4Business: Benchmarking to Be the Best for Business

County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council Vice President Sidney Katz are embarking on a multi-pronged joint initiative: 4Business – Benchmarking to Be the Best for Business.  The objective is to engage the local business community in a grassroots campaign to assist businesses to locate, grow and prosper in Montgomery County.  

The first 4Business session is set for Wednesday, April 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the third-floor hearing room at the Council Office Building located at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.

Additional sessions are scheduled across the County:

• Thursday, April 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane.  
• Monday, May 6, 7 to 8:30 pm, East County Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring. 
• Monday, May 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Charles W. Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center (Mid-County service area), 11002 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton. 
• Wednesday, May 22, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place. 
• Monday, June 10, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown. 

For more information, visit the Department of Permitting Services website.

Joint Statement from the Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the County Council President Nancy Navarro on the Passing of Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Michael E. Busch

Maryland’s Speaker of the House
of Delegates, Michael E. Busch

“We join many Marylanders mourning the death of Maryland’s Speaker of the House of Delegates, Michael E. Busch. Speaker Busch’s contributions made a difference in the lives of residents all around the State and here in Montgomery County.  Through his leadership, many more Marylander’s have access to affordable health care and a quality public education system.  Because of Speaker Busch’s strong support this year for the Kirwan Commission’s recommendations, the course has been charted for our public k-12 education system to be the best in the nation.  Speaker Busch was a man of high integrity, and he led the House of Delegates accordingly.  Maryland’s longest-serving Speaker of the House and the man behind so many milestone accomplishments will be missed by all.”

Joint Statement from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Nancy Navarro on the 2019 Legislative Session

We want to recognize and thank the Montgomery County Delegation for its hard work during the 2019 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly. With 32 members, we have the largest delegation in the state. This talented group is energetic and committed to moving the County’s agenda forward. Most of the County’s goals set for the 2019 session were either met or there was progress made, thanks to the delegation’s diligence.

Direct state aid to the County will increase by more than $56 million, with $53 million earmarked for Montgomery County Public Schools. This includes $24.4 million for implementation of the Education Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The County will also receive more than $57 million dollars for much-needed school construction. This funding is critical in addressing the backlog of projects in Montgomery County and ensures that our students will continue to have the best opportunities to learn and grow. Additional capital funding has also been secured for Montgomery College, our libraries, health facilities and parks which all contribute to our outstanding quality of life.

In addition, we want to congratulate our lawmakers for their efforts to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act. This bill requires the state’s electric utilities to acquire half of their energy from renewable sources by 2030. The bill also would require lawmakers to develop a plan by 2023 to put the state on track for totally carbon-free power by 2040. This measure falls in line with our goals here in the County to live and work green. We have been carbon neutral here since 2016 and have reduced our carbon footprint by 23 percent.

We are also grateful that legislation to create a panel that would look at the high cost of prescription drugs was passed. The panel will examine what other states are doing to reduce the prohibitive costs of some of these drugs.

We appreciate the service of our Montgomery County Delegation all year long but especially during the 90-day legislative session. We will continue to work with its members on the needs of our residents, as we begin our budget deliberations.

Montgomery County’s Green Government Sustainable Operations are Strong

Montgomery County’s Department of General Services has released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Montgomery County Green Government Report. This annual report documents the County’s progress with energy efficiency, green buildings, smart growth, water conservation, biodiversity, waste reduction, green transportation, renewable resources and resiliency.

This report highlights the progress and accomplishments of Montgomery County’s FY18 green government initiatives. Read the report here.

50+ Employment Expo for Midlife and Older Job Seekers

The 50+ Employment Expo  is where thousands of midlife and older jobseekers network with area employers and community resource organizations, get a free resume review, and learn new job-search skills.  It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, April 15 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center located at 5701 Marinelli Road. 

Job seekers do not need to register for this free event. Take Metro to White Flint station or park at Maryland Garage and get a parking voucher at the conference.

Read more about Expo here.

StoryCorps Will Come to Silver Spring Through a Partnership with WAMU to Record, Preserve and Share the Region’s Stories

StoryCorps, a National Public Radio production, is coming to Silver Spring from April 23 through May 22. The small silver trailer, which is the studio for people to share their stories, will be set up in front of the Silver Spring Civic Building located at Veterans Plaza.

StoryCorps is a nonprofit organization that has recorded people having meaningful conversations since 2003. The recorded conversation takes place in the MobileBooth and can be recorded in any language the storyteller chooses. The slots are open to anyone who wishes to have a conversation with someone in their life.

Registration opened on April 9, and the second slot of registrations will open on Wednesday, April 24. Registration is limited.

Anyone who shares their story will receive a copy of the recorded conversation, and if you give permission, it will be preserved in the Library of Congress.

For more information, or to register, visit the website.

Free Concerts at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center

Music lovers take note. Tickets are now available for the Bloom 2019 Concert Series at the new Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center, located at 14715 Good Hope Road in Silver Spring. The free concerts are part of a unique collaboration and partnership with Montgomery County Recreation and Strathmore.

Chris Urquiaga headlines the inaugural concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. It will feature pop and R&B combined with Latin rhythms.

The concerts are free, family-friendly concert series are scheduled for the second Saturday of every month from April 13 to Aug. 10.  There are two indoor concerts and three outdoor concerts scheduled as part of the series. The center’s new gymnasium was designed for live music and features theatre seating for 200 people, acoustic treatment on the walls and special lighting.

To reserve your free tickets, visit Strathmore’s website. For more information about the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center and Montgomery County Recreation, visit MoCoRec.com.

Montgomery County Public Libraries Celebrates Vinyl Culture with “Just for the Record-A Vinyl Day”

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is presenting the second “Just for the Record-A Vinyl Day” from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. This free event, celebrating music on vinyl, its culture, art, and sound, is geared for residents of all ages. The festival will be held at the Silver Spring Library located at 900 Wayne Ave.

The event includes a full lineup of panels, screenings, and activities including a preview of the documentary “Feast Your Ears” about WHFS, the popular Bethesda-based radio station that was the first in the region to broadcast in FM stereo.

Other featured events will include a panel discussion on creating and collecting vinyl records; makerspace activities for the whole family; demonstrations with a turntable and vinyl records; and a book signing with local author and beloved former WHFS deejay Cerphe Colwell.

The event also features MCPL’s first music competition, Make Music Montgomery, where previously selected submissions of musical acts will perform in front of community judges.

For more information about the event, visit the MCPL website.

Secure Your Future: Apply for Correctional Officer/Security Positions

The Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DOCR) is holding a One-Day Hiring Event to “Secure Your Future!” These career opportunities have great pay and a multitude of benefits for those interested in becoming correctional officers.

It is a win-win for all to connect residents with job opportunities, which enrich our communities and provide a needed service. 

For more information, contact the DOCR’s Human Resources office at 240-777-9759, MC311 or visit the department’s website.

Martin Luther King Jr. Indoor Pool Will Close for Mechanical Work on May 20

Montgomery County Recreation’s Martin Luther King Jr. Indoor Pool, located at 1201 Jackson Road in Silver Spring, is closing for mechanical work on Monday, May 20. The pool is scheduled to reopen in early September. 

The pool filters must be replaced. The repair work is scheduled to coincide with the opening of Montgomery County’s seven outdoor pools, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Outdoor Pool, to minimize inconvenience for customers.  

During the closure, annual pool pass holders can use their passes at any of Montgomery County Recreation’s other indoor aquatic facilities and outdoor pools. Customers may also choose to temporarily suspend their pool passes during the closure. 

More information is available here.

Montgomery County to Launch Business Connect on May 8 at the Upcounty Regional Services Center During Small Business Week

Join Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, local officials and the business community at noon on Wednesday, May 8, for the official opening of Business Connect at the Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road in Germantown.  

Business Connect is a new Montgomery County program that offers classes, counseling, and connections to support community businesses. The County is launching the program at the Upcounty Regional Services Center with plans to expand countywide.  

The grand-opening celebration will take place during Small Business Week.  

For a calendar of upcoming business-related events and resources about doing business in and with Montgomery County, visit the Montgomery County Business Portal.  

Library Cardholders Have Now Have Free Access to Movie Streaming with IndieFlix

In partnership with RBdigital from Recorded Books, Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has announced the availability of IndieFlix, a movie-streaming service.

Through MCPL’s website, cardholders can enjoy unlimited free access to more than 8,000 high-quality shorts, features, documentaries, classic TV shows and web series from 85 countries. Programming includes comedies, dramas, horror, documentaries, animations, classic TV, short films and more than 40 other channels and genres.

IndieFlix also delivers films from major festivals all over the world, including Sundance, Cannes and Tribeca. For more information, or to find movies, customers can search by language, genre or film length. The “quickpick” feature allows users to sample movies like they would sample music. More information is available at the MCPL website.

Defying Gravity: Where to Reach New Heights in Montgomery County

Visit Montgomery, the official tourism marketing organization for the County, offers great tips to enjoy the adventures of a lifetime. Whether you want to fly at an indoor skydiving facility, glide across the treetops on a zipline or rock climb up various terrains, there is no end to adrenaline rush experiences in the County.

Among the adventures available near and in the County:

iFly: Gaithersburg Find your wings as you take flight and soar inside a wind tunnel at iFly, an indoor skydiving facility. This safe and stable experience takes place within a flight chamber and is realistic practice before taking to the skies.

Go Ape: Rockville
Adventure across giant obstacle courses among the treetops at Go Ape. There are six individual sections within the course for visitors to climb up ladders, cross bridges, go through tunnels, and glide across zip lines.

Adventure Park: Sandy Spring
Another thrilling option for aerial forest ropes courses is Adventure Park. With thirteen different trails of varying levels of difficulty, the course offers nearly 200 unique challenges from bridges to zip lines.

Sugarloaf Mountain: Dickerson
Host to a number of climbs, many under the shade of trees, Sugarloaf Mountain is ideal for both top rope and trad climbing. Gather your gear and make your way to one of the two main areas, Devil’s Kitchen and Middle Earth.

ZavaZone: Rockville Jump on over to the active indoor park ZavaZone for 15 different attractions including trampolines, ninja courses, and ziplines. This adventurous, action-packed experience is weather-proof and fun for all ages.

EarthTreks: Rockville
With thousands of feet of climbing terrain, EarthTreks features extensive lead, top rope, and bouldering routes. The facility also offers indoor and outdoor climbing instruction, summer camps, and fitness training to prepare anyone for the next level of climbing.

If outdoors experiences are your thing, Montgomery County, Maryland has many adventures to explore, like these reasons to hike Sugarloaf Mountain or these 7 great hikes near DC.

Department of Liquor Control to Offer Bell’s Brewery Beers

The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) will welcome Bell’s Brewery products to its inventory this month. Inventory will include Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, Amber Ale and Oberon Ale.  

The American Homebrewers Association voted Bell’s Brewery’s Two Hearted Ale the Best Beer in America last summer, for the second year in a row. The growing brewery expanded sales to most of Maryland during the summer of 2015. 

Starting this month Bell’s Brewery products will be available for order by the nearly 1,100 private businesses in Montgomery County and at DLC’s 25 retail stores. 

For more information about the DLC, visit its website.  

Department of General Services is Working to Keep You Cool

Throughout the month of April, the Department of General Services (DGS) is switching building HVAC systems from heating to cooling on nearly 300 buildings. As we all know, temperatures vary widely throughout the April with lows in the 50’s to highs in the 80’s and then back into the 60’s. Inevitably, once a building is switched to cooling, outside temperatures will drop for a day or two.

Nevertheless, switching now is better than switching later when everyone is sweltering in a too-warm office, library or recreation center. DGS requests your patience as we get through April and look forward to May flowers and summer breezes.

Citizen Advisory Boards to Host Capital Improvements Program Budget Forums Beginning April 22 in Silver Spring

Residents and groups are invited to provide input into the County’s next six-year capital budget by attending public forums that will be held in April and May by local citizen advisory boards. The forums will help define construction and planning priorities for the various regions in the County as officials develop the Fiscal Years 2021 to 2026 Capital Improvements Program budget.

For more information, check press release.