Montgomery County Recreation Starts the New Year with the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge

Montgomery County Recreation, for the second year, challenges everyone to get out and walk, jog, run a mile or more, or participate in 20 minutes of continuous physical activity like biking, swimming, yoga, aerobics, skiing, weightlifting, dancing or others.

The goal of the program is to complete 100 miles (or more) in 100 days. Twenty minutes of continuous physical activity also counts as one mile. Registration is available at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org using activity number 26595.

The 100 Mile Challenge will kick off with a fun event at the Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton on Saturday, January 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will include a healthy taste testing reception, fitness activities, a Zumba dance group activity and body fat analysis. All participants will receive a T-shirt, water bottle and swag bag at the event. Speakers will include Nicky and Bob Lowry who will discuss their adventures climbing Mt. Everest this past spring.

For information, call 240-777-6840, or go online to website.

Office of Consumer Protection

The County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) investigates and resolves complaints throughout the year. Take a look at the short video which outlines some of the 2016 resolved complaints.

Registration to Open for Summer Camps and Programs on January 17

Even though we are in the middle of the winter chill, Montgomery County Recreation has their thoughts on butterflies, flip flops and outdoor pools. Registration for summer camps will open on January 17 with hundreds of affordably-priced offerings; including arts, nature, science and sports programs.

Camps and summer programs are available for tots to teens and all skill levels at locations throughout the County. Early registration is encouraged because space is limited and signups are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec.

January is National Radon Action Month

During the month of January, Montgomery County has joined a nationwide effort to educate homeowners and renters on the dangers of radon gas and the importance of testing every home. Radon Action Month focuses on the steps we can take to help ensure our homes are safe and radon free.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is responsible for roughly 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.

January is an especially good time to test homes for radon because windows and doors are closed tightly and people spend more time indoors. Testing typically happens in the basement or first floor of a building since radon enters a home through cracks and other openings in the foundation.

In awareness of Radon Action Month, the County’s Department of Environmental Protection has developed a new radon brochure with information on testing and the 2016 Radon Home Sale testing law. The brochure is available at website and will be distributed at libraries and regional service centers.

For more information on radon, testing and finding a radon mitigation contractor, visit the new DEP radon website.

Senior Groups Encouraged to Schedule a Keeping Seniors Safe Presentation

Did you know that the Montgomery County Police Department’s Volunteer Resources Section coordinates free Keeping Seniors Safe (KSS) presentations for County senior organizations and neighborhood groups? The KSS program provides outreach to seniors on topics such as frauds and scams against seniors, identity theft, elder abuse, emergency preparedness and County resources especially for senior residents. Everyone can benefit from learning more about how to improve personal safety. For additional information visit website. To schedule a presentation at your organization’s meeting or event, contact the Volunteer Resources Section at 240-773-5625 or email Police.KSS@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Firefighters Battle Resource Recovery Facility Fire

Firefighters were called to a fire at the Resource Recovery Facility on December 8. The facility is located at 21204 Martinsburg Road in Dickerson. The fire began on the tipping floor, which is the area where trucks drive in to dump waste. Firefighters remained on site monitoring the fire through December 19.

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) remained on the scene throughout the incident. DEP installed air portable monitors in four locations to measure both particulates and toxics and conducted water sampling from the discharge pond.

The Office of Emergency Management used the Alert Montgomery and land-line notification systems to update residents about the fire. The fire did not impact single-family residential curbside trash pick-up, however, commercial customers were temporarily diverted to other facilities.

Fitness After 50—It’s Never Too Late to Start!

There are many reasons why regular exercise and physical activity are important to everyone, including older adults. Check out this updated list of fitness options available across the County or download flyer in pdf format.

Helping Others is All in a Day’s Work for Three Highway Services’ Employees

In December, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) received an email stating that “leaf collection men helped save my dog – KUDOS.” The three heroic MCDOT Highway Services’ employees were Donald Thompson, Keith Howard and Doug Jones – all from Highway’s Silver Spring Depot.

This started on Saturday, December 3, when three large dogs bolted away from their dog walker to attack a dog being walked by its owner. The dog owner laid down on his beloved pet in the middle of the street to shield it from the other dogs. Lying face down, he heard a friendly voice telling him that it was safe to get up. Thompson, Howard and Jones who had been nearby working on one of MCDOT’s leaf vacuum collection crews saw what was happening and came to the rescue. They grabbed the attacking dogs’ leashes to pull them away and return them to the dog walker. The owner’s dog was unharmed, but the shaken gentleman felt he did not properly thank the men who acted so quickly to help – and that is when he wrote to MCDOT to explain what had happened.

“I wanted to let you know how grateful I am for their willingness to take this action,” said the dog owner.

“I commend Donald Thompson, Keith Howard and Doug Jones, who didn’t hesitate to go above and beyond during a difficult situation and take fast action to help someone,” said MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh upon receiving the email. “To the dog owner, these three employees are real heroes. And they are to us, too. Our MCDOT staff are special – they are dedicated and hardworking and do an exemplary job. That’s why it’s always so great to hear from residents not only about efforts that our staff make in extraordinary circumstances, but also about the great service they provide day in and day out.”

Montgomery County Young Women Participate in White House Events

( L to R) Shantavia Craigg, First Lady Michelle Obama, Natasha Yakanda
Photo credit: Crittenton Services of Greater Washington 

Montgomery County young women participating with Crittenton Services of Greater Washington
recently participated in a series of national events presented by the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Shantavia Craigg of John F. Kennedy High School and Natasha Yakanda of Gaithersburg High School, had the opportunity to speak their minds on gender equality, racism, and the elimination of all forms of social injustice for girls of color at the United State of Women Summit. Crittenton Services of Greater Washington alumnae also participated in "Young Women Leading the Way: Breaking Barriers for Girls and by Girls," presented by the White House in November.

In December, John F. Kennedy High School graduate and Montgomery College graduate, Leteria Bailey, introduced keynote speaker Vanita Gupta - Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, at the Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color: Continuing Progress and Building Toward Change White House event.

Crittenton Services of Greater Washington girls participated in an event dedicated to women in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) - specifically, American space exploration where First Lady, Michelle Obama made remarks. The program included a question and answer component on the four eras of women in space, a screening of the new film Hidden Figures and a panel discussion with the film's starring actors.

Crittenton Services of Greater Washington empowers vulnerable teen girls to overcome obstacles, make positive choices, and achieve their goals through programs in schools throughout the Greater Washington area. For more information about the program go to website.

Winning Design Selected in Poster Competition for Wheaton Arts Parade

Garrett Goltz, a senior at Winston Churchill High School won the prize for the winning design in the Wheaton Arts Parade poster competition. The faculty at Albert Einstein High School, Visual and Performing Arts Academy selected Goltz’s design from entries from multiple Montgomery County Public High School students.

The design will be featured on parade posters, programs, banners and other marketing materials. The design captures the parade theme, "Parade the Triangle," and how the parade will bring Wheaton's diverse citizens, cultures, and commerce together to celebrate visual and performing arts. Wheaton is one of three Maryland Arts & Entertainment Districts in Montgomery County.

The parade and arts festival is scheduled to take place in Wheaton on September 24. Information about the parade can be found on website.