Salvadoran Festival Gets “Official” Kick Off

County Executive Ike Leggett and Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown were on hand at the fourth annual Salvadoran American Day Festival held in Wheaton. The event featured Salvadoran food, traditional crafts, and live music by local and international artists, plus an array of community services, including a Latino Health Fair. Attendees also had the chance to learn about community services, including Police and the Fire and Rescue Service and passport renewals through the Salvadoran consulate.

Folk Legends from Civil Rights Movement to Perform Benefit Concert Commemorating March on Washington 50th Anniversary Celebration

The Menare Foundation, Inc., an Olney-based non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Underground Railroad, is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington with a benefit concert on August 25 at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC.

Entertainers will include Josh White Jr., Tom Paxton and Kim & Reggie Harris, in addition to Charles Neblett and Rutha Harris, two of the original SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) Freedom Singers who performed at the original 1963 March.

To order tickets online, contact the Lisner box office at www.lisner.org  and find the Freedom Festival Concert listing or call 202-994-6800.

It’s “Basic Black” Adoption Month at the Humane Society

August is heating up with two adoption specials for black cats and black dogs.

Join the County Humane Society (MCHS) in celebrating the Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer! Adoption fees are waived during August for all-black cats six-months and older and for black dogs of any age.


The specials apply to shelter animals and to those in the MCHS Foster Care program.

Georgia Ave. Facelift in Downtown Silver Spring Impacts Drivers, Pedestrians

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has started a $4.6 million safety and resurfacing project along nearly two miles of Georgia Ave. (MD 97) from the Washington, D.C. line to 16th St. (MD 390), in Silver Spring. Weather permitting; the work will be completed by late fall.

Meanwhile, motorists and pedestrians in the area should plan ahead, add extra commute time, and be aware of shifting traffic and walking patterns.

The work includes:

• Reconstructing existing sidewalks to five feet wide to become ADA-compliant;
• Repairing, replacing existing inlets and pipes;
• Concrete patching of sections of damaged pavement prior to resurfacing;
• Installing new curb and gutter;
• Resurfacing Georgia Ave.;
• Replacing traffic signal pavement detectors at the Georgia Ave. and 16th St. intersection
• Installing new line striping and pavement markings.

See more information.

A Heartfelt Thank You for MCPD’s First “Autism Night Out”

Montgomery County Police, in partnership with the “Autism Speaks” organization, hosted the first-ever “Autism Night Out” in late July at the department’s Public Safety Training Academy in Rockville.

Hundreds attended the event that provided an opportunity for families affected by autism to learn from police, but also for police to learn from the families. Police officers are often called to a home to assist a caregiver with locating an autistic person who has wandered.

The event featured pertinent information, food, a moon bounce for the kids and raffle prizes. Families met Search and Rescue Team members and rescue dogs and saw emergency police and fire/rescue apparatus. Young people with autism received a bright green safety T-shirt.

After the event, the organizing officers received the following “thank you” email from a mom, Nora Fitzpatrick. It is reprinted with her permission.

“What an amazing evening. I wanted to send you a handwritten thank you, but I just can't wait. I wanted to write while it's all still fresh.

Tonight was amazing. Even more amazing than I expect and in ways I didn't expect. First of all, it felt like a party. I felt like I knew most of the people there. It was just so much fun to see so many people and chat and see our kids together. It was a beautiful summer night.

But I really wanted to tell you what your department... and specifically the four of you... did for our autism family. Sometimes things around us can be challenging: battling the schools to get our kids what they need, battling insurance companies to get coverage for treatments, worrying about new behaviors, health issues, the future, fitting in, etc. I'm not saying that to complain, but merely to paint a picture. Instead of a battle, the Montgomery County Police Department embraced our families and embraced our children. You welcomed us and announced to the world that our children are worthwhile. They are worth the extra work. You cared enough to want to understand what makes our kids tick and want to do everything you can to be there and support our community.

This sort of thing is rare for our community... this complete acceptance.

When we get together with other autism families, it's awesome because we can let our guard down. Our kids can flap and yell and stim and sing and it doesn't matter one little bit. Tonight was one of those nights. You made us feel like our kids could be themselves with you. And that makes all of us relax.

I can't even begin to tell you how personally touched I am. Truly. My kid is awesome and my passion in life is for her to have the understanding and acceptance that the Department has demonstrated.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for all you do for Rory, for my family, and for our county. I am so proud to have worked with you on this and would do anything in the world for you.”

Nora 

All the officers involved thank you, Nora, and all the families who came to learn more about how to keep their special loved ones safer.

County residents who would like to learn more about improving safety for a person with Autism can e-mail laurie.reyes@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Creative Students Sought for Public Libraries’ Teen Advisory Group

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is recruiting students for its Teen Advisory Group (TAG) who are interested in promoting library programming for teens and advocating for teen library services.

Teens, ages 14 to 18, who like to read, write, and interview authors and public officials for the MCPL Teensite page, work with Facebook, and/or produce YouTube and video segments, can apply online or get an application at a local MCPL branch.

Applications are due by September 4, 2013.

Got Graffiti? Call GRAB

GRaffiti ABatement Partners, Inc. (GRAB) is a non-profit, private-public partnership that helps eliminate graffiti vandalism in Montgomery County through eradication, education and enforcement strategies.

GRAB approaches the problem by removing graffiti immediately and developing long-term strategies to engage youth susceptible to at-risk behaviors.

If you see graffiti, notify GRAB for assistance and advice via the GRAB website or by calling 301-607-GRAB (4722).

Menu Information Impacts Diners’ Selections

Montgomery County’s effort to place nutritional information on menus at larger chain restaurants is making a significant impact on the food choices of diners who read the information before ordering, according to an independent survey by the University of Maryland Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.

The survey shows that women were more likely than men to use the information. However, not one person surveyed between the ages of 18-24 said they considered the nutritional information before ordering.

In 2009 when the County Council approved Bill 19-07, Montgomery County became one of the first jurisdictions in the nation to pass such legislation.

The bill’s chief sponsor was Councilmember George Leventhal, chair of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee. “In just a short time since this measure went into effect, this survey shows that about one-third of all diners are using the new information available to make healthier food choices, and it clearly shows that our efforts are making a difference,” said Leventhal.

Council Press Release

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

September 7 and 8 – Annual Pooch Pool Party. Glenmont Pool, 12621 Dalewood Dr., Silver Spring. To register on-line, check the Recreation website.

Survey Names County #1 Digital Jurisdiction Nationwide

Montgomery County has been named top digital jurisdiction in the country in its population category (500,000+) in the 2013 Digital Counties Survey that recognizes the effective and efficient use of digital technologies in serving residents, streamlining operations and achieving measurable benefits.

Survey questions covered areas such as computing, networking, applications, data and cybersecurity, open government and mobile services. The County’s openMontgomery site was cited in a Government Technology article as an example of a digital initiative that enables County residents, businesses, partners and an increasingly mobile workforce to access high-quality digital government information and services anywhere, anytime, and in multiple ways.

“We are very pleased to be recognized for our efforts, as increased transparency and better online accessibility to County programs and services are high priorities in this administration,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “We are working hard to make government more accessible and responsive to the people we serve.”

The article also commended the County for “reaching for goals more common in big cities and state governments.”

Montgomery County has placed in the survey’s Top 10 for the past 11 years. Other local counties in the Top 10 were: Fairfax, #3; Prince George’s, #5; and Baltimore, #7.

Read the article in Government Technology.

Read County news release.