no. 42466.

Author Mark Tooley to Speak at December Montgomery County Civil War Roundtable Meeting

Author Mark Tooley will speak on “The Peace That Almost Was: The Forgotten February 1861 Washington Peace Conference” at the December meeting of the Montgomery County Civil War Roundtable on Thursday, December 14 at 8 p.m. at the Gaithersburg Hilton, 620 Perry Parkway. A $5 donation requested.