Montgomery County Recreation Announces New Senior Programs and Services at Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center

The seventh Montgomery County Senior Center is now open at the Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center complex, located at 11701 Georgia Avenue. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich toured the senior center on Friday, Jan. 24 and noted the importance of providing opportunities for the County’s growing 55-plus population to stay active and engaged.

The Center provides opportunities for community members 55 years or older to participate in recreational, educational, and cultural activities. The facility hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

In addition to Wheaton, the County’s senior centers include Damascus, Holiday Park, Long Branch, Margaret Schweinhaut, North Potomac and White Oak. The centers offer a variety of activities including travel programs, health and wellness programs and services, a weekday lunch program, recreation programs, information and referral assistance, volunteer opportunities and exercise and fitness facilities.

More information is available by visiting the MoCoRec website.

Marc Elrich and Other County Executives Fight for Increased Funds for School Construction

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich voiced his support for increased state funding for school construction in a standing-room-only session in Annapolis. Elrich testified in front of the Maryland General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee in support of House Bill (HB) 1: Built to Learn Act of 2020. (HB1) on Thursday, Jan. 24. Other local county executives included Howard County

Photo credit: Danielle E. Gaines, Maryland Matters.org

Executive Calvin Ball and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

Montgomery County is the 14th-largest school district in the nation, with more than 165,000 students. The public-school system has 206 schools, one career and technology school, five special schools and one alternative program. Many of the County schools are substantially overutilized with infrastructure that extends past its life cycle. The state funds will provide necessary capital improvements to provide for a proper learning environment.

Census Bureau is Hiring

The 2020 Census will start in early March and the Census Bureau is hiring. Enumerator and supervisor positions are available; there are part-time and full-time opportunities. The pay starts at $29.50 hourly. A background check and training are employment requirements.

Spanish-speaking applicants are encouraged to apply. There is specific demand in the areas of Rockville, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring. If you already applied for a position, the Census Bureau is calling applicants for telephone interviews and instructions on fingerprinting.

It is important that applicants answer their phones for that interview as the Census Bureau is not leaving a message to request a call back. You can follow up on your job application on the dashboard on your Census application account or call 240-382-6277.

Learn more or apply online on the 2020 Census Jobs page or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/census.

Summer Will Be Here Before You Know It; When School is Out Montgomery County Recreation Is All In

It is time to start planning for summer. Montgomery County Recreation has hundreds of camps to keep kids active and engaged all summer long.

Registration is now underway for Montgomery County Recreation and Montgomery Parks summer camps. View the Montgomery County Summer Camps Guide online

Montgomery County Recreation provides hundreds of affordable, quality summer camp programs at convenient locations throughout the County. Parents are encouraged to register now as many of the programs fill quickly.

Holiday Schedule for Presidents Day Holiday, Monday, Feb. 17

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for the Presidents Day Holiday, Monday, Feb. 17:

• County Offices – closed.
• Libraries – closed.
• Alcohol Beverage Services – all stores open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Recreation – aquatics programs and facilities open.  Recreation centers, senior centers and administrative are closed.
• Montgomery Parks - visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
• Ride On – will run a modified holiday schedule.
• Ride On Flex – no service on holidays.
• Metrorail and Metrobus – Information available at www.wmata.com.
• TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center – will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store – closed.
• County-provided refuse/recycling pickup – County-provided trash and recycling will not be collected. After the holiday, county-provided recycling and trash collection will slide one day, with the last collection Saturday, Feb. 22.
• Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station – open normal hours.
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free.
• State offices and courts – closed.

County Executive Marc Elrich Speaks Up for Equitable, Renewable Energy Legislation

County Executive Marc Elrich participated in the Community Choice Energy Act Introduction Press Conference held in Annapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Delegate Lorig Charkoudian and Senator Pam Beidle sponsors of the Community Choice Energy Act (CCE), led the event.

Additional attendees included: Reverend Kobi Little, Maryland State Conference of the NAACP; Marceline White, Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition; Lily Hawkins, Maryland Organizer, Food & Water Watch; and other policy experts and concerned residents.

Allowing CCE programs in Maryland could give communities local control over their energy supply, enabling clean energy initiatives that have local benefits. Community Choice Energy will also drive energy equity, as programs can negotiate lower rates for residents. This policy would move Maryland closer to the goal of 100 percent clean and renewable energy, and benefit working families because it will cut monthly energy bills

Nine African American War Heroes To Be Honored During Commission on Veterans Affairs Black History Month Tribute

The Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs will honor nine County military veterans with detailed tributes displayed throughout February at Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The Black History Month display is free to view any time the Civic Building is open to the public.

The Silver Spring Civic Building is located at One Veterans Place in Downtown Silver Spring. The main room of the building was dedicated in 2018 as Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall to pay tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers unit that was formed by Congressional legislation in the 1860s that allowed African Americans to enlist in the United States military.

The County veterans featured in the tribute of photos, background information and details of accomplishments during their military careers and afterward include John Henry Chaney, Justin Davis, Jeremiah Floyd, Gloria Gardner, Elwood Gray, Arthur Holmes, Jr., Isiah Leggett, Vernon Ricks and William Smith.

As part of the Silver Spring celebration of Black History Month, SPARKLE (Senior Programs Aimed at Re-Kindling Lifetime Engagement), which is a collaboration of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. and the Silver Spring Village, will sponsor a talk with Brigadier General Charles McGee at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall. Brigadier General McGee, who turned 100 in December, is the oldest living member of the Tuskegee Airmen. He flew 137 combat missions in World War II and went on to fly missions during the Korean War and in Vietnam.

Learn more about the Montgomery Commission on Veterans Affairs on the website.

Hundreds Participate In Montgomery County Commission for Women 40th Annual Women's Legislative Briefing

Hundreds turned out for the 40th Anniversary Women’s Legislative Briefing hosted by the Montgomery County Commission for Women. The event was held Sunday, Jan. 26 at The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen; Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks; Barbara Harrison, award-winning journalist; and Commissioners from the Montgomery County Commission for Women as speakers for the event.

Elrich addressed winning passage of several Maryland legislative issues important to the Commission for Women. Those included making strangulation a first-degree assault; protecting victims of human trafficking; non-disclosure of salary history; and, a family and medical leave insurance program.

The event included a reception with elected officials and the induction of Councilmember Nancy Navarro into the Women’s History Archives.

County Executive Marc Elrich and Council President Sidney Katz Talk Business and Economic Development On Small Business Network

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Sidney Katz recently participated in a Small Business Network panel discussion at Montgomery Community Media’s studio.

The topic focused on economic development and included discussions on the County’s efforts to be even more business friendly.

The full video is available here.

Suburban Hospital To Open New Building That Will Enhance Patient Services

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich participated in dedicating the Suburban Hospital’s North Building on Friday, Jan, 24. One of the major employers in the County, Suburban Hospital employs more than 1,800 people, and is the region’s designated trauma center.

The 300,000 square-foot expansion will open on Monday, March 2. The new building comprises 108 private patient rooms, 14 high-tech operating rooms with robotic technology, two interventional cardiovascular labs, a patient and family resource center and new visitor lounge. The North Building also includes a new Education and Conference Center and improved traffic flow and pedestrian access to the campus.

View photos from the event here.