County residents are invited to register for the Stepping On program, a free balance and fall prevention program that meets on seven consecutive Mondays, beginning August 3 in Gaithersburg. The two-hour class meets from 10 a.m. to noon at the Benjamin Gaither Center, at 80A Bureau Dr. Class will not meet on Monday, September 7 (Labor Day). Participants must commit to attending all seven classes and, if possible, the final booster session in December.
The program is recommended for older adults who walk unassisted, use a cane indoors and out, or use a walker outside only; who have fallen one or more times; who limit their activities because of a fear of falling; who are cognitively intact; who speak English; who live in their own home or other independent living facility; or who are known to be at risk of falling.
The class is sponsored by Montgomery County Health and Human Services, Aging & Disability Services. For more information or to register, call Phyllis Elperin at 240-773-8268.
July 21, 2015
“Service Beyond Our Walls” Program Earns Public Libraries a National Innovation Award from Urban Libraries Council
Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) “Service Beyond Our Walls” outreach program has been recognized with an Honorable Mention Award in the “Positioning the Library” category from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC).
Through “Service Beyond Our Walls,” MCPL has expanded the library’s presence outside its physical buildings through the eight-member Outreach Team that extends the reach of MCPL resources, services and collections to non-users, potential customers and new Americans where they live, gather and meet.
Using the elements of surprise and improvisation, team members have implemented “pop-up” libraries at commercial malls, farmer’s markets and other sites, actively engaging customers in the communities, bringing valuable feedback to MCPL.
The members split their time between providing library services at their branches and planning and conducting outreach visits in their respective communities. Since 2013, team members have participated in more than 500 events and have reached out to approximately 40,000 people.
Read more in the news release.
Through “Service Beyond Our Walls,” MCPL has expanded the library’s presence outside its physical buildings through the eight-member Outreach Team that extends the reach of MCPL resources, services and collections to non-users, potential customers and new Americans where they live, gather and meet.
Using the elements of surprise and improvisation, team members have implemented “pop-up” libraries at commercial malls, farmer’s markets and other sites, actively engaging customers in the communities, bringing valuable feedback to MCPL.
The members split their time between providing library services at their branches and planning and conducting outreach visits in their respective communities. Since 2013, team members have participated in more than 500 events and have reached out to approximately 40,000 people.
Read more in the news release.
Variety of Summer Performances at Rockville’s F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.
An eight-performance run of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," presented by Rockville Musical Theatre, continues through July 26.
Theater patrons can now purchase tickets with a new, easy-to-use online ticketing system at www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre
Get more details about scheduled performances in the news release.
Leisure World Chosen Best Retirement Location in Maryland
Check out the entire list.
Two County Public Libraries Make Washingtonian’s “Best of Washington” List
The recently-opened Silver Spring Library , at 900 Wayne Avenue, earned honors as the “Best New Reason to Read.” The accompanying description began by saying that “this striking new library may become the heart – and brain – of Silver Spring’s downtown.”
And, Davis Library, at 6400 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda, is home to the KID Museum, named the “Best New Creative Zone for Kids.” The write up noted that “the new center challenges kids to build something out of anything: paper, metal, textiles, Legos, battery-powered circuits, computer code or words.”
And, the Emmy Goes to…”Made in Montgomery”
“Made in Montgomery,” one of the newest shows on Montgomery County’s government television station County Cable Montgomery (CCM), recently received a local Emmy from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The program, nominated in the category of “Short Format Programs,” is the first CCM program ever nominated for a Chesapeake Chapter Emmy.
The award-winning episode featured segments on two startup businesses that display the entrepreneurial spirit the County is seeking to encourage as part of its economic development strategies and that emphasize the environmental progress the County Council has actively addressed.
The two businesses are:
- Rent a Coop, the Potomac-based business that rents chicken coops and chickens to families for their temporary backyard use; and
- Solar Mowing, which uses only battery-powered equipment to mow and trim lawns in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Silver Spring area.
Read more in the news release.
First Local Jurisdiction to Create a Green Bank
Montgomery County recently became the first local jurisdiction in the country to create a Green Bank when the County Council unanimously approved Bill 18-15, sponsored by Councilmember Roger Berliner. A green bank is an innovative approach to low–cost financing to increase residential and commercial solar, support energy efficiency improvements and kick-start new green technologies.
Bill 18-15, Environmental Sustainability-Montgomery County Green Bank, authorizes County government to designate a green bank to promote investment in clean energy technologies. It also specifies the processes to designate a nonprofit corporation to function as a green bank, establishes a Green Bank Work Group and generally defines the nature and powers of a green bank.
See more in the news release.
Read about Montgomery County in the Brookings online piece “Green banking goes local.”
Bill 18-15, Environmental Sustainability-Montgomery County Green Bank, authorizes County government to designate a green bank to promote investment in clean energy technologies. It also specifies the processes to designate a nonprofit corporation to function as a green bank, establishes a Green Bank Work Group and generally defines the nature and powers of a green bank.
See more in the news release.
Read about Montgomery County in the Brookings online piece “Green banking goes local.”
Brookside Gardens Chosen Maryland’s Most Beautiful Place in Recent Poll
Visit Montgomery recently tweeted the following bit of news:
#Thrillist has named the most beautiful places in each state; Maryland’s most beautiful place is Wheaton’s Brookside Gardens.
Residents and tourism boards from each state were polled to determine what that one “ must-hit” (and “must-Instagram”) spot is.
Leggett Names Fausto R. Bayonet as Montgomery County’s Newest WSSC Commissioner
County Executive Isiah Leggett has named Rockville architect and businessman Fausto R. Bayonet as the newest commissioner to represent the County on The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s (WSSC) governing board.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Bayonet came to the Washington area in 1971 to further his architectural studies at the University of Maryland. For more than 20 years he held positions in various capacities for a number of architecture firms, working on a variety of residential, commercial and public projects.
Bayonet replaces Gene Counihan who recently retired after eight years of service as commissioner, in addition to his more than 50-year career serving the people of Montgomery County and Maryland.
See the full news release.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Bayonet came to the Washington area in 1971 to further his architectural studies at the University of Maryland. For more than 20 years he held positions in various capacities for a number of architecture firms, working on a variety of residential, commercial and public projects.
Bayonet replaces Gene Counihan who recently retired after eight years of service as commissioner, in addition to his more than 50-year career serving the people of Montgomery County and Maryland.
See the full news release.
Maryland SoccerPlex and Discovery Center Named County’s Hospitality Company of the Year
The Maryland SoccerPlex and Discovery Sports Center, located in the South Germantown Recreation Park has received the Hospitality Company of the Year award from the Department of Economic Development. The award was presented at the 3rd Annual Montgomery County Small Business Awards Luncheon.
The primary criterion for consideration is economic impact on the local region. The Maryland SoccerPlex annually welcomes 650,000 visitors and pumps $24 million dollars into the local economy.
The Maryland SoccerPlex, which opened in 2000, is considered a model for public-private partnerships. It is a non-profit organization operated by the Maryland Soccer Foundation to provide opportunities for all children to participate in sports regardless of skill level, gender or economic means.
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