The Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association (GFNCA) and Grandview Circle of Opportunities will join with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Impact Silver Spring and other organizations for the return of the Glenmont Forest Community Block Party from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 10. This year’s event also will celebrate the Glenmont Forest Community Park’s new playground, pavilion and other added amenities.
The new park and pavilion is located at the corner of Randolph Road and Georgia Avenue adjacent to Fire Station No. 18 in Wheaton-Glenmont. There is no charge to attend the block party.
GFNCA block parties celebrate the community’s diversity, local arts and the environment. The annual community block party has not been held the previous two years due to the COVID-19 health crisis. All current health regulations will be observed at this year’s block party.
This year’s party with have three special highlights:
Creation of the Gathering Tree Public Art project by local artists Sandra Perez-Ramos and Stuart Diekmeyer. The project is funded by a grant from Maryland State Arts Council.
Dedication of the completed DEP Green Streets project and Clean Water Montgomery campaign launch.
Announcement of the new grant-funded community gardens with Impact Silver Spring.
The block party will feature local vendors; displays of nonprofits; artisans; informational booths from local, State and Federal officials; project grant funders; County departments; and lively entertainment. There will be games, fun and family activities including moon bounces.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will join the Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association (GFNCA), the Grandview Circle of Opportunities, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Impact Silver Spring and other organizations and residents to dedicate the Glenmont Forest Community’s new “Green Streets” project and celebrate the return of the Glenmont Forest Community Block Party from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 10.
The DEP Green Streets project was completed in June after a year of construction. The Glenmont Forest and Wheaton Hills Green Streets project is comprised of 53 small-scale projects, which include tree boxes, rain gardens and other types of landscaping designed to filter or infiltrate stormwater runoff. Unique to the project will be interactive signage that includes an educational challenge throughout the community.
The community was built in the 1940's and 50’s before advances were developed in modern stormwater management. As a part of the County's effort to protect waters, the Glenmont Forest and Wheaton Hills neighborhood was selected for a Green Streets project to help reduce stormwater pollution flowing into nearby Joseph’s Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek.
The award-winning images from the Maryland Photography Alliance will be on display through Sept. 5 at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. The exhibition is part of “Photography Across the City,” which also includes displays at Kentlands Mansion and the Arts Barn.
Bohrer Park is located at 506 South Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Many photographers who have their works on display will make themselves available at an artists’ reception from 1-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 17.
The exhibit features 57 images from the Alliance’s fifth annual competition.
The artists featured include Sukumar Balachandran, Paul Biederman, Steve Bruza, Stan Collyer, Larry Dean, Earl Deickman, Steven Dembo, Lei Deng, Sabine Dickens, William Dusterwald, Bruce Edwards, Christine Edwards, Kaye Flamm, Christopher Frisone, Matthew Hanson, Martin Heavner, Esther Iglich, Karen Jury, Stefan Kaben, Elliott Kagan, Wendy Kates, Erica Kavadias, Cheryl Kerr, Beth Koller, Michael Kuchinsky, Cam Miller, Douglas Miller, Kevin Moore, Sandy Nichols, Ruiqing Pamboukian, Ajay Rajagopal, Jenny Rea, Heather Rees, Lynn Roberts, Adan Rodriguez-Arroyo, Joan Saba, Reinhardt Sahmel, Anik Sales, Dave Schaible, Bill Seelig, Goutam Sen, Margaret Sprott, David Terao, Mike Thomas, Fred Venecia, Carol Ward, Kayla Welsh, Warren Wilson, Douglas Wolters, and Nikos Zacharakis.
Founded in 2017, the Maryland Photography Alliance seeks to promote collaboration, cooperation and the sharing of resources among member clubs. Through a strong alliance, individual club members have greater access to photographic enrichment opportunities. MPA’s goal is to encourage the understanding and appreciation of photography through a statewide photo competition, gallery exhibitions, educational opportunities, certifications and grants
As we approach the 4th of July holiday weekend—a time when we should celebrate our nation and our freedoms—we are doing so in the dark shadow of recent Supreme Court rulings. This month has been one setback after another from the decades of progress we have made on civil rights, reproductive rights and public safety. These rights have been upended by the decisions of a right-wing, extremist dominated Supreme Court three of whom were appointed by a disgraced former president who lost the popular vote, but gained the presidency through our antiquated electoral college system. Perhaps no decision was more gut-wrenching than the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the first time ever that the Supreme Court has taken away a constitutional right. The ruling jeopardizes women, rolls back fundamental rights, and, ultimately, will significantly impact the health and life of many women in our country. This ruling turns the clock back on the progress that has been made to ensure the right of women to have an abortion.
Responding with actions, not just rhetoric
After this decision was announced, I joined almost 100 people--advocates for women’s rights and elected leaders in Wheaton--to voice our frustration, sadness and outrage.
In addition to taking to the streets to protest, we also need to push back with actions. That is why we announced a plan to allocate $1 million in funding for nonprofits and organizations that provide abortion and women’s health services. This plan for funding was transmitted to the County Council for approval this week.
These funds would allow for grants to be used for the following purposes:
Assisting with wraparound services for those who are accessing abortion services, as well as those who choose to have children.
Providing grants to organizations in the County that provide abortion services.
Supporting organizations focused on comprehensive family planning, reproductive health, and maternal health.
Providing aid to organizations that are fighting legal battles on behalf of those seeking access to reproductive rights.
Last week, I announced that the Montgomery County Government will not authorize funding for official travel to counties and states that are restricting abortion. We should not be contributing to the economies of these states. If other counties follow this practice, it will have an even bigger impact.
As Montgomery County’s Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno mentioned in this week’s update with the media, some states, like Missouri, are trying to push the issue even further and penalize people here in Montgomery County for helping women from their state to access health care that is no longer available there.
This is the reason why we are going to reach out to businesses in these states and encourage them to move to Montgomery County—where women’s rights are respected. Places like Austin, Texas may have been “hip” but Texas is waging war on the rights of women. I think there are business owners and employees who will no longer want to live and work in states like Texas and Florida. Our county has a thriving economy, great schools and a great quality of life. We will proactively advertise Montgomery County as a place where a woman’s health is protected.
Thankfully, Maryland passed the Abortion Care Access Act during the last General Assembly legislative session. It will go into effect on Friday. The act allows for training to expand the additional of medical professionals to perform abortions, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants and midwives. I supported this during Maryland’s legislative session and this County will do all it can to assist women access all their reproductive health care options.
An attack on our environment
The Court also attacks our environment:
This week’s SCOTUS ruling on West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency is extremely troubling and jeopardizes necessary efforts to combat climate change and ensure a clean environment for future generations.
This ruling does not change the fact that the widespread use of fossil fuels is causing the Earth to warm abnormally. Human-induced climate change poses grave threats to public health, economic prosperity, and the planet’s ability to sustain the ecosystem services that we depend on. We must continue to take bold climate action at the local, state, and federal levels in order to swiftly bring down greenhouse gas emissions.
We here in Montgomery County are affected by the actions of West Virginia and other states that refuse to take steps to reduce harmful emissions and instead accept higher pollution levels. Our region shares the same air and drinks the same water as these states, and we will all experience the negative impacts on our environment due to today’s ruling.
Montgomery County will continue to do its part. We have a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. Our Climate Action Plan provides a roadmap for combatting climate change, and we have many foundational climate initiatives already underway:
The County is developing a Community Choice Energy program that will enable the County to offer more renewable energy supply to customers.
The Council is evaluating the Comprehensive Building Decarboninzation legislation (Bill 13-22), which will require all-electric building standards for new construction, major renovations, and additions and limit fossil fuels, which not only impact our climate negatively but create poor indoor air quality for County residents.
The Capital Area Solar Co-op, now in its second year, uses collective purchasing power in our region to drive down the cost of installing solar panels.
County-owned buildings are pursuing net-zero construction and additional microgrid projects are planned.
The County is adding multiple Bus Rapid Transit routes to encourage people to leave their cars at home and use public transit.
The County is transitioning the County’s fleet of passenger vehicles, Ride-On buses, and school buses to electric vehicles. Ride-On currently operates four battery-electric buses with plans to procure another 96 buses over the next three years.
Montgomery County’s transit fleet is transitioning from diesel to electric power, while reducing lifetime emissions by over 155,000 tons.
To encourage private sector EV adoption, the County has begun the process of building our EV charging infrastructure with 40 Level 2 chargers located in County parking facilities and is finalizing a contract to install publicly accessible charging at over 60 additional County locations.
The FY23 Operating Budget establishes new positions and programs to prioritize our climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The County increased funding of $18.6 million to the Montgomery County Green Bank—the nation’s first local-level green bank organization. The Green Bank continues to leverage private capital to improve the energy efficiency and resiliency of our built environment and expand renewable energy in the County.
We will also continue to work with our regional partners and neighbors to address the urgency of climate change.
See the Climate Action Plan and quarterly updates to the Climate Work Plan for more information on how the County is responding to our climate emergency at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/climate
Fireworks return to Montgomery County after two-year hiatus
I want to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July weekend. There are celebrations scheduled in communities across the County and it is wonderful that, after a two-year hiatus, the County’s fireworks will return.
On Saturday evening, fireworks will be set off at Einstein High School as part of our “Mid-County Sparkles” event. Music starts at 6 p.m. with fireworks after dusk. On Monday evening, fireworks will be set off from South Germantown Recreational Park following a concert starting at 7 p.m. There will also be fireworks displays in Rockville and Poolesville on Monday night. And I am looking forward to walking in Takoma’s Park 4th of July parade that begins at 10 a.m. on the 4th and I am also looking forward to stopping by a number of celebrations throughout the day.
May the Fourth be safe for you
We also want everyone to be safe this weekend. The 4th of July holiday is one of the deadliest of the year in terms of traffic and pedestrian accidents, including fatalities related to intoxicated driving. In 2020, close to 500 people nationwide were killed in traffic accidents over the 4th of July holiday.
According to The Governors Highway Safety Association, Maryland is one of only five states to receive grant money to help address impaired driving over the holiday. These funds will be used to provide extra patrols by the Maryland State and Montgomery County police.
Montgomery County’s Vision Zero Coordinator, Wade Holland, also wants you to know about the “Sober Ride Program” put together by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP). Starting at 4 p.m. Monday, resident can get a free ride home (up to $15 in credit) via Lyft if they have been drinking too much. That program goes all night and into early Tuesday morning (4 a.m.) Since 1991, WRAP has provided more than 80,000 safe rides home around the holidays.
I encourage everyone to celebrate responsibly, drive sober, and stay alert no matter whether you are driving, walking or biking on our roads. Additionally, this weekend is one of the busiest times at our emergency rooms due to injuries related to fireworks, sparklers and other accidents. Fireworks start more than 19,000 fires and send more than 9,000 people to emergency rooms each year in this country. Please remember that in Montgomery County it is illegal to possess or discharge all types of fireworks.
Montgomery County Police will respond to complaints about fireworks, but please realize they are considered a low priority call and will not be put ahead of calls that the jeopardize life and public safety.
COVID cases still high; infant and small children vaccination clinics begin
A few weeks ago, we were predicting that our COVID-19 case rates were going to decline, and they have, but they are not bottoming out as low as we have seen in the past. Our rates continue to remain above the 200 cases per 100,000 residents threshold, which keeps our county in the medium community level per CDC guidelines. Our COVID hospitalization rates have also slightly increased in the past week as you can see in the chart above.
I want to thank our Department of Health and Human Services for effectively setting up and launching our vaccination efforts and clinics last week to provide vaccines to children between the ages of 6 months and five years. You can click here to make an appointment for your child. Please remember that private health care providers will also have the vaccines.
We still need, and are asking for more, vaccines for this newly eligible group. We placed an order for more vaccines late last week, but were told to expect the shipment to arrive next week. We have enough for this upcoming weekend’s clinics, but will schedule future clinics only after we are sure we have vaccines in hand. We do nott want to have cancel any appointments.
We continue to remind everyone to please get your vaccines and boosters. As we have mentioned in the past, holiday weekends are good times to take a booster shot to have an extra day to feel better recovering from it. Please visit govaxmoco.com for more information on where to take your shot.
Bravo! Two more Emmys for our ‘Abuelina’ COVID campaign
This past Saturday, Montgomery County won two local Emmys for the team that put together our “Abuelina” advertising and outreach campaign. This program is aimed at Spanish-speaking County residents, encouraging them to get their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The PSAs were entered in the “Public Service Single Spot" and “Campaign Categories.”
Since the pandemic began, Montgomery County has been proactive in making sure test kits, vaccines and boosters have been distributed in an equitable way. The “Abuelina” videos were the result of a lot of hard work by County employees, community partners and a production team contracted to put together the videos. I want to thank our partners at the Communications Shop for their creativity in developing messaging that is resulting in incredible outcomes for our Latino residents.
“Abuelina” has caught the attention of MSNBC, BBC World News and other national and international media outlets as an example of an effective COVID outreach campaign that has helped achieve positive outcomes. “Abuelina” is not only a great spokesperson and example of our COVID efforts, but also a representative of our intentional emphasis on equity.
Big news for Burtonsville
Over the past week, Burtonsville was the place to be. Last Friday, I joined County Councilmembers and community leaders in unveiling a beautiful, new “Welcome to Burtonsville” sign on Route 198.
This week we were happy to join EDENS, the owner of Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center, to announce that a Sprouts Farmers Market will soon be moving into the center, located at the intersection of Routes 198 and 29. Sprouts is a nationally known chain recognized as one of the finest grocers in America. This location will be easy for many in the DMV to access. The community-focused grocer is expected to kick off the long-awaited revitalization of Burtonsville Crossing.
This is a well-deserved outcome for Burtonsville residents, who for too many years, watched businesses vacate the shopping center, leaving a nearly empty shell of what was once a thriving center of commerce. I look forward to working with EDENS as we continue to develop a plan that integrates adjacent County-owned land with their revitalization efforts. And I want to thank and congratulate community leaders in Burtonsville, who after nearly a decade of fighting for a revitalized Burtonsville Crossing shopping center, can finally celebrate.
He deliberately endangered the lives of employees of this government
I want to express my outrage at the news and findings of the January 6 Committee. Besides this being an attempt by the former president to orchestrate a coup of our government, his actions clearly put lives in danger, and specifically, the officers of the Montgomery County Police Department who were sent to the Capitol as part of the response to the insurrection. Donald Trump’s actions were irresponsible. He deliberately endangered the lives of employees of this government.
I want to thank Montgomery County’s own, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, for his extraordinary work on this committee. We are grateful that he is a part of this investigation that seeks justice for those who sought to do harm that day. They must be held accountable.
Senior Tax Credit extended from five to seven years
The Montgomery County Council this week approved an extension of the Senior Tax Credit. Its vote extends the length of time that seniors and retired military members are eligible to apply for a 20 percent tax break on their homes. The extension from five years to seven years was made possible by a change in Maryland law during the most recent legislative session.
The Senior Tax Credit is available to homeowners who are at least 65 years old if the property is in their name and it is their main residence. All applicants for any Homeowners Tax Credit must be approved by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. It applies to a homeowner's property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of the person's gross income.
For more information on this tax credit and others, please click here.
Police Accountability Board confirmed by County Council
The County Council this week also approved all nine of our nominated members of the Police Accountability Board ahead of its formation on July 1. We received more than 60 applicants for this board, and we appreciate all those who expressed interest in serving.
All the nominees were vetted through my office and selected by me for confirmation by the Council. We selected fair-minded residents who believe in procedural justice, and we believe these individuals will bring increased accountability and transparency that will improve our police department and public safety in Montgomery County
Congratulations and thank you to every member of the new oversight committee and everyone who was considered. To read more about the members of our new Police Accountability Board, please click here.
Montgomery County will host two Independence Day fireworks displays and family gatherings this year, one in Kensington on Saturday, July 2, and the other on Monday, July 4, in Germantown.
"It’s great to be able to gather again and enjoy the fireworks and celebrations," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "I know they have been missed by so many. These are the first in several years. We are thrilled to return and we have so appreciated everyone’s cooperation and understanding of the need to protect public health. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.”
The Independence Day celebrations will take place at the following locations:
Saturday, July 2: “Mid-County Sparkles” at Albert Einstein High School, located at 11135 Newport Road in Kensington. Festivities, including music, begin at 6 p.m.
Monday, July 4: “Germantown Glory” at South Germantown Recreational Park, located at 18041 Central Park Circle in Germantown. Festivities, including music, begin at 7 p.m.
The fireworks displays will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. at both celebrations. The timing of the fireworks shows may change due to weather conditions. Low lawn chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome at both events. There will be food vendors at both locations. Alcoholic beverages and pets are not permitted.
“We are excited to bring back our Independence Day fireworks displays this year after having to put them on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Department of Recreation Director Robin Riley. “This is fantastic event to enjoy music, outdoors and time with family and friends.”
Mid-County Sparkles will begin at 6 p.m. on July 2 with a concert by the Joe Falero Band, a Latin Jazz band. Quiet Fire, a soul, rhythm and blues and rock band, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m.
The only parking available on-site at Einstein High School will be for individuals with disabilities. Free parking and shuttle service will be provided from Westfield Wheaton, located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road. Parking at Westfield Wheaton will open at 5:30 p.m. Event goers who park at Westfield Wheaton prior to 5:30 p.m. may be subject to towing by the property owner. Shuttle service will begin at 5:30 p.m. Follow the directional signs for event parking and shuttles.
Germantown Glory will kick off at 7 p.m. on July 4 with music by Quiet Fire, a soul, rhythm and blues and rock band that covers hits from the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Follow the directional signs for free on-site parking.
Sign language interpreter services and other auxiliary aids or services will be provided upon request, with as much notice as possible (preferably at least three business days before the event). To request special accommodations, contact a therapeutic recreation specialist at 240-777-6870 or email rec.inclusion@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Montgomery County recently showcased its expanded early warning Flood Sensor Program that can alert residents sooner about flooded roadways, potential dam failures and streams overflowing their banks. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was among those at a demonstration of one of the 35 high-tech sensors in Germantown. The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate is providing the County with the sensors.
The sensors detect rising water levels and provide early warnings about high water or flooding. They are being installed at flood prone sites across the County. Each sensor is solar powered and has an internal battery to maintain operations during inclement weather. The sensors use a tethered node that is placed underwater. The node detects the amount of pressure placed upon it by the water and calculates the depth of the water. Every five minutes, data is sent from the sensor by a cell phone card to a master display. A small color camera also sends images back to the main display. Every location has pre-determined thresholds for water depths for the sensor to alert that water levels are approaching or exceeding flood stage. If they are, a crew is sent to investigate the potential flooding and whether a low-lying road needs to be cleared, or if an Emergency Action Plan for a dam needs to be activated.
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) led the effort to get the sensors and the County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) worked on a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with DHS and Intellisense Systems Inc., the company that makes the devices. The County will share the data gathered by the sensors with the company and DHS to improve sensor design based on user feedback.
“This partnership between DHS and the County is critical to our efforts in warning Montgomery County residents about dangerous and life-threatening floods,” said County Executive Elrich. “Just a few weeks ago, heavy rain caused flash flooding that left several drivers stranded in their vehicles in Bethesda. Flooding also led to road closures in parts of the County. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. The County is no stranger to this kind of weather event, but now that we have these flood sensors, we can notify residents sooner of where flooding is happening so they can avoid danger.”
DHS today provided OEMHS with one more sensor. This one will be installed at Rock Creek Woods Apartments in Rockville where a 19-year-old man died in flooding last September.
County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said the Fire and Rescue Service is among the first to respond when flooding issues occur and threaten the safety of residents.
“Whenever heavy rain and flash flooding are predicted, rescue crews in the County have prepared for the inevitable,” said Chief Goldstein. “In the past, several areas have been susceptible to flooding and have put residents at risk, but now we have tools in our toolbox that can provide us early warning in order to prepare resources to respond to emergencies—and more importantly—alert Montgomery County residents that live and travel in those areas.”
Heavy rains that cause flooding are becoming harder to anticipate due to the impacts of climate change.
“Because of climate change, we are seeing more frequent and more intense rainfall,” said Acting DEP Director and County Climate Change Officer Adriana Hochberg. “These high-tech flood sensors are a crucial tool in managing the effects of a warmer planet.”
The County’s roadways can become danger zones when heavy rain results in flash flooding.
“The Montgomery County Department of Transportation designs, constructs and maintains County roadways,” said Department Director Chris Conklin. “When a flooded County roadway is reported, we close off the road and activate the Storm Operations Center, known as SOC, to get the word out to other departments and the community. These flood sensors will automatically detect rising water levels and provide early warnings giving us a head start on our response. As storms and flooding events have become more aggressive with climate change, early detection is key to protecting critical infrastructure, reducing property losses and most importantly protecting the health and safety of our residents.”
The summer season produces the highest rainfall in the Washington Region. The National Severe Storms Laboratory reports that more people are killed each year in the nation by flooding than are killed by tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning.
“The signed agreement between Montgomery County and the Department of Homeland Security will allow for faster, more-efficient detection of flooding at high-hazard dams and low-water crossings,” said County OEMHS Acting Director Marianne Souders. “This will enable public safety officials to take quicker action to protect lives and property.”
The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will observe schedule and program changes for the formal observance of Independence Day on Monday, July 4. In some cases, services also will have schedule changes on Sunday, July 3.
County offices—Closed.
State offices and courts—Closed.
State Motor Vehicle Administration offices and Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program stations—Closed.
Libraries—Closed.
Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS)—All stores will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
County-operated COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Clinics—Closed.
Ride On—Will operate on a Saturday schedule. All schedules can be viewed at RideOnBus.com.
Ride On extRa and Flex—Not in service.
Flash—Will operate on a weekend schedule (Orange Line only).
MARC Train and Commuter Bus— No rail service on the Camden or Brunswick Lines. The Penn Line will operate on a Sunday schedule
Metrorail—On Sunday, July 3, Metrorail will operate additional service. Metrorail will operate from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Trains will operate on a regular weekend schedule every 12 minutes on the Red Line and every 15 minutes on all other lines until 4 p.m. On Monday, July 4, trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. Metrorail will open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. Trains will run every 12 minutes on the Red Line and every 15 minutes on all other lines until 8 p.m., then every 15 minutes on the Red Line and every 20 minutes on all other lines until closing.
Metrobus—Will operate on a Sunday service schedule on Sunday, July 3, and Monday, July 4 (observed holiday). Check timetables for details. MetroAccess customers can make reservations to travel during the holiday; however, subscription trips will be canceled both days.
Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters—Free.
County-provided trash and recycling collections will not be made on July 4. Collections will slide one day during the week, with the last pickup on Saturday, July 9.
Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center—Closed.
Recreation: County outdoor aquatic facilities will be open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Indoor aquatic facilities will close at 6 p.m., except for the Germantown Indoor Swim Center, which will close at 3 p.m.
Tickets to Montgomery County Recreation’s seven outdoor pools this year are available online for pre-purchase. Tickets for the holiday on Monday, July 4, are now available. Tickets are available at a discounted rate of $5 per person.
Online tickets will be available for purchase through midnight on Friday, July 1. Regular gate admission will be available at full cost on Monday, July 4.
The seven outdoor pools include the following:
Bethesda Outdoor Pool, 301-652-1598, 6300 Hillandale Road, Bethesda
Germantown Outdoor Pool, 240-777-8067, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
Long Branch Outdoor Pool, 301-431-5700, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring
Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Outdoor Pool, 240-777-8066, 1201 Jackson Road, Silver Spring
Sara E. Auer Western County Outdoor Pool, 301-349-2217, 20151 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville
Sergeant Hector I. Ayala Wheaton/Glenmont Outdoor Pool, 301-929-5460, 12621 Dalewood Drive, Wheaton
Upper County Outdoor Pool, 301-840-2446, 8211 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg
Outdoor pool hours for July 4 are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Tickets will be valid for the session selected and are nonrefundable. Residents can purchase up to 10 tickets. Tickets will be scanned at the door and a valid photo ID is required. The primary purchaser must present the ticket upon entry for the entire group. Once the ticket is redeemed guest are not allowed re-entry. Buy tickets here.
For additional information about pool passes, amenities and hours of operation at all swimming pools, visit the Montgomery County Recreation website.
Thursday nights are alive with music this summer in Downtown Silver Spring as the free “Silver Spring Thursday Night Concerts” series continues on Veterans Plaza. Concert series are scheduled for 7-9 p.m. each Thursday evening through Aug. 11. The next performance, on July 7, will feature Baltimore-based rockabilly artist Josh Christina.
Veterans Plaza is located at 1 Veterans Place, adjacent to the Silver Spring Civic Building. The outdoor series has eight concerts scheduled.
Attendees can bring chairs, but they do not have to do that. Food and drinks are available from the many nearby downtown eateries. No alcohol is permitted on the plaza.
Josh Christina, a Baltimore native, is a throwback phenomenon is leading a rock n’ roll revival that has been praised by some of the genre’s founding members.
In 2015, Christina caught the ear of famed producer Kent Wells (Dolly Parton), and his sophomore project Good Old Love—featuring the radio charting single “Kayla Ann”—served as his official introduction to Nashville.
Following the release, Josh Christina toured overseas and made his international television debut on Ireland's Late Late Show.
The lineup for the Thursday night concert series:
July 7: Josh Christina, Rockabilly. Baltimore-based rockabilly artist Josh Christina inherited his musical chops from his father (a drummer), his mother (Baltimore-area singer Patti Christina) and his grandmother, who was a big band singer in the 1940s and '50s. Josh spent the past 15 years honing his sound—a combination of the country, classic rock, big band and rockabilly.
July 14: Ocho de Bastos, Latin Pop. Ocho de Bastos (Eight of Clubs) blends powerful drums, Latin percussion and catchy brass riffs with a unique guitar sound.
July 21: Guys in Thin Ties, ‘80s Alternative. The alternative ‘80s band plays your favorite, hard-driving tunes from the era of MTV and rad music videos.
July 28: Route 66, Classic Rock and Country. Route 66, also known as Club 66, plays everything from rock and roll, classic rock, blues, Motown, boogie woogie and old school country.
Aug. 4: Elliot Levine, R&B and Funk. The R&B and funk pianist has toured with Wilson Pickett, Heatwave and Brian McKnight.
Aug. 11: Gary and the Groove, Rock and Roll. Their rock and roll music covers all decades from the 1950s to the ‘90s—and even some hits from today.
Performances are canceled due to weather only if it is raining at 7 p.m. For more information about the series, visit silverspringdowntown.com.
The free, family-friendly “Evenings in Olde Towne” concert series will have performances on Thursday nights in June, July and September at the City Hall Concert Pavilion in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. All concerts will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. The next show will feature “The Breakaways Band” on Thursday, July 7.
The concerts offer the opportunity to wind down Thursdays with great music in a casual, outdoor setting. Attendees can bring food and drinks to the concerts. They should also bring a blanket or low-back chair for lawn seating.
The concert pavilion is located at 31 South Summit Ave. in Gaithersburg.
The Breakaways Band has covered more than three million tour miles and over 4,000 gigs. It has performed in all 50 states of the USA and in more than 40 countries. It has sold thousands of albums has had hundreds of thousands of songs streamed online. The Breakaways Band opened for, recorded with and has written songs with countless music industry legends.
Concerts are weather-dependent. Check the City’s website or social media for updates.
The Evenings in Olde Towne Concert Series is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). To discover more about MSAC grants and how they impact Maryland's arts sector, visit https://www.msac.org/.
