Traffic Data on Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project to be Presented to Planning Board on Thursday, March 30, with Public Hearing to Follow Presentation

Information, including traffic data and a recommendation, related to the Little Falls Parkway pilot project, will be presented by Montgomery Parks to the County Planning Board at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. After the briefing, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the project.

Details on how to sign up to testify, provide advance testimony and the procedures for testifying are outlined on the Planning Board “Sign Up to Testify” webpage. The deadline to sign up to testify or submit written testimony is noon on Wednesday, March 29.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project was initiated in June 2022 to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway for the Open Parkways Program, while retaining space for recreation on the parkway. Traffic counts were conducted on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue during May, July, September and December of 2022

The in-person presentation and following public hearing will take place at the Wheaton Headquarters of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission headquarters at 2425 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton.

The presentation and public hearing also can be viewed online via Microsoft Teams.

The public may testify in person or online during the Planning Board hearing.

After the public hearing, the Planning Board will conduct a work session and consider action on the staff recommendation on April 13. The time will be posted on the Planning Board agenda closer to the date of the meeting.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project currently provides an open parkway for pedestrians and bicyclists for two of the four lanes between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. This section was previously part of Montgomery Parks’ Open Parkways program between River Road and Arlington Road (1.3 miles).

The Open Parkways program launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis to provide more outdoor space for recreation and exercise by closing portions of three parkways to vehicles on weekends. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of visitors have used the Open Parkways.

The other two Open Parkways, Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive, will not be affected by the Little Falls Parkway pilot program.

Learn more about the program at pilot project online.

Spring Cleaning of Public Parking Garages in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton to Begin on Monday, April 10

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) on Monday, April 10, will begin its semi-annual interior washdown to degrease and clean 21 County-owned parking garages in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton. The spring cleanings will start with the Bethesda garages and are scheduled to conclude with the Silver Spring garages on Saturday, June 3. Cleanings will be done on nights and weekends.

Some garages will experience partial closures during the cleanings, including select entrance/exit areas and ramps. The full schedule of garage cleanings can be viewed here.

MCDOT performs spring and fall washdowns to keep garages clean and help keep grease, oil and debris out of local waterways. Regular cleanings prevent deterioration from prolonged exposure to salt, sand, oils, gas, dirt, pollen and leaves.

MCDOT contractors will do their best to perform work around garage traffic and parked vehicles and to post signs notifying customers of anticipated impacts to access.

For more information about parking in the County, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-parking/news/index.html.

Residents Asked to Participate in Survey on How to Expand and Improve Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Will Offer Webinars on April 13-14

Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is asking residents to participate in a survey on how the County could expand and improve charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). As part of the initiative, DEP will hold webinars on Thursday, April 13, and Friday, April 14, to share details about the planning process and collect more input.

Beginning in 2023, significant funding will be available from Maryland and the Federal government for local governments and private property owners to install EV charging. To take advantage of this opportunity and accelerate the transition to EV ownership, DEP is developing a plan to expand the availability of EV charging throughout the community.

The survey, which will be open through May 15, is available at Montgomery County Community EV Charging Survey (surveymonkey.com).

To join the April 13 webinar, which will start at 7 p.m., go to Meeting Registration - Zoom. To join the April 14 webinar, which will start at noon, go to Meeting Registration - Zoom.

DEP also has created the Charge Montgomery Story Map interactive tool to explore where EV charging is currently located, where EVs are registered and the factors that will drive new charging infrastructure.

“The County’s Climate Action Plan has a goal to transition to 100 percent zero emissions by 2035 and having residents, government operations and businesses transition to EVs is an important part of the plan,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “An important part of having people move to EVs is having charging station access. We are working to create opportunities to build charging stations, but we need to know how residents think we can help. Completing this survey will help in determining the decisions that will be made as we move forward.”

EVs charged in Montgomery County on Pepco’s electric grid reduce emissions by 70-75 percent, demonstrating that switching to an EV is one of the biggest ways to reduce the County’s carbon footprint.

The market for electric vehicles is growing rapidly, with plug-in vehicles making up more than 12 percent of newly registered vehicles in 2022. There are currently about 600 EV charging plugs in the County, including 100 “Fast Charging” plugs. However, more charging infrastructure is needed to meet the current demand and allow more residents to feel confident making the transition to electric vehicles. To overcome “range anxiety”—a fear of running out of battery—drivers need to know that they can easily charge their vehicle nearby to where they live, work and visit regularly.

Many new EV charging stations installed by the private sector will be located based on existing EV ownership patterns. However, the County’s Climate Action Plan aims to ensure that EV charging is distributed equitably across the County. This means proactively finding sites in the County’s Equity Focus Areas.

For more information on DEP’s actions in the move to EVs, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/green/zev/index.html.

Holly Jamesen Carr of U.S. Department of Energy and Inside Climate News Journalist Aman Azhar Will Speak at 2023 Montgomery County Energy Summit on March 28-29

Holly Jamesen Carr, director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, DOE Building Technologies Office, and journalist Aman Azhar of Inside Climate News and will be among the speakers at the 10th Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit on Tuesday, March 28, and Wednesday, March 29 at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The summit will focus on preparing the commercial building community for compliance with energy benchmarking, building energy performance standards and emerging building codes.

The Silver Spring Civic Building is located at 1 Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring.

Online registration for the summit is open through the morning of Friday, March 24. Advance registration is strongly recommended. Limited day-of tickets will be available at the event. To review the full agenda and register for the Energy Summit, visit MCEnergySummit.org.

Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno also will speak at the summit, which will explore requirements and opportunities in areas of commercial building compliance. The event also will provide hands-on learning opportunities and case studies from commercial and multifamily buildings. There will be building audit demonstrations, education sessions, hands-on Q&A and technical assistance, an “Innovation Alley” showcasing products and services and a networking reception.

“Montgomery County’s strategic plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035 will take real action by all of us—government, business, nonprofits and individuals,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The Energy Summit, now in its 10th year, is an excellent example of how we are successfully bringing the public and private sectors together to develop a path forward to increase building energy performance boost economic opportunities, create jobs in Montgomery County and meet our ambitious climate action goals.”

On March 28, Adriana Hochberg, acting director of the County Department of Environmental Protection, will deliver opening remarks, followed by John Hattery, deputy director of Workforce Services for WorkSource Montgomery.

On March 29, the summit’s lineup of morning plenary speakers will include:

• Richard Madaleno, Montgomery County chief administrative officer
• Vicky Wan, acting deputy director, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
• John Hattery, deputy director of Workforce Services for WorkSource Montgomery

Following the March 29 morning plenary speakers, Energy Summit attendees will enjoy a keynote panel discussion on unpacking the local and regional landscape of building energy and climate policies. The panelists will include:

• Mark Stewart, climate change program manager, Maryland Department of the Environment
• Rabbiah Sabbakhan, director, Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services
• Stan Edwards, chief, Energy Climate Compliance Division, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection

The moderator of the panel discussion will be Cliff Majersik, senior advisor of policy and programs for the Institute for Market Transformation.

The event will conclude with a panel that will tie the themes and educational content of the summit and address the current and future incentives and programs to help building owners with improving building energy performance and reducing emissions. The members of that panel will include:

• Holly Jamesen Carr, director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, DOE Building Technologies Office
• Tom Deyo, CEO, Montgomery County Green Bank
• Pepco representative, to be determined

The moderator of that panel will be Aman Azhar, a reporter for Inside Climate News.

The summit also will have an in-person Innovation Alley featuring energy-related products and services. This year, exhibitors will be displaying innovative products and services available to the commercial and multifamily business sector that will aid in building energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, building decarbonization, healthy buildings and zero-emission vehicles.

Noted Authors Will Be Featured in Montgomery County Public Libraries Upcoming Virtual Talk Series, Including Pam Jenoff on Tuesday, March 28

Noted authors will be featured in March and April in the continuing free Virtual Talk Series presented by Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). The series hosts best-selling, award-winning and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The next talk, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, will have Pam Jenoff of New York Times. She is the author of the Orphan’s Tale and The Lost Girls of Paris.

The featured writers in the series will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres. The series includes the opportunity to ask the authors questions. Registration is required to join each talk.

A complete list of events is available on the Virtual Author Talks site on the MCPL website.

Upcoming speakers for the Virtual Author Talks for March and April include:

• Tuesday, March 28. 7 p.m. Pam Jenoff. New York Times best-selling author of the Orphan’s Tale and The Lost Girls of Paris. Register at https://libraryc.org/mcpl/27742
• Tuesday, April 4. 7 p.m. Kate Keaton. Best-selling cartoonist of Hark! A Vagrant! and Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. Register at https://libraryc.org/mcpl/27743
• Thursday, April 27. 8 p.m. William Kent Krueger. No. 1 best-selling author of more than 20 books including This Tender Land and Lightning Strike. Register at https://libraryc.org/mcpl/27744

All Virtual Author Talks are recorded. For more information, access to registration or to view past Virtual Author Talks, visit Montgomery County Public Libraries Virtual Author Talks.

Montgomery Parks to Hold Special Events in March for All Ages and Interests

Montgomery Parks is hosting a busy lineup of special events and programs in March, including a variety of hikes and birdwatching.

March events in Montgomery Parks will include:

• Introduction to Landscape Design: Session II. Saturday, March 25. 10 a.m.-noon. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. Learn the fundamentals of landscape design to create functional, enjoyable and beautiful outdoor spaces. Each session will focus on different concepts. Class is offered virtually as a live, online webinar though the Zoom platform with audience Q & A. After registering, a link will be emailed 24 hours prior to the live webinar. A recording of the lecture will be sent to registrants to access online for up to 30 days. Registration required. Ages 18 and older. $12 (per session).
• Pysanka Egg Dyeing Class. Friday, March 31. 11 a.m.-noon. Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville. Learn the art of Pysanky, the meanings and powers of pysanky symbols in Slavic culture and create your own pysanka egg. Ages 14 and older. Registration required. $10.
• Spring Fire Night. Friday, March 31. 6-8 p.m. Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. Night campfire with campfire snacks, friends, neighbors and a park naturalist. Ages 6 and older. Registration required. $7.

Montgomery Parks is a co-sponsor of the following event:

• Kites over Clarksburg. Saturday, March 25. Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park

For more information on spring events, visit Montgomery Parks Program Guide. Go to the Montgomery Parks event calendar to view a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery.

Submissions Being Accepted from High School Students for ‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ Teen Video Contest Through March 31

Montgomery County teens have an opportunity to win some great prizes by producing peer videos promoting the importance of focusing on their surroundings, instead of their phones, while driving and walking. The County Department of Transportation’s “Heads Up, Phones Down” high school video contest will be accepting entries of 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) through March 31.

County public and private high school students are eligible to submit contest videos. Entries can be submitted individually or from a group of up to four students. Videos can be submitted in English or Spanish.

“As a former teacher, I know that peer-to-peer messaging is influential and resonates with other teens,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It’s important for our young people to help each other make good decisions and habits regarding vehicle and pedestrian safety. These messages and efforts can help eliminate distracted driving and support our County Vision Zero goals.”

Submissions will be grouped by individual projects and group projects. Individual entries can win an Apple Mac Book Air, an Apple Watch or tripod. Winning group submissions will split an $800 grand prize, $400 second prize and $200 third prize, with a Visa gift card for each member.

Students can submit their entries on the online entry form here. Students may also qualify for up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for successfully completing an entry.

“We know that, nationally, young drivers, ages 15-19, have the highest number of fatal crashes due to distracted driving,” said County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin. “With 95 percent of teenagers having access to a smartphone, we hope this contest will serve as a reminder of the importance of avoiding distracted driving.”

Winning contestants will be visited by MCDOT staff and will have their videos posted on MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School website on Friday, April 14.

Visit the contest website for more information at montgomerycountymd.gov/HUPD.

Send contest-related questions to pedestrian.safety@montgomerycountymd.gov.

‘Bread & Puppet Theater’ Will Have Free Performance at Einstein High School on Saturday, April 8

The Bread & Puppet Theater, one of the oldest, nonprofit, political theatre companies in the country, will bring its 60th anniversary tour to Albert Einstein High School in Kensington for a free performance at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. The performance will be hosted by the Wheaton Arts Parade.

The performance of Inflammatory Earthling Rant (with help from Kropotkin) lasts about one hour and will be followed by a Q&A session with the performers. Free tickets can be reserved at eventbrite.

Einstein High School is located at 11135 Newport Mill Road in Kensington. The performance takes place in Gym No. 1.

The Bread and Puppet Theater was founded in 1963 by Peter Schumann on New York City’s Lower East Side. Besides rod-puppet and hand-puppet shows for children, the concerns of the group included problems of the neighborhood. More complex theater pieces followed in which sculpture, music, dance and language were equal partners. The puppets grew bigger and bigger.

In 1974, Bread and Puppet moved to a farm in Glover in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The 140-year old hay barn was transformed into a museum for veteran puppets. The traveling puppet shows range from tightly composed theater pieces presented by members of the company to extensive outdoor pageants that require the participation of many volunteers.

To offer free tickets to the public, Wheaton Arts Parade is seeking donations to cover the fee for the 13-member company of puppeteers and musicians. Donations can be made at Donation Form | Wheaton Arts Parade.

Results of 2022 County ‘Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign’ Document That Extreme Heat Has Greater Impact on Areas with Less Green Infrastructure

The results of the 2022 Montgomery County “Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign” show that urban areas of the County experience temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than rural areas. The County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the results of the campaign in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Climate Adaptation Planning and Analyst (CAPA).

A StoryMap created by DEP provides a comprehensive overview of the campaign. Among its findings was confirmation that communities of color and neighborhoods with a higher proportion of low-income residents experience higher temperatures than other areas in Montgomery County. This is due to a higher concentration of impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, roads and buildings, compared to areas with more green spaces.

The campaign brought together local organizations and volunteers to produce heat maps and generate creative and collaborative solutions for extreme heat in the area. The data and the community feedback will help the County identify areas where it can take action to protect vulnerable populations and build resilience against extreme heat risks.

The StoryMap provides an overview of the campaign’s methodology, results and solutions. The StoryMap highlights include the following:

• Low-income communities and communities of color were found to have higher temperatures than other areas in Montgomery County, indicating that extreme heat is a social justice issue.
• Trees and green spaces play a crucial role in mitigating extreme heat, and the campaign identified areas with low tree canopy coverage that require additional green infrastructure.
• The campaign engaged local residents and organizations in the data collection process, providing an opportunity for community members to actively participate in identifying solutions to extreme heat risks.

“The findings of the 2022 Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign underscore the importance of community engagement in addressing the effects of climate change,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Members of our community provided feedback on extremely hot areas they were concerned about and then worked with us to measure temperatures throughout the County to identify urban heat islands. By working together, Montgomery County, our partners, and our communities are taking proactive steps to build resilience and protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat.”

The StoryMap includes background information on extreme heat, the campaign day, media attention, response, and solutions. It also details the next steps DEP is taking to mitigate, adapt and build resiliency against extreme heat in the County.

The StoryMap can be viewed at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/389babe7ce654fdd87701488ae72e8b6.

In addition, CAPA has released a summary report of the campaign’s findings that can be accessed at https://osf.io/pk7uw?view_only=003a354126284c2298ec365424fac4b3.

For more information about Montgomery County’s efforts to address climate change, visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/.

WSSC Water Now Accepting Applications for Engineering Scholarships

WSSC Water’s is now accepting applications for its 2023 Commissioners Engineering Scholarships for undergraduate or graduate engineering students. Graduating high school seniors accepted into a collegiate engineering program also are eligible to apply. Winners of the scholarships receive $2,000 per year and up to $8,000 over four consecutive years.

The scholarships are open to students with permanent residency in Montgomery or Prince George’s counties enrolled in a fulltime college or university engineering program. The application deadline is Monday, April 17.

Two $2,000 annual scholarships—one for a student from each county—can be awarded. Recipients are eligible for additional $2,000 awards for up to four consecutive years, including post-graduate studies in engineering.

Applicants must submit an essay as part of their application. They can choose one of three topics to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay. The topics are:

• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers more than $50 billion through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve our nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure—the single largest investment in water the Federal government has ever made. If you were WSSC Water and applied for this funding, what types of projects would you spend it on and why?
• If you were General Manager/Chief Executive Officer for WSSC Water, how would you ensure racial equity and social justice were part of project selection for infrastructure projects?
• The water sector continues to face increasing pressures to fix aging infrastructure without increasing customer costs. Innovation and technology play a vital role in helping utilities meet these goals. What technological advances or innovative solutions would you adopt at WSSC Water to address the challenge of aging infrastructure without breaking the bank?

In addition to the essay, applicants must include an introductory video and proof of residency in WSSC Water’s service district.

Details and application requirements are available at wsscwater.com/scholarship.