Neighborhoods throughout Montgomery County will join in the national celebration of “National Night Out” on Tuesday, Aug. 6, as residents gather and often get a chance to meet elected officials and representatives of local police departments and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. County Executive Marc Elrich will be stopping by numerous community events that evening.
National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Much of the country recognizes National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August. The day of recognition officially began in 1984.
The special day promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from in all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide. Montgomery County neighborhoods will join in the tradition of hosting block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events.
Among the celebrations across the County will be:
The County’s The Upcounty Hub, in collaboration with the County Government, Montgomery County Police and Montgomery College, will bring together local agencies and nonprofit groups for the special community event from 6-8 p.m. at the Montgomery College Germantown Campus (Parking Lot 5). The campus is located at 20200 Observation Dr. in Germantown. The event will include opportunities to meet with local law enforcement and first responders, safety demonstrations and informational booths, activities for kids and families, free food and refreshments, live entertainment, music, raffles and giveaways.
The East County Regional Services Office, in collaboration with the East County Consolidated HUB, Calverton Citizens Association and the County Police District 3, will host an event from 4-7 p.m. at the East County Government Park and Ride Lot at 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Briggs Chaney. The event will have police vehicles, fire trucks, face painting, music, free food and water, community information/resources booths, games for children, WorkSource Montgomery mobile jobs/employment van and a soccer mini-clinic. The event will include opportunities to meet with local law enforcement and first responders.
Olney’s 29th National Night Out celebration from 5-8 p.m. at the Shops at Fair Hill, located at Olney-Sandy Spring and Spartan Roads. The event will include representatives of sponsors including the Olney Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery County Police Department’s 4th District, the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department, the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Recreation and the Shops at Fair Hill.
In the City of Rockville, McGruff the Crime Dog will stop by several of the scheduled block parties to spread his anti-crime and anti-drug message. The Rockville Mayor and Council, Rockville police officers and representatives of the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office will visit many of the block parties.
The City of Gaithersburg will have numerous block parties, including an event from 6-8 p.m. at the Casey Community Center, which is located at 810 South Frederick Ave. Residents will have an opportunity to meet police officers from the Gaithersburg Police Department and allied agencies. There will be chances to explore police cruisers and learn about a wide range of safety topics while enjoying music from a DJ. There will be line dancing demonstrations, acoustic melodies, crafts, games and giveaways. This year’s event includes a community resource fair with agencies that provide services ranging from health screenings, financial and housing advice, plus food assistance, educational and literary resources.
The Montgomery County Community Action Board, the County’s Federal, State and locally designated anti-poverty group, is accepting applications for its Community Advocacy Institute (CAI). The free, eight-month CAI advocacy training program is open to County residents with combined household incomes of $67,000 or less. The program is offered in English and Spanish, with interpretation and written materials available at all sessions.
The CAI provides training on effective advocacy for policy change. Workshops cover topics such as engaging with elected officials, storytelling, research, developing testimony, public speaking and key advocacy issues. Monthly sessions start in October and include both in-person and virtual workshops. To graduate, participants must attend all sessions and complete an advocacy project.
“Participating in the Community Advocacy Institute helps our residents to learn how to advocate for their communities effectively,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This program highlights the importance of effective public speaking, research and engaging with elected officials. I strongly encourage residents to take advantage of this free training to become more involved in the decision-making processes that shape our County.”
Full program details are available on the Community Action Agency website. Residents can apply online to the CAI by Friday, Aug. 9.
Since its start in 2016, more than 140 people have graduated from the CAI training program. Many graduates now serve on County advisory groups and nonprofit boards, and others are active in important advocacy efforts.
For more information and to request accommodations, please call the Community Action Agency at 240-777-1697. TTY users can call Maryland Relay at 711.
Free summer concerts continue in Rockville Town Square from 6-9 p.m. most Friday nights through Sept. 20. The series will feature a variety of performers, with the next performance, on Friday, Aug. 9, highlighted by the Latin pop of Ocho de Bastos.
Ocho de Bastos is a Washington, D.C.-based Latin pop rock band with a unique guitar sound, blended with powerful drums, Latin percussion and catchy brass riffs complement its style. The band is considered one of the most prominent representatives of Latin pop rock in the Washington area.
The band's lineup consists of Milton Valentín from Puerto Rico as lead vocalist, David Huertas from Ecuador on lead guitar, Hipólito González from the Dominican Republic on bass guitar and Raúl Quiroz from Venezuela on drums.
The name Ocho de Bastos ("Eight of Clubs") comes from a Spanish set of playing cards (the Barajas). The name of the band was an adaptation to account for band’s Spanish heritage.
The remaining Rockville Town Square summer concert lineup will include:
The Americana foursome Fly the Coop and its front-porch style will headline the Kensington Historical Society’s free morning concert series at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, in Howard Avenue Park in Kensington.
Fly the Coop, which is based in Takoma Park, performs throughout the area. It features an acoustic mash up of vocals, guitars, mandolin, harmonica, violin, banjo and piano.
An integral part of Kensington since 1977, the Kensington Historical Society develops programs that address a broad view of local history. It aims to stimulate greater interest in Kensington history and the preservation of Kensington’s architecture.
The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has launched its new podcast, “Consumer Connection." Hosted by OCP Investigator Michelle Escobar, the podcast will provide listeners with the latest information on various consumer topics, including avoiding scams, making informed purchases and understanding consumer rights. Each episode will include discussions with expert guests, offering practical advice and tips for staying empowered as a consumer.
The first episode, "Welcome to Consumer Connection," is available now on various podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. In this episode, Ms. Escobar introduces the podcast and its goals, sharing her extensive experience in consumer protection. She has nine years at OCP and an additional eight years with the State of Maryland.
The guest on the first podcast is Eric Friedman, the director of Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection. They discuss the history and evolution of OCP, the changes in the consumer landscape, including the rise in text and email scams, and the emerging issues in Montgomery County. Director Friedman, who has been with OCP for 43 years, also shares insights into what OCP can do to help consumers facing various challenges.
Ms. Escobar expressed her enthusiasm at how the new podcast could make a difference for those who tune in.
"At OCP, we are dedicated to enforcing consumer protection laws designed to prevent unfair and deceptive business practices,” she said. “Our team works tirelessly to mediate conflicts, investigate complaints and resolve disputes. This podcast is another step in our commitment to educating the public about their consumer rights."
Future episodes will bring important updates and insights on consumer protection topics.
The Office of Broadband Programs in the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Services (TEBS) is providing technical support for the Consumer Connection podcast.
The Office of Consumer Protection is located at 100 Maryland Avenue, Suite 3600, in Rockville. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information or to file a consumer complaint, call MC 311 or 240-777-0311, or visit their website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ocp.
Montgomery Parks has added new camping options at Little Bennett Campground, a full-service campground at Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg, to make the area even more enticing for experienced campers or those who are relatively new at enjoying the outdoors with overnight stays.
Three new canvas tent sites have just been added at the campground. Each site includes a tent, two camp chairs, a propane stove, a lantern, a picnic table, a fire ring with a grill top, and an electrical outlet.
Little Bennett Campground is located at 23705 Frederick Rd, in Clarksburg. There is a two-night minimum for all reservations. Campers can enjoy a maximum of 14 nights on all camping loops. Bathhouses are closed during March and November. To learn about camping fees, go to Little Bennett Campground - Campground Fees - Montgomery Parks.
“Little Bennett Campground has camping options for everyone,” said Laura Favin, assistant manager at Little Bennett Campground. “The new canvas tent sites offer the best of both worlds: the rustic charm of camping with the convenience of modern comforts, so you can spend more time exploring and less time setting up,”
In addition to the new canvas tent sites, Little Bennett Campground has full hook-up sites for people with RVs, as well as yurts, cabins and a group camping area that accommodates groups with as many as 60 campers.
The campground spans 3,700 acres of forest and meadows with more than 25 miles of trails for hiking and biking. Bathhouses with sinks, showers, toilets and drinking fountains are within walking distance of each campsite. Staff offer a variety of weekend activities from April through November.
In the early 1940s, all across the country, America was swinging dancing to the music of Glenn Miller. Starlets like Ginger Rogers and Mary Martin, were lighting up the silver screen. “Esquire” magazine featured Petty girls. Gasoline was about 20 cents a gallon, bread about eight cents a loaf, and a movie cost a quarter. And there was a war going on. How this impacted residents of Montgomery County will be examined in a free online presentation of Montgomery History starting Monday, Aug. 5, and available for a one-week period.
“On the Homefront in Montgomery County During WW II,” part of the County Cable Montgomery series “Paths to the Present,” addresses the myriad of ways life in Montgomery County was affected by the war in a myriad of ways. Through interviews with people who were there, it looks at how County residents supported the war effort, dealt with food shortages, entertained troops, protected civilians and managed the labor shortage during this challenging time in world history.
We are still celebrating the news from Fortune Magazine ranked Silver Spring as No. 1 in an analysis of the best places nationwide for families to live. Here is a link to Fortune's story and here is a link to the announcement on “The Today Show.” The word spread quickly, and we were able to get a picture of Governor Wes Moore helping us celebrate.
I am proud of the recognition that Silver Spring continues to receive. It is home to businesses large and small, a mix of retail restaurants and entertainment. Families from all over the world live throughout our community.
I also want to point out that Silver Spring is a lot different than when I first moved to Montgomery County. I lived just across the border in Washington, D.C., until I moved to Silver Spring around 1960. Silver Spring was pretty much the County's shopping center because even Wheaton Plaza was not around yet. We were not economically or racially diverse, and segregation in housing and employment was the norm.
Today it is a place that stands out as a home for many different ethnic and culturally diverse groups. That creates an environment that fosters a sense of understanding and respect. I taught for 17 years at an elementary school in Silver Spring where children grew up learning that anyone could be a friend. That helped prepare them to be global citizens in an increasingly interconnected world.
Fortune’s No. 1 ranking is based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors that you can read about here. These include the best place “where multigenerational families are most likely to have access to great schools, highly recommended hospitals, affordable housing, resources for older adults and a strong sense of community.” This recognition is a testament to the efforts and progress our community has made in these areas, making Silver Spring an ideal place for families to live and grow.
For businesses, Silver Spring's recognition as the best place for families to live is a powerful testament to the area's vitality and potential. Companies looking to relocate or expand will find a community that values education, safety and quality of life—key factors that attract top talent. The diverse population offers a broad customer base and a workforce with a wide range of skills, driving innovation and growth. Our community's focus on inclusivity and support for families creates a stable and welcoming environment where businesses can prosper. This is a great opportunity for businesses to be part of a thriving community and contribute to its growth and success.
On my weekly media briefing, Stephanie Helsing, the president and CEO of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, talked about how the amenities add to the quality of life in Silver Spring and that helps attract top talent. Silver Spring is home to a strong sense of community belonging and caring that underwrites everything we do. You can see that in how long families live here, how much community pride they show, how civically minded and how giving they are.
There is a lot to be proud of in Silver Spring, and we appreciate Fortune's recognition.
Dominique Dawes Statue Unveiling and Olympic Spirit
The 2024 Olympics are underway in Paris, so this week seemed like the perfect time to unveil a new sculpture paying tribute to Dominque Dawes. The former Olympic gymnast is one of only three women to be a part of medal-winning teams at three different games.
It was wonderful to see her again for the unveiling. Our photos of the event show the high energy level at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center. I want to thank all the media and people who came out to be part of the story.
Dominique’s story started just like many other young gymnasts: she began tumbling at 6 years old and did not win her first competition until she was 9. The Silver Spring native attended Montgomery Blair High School, but then moved to Gaithersburg and finished high school there to be closer to her gymnastics program.
Before Dominique had finished high school, she had been part of the bronze medal-winning U.S. gymnastics team in Barcelona and won a pair of silver medals in the 1993 world championships. In 1996, she was part of the team labeled the “Magnificent Seven” in the Atlanta Olympics. Not only was she part of the first American team to win gold in gymnastics, she also became the first Black woman of any nationality to win Olympic gold in gymnastics.
Dominque has grown into being a business owner, entrepreneur and she is engaged in our community. I was glad to hear that she will be expanding her gymnasiums to two more locations in Montgomery County. She also will be opening one in Howard County.
One of the things that I talked about with the sculptor and with her was the intentionality of the sculpture. Dominique Dawes broke the color barrier in her sport. Children need good heroes/heroines/role models and to see people who look like them and who have made significant accomplishments because it can help inspire children believe that they can do great things, too. The statue is meant to be both great art and to be a source of inspiration.
Montgomery County Athletes at the Olympics
Speaking of the Olympics, Montgomery County will be well represented at this year’s games. We have eight athletes with County ties on the U.S. Olympic team. On the swim team alone, Montgomery natives make up three of the 20 women. We also have two athletes on the wrestling team, two on the track team and one on the fencing team.
We are a County that invests in athletic programming, activities and facilities through our schools, Department of Recreation and the Park and Planning Commission. Seeing such a diversity of individuals and sports represented from this County on the highest levels of competition is one of many positive results of those investments. The biggest benefit is that all County residents, and especially our children, always have opportunities to learn a wide variety of sports and recreation.
Here is a rundown of our County Olympians competing in Paris:
Bethesda-native Katie Ledecky qualified for her fourth Olympics in swimming. The 27-year-old will be joined by two other swimmers from her high school alma mater, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart.
The women’s 4 x 200 meters relay team will boast Ledecky and Potomac’s Erin Gemmell, who is 19. Gemmell’s father is a swim coach who also worked with Ledecky at the Nation’s Capital Swim Club.
Phoebe Bacon qualified for her second Olympic games. The 21-year-old from Chevy Chase will compete in the women’s 200 backstroke.
Rockville wrestler Helen Maroulis qualified for her third consecutive Olympic games. Her career at Magruder High School in Rockville preceded her Olympic debut in 2016, when she became the first American woman to win gold in the sport.
Kyle Snyder is a wrestler headed to his third straight Olympics. He wrestled for Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney 10 years ago. The 28-year-old won a gold medal at the last Olympics in Brazil.
Fans of fencing will be able to root on Bethesda native Tatiana Nazlymov. She learned the sport from her father and grandfather. The Princeton student already has international accolades under her belt, but this is her first Olympics.
Masai Russell set a record for the fastest 100-meter hurdles this year when she qualified for Paris. It was also the fastest qualifying race at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials in more than two decades. The 24-year-old from Potomac went to school at Bullis before spending five years at the University of Kentucky, breaking college records there as well.
Quincy Wilson, 16, already is breaking records as the youngest American male track Olympian. The current student at Bullis in Potomac finished sixth in the 400-meter race at qualifiers, coming up just short of an automatic spot in Paris. When the roster was finalized, we learned that the Gaithersburg sprinter will be part of the 400-meter relay team. He will be vying to become the youngest American ever to win a medal on the track.
I wish all these outstanding athletes well and will be pulling for all the athletes with ties to Montgomery County throughout the Olympic Games.
Rent Stabilization Regulations Finalized
I want to thank the County Council for prioritizing rent stabilization and approving important regulations earlier this week. The regulations will be implemented immediately and apply to all buildings constructed more than 23 years ago, ensuring protection to many renters immediately and not leaving them vulnerable to price gouging and out-of-control rent hikes moving forward.
These well-developed and publicly scrutinized regulations balance the need to make new housing construction financially viable while preventing the kinds of changes that would force migration from our County due to significant rent hikes. Right now, some residents are experiencing rent increases north of 25 percent and more. This is unconscionable, but unfortunately, until now, it was allowed.
I want to thank everyone who had a part in making this happen. Rent stabilization bills are important, and they have the potential to change lives. When I was on the Takoma Park City Council, I represented a neighborhood in which 80 percent of the residents were tenants with some of the lowest incomes in Montgomery County. I knew what rent stabilization meant to them.
I knew the impact that increases above the rate of inflation had on working people. For some families, it was the difference in the number of bags of groceries on the table. I could see the tangible relationship between how high the rent was and what the impacts were for families with limited incomes. This will make a difference for families in apartments with rent stabilization, and, hopefully, people will see how it is working and we will have the opportunity to expand and modify the law in the future. This is an important moment now. We talk a lot about safer, healthier communities. This is one of the ways to make it happen.
Updated rent stabilization information can be found here.
Farm Tour and Harvest Sale This Weekend
The Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale will return Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28.
Two farms are joining the tour for the first time: Deere Valley Farm in Dickerson and Koiner Farm (seen above) in Silver Spring. Koiner is the first urban farm to be part of this special weekend. I encourage you to use the Visit Montgomery website and Adventure Planner app to plan your visit to participating farms. The app is a helpful way of identifying participating farms and suggesting unique experiences across the County without visiting multiple websites.
Many years ago, County leaders designated about one-third of the County’s land as the “Agriculture Reserve.” Development limits were placed on 93,000 acres to keep residential, industrial and commercial development from encroaching on farmland. The Ag Reserve is home to more than 550 farms.
Governor Moore Encouraging Heat Pumps
The heat waves we suffered this summer are a good opportunity to highlight Maryland Governor Wes Moore's recent climate action directive. It is something Montgomery County’s Chief Climate Officer Sarah Kogel-Smucker wrote about recently for Maryland Matters. You can read that here.
In June, the governor signed an executive order with significant environmental implications. I want to focus on one aspect of that plan that deserves more attention.
The directive orders the Maryland Department of the Environment to develop zero-emission heating equipment standards this year. It will ensure that all new HVAC systems in Maryland will be heat pumps, delivering highly efficient heating and cooling.
In Montgomery County, we are already focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from commercial buildings. I have also been asking our community to go green. However, if we do not have public buy-in and get every family to reduce their carbon footprint, we will not reach our climate goals in the County.
The governor’s order to require heat pumps to replace outdated HVAC systems is important to help make homes more resilient to extreme heat. Heat pumps are overall more efficient than traditional heating and cooling systems.
Upgrading to a heat pump could save families an average of $740 per year on utility bills, with an additional $380 in savings when residents upgrade to a heat pump for water heating. These savings are especially important for low-income households facing the burden of high energy costs.
Recently, Maryland lawmakers opened the door to State-level funding to help more low-income families and those living in multifamily housing pay for heat pump upgrades. This order will not require immediate wholesale changes. Still, it will prepare the business community and retailers for a future in which families and business owners alike use heat pumps to improve energy efficiency.
You can learn more about the benefits of heat pumps by visiting mygreenmontgomery.org and searching “heat pump.”
The 2024 Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale on Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28, will have 24 agricultural locations open to visitors. The Farm Tour offers a chance to explore the County’s Agricultural Reserve by shopping for locally grown food, seeing farm animals and learning about farming as a way of life. The Farm Tour will offer a rare chance to visit many farms that are only open to the public during this special weekend event.
Two farms will join the tour for the first time, including Deere Valley Farms in Dickerson and Koiner Farm in Silver Spring. The Koiner Farm will be the first nonprofit urban farm on the tour.
During the weekend, open sites will include farms, orchards, breweries and wineries. Most are free to enter and explore. However, a select few charge a nominal fee for entry or activities. Food/drinks, farm products, pick-your-own and other local items are available for purchase at each farm.
The Farm Tour also will present a fun-filled weekend of family-friendly activities. It is a unique educational opportunity for children to connect with nature and learn about where their food comes from before it reaches their table.
Tourgoers can get a behind-the-scenes look at agriculture from robotic cow-milking to butter churning. Participating farms will offer a variety of activities including hayrides, pony rides and tractor rides. Some locations will have arts and crafts. Tours are self-guided in that families can choose to visit one, two or all 24 farms as their time and schedule allow.
Tourgoers can take part in the Buy Local Challenge to pick fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers or simply appreciate the peacefulness of the Ag Reserve.
During the Farm Tour weekend, all 24 participating venues will be open on Saturday, July 27, and 20 will be open on Sunday, July 28. Tourgoers should check the 2024 Farm Tour website for each farm they plan to visit for any additional costs, details on hours and activities or to make any necessary reservations. No pets are allowed except service animals for persons with disabilities.
The participating agricultural locations, farms, orchards, breweries and wineries will include:
Just a few days before the 2024 Olympics kicked off in Paris, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz celebrated three-time Olympic team medalist and Silver Spring native Dominque Dawes with the unveiling of a sculpture at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center on Tuesday, July 23.
The Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center is located at 1319 Apple Ave. in Silver Spring. The sculpture artist, Brian Hanlon, attended the dedication.
Ms. Dawes won medals as a member of three U.S. gymnastics teams in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). The 1996 team won the gold medal. She is one of three female American gymnasts to compete in three Olympics.
"With the Olympic Games kicking off this week, and Simone Biles set to compete in her third Olympics Games, the timing of the statue unveiling couldn't be better,” said Ms. Dawes. “As the last American gymnast to compete and medal in three Olympic Games, I am humbled and honored to know that my journey of grit and perseverance has inspired many. I came from humble beginnings, and I have never lost sight of what matters most and that is the ability to impact future generations. This statue is part of my legacy and I hope each time a young boy or girl walks by, they too realize that anything is possible when you choose to work hard and never give up striving to be the best that you can be. Thank you to Brian Hanlon, the super talented sculptor, Councilmember Gabe Albornoz for believing that this statue can inspire future generations and to God for giving me that talent and wisdom to always trust in Him."
Ms. Dawes has been a national ambassador for a number of nonprofits and corporations, and she was the first national spokesperson for the Girls Scouts of the USA of “Uniquely Me! The Girl Scout/Dove Self Esteem Program.” She continues to work with the Boys and Girls Club of America and has served as the co-chair (with former NFL quarterback Drew Brees) of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition under the Obama administration.
Alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, she served as an executive producer of the Peacock docu-series “Golden,” which focused on USA’s elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics.
The University of Maryland graduate was elected to the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame and to the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame. She attended Gaithersburg High School.
“Dominique Dawes has not only made history in the world of gymnastics, she also left an indelible mark on our community. It is fitting that we honor her with this statue at our new Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center,” said County Executive Elrich. “Her achievements as an Olympic athlete are extraordinary, but what truly sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to giving back to our community. This statue stands as a testament to her dedication, integrity and the positive impact she continues to have on young people in Montgomery County. We are grateful to Dominique for her commitment to Montgomery County as a mentor, businesswoman and entrepreneur."
Mr. Hanlon is a classically trained master sculptor and founder of Hanlon Sculpture Studio in Toms River, N.J. With more than 300 public and private art pieces, he is a nationally recognized artist specializing in bronze statues and plazas.
“Dominique Dawes represents the best of our community, not just because of her historic accomplishments, but also because of her ongoing commitment to positive youth development and empowerment, autism awareness and other important issues,” said Councilmember Albornoz. “It is fitting that the statue in her honor be in her hometown at the new Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, which is also home to the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame. It will serve as an inspiration for generations to come, symbolizing that success can be achieved through resilience and hard work.”
Plastic film are flexible plastic bags and wraps. They are recycled differently than bottles and containers. For example, grocery bags and bread bags do not go in most curbside recycling bins. Instead, plastic bags and wraps should be taken to the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center in Derwood or other plastic film drop-off locations.
The new program expands the list of materials accepted for recycling and is another step toward waste reduction and environmental sustainability.
Residents and businesses can bring uncontaminated plastic film to the upper lot of the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center, which is located at 16101 Frederick Rd. in Derwood.
This new plastic film recycling effort comes as the County is recognizing “Plastic Free July” encouraging residents, businesses and communities across the County to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Recycling plastic film is another way to help remove plastics from the waste stream.
“Avoid plastic use when you can, but when you have it, now much more of it can be recycled at the Transfer Station. This plastic film recycling initiative is one more way we're tackling the waste problem head-on and better disposing of our waste,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It’s important for everyone to pitch in to create a more sustainable County, and every piece of plastic film counts.”
Plastic film must remain clean, dry and free from other materials or contaminants. Biodegradable or compostable bags and packaging, pre-washed salad mix bags and resealable food storage bags are among the plastics not acceptable materials for this program.
“The plastic film recycling program is yet another County resource to help residents recycle more and aim for zero waste,” said DEP Director Jon Monger. “Along with plastic film, we have added durable medical equipment, mattresses, bicycles and building materials to our growing list of items accepted for recycling or reuse and we have increased our recycling for electronics and textiles. These recycling efforts are working. From 2018 to 2022, the amount of waste disposed of per person decreased by 11 percent, even as the County’s population continued to grow. This is no small feat—and a credit to so many residents and partners across the County working to reduce waste, reuse materials and recycle more.”
Plastic film includes a range of materials, such as plastic bags, product wrap and packaging.
Acceptable items that Montgomery County is now recycling include:
Plastic films labeled with No. 2 or No. 4 recycling symbols (polyethylene films)
Clean and dry plastic grocery bags
Bread bags
Dry cleaning bags
Newspaper sleeves
Produce bags
Ice bags (must be dry)
Wood pellet bags
Salt bags
Cereal box liners
Retail shopping bags
Pallet wrap
Stretch film
Case overwrap (e.g., water bottle and drink cases)
Shrink-wrap
Mattress bags
Furniture wrap
Air pillow packaging material
Plastic shipping envelopes
Film bubble wrap
Plastic bags and film received for recycling are used to make decking, outdoor furniture, playgrounds, landscaping blocks and borders, and corrugated pipe — among other eco-friendly and long-lasting products.
For more information on this program and the complete list of items that are accepted for plastic film recycling, visit the DEP Plastic Film Recycling webpage or call 311.
Montgomery County high school football coaching legend Bob Milloy and gold medal-winning gymnast Dominique Dawes, both members of the County Sports Hall of Fame, talk around the sculpture of Hall of Fame journalist Shirley Povich and baseball great Walter Johnson at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda.
Montgomery County will be well-represented in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, which began this week, with a team that includes swimmer Katie Ledecky in her fourth Olympics and freestyle wrestler Helen Maroulis in her third. They continue to grow the spirit of the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, which is also looking ahead to a big future.
The County Sports Hall of Fame, which was founded in 2019, recently named high school football coaching legend Bob Milloy as the new chair of its board of directors. Earlier this year, the Sports Hall of Fame found a physical home as part of the new Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center in Downtown Silver Spring. On Tuesday, July 23, a new sculpture of former gold medal-winning gymnast Dominque Dawes was dedicated outside of the recreation center with County Executive Marc Elrich and County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz leading the ceremonies.
Dawes, who attended Gaithersburg High School, was a member of the first class of inductees for the County Sports Hall of Fame. Ledecky, a seven-time Olympic gold medal winner who went to the Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, and Milloy, the winningest football coach in Maryland high school history, also were inducted in that first class.
Ensuing classes have included athletes, coaches and media members whose roots stem from all parts of the County. Sure to be joining that list in the future will be Maroulis, a Magruder High School graduate who is the first U.S. woman wrestler to make three Olympic Games. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she became the first-ever American to win an Olympic gold medal in women's freestyle wrestling.
As the Sports Hall of Fame enters its next era, it is soliciting nominees for its next class as it also works on plans for it future.
More information about the Hall of Fame and a form to offer nominees for future classes is available at https://mcshf.org/. The list of past inductees and their achievements also is on the website.
“We have already inducted an incredible list of people from many generations and many sports,” said Milloy, who won 405 games in 47 years of coaching at Whitman, Springbrook, Sherwood and Good Counsel high schools. “We also know that there are lots of fantastic people that need to be honored from the past and that there are current and upcoming athletes that will earn their place on the list. These people have made their families, friends, schools and communities so proud and we are working on furthering the Sports Hall of Fame into an institution that will honor their achievements and make sure they are always remembered and recognized.”
Milloy said the immediate goals of the nonprofit organization will be to hire a fulltime executive director and to have future induction as part of a dinner ceremony.
“What the County Sports Hall of Fame has created in just a few years has been incredible, with much of that due to the high level of achievements of the inductees and a significant part due to the early board of directors who were determined to honor those achievements,” said Milloy. “We now are ready to move to the next level and our intent is get more members of the County athletic community involved. We invite people to submit nominations for consideration and for themselves to be part of our activities and our mission. We are here to be an important part of Montgomery County.”
White’s Ferry—until it was closed four years ago—was a living history example of a long tradition of Potomac River ferries tying together Montgomery County and northern Virginia. When the C&O Canal was operational for nearly 90 years, White’s Ferry, along with the Edwards and Spinks ferries upcountry, took on added importance. At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, ‘Crossing the River: The Historical Significance of Montgomery County’s Potomac Ferries’ will be a free, live virtual presentation of Montgomery History.
Historian Ralph Buglass will lead the presentation, which will offer a wealth of new research conducted to support reopening White’s Ferry, which operated between Poolesville and Leesburg, Va.,
Established in 1786, White’s Ferry was a significant transportation route between Maryland and Virginia, carrying nearly 800 daily users. It closed in late 2020 after a 16-year legal dispute could not be resolved. Montgomery County still hopes it can negotiate a way to reopen the operation.
White's Ferry is the last of 100 ferries that used to operate on the Potomac River. The ferry, named after the Confederate Civil War General Jubal A. Early, connects Whites Ferry Road in Montgomery County with a road by the same name in Leesburg, which is in Loudoun County. The cars on each side would line up on what looks like a boat ramp and drive down onto the ferry. Once loaded, the ferry followed a wire cable to the other side of the Potomac.
Montgomery History will host its third annual free Ice Cream Social at Shirley Povich Field in Rockville from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31. The Montgomery History team and fellow history lovers will be present and ice cream and sundae supplies will be provided. Dairy-free options will be available, too.
Shirley Povich field is located at 10600 Westlake Dr. in Bethesda
The sunflower fields in the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area on River Road near Poolesville, which are among Montgomery County’s natural gems, are in full bloom and ready for residents who want to wander through a spectacular experience.
Residents and visitors from far destinations annually make their way to the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area a 2,000-acre tract in a mixture of woodlands, fields, wooded bottomland and managed wetland impoundments (green-tree reservoirs) that is located at 18600 River Road. The property shares a common boundary with the National Park Service Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to the south and borders Seneca Creek State Park on the east. There is no charge to visit the sunflower fields, but parking is limited.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Heritage Service plants sunflowers each spring on the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area. The primary purpose for planting sunflowers in wildlife management areas is to provide a food source for mourning doves, as well as other wildlife species.
In addition to mourning doves, sunflowers and sunflower seeds are a favorite food source for a host of other songbirds, mammals and pollinators. Sunflowers require pollination by insects, usually bees, to produce a seed crop. In turn, honeybees and many species of native bees, benefit from the abundant nectar and pollen that sunflowers produce.
The many benefits of sunflowers are lost when they are cut or trampled by people. These sunflowers are planted for the benefit of wildlife and regulations prohibit the cutting, destruction or removal of any plants from the areas. The public is welcome to visit, admire and photograph the sunflowers in bloom.
The techniques used to plant the sunflowers, and the sunflower variety planted, may change from year to year, as well as the number of acres planted and their locations. Sunflowers are planted in late April or early May. Weather, seed variety, weed competition, soil conditions and herbivore damage will all impact the time that it takes for the plants to bloom. With favorable conditions, the sunflowers bloom in mid-July.
After the sunflowers are done blooming and seeds are mature, in early to mid-August, strips are mowed through the sunflowers to scatter the seeds on the ground where they are more accessible to mourning doves and other wildlife.
With growing popularity, it is best to visit the sunflower fields on a weekday. If you choose to visit on the weekend, be mindful of traffic getting to the fields.
Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed. Wildlife Management Areas are trash-free. No trash cans are provided. There are no bathroom facilities, no benches and no picnic tables.
The McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area may be accessed any time of day. However, overnight camping is not allowed. There is no fee or permit required to access the property.
To get to the management area from the Capital Beltway, take Exit 39 (River Road) west toward Potomac. Proceed for approximately 11 miles to the intersection of River Road and MD 112 (Seneca Road). Turn left and continue on River Road for about 2 ½ miles. McKee-Beshers will be on the left.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will host an open house from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, in Silver Spring to present the latest design improvements for two projects in Montgomery County. One is a safety and accessibility project in the Montgomery Hills area along Georgia Avenue (MD 97) and the other is for a protected bicycle lane on 16th Street (MD 390).
The open house will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, which is located at 1607 Grace Church Road in Silver Spring.
The MD 97 Montgomery Hills Safety and Accessibility Project will extend along Georgia Avenue from south of MD 390 (16th Street) to MD 192 (Forest Glen Road). It will include the interchange with the Capital Beltway (I-495) near the Forest Glen Metro Station.
The plan includes the replacement of a reversible lane with a landscaped median, dedicated turn lanes, interchange modifications, a new signal at Flora Lane and sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. More details are available on the Project Portal page.
The area for the16th Street Woodside Protected Bicycle Lane Project will extend from Spring Street to 2nd Avenue. The plans seek to improve bicycle and pedestrian accessibility and safety along 16th Street and provide connections to other bicycle facilities, the Forest Glen Metro Station and future Woodside Purple Line station. The project will include an eight-foot-wide, two-way protected bicycle lane, a concrete/grass median separating vehicle traffic from the bicycle lane, a six-foot-wide ADA-compliant sidewalk and other features. Details are available on the Project Portal page.
During the July 31 open house, attendees can view design details for both projects, with maps and displays showcasing the proposed improvements. State Highway Administration representatives will be available to listen to feedback and answer project-related questions. There will be no formal presentation, and members of the public may attend any time between 6-8 p.m.
Those requiring assistance to participate in the public open house, such as those seeking an interpreter for hearing/speech concerns or help with the English language, may send an email to shatitleVI@mdot.maryland.gov in advance of the meeting. Indicate the desired language in the subject line. Maryland Relay Service can assist teletype users at 7-1-1. Any questions about the meeting or general inquiries can be sent to the email above.
The Providence-Queen's Royal College Steel Orchestra from Trinidad & Tobago will be performing from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, on Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring. The orchestra’s free appearance will be a “Special Twilight Tuesdays” event presented by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
To attend, register by sending an email to lsia@silverspringtowncenter.com. Veterans Plaza is located at 1 Veterans Pl. in Downtown Silver Spring.
The orchestra features 19 pan players.
The Provi-QRC Steel Orchestra is a collaboration between two prominent secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago: Queen’s Royal College, an all-boys school, and the all-girls school, Providence Girls’ Catholic School. Started in 2013, the founding audacious pannists were declared the 2014 Secondary Schools’ National Panorama champions just a few months after starting.
The decade that followed was quite a journey. The orchestra finished in the top three five times out of the nine occasions it competed; including this year. The QRC Steel Ensemble had two previous tours to the Washington area in 2014 and 2017.
For two weeks, the students in the orchestra will be ambassadors of Trinidad and Tobago and are scheduled to visit the Trinidad and Tobago Embassy in Washington and perform a number of concerts in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
Free summer concerts continue in Rockville Town Square from 6-9 p.m. most Friday nights through Sept. 20. The series will feature a variety of performers, with the next performance highlighted by the rock of Don’t Back Down.
Through accomplished musicianship and with an enthusiastic delivery, Don’t Back Down energizes East Coast audiences with a diverse mix of songs from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ extensive 41-year, 13-album repertoire, including tracks from Tom Petty’s three solo albums Mud Crutch and The Traveling Wilburys.
Don’t Back Down was formed in 2017 by several seasoned Baltimore-based musicians who share a mutual love and respect for not only one of the most prolific songwriters of our time and for the band that produced one of the greatest American rock catalogues. Don’t Back Down band members include Mark O’Dell on guitar and lead vocals; Chris Huntington on lead guitar; Jeremy Robinson on bass and vocals; Tom Sabia on drums; and Evan Cooper on keyboards and vocals.
The remaining Rockville Town Square summer concert lineup will include:
The funk rock of Damon Foreman will highlight the final night of the “Thursday Evenings in Olde Towne Gaithersburg” summer concert series at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, on the City Hall Concert Pavilion in Gaithersburg.
The City Hall Concert Pavilion is located at 31 South Summit Ave. in Gaithersburg.
Based in Glenwood, Md., Damon Foreman has toured throughout the world playing many styles of music with major artists such as Ashford and Simpson, Gladys Night, Sista Monica,Mary Wells and Parliament Funkadelic. He has major label production credits on Sire Records. Warner Brothers and others.
He is now leading his brand of funk rock that combines Hendrix, Prince and Parliament with a tinge of jazz in his performances and recordings.
The concert series this summer is partnering with Saints Row Brewing to provide on-site beer sales and food trucks. It is suggested that attendees bring a blanket or low-back chair for lawn seating.
Evenings in Olde Towne Concerts could be cancelled at the last moment if weather conditions are not conducive to the event. Check the City's Facebook page or Twitter feed, or call the inclement weather line at 240-805-1148, for the latest updates.
Evenings in Olde Towne Concerts are funded in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). To discover more about MSAC grants and how they impact Maryland's arts sector, visit www.msac.org.
Elbe’s Beer and Wine is located at 2522 University Blvd. West in Wheaton.
Wheaton's newest mural on the side of a building, called "Wheaton Lives," will be dedicated in ceremonies at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11. The mural is on the building that houses Elbe's Beer and Wine store.
Elbe’s Beer and Wine is located at 2522 University Blvd. West in Wheaton. The store will close at 4 p.m. on Aug. 11 for the celebration that will be held in the parking lot. There will be a tented area for shade and refreshments will be served.
A plaque will be unveiled and there will remarks from Bridget Cimino, the project’s artist, the property owners and representatives of the Wheaton Arts Parade. Elected officials and sponsors are also expected to attend. The Maryland State Arts Council, the Wheaton Arts Walls Foundation and members of the community whose contributions made this project possible also will be represented.
Elbe's Beer and Wine has been family owned since 1951 when it was started as a neighborhood market by William and Miriam Bobrow. William Bobrow served in the U.S. Army in World War II and was stationed near the Elbe River, hence the store’s name. The store is now run by their sons, Andy and Jeff.
The mural is another addition to Wheaton's Arts and Entertainment District.
Ms. Cimino is a mural artist from Baltimore. Her design moves through time from the past to the future, from right to left. On the right side of the mural, above the customer entrance, is an image of a Native American village as it might have looked hundreds of years ago, with children at play. Below this scene, is an image of the same terrain being farmed by a European settler in the 18th Century. The next images are of local commerce in the mid-20th Century, the distinctive Wheaton Plaza sign and the founders of Elbe’s when it was the neighborhood grocery store. Moving further toward the present day is a woman cooking pupusas. She represents the current diverse population in Wheaton, who have brought aspects of their culture to further enrich Wheaton. The youth at play create a 21st Century bookend to the Native American children at play 400 years ago.
Work on the mural started on May 9 and was finished on June 12.
The project's major sources of funding were planning and project grants from the Maryland State Arts Council's Public Art Across Marland program and from Leonard Greenberg's Wheaton Arts Walls Foundation.
The project was managed pro bono by the Wheaton Arts Parade.
The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) will launch an updated version of its "ePlans" software on Monday, July 29. The new version of ePlans will make the permitting process easier for customers who submit residential building applications electronically. Customers utilize ePlans to apply for permits and submit construction plans online.
To help customers navigate the improved permitting system, DPS staff will provide virtual customer training sessions on Monday, Aug. 5, and Tuesday, Aug. 6. Registration is not required. Customers who want to attend a training session should visit the DPS website on the day of their choice, and click on the Microsoft Teams link to join the live, virtual training session.
In addition to providing training sessions for customers, DPS has produced five training videos to help customers utilize the updated ePlans software. These videos are posted on the County’s YouTube channel and the DPS website and include:
“These software updates are designed to streamline the permitting process for our customers to make it easier and faster to get a permit,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “DPS issues thousands of permits a year and customer satisfaction is a top priority. I hope our customers will attend the free training sessions and watch the new training videos to become familiar with how to apply for permits and upload plans in the new system.”
The training videos and links to the upcoming online training sessions are posted in the banner at the top of the DPS website.
“As project partners, we want DPS customers to know we are accessible and readily available to answer questions and to assist them throughout the permitting process, particularly at the front end with ePlans,” said DPS Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan. “Earlier this year, DPS unveiled updates to the ePlans software for fence, public right-of way, sediment control, sign, stormwater concept and all trade permit applications. These changes also included bringing well and septic permit applications online for the first time ever. Later this summer, the update will be expanded to include all commercial building permits. Indeed, we are very excited about these enhancements as the aspiration has long been 100 percent paperless permitting.”
For more information about ePlans, visit the DPS website at MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/dps or stop by the department’s customer service lobby at 2425 Reedie Drive, seventh floor, in Wheaton. DPS offices are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and appointments are not needed. Customers may also email dps.eservices@montgomerycountymd.gov or contact MC 311 at 240-777- 0311.
Maryland’s Commission on Public Health, in partnership with Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services, will host a public listening session in Rockville for Montgomery County residents from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, to share their thoughts and offer ideas related to public health improvements with the commission.
The event will be held in the seventh-floor hearing room of the County Council Office Building, which is located at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. It will be televised live on County Cable Montgomery and streamed on Facebook.
Community members who attend the meeting in person will be invited to share their comments. Residents wishing to speak should sign up here. Those who attend virtually should also sign up and will have the opportunity to submit comments in advance, following pre-registration. Those comments will be shared with the commission during the meeting and recorded.
This is the last in a series of five regional public listening sessions across the State. This session, and others like it, will help the commission identify opportunities to improve the delivery of public health services across Maryland.
“This listening session is an opportunity for our residents to voice their needs and concerns about public health to state and County leaders,” said County Executive Marc Elrich.” By sharing their thoughts and experiences, residents can help shape a more effective and responsive public health system. It’s crucial for everyone, especially those who may feel their voices aren’t always heard, to participate and contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve our community’s health and well-being.”
The Maryland General Assembly established the Maryland Commission on Public Health to assess the foundational public health capabilities of State and local health departments and analyzing the State’s ability to respond to major public health challenges.
The commission will recommend improvements for public health departments in several areas including:
Organization: Enhancing the structure and efficiency of public health departments.
Information Technology: Optimizing IT usage, information exchange, data collection and reporting.
Resources: Ensuring adequate personnel, funding and effective contracting processes.
Communication: Improving engagement and communication with community members and groups.
Montgomery County will provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services upon request—with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three business days before the event. For more information, contact Stella Sharif-Chikiar at 240-777-1603 or send a request to Stella.Sharif-Chikiar@montgomerycountymd.gov.
For more information on the Maryland Commission on Public Health, please visit https://smchd.org/coph/.
