35th Annual National Night Out

Mark your calendars, 2018 National Night Out annual observances will take place on Tuesday, August 7. If you aren’t familiar with National Night Out, it is designed to generate neighborhood support and participation in crime prevention efforts and to enhance police and community relations. It was originally sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.

There will be many celebrations throughout the County to help neighbors get to know one another and build community spirit. Please check out the listing of locations that are coordinated with Montgomery County Police here.

Additional events have been coordinated with other law enforcement agencies that serve the County.

Montgomery County Recreation Fall Guide Registration Begins Aug. 13

The Fall Guide for Montgomery County Recreation and Montgomery Parks programs will be available online Friday, Aug. 3.

The Guide features hundreds of activities and programs for all ages and interests, including aquatics, arts, sports, therapeutic recreation, tours and trips.

Look for print copies at aquatic facilities, recreation centers, park facilities and public libraries beginning Monday, Aug. 6. Registration opens Monday, Aug. 13.

For more information, visit the Montgomery County Recreation website.

Montgomery County and Community Partners Hold Memorial Service to Remember the Lives of Homeless Who Died

County officials and nonprofit partners held a memorial service on July 18 to honor individuals who died homeless this past year. The event was held at the Executive Office Building Plaza located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville.

Following the memorial service, officials launched a communitywide effort to end homelessness for families with children by 2020. Montgomery County partners with non-profit organizations, foundations, corporations, consumers, donors and the community toward the common goal to prevent and end homelessness in Montgomery County.

More information on the collaborative work, services for the homeless and data is available at montgomerycountymd.gov/homelessness.

Important Safety Information for Buying and Selling Internet-Advertised Items; Montgomery County Police Offers Exchange Zones

Do you take advantage of internet-based marketplaces? When items purchased online are exchanged in person, it is important that it is done in a public and safe location. The Montgomery County Police Department has designated “Exchange Zones” for residents to complete transactions at each of its six police district-station parking lots and lobbies.

Those locations are:

• Public Safety Headquarters /1st District Station: 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, 240.773.6070 
• 2nd District Station: 4823 Rugby Avenue, Bethesda, (LOBBY ONLY, due to the secured parking lot), 240.773.6700 
• 3rd District Station: 1002 Milestone Drive, Silver Spring, 240.773.6800
• 4th District Station: 2300 Randolph Road, Wheaton, (LOBBY ONLY, during parking lot construction project scheduled through fall), 240.773.5500 
• 5th District Station: 20000 Aircraft Drive, Germantown, 240.773.6200
• 6th District Station: 45 West Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg, 240.773.5700

This Exchange Zone program is implemented to help reduce and deter crimes such as theft, robbery, and fraud. If the seller or buyer refuses to conduct the transaction at a police station, take that as a red flag warning and avoid doing business with that individual.

Here are some safety tips to help you when planning a personal exchange with an unknown person:

• Plan to meet during daylight hours
• Never invite strangers to your home, or agree to meet at a stranger’s home
• Always meet the buyer or seller at an exchange zone that is well-populated, well-lit, and preferably at a designated police exchange zone
• Let friends or family know of your intention to meet to conduct a transaction and take someone with you
• Inform the buyer or seller that you will not be alone
• Bring a cell phone along in case of an emergency
• Never give out any personal or financial information

Police personnel recommend that transactions are made on their premises, but they cannot act as official witnesses to the transaction, give legal advice about the transaction, and will not mediate or settle disputes related to transactions. Police are not trained, nor authorized, to validate the legitimacy of any transaction, item for sale, the integrity of any product or goods, or the legality of a sale.

Second Annual Summer RISE Provides MCPS Students with Purposeful Career Development Experiences

WorkSource Montgomery, Inc. (WSM) has completed this year’s Summer RISE (Real Interesting Summer Experience). This innovative initiative led by WSM in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), provided rising juniors and seniors career development experiences.

Summer RISE students participated in career opportunities (averaging 20 hours per week) which introduced them to the structure of organizations in local industries, workplace norms, and the importance of customer service. Students participated in professionalism training and earned stipends at the program’s end.

Montgomery County departments including Public Libraries (MCPL), Fire & Rescue, and Police Department, hosted students. Other participating hosts included MedImmune, CVS Health, Donohoe Construction Company, Holy Cross Health, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning, Henley Construction Company, Marriott International, and MCPS.

MCPL hosted 39 students. Read about the experience of two interns, Kendi and DT who worked at the MCPL Administrative Office here.

FREE SPACE on Display at the Kramer Gallery and It’s Free

There is a new art exhibit, FREE SPACE, on display through September 7, at the Betty

Mae Kramer Gallery in the Silver Spring Civic Building located at 1 Veterans Place.

Artists Akemi Maegawa and Jackie Hoysted have collaborated to create a series of installations intended for public activation. The display encourages visitors to play, create and experience a space where opposing realities converge. For more information about the exhibit, visit the gallery’s website.

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration to Begin Resurfacing Major Roads in Montgomery County

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is preparing to begin three safety and resurfacing projects in Montgomery County. The projects, which total $6.7 million, are expected to be completed in fall 2019. Motorists are urged to plan extra travel time during the construction.

All the resurfacing projects include milling (removal of the top layer of asphalt), paving and restriping. Other work includes repairing damaged concrete sidewalk, curbs and gutters and cleaning of drainage inlets and pipes.

The first project, which is underway, is in Chevy Chase on MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) between north of MD 410 (East-West Highway) and Manor Road.

Later in August, MDOT SHA will begin two additional resurfacing projects. In Rockville, MDOT SHA will resurface 1.1 miles of MD 355 (Rockville Pike) between MD 28 (Veirs Mill Road) and Mannakee Street and in Gaithersburg on 1.7 miles of MD 124 (Montgomery Village Avenue) between the spur to Christopher Avenue and Mid-County Highway.

More information about the projects is available here.

David C. Anderson Confirmed New Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief

MCP Assistant Chief

David C. Anderson

Captain David C. Anderson, who was nominated for the position of Montgomery County Police (MCP) Assistant Chief by County Executive Isiah Leggett, was recently confirmed by the County Council. Anderson has served in an “Acting” capacity since May when former MCP Assistant Chief Darryl McSwain began his appointment as Chief of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police – Montgomery County Division.

Anderson, whose most recent prior assignment was Commander of the Montgomery County Police 1st District (Rockville), is an almost-29-year veteran of the department. During his MCP career, he has risen through the ranks holding a wide variety of positions throughout the department. Learn more about Anderson’s career here.

The Montgomery County Department of Police has four Assistant Chiefs serving under Chief of Police J. Thomas Manger. Each one is the Chief of one of four police bureaus. Assistant Chief Anderson is Chief of the Field Services Bureau. Assistant Chief Laura Lanham is Chief of the Patrol Services Bureau, Assistant Chief Marcus Jones is Chief of the Investigative Services Bureau and Assistant Chief Russ Hamill is Chief of the Management Services Bureau. Each has expressed his/her personal pride in leading the dedicated men and women of the MCP, and in choosing a career of public service to the residents of Montgomery County.

Capacity Crowd Turns Out for the ‘What’s Next for Wheaton’ Forum Hosted by Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee

A capacity crowd turned out for the community forum entitled, “What’s Next for Wheaton” held on July 18. Hosted by the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (WUDAC), the forum shared community insights and priorities from a panel of experts, elected officials and community members on their respective visions for Wheaton redevelopment in the coming years.

WUDAC collected information from the forum and gathered input from hundreds of residents who responded to a survey and thorough focus groups. The feedback will be reviewed at the next WUDAC meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11. The meeting will be held in the upstairs meeting room of the interim Wheaton Library located above the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad at 2400 Arcola Road. Everyone is invited to the meeting.

Much of the evening’s discussion centered on the desire of the thriving Wheaton community to have an arts and cultural facility. In addition, the evening addressed how to build a better link between the Westfield Wheaton Mall and the downtown district of small businesses that are located nearby. Improving transportation routes for vehicles and bicycles and sidewalks for pedestrians was a constant theme of the forum.

WUDAC consists of 11 residents and business representatives appointed by County Executive Ike Leggett and approved by the County Council. The committee provides guidance and advice on matters affecting the Wheaton Urban District and is closely the monitoring the Wheaton Revitalization Project.

Wheaton is a diverse, transit-accessible community currently undergoing significant changes as part of the Wheaton Revitalization Project. The County is building a 14-story government office building that is scheduled for completion in 2020. In addition to the construction of the office building, the project will provide 397 below ground parking spaces, first floor retail space and a new town square. Most significantly impacted during construction is the Wheaton Triangle area between Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue. The local roads that form the Triangle area include Grandview Avenue, Reedie Drive and Triangle Lane.

The main occupant of the new building will be the relocated Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which is now in Downtown Silver Spring. The 308,000 square-foot, LEED platinum certified Wheaton office building also will be home to several County departments including Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, Health and Human Services, Recreation and Community Use of Public Facilities. In addition, relocating to the new building will be the Wheaton Urban District and the Mid-County Regional Services Center.

More information about the forum and the project is available here.

Community Bakeoff Scheduled for September 8

The Colesville Community Market will hold a community bakeoff on September 8. Councilmember George Leventhal will participate as one of the three judges for the event. The bakeoff judging will begin at 10:30 a.m.

The market, located at 52 Randolph Road in Silver Spring, will be open from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

More information is available here.