World of Montgomery Festival Highlighted in MetroLatinoUSA

An article and photo spread in MetroLatinoUSA, entitled “Montgomery County Extends a Hand to the Immigrant,” reflects the many moods, colors and facets of the World of Montgomery Festival held recently in Wheaton.

One photo that captured the essence of the event shows a Chinese resident trying a serving of papusas.

It seems a good time was had by all.

Monday, November 11 – 5th Annual Tribute to America’s Veterans Concert.

Silver Spring Civic Building. 6 p.m. Free. Presented by Silver Spring Town Center in collaboration with Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs. Guest entertainers Doc Scantlin and the Palmettos with Chou Chou celebrate music and dance of the WWII era. Military and vintage dress optional.

• Reserve tickets.

Saturday, November 16 – Sister Cities: Morazán/Montgomery Fiesta

Silver Spring Civic Building, Ellsworth Dr. and Fenton St. 6-11 p.m. Live music by Oscar Perez with Quimbao. Dancing and dinner. Event supports education and a new community college in the County’s Sister City of Morazán, El Salvador. $30 per person, includes dinner. Children under 12, free. Call 301-213-0857 or 240-777-2525.

Tuesday, November 19 -- Online Chat with County Executive. 1 – 2 p.m.

Residents will have an opportunity to submit questions on issues of concern to County Executive Ike Leggett either before or during the chat. You may submit questions at any time, and questions will be answered during the scheduled discussion time.

Tuesday, November 19 -- 50+ Vital Living Through Volunteering.

Bethesda Library 7400 Arlington Rd. 2-3 p.m. Learn how to give back to your community and about the County resources and programs available to help you get involved in a variety of ways. Presented by the Vital Living Network in partnership with the Jewish Council for the Aging and the County Volunteer Center. To request sign language interpretation or other deaf/hard of hearing services for library-sponsored programs, email MCPL.DeafAccess@montgomerycountymd.gov, preferably with three business days’ notice. To request other accommodations, contact the library hosting the program, at 240-777-0970.

Sunday, November 24 -- The 28th Annual Montgomery County Executive’s Ball Benefitting the Arts & Humanities

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Rd., North Bethesda. 6 p.m. Tickets $125. Creative black tie. Receive more information and order tickets at www.mocoexecball.org.

The World of Montgomery

The many rich cultural heritages of Montgomery County will be showcased and celebrated at the annual World of Montgomery Festival, on Sunday, October 20 from noon to 5 p.m. at Westfield Wheaton Plaza Mall parking lot (across from the Wheaton Metro station) at 11160 Veirs Mill Rd.

The festival provides interactive experiences where participants are able to engage in creative projects from the diverse communities that make up some of the largest immigrant populations in Montgomery County and the DC area.

Sponsored by the Fund for Montgomery and organized by the KID (Kids International Discovery) Museum, the festival includes an international village, a global kitchen with chefs demonstrating traditional ethnic food, a craft market, a Parade of Cultures, two performance stages of traditional dance and music, opportunities to find out about connecting with the community through service, traditional arts and fun activities for the whole family.

Admission to the festival is free and free parking is available nearby. Participants may also take the Metro to the Wheaton station, which is located two blocks away from the festival grounds.

Find more information, visit website.

Donate Blood, Save Lives

A blood drive in memory of Montgomery County firefighters Carlos Alfaro, Sr. and Carlos Alfaro, Jr. will be held on Sunday, October 27 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station 16. The station is located at 111 University Blvd., E. in Silver Spring. You can help save lives by donating blood. For an appointment, call Steve Mann at 240-438-2461.

Leggett Mission to China Advances County Business & Investment Aims

County Executive Ike Leggett and Governor Jiang Liang renew a Memorandum of Understanding to increase economic cooperation between Montgomery County and Shanghai.

County Executive Ike Leggett returned recently from a 10-day, 4-city trip to China aimed at advancing Chinese jobs and investment in the County and opening doors for County businesses there, as well as establishing a “Sister City” relationship with the city of Xi’an, with eight million residents and home to the famous Terra Cotta Army.

Packed with visits to businesses and high-tech centers, educational institutions and hospitals, as well as government meetings, the delegation’s itinerary reflected the mission’s strong focus on education and business development. Multi-level partnerships were developed on education, healthcare, and business fronts.

The visit was featured prominently in The China Daily, the official English newspaper for all of China: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2013-09/24/content_16989823.htm

“I was very pleased with the Mission,” said County Executive Leggett. “It will result in more jobs and investment in Montgomery County and more business for County companies in China. Our County is competing, especially in biotechnology and health sciences, with other states, cities, and counties that are also looking to tap into the Chinese market. For a tiny investment, we have made a significant impact.”

Sponsors of this mission trip include Marriott International, Choice Hotels International, the Mid-Atlantic Petroleum, US Pharmacopeia, the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association, and the Maryland China Business Council. Law firms Shulman Rogers and Linowes and Blocher sponsored two information sessions prior to the trip.

All Montgomery County government employees on the delegation, including the County Executive, paid all their own expenses for the Mission and took vacation time, except for Department of Economic Development director Steve Silverman, Mission lead organizer Lily Qi, Director of Special Projects in the Office of the County Executive, and a bilingual assistant. The total for travel, food, and lodging costs paid by Montgomery County was $7,500.

Read more details on the mission.

Community Service Day Projects Available for Volunteers

The Montgomery County Volunteer Center is offering a variety of volunteer service opportunities to celebrate Community Service Day on October 26. Many organizations are seeking volunteers to help complete projects during the week of October 20 – 27 in recognition of Community Service Day, now in its 27th year.

The annual event and week of activities will be kicked off this year with the World of Montgomery Festival on Sunday, October 20 at Westfield Wheaton shopping mall.

Projects this year include packing after-school snacks at Dawson’s Market, removing invasive weeds from local parks, painting a homeless shelter, winterizing gardens in Damascus and Poolesville, recycling electronics at Verizon in Silver Spring and organizing a holiday drive for the City of Rockville. Manna Food Center will again hold food drives at 27 Giant grocery stores on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additional opportunities can be viewed on the Volunteer Center website, www.montgomeryserves.org.