The Montgomery County “Design for Life” program provides property tax incentives to make homes accessible for all ages and stages of life. Information about the program is now available from the Department of Permitting Services (DPS), which issues permits and certifies Design for Life projects.
Accessible features of a Design for Life home include no-step entranceways, wider doorways, interior elevators, properly installed grab bars, maneuverable kitchens and bathrooms.
Watch the program on-demand and learn more about living comfortably through all ages and stages of life—from a young parent with a baby stroller to an athlete on crutches to older adults who are aging in place.
Ms. Lucas said it is important to get the word out about the Design for Life program to make sure more homeowners and home builders know about the incentives and get certified for the program.
Haley McClanahan and Elizabeth Harnett from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy will be the main speakers at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, as Montgomery Parks continues its free online Parks Speaker Series. The forum will focus on the Brooklyn Bridge Park TIDES (Teens Interested and Dedicated in Environmental Stewardship) program.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy plays a vital role in creating and energizing its New York City community into an urban oasis on the Brooklyn waterfront. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings a unique park space to life with more than 500 innovative and engaging educational, cultural, fitness and recreational programs each year.
The TIDES program began in 2016. It began with students between the ages of 14 and 18 joining a volunteer platform at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Saturdays in September and October dedicated to environmental sciences. TIDES participants assist education and horticulture staff at Brooklyn Bridge Park while exploring and learning more about their surroundings.
During the Dec. 14 presentation, Ms. McClanahan and Ms. Harnett will speak about the success of the TIDES program. They will share how the program got started, the goals of the program and how participants have helped shape the program into what it is today. They also will speak about the ways they have been able to retain alumni and continue to grow the program through a tiered system.
Registration for the Dec. 14 event is available here.
Montgomery County Recreation will begin accepting applications for 2023 Rec Assist, the department’s financial assistance program, on Monday, Dec. 12. Rec Assist provides County residents who receive eligible public assistance with an opportunity to receive a scholarship toward most Recreation activities and memberships.
Residents who currently receive public assistance from any of these programs are eligible for Rec Assist: Care for Kids; Free and Reduced-Price Meal Services (FARMS); Housing Assistance from a Shelter; Maryland Energy Assistance; Maryland Medicaid; Montgomery County HHS Rental Assistance Program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Supplemental Social Security Income; Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) and WIC.
Once approved, each eligible family member will have $200 placed on their respective ActiveMontgomery account. Rec Assist 2023 funds are available for use from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31—or until the funds are depleted. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rec Assist applications can be submitted online. Applications also can be submitted by mail to Montgomery County Recreation / Attention Rec Assist, 2425 Reedie Dr., 10th Floor, Wheaton, MD, 20902. Applications also can be dropped off at that same address from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each Monday-Friday.
Once an application is approved, the amount of eligible assistance will be placed on the indvidual’s ActiveMontgomery account within five business days. Funds will be available for use beginning Jan. 1.
Gene Meyer has spent decades exploring every nook and cranny of Maryland from the Eastern Shore to Appalachia—first for The Washington Post and then for Maryland Life magazine. History is always an essential ingredient of his work, and people and places in Montgomery County are part of the mix. He will bring those experiences to the Montgomery History free online presentation Hidden Maryland: In search of America in Miniature at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
In addition to relating his favorite anecdotes from his new book Hidden Maryland: In Search of America in Miniature, Mr. Meyer will share stories about his other travels.
Mr. Meyer is an award-winning veteran journalist with eclectic interests and special passions for history, lifestyles, travel, real estate and the Chesapeake Bay. He has been widely published in magazines, authored four books and was for many years a reporter and editor at The Post. Since leaving The Post in 2004, Mr. Meyer has received 17 awards for his work and has had more than 50 bylines in The New York Times. His first journalism job was as Washington bureau librarian for the old New York Herald Tribune, where he got to tag along with a White House reporter and watch the 1964 Civil Rights Act being signed into law.
The “Garden of Lights” display, which annually transforms Brookside Gardens in Wheaton into a magical winter wonderland, is now open for the 2022 winter season. The exhibit will be open from 5:30-9:30 p.m. every night through Jan. 1, except Dec. 24-25.
Brookside Gardens is located at 1800 Glenallan Ave. in Wheaton.
Garden of Lights is a half-mile, outdoor, walk-through exhibit that enables visitors to enjoy twinkling lights and glimmering one-of-a-kind displays adorning the flowerbeds and grounds throughout the 50-acre horticultural park. More than one million colorful LED lights are handcrafted into original works depicting animals, flowers and other natural elements.
The Brookside Gardens gift shop will be open during the Garden of Lights displays for purchase of unique seasonal items. Hot chocolate and light snacks also will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $10 per person for those 5 and older. Tickets must be purchased in advance online at Eventbrite.com. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.
Those who do not have computer access or a smartphone can stop by the Brookside Gardens’ visitor center, where information desk staff will assist in buying tickets online. In-person ticketing assistance is available at the visitor center daily from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tickets are timed entry with a specific day and entrance time for arrival. Attendees must arrive within 30 minutes of the ticketed time slot to redeem tickets. Tickets have specific arrival times of 5:30, 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 or 8:30 pm.
It is suggested that you print a hard copy of the digital tickets to bring to the event. This eliminates potential trouble accessing digital tickets.
Garden of Lights is an outdoor, rain or shine event. Tickets are non-refundable. However, if Brookside Gardens cancels the event for any reason, ticket holders will be notified via email the same day as the cancellation and refunds will be automatically posted to the customer's original form of payment within one week.
The Rockville Civic Ballet will present three additional performances of the holiday favorite The Nutcracker on Dec. 10 and 11. Eleanor Simpson and Erin Kwong will direct the classic that follows Clara on her magical journey.
The Rockville Civic Ballet consists of 85 adult and child dancers. Since 1974, the company has annually performed the The Nutcracker. The company also annually performs a spring and summer production.
The Rockville Civic Ballet performs at the City of Rockville’s F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, which is located at 603 Edmonston Dr. in Rockville.
Performances will be at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11.
Tickets are $17 for adults and $13 for seniors (60 and older) and children (12 and under). Group pricing is available by contacting the theatre box office at 240-314-8690 or theatre@rockvillemd.go.
Michael W. Twitty, an award-winning culinary historian, food writer, teacher and author, will join the free, online “Contemporary Conversations” series of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. Mr. Twitty will be discussing the connection between the foods and traditions of the African Atlantic and the global Jewish diaspora.
Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. Registration can be done online.
The Contemporary Conversations series is sponsored by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc.
Mr. Twitty has appeared on Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern; Many Rivers to Cross with Henry Louis Gates; and most recently, Taste the Nation with Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi. His books The Cooking Gene (2017), Rice: A Savor the South Cookbook (2021) and KosherSoul (2022) have received great acclaim. The Cooking Gene was a finalist for The Kirkus Prize and The Art of Eating Prize. It was a third-place winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover New Writer's Awards in Nonfiction. It also won the 2018 James Beard Award, making Mr. Twitty the first Black author to earn that award.
“The Contemporary Conversations series is a community forum to discuss cultural and current issues with renowned authors and journalists and to engage in enriching dialogues, “said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “To bring a culinary historian with such national appeal as Michael W. Twitty to the series is a wonderful opportunity for MCPL and the community.”
Previous speakers in the Contemporary Conversations series include Kojo Nnamdi, David Ignatius, Charles Lane, Hena Khan, Michelle Singletary, Dinaw Mengestu, Joshua Johnson, Haben Girma and Jarret Krosoczka. For more information about previous speakers, visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library/programs/contemporary-conversations.html
The Arts and Social Justice Fellowship (ASJF), presented by Strathmore with Core Partner Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, is looking toward its second year of identifying a next generation of artists with activism. The application deadline for the 2023 program has been extended to Monday, Jan. 2.
The program supports youth leadership and vision at the intersection of arts and social change.
The fellowship centers youth leadership, young people’s vision of the future and building community in the face of crisis. It was created in 2021 as part of Strathmore and Woolly’s co-presentation of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon. It is seeking young artists whose activism reflects Butler’s dynamic lineage.
The fellowship will broaden in 2023 to include study of a series of performances taking place at each presenting institution.
Performances will be accompanied by a thematic workshop, discussion and artistic response exercise. Students will meet in person at the performances and for one workshop between each performance. Meetings will alternate between in-person and virtual.
Fellows are required to attend all performances not marked as optional. The schedule will include:
Arts and Social Justice fellows receive support to further develop their analysis around social justice and systems change. The program enables them to build a unique vision for how they want to harness their artistry to intervene in the crises facing our world. Participants develop leadership skills, connect with networks of other students and professionals with similar interests and grow their capacity to drive projects from start to finish.
The program is made possible with support from the Allen A.B. Herman Fund.
Online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs will be available free throughout December through a program sponsored by Montgomery County Public Libraries.
The schedule of workshops:
Monday, Dec. 12; 9:30-11:30 a.m. H.I.R.E. (Helping Individuals Reach Employment) Sessions – Virtual.* Sign up to meet virtually/confidentially one-on-one with a career counselor for advice and assistance with job search. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/7405161.
Tuesday, Dec. 13. 1-3 p.m. Job Search Strategies – Virtual.* Learn best practices for conducting a job search. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/7373701.
Tuesday/Thursday, Dec. 13 and 15. 5:30-8 p.m. LinkedIn Boot Camp (Session I/Session II)—Virtual.* Two-session/two-day workshop focuses on the mechanics and strategy of using LinkedIn as a tool to conduct a successful job search. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/7053115.
Tuesday, Dec. 13. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Career Exploration: Montgomery College at the Library – Virtual.* Learn about various Montgomery College resources to help make and implement well-conceived career plans. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/7425641.
Wednesday, Dec.14: 1-3 p.m. Interviewing for Success—Virtual.* Learn how to differentiate yourself from other candidates, be Zoom ready, package experiences, tell your story, be ready for challenging questions and feel more confident in interviews. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/7373896.
Thursday Dec. 15. 4-5 p.m. Learn About Podcasts – with Senior Planet—Virtual.* Podcasts are an increasingly popular form of entertainment and a great source of information on all kinds of topics. Learn more about these audio programs available on the internet: why people listen to them, where you can find them and what the most popular ones are. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/7173430.
Tuesday Dec. 20. 10-11:30 a.m. Introducción al espÃritu empresarial—Virtual.* Aprenda lo que se necesita para convertirse en un emprendedor exitoso en este taller, que se ofrece en asociación con el Maryland Women's Business Center. El programa será presentado en español. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/7269802.
Wednesday, Dec. 21. 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. How to Apply for Jobs with Montgomery County Government – Virtual.* Find out everything you need to know about applying for jobs with Montgomery County Government. Register at https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/6811736.
* An internet connection and a device (such as a smartphone, tablet or computer) are required for participation.
It is time to turn the page on my first term and look ahead to the second. I hope you will join us at the Inauguration on Monday, Dec. 5, where both I and the 20th County Council will be installed. The event begins at 11 a.m. at Strathmore in North Bethesda. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance. The inauguration also will be shown live on MCM, as well as streamed on the County’s social media platforms.
As you may know, the incoming County Council is historic. It will feature two additional members, it will be the most racially diverse Council ever and will be the first majority female County Council—all six new members elected last month are women.
Congratulations are well deserved for outgoing Councilmembers Tom Hucker, Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer. They served Montgomery County honorably and I was proud to recognize them this week for their service to our community.
We will continue the work we began four years ago to make this County more equitable and inclusive for everyone. We will follow through on the broad goals we started and kept pursuing despite being sidetracked by COVID-19. Improving the affordable housing system, adding bus rapid transit, leading the way on fighting climate change and reimagining public safety are all goals we will continue to pursue to make life better across Montgomery County.
I receive many sincere compliments and appreciation for providing residents this weekly newsletter and video. In my second term, we will continue communicating the news, actions and decisions of this government with the people we serve. Through our weekly newsletters, videos, media briefings and social media channels, we will consistently inform you about what we are doing with honesty and transparency. I encourage anyone who wants to share their thoughts about how we are doing to go to my page on the Montgomery County website where you can read my vision statement and contact me with any questions or concerns.
County Council Approves Decarbonization Bill, Bethesda Improvements, Institute For Health Computing Money
Significant legislation was approved this week at the final meeting of the 19th County Council.
The decarbonization bill, which was introduced this summer, was approved. I thank the Council for moving this legislation forward. Our goal is to ensure that new buildings in Montgomery County are built using modern, efficient electric technology to help achieve our climate goals, save money and improve health and indoor air quality. We need to do that work as quickly as possible. This legislation is an important step and complement to the County’s Building Energy Performance Standards and falls in line with the County’s Climate Action Plan.
The Council also moved forward with an exciting project in Bethesda that will help reimagine the area surrounding the Farm Women’s Cooperative Market along Wisconsin Avenue. The surface parking lots near the building will be transformed into public parks, housing, retail space and underground parking, thus fulfilling the requirements of the Bethesda Sector plan.
The project will create 320 multi-family dwelling units and close to 50 of those will be below market price. This development will enhance the historic Farm Women’s Co-op while also bringing new opportunities to downtown Bethesda.
And, finally, the County approved our funding for the new “UM3IHC.” This is the proposed University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, College Park; and the University of Maryland Medical System’s Institute for Health Computing that we announced three weeks ago that is still turning heads throughout our region, in academic circles and with the media. This project is a game changer for our bio life sciences industry, our local academic institutions, our economic development efforts in the Pike District, and, most importantly, the future of health and medicine.
This was a wonderful ending to this four-year term with the 19th County Council. I want to wish our departing members of the County Council—Councilmembers Hucker, Riemer, Rice and Navarro—the best of luck in their future endeavors and I look forward to working with the 20th County Council.
Celebrating Small Businesses
Our holiday season got off to a strong start this past weekend with the help of Small Business Saturday. In Montgomery County, we used our social media and local media to help promote some of the businesses operated by our residents as they buckle down for the busiest time of the year.
On Saturday, I toured businesses in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Damascus and presented them with certifications to show them my appreciation. For every dollar spent at a local business, 68 cents stays in our County. That is 1.8 times more than a chain business, and six times more than online shopping.
That is why we spend so much time and effort helping entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground and helping small business owners navigate what can be a tricky process of launching their own businesses. Some of our accelerator programs are done in partnership with companies like M&T Bank. We also offer workshops tailored to a Spanish-speaking audience to help those business owners expand operations within the County. We are working to give small business owners the best chance of success.
We applaud the hard work of small business owners and their employees. We wish them success this holiday season and hope you consider “shopping small” as you search for gifts this year.
‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Passes U.S. Senate
I want to recognize the US Senate’s passage of the “Respect for Marriage Act” this week. Quite frankly, it should have never have taken this long to get legislation like this passed at the Federal level, but I am glad it passed. I want to thank Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin for their votes and advocacy on this issue over many years.
Only 10 years ago, Maryland became the first state in the union to vote for marriage equality by referendum, and I believe this was a significant part of the domino effect to widespread acceptance of marriage equality, including by the Supreme Court.
I want to acknowledge and thank our chief administrative officer, Rich Madaleno, who as a State Senator a decade ago was the lead sponsor of the bill that became State law. It took his persistence, courage and conviction to pass it in Annapolis and win a public referendum.
Our County and nation are better off when all residents have equal rights and freedoms.
2022 Vision Zero Progress
Despite the rain on Wednesday, the County got a chance to celebrate a Vision Zero accomplishment. The first phase of the Bethesda Bikeway project, which provides protected lanes for cyclists along Woodmont and Bethesda avenues, as well as across Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda, is now complete. This is the third protected bike line project finished under Vision Zero. With each of these upgrades, we are working toward making cycling, walking and running in our communities safer.
Now is a good time to look back on what we accomplished in 2022 with Vision Zero. Safety improvements made across our County. We have seen a 15 percent decrease in serious and fatal crashes compared to recent years before the pandemic. Last year, more than $100 million was spent on safety improvements. By next summer, we will spend another $123 million.
Our hearts break for everyone we lose in traffic fatalities. So far this year, 47 people have been killed on our roads. These are not just statistics. Each death represents someone’s mother, father, son or friend. Improving vehicular, bike and pedestrian safety is a priority. We are going to continue to work toward our goal of zero road deaths as soon as possible.
RSV Cases Straining Hospital ERs In Our Area
This winter we are more prepared than ever for COVID-19 with bivalent boosters and a high vaccination rate protecting Montgomery County. Still, we are currently seeing a strain on our emergency departments because of the so-called “tridemic” that is the early start to the flu season combined with the early and high rate of RSV and lingering COVID-19 threat.
RSV cases are pushing some of our hospitals to the brink. Over the recent long holiday weekend, capacity levels at local hospitals were reaching into the “red zone.” This is very concerning. In response to the elevated case load, the State of Maryland started an RSV dashboard.
Additionally, the State is also promoting a "flooster" campaign with the hope that people will get both their flu shot and latest COVID booster to keep these respiratory illnesses from further overwhelming hospitals and the health care system.
This should sound very familiar to everyone around here. We have never wavered from our message to remain vigilant. We pushed flu shots early on and that is why 30 percent of Montgomery County has already received flu shots, outpacing the State. In the lead up to Halloween and Thanksgiving, we reminded people to stay home if they are sick and continued to push boosters and flu shots.
Now with the holiday season in full swing, we must continue to gather cautiously and wisely. Wear masks when appropriate or around those who are immune compromised and remember to consistently wash hands. Free N95 masks, as well as COVID tests, are available at Montgomery County libraries. We encourage everyone to get tested before and after holiday gatherings. We must all do our part to ensure that hospitals and their staffs do not become overwhelmed with patients.
Let's hope this winter is remembered for the work we put in well ahead of time to prevent another Covid wave.
Marking World AIDS Day
We marked World AIDS Day this week. As much as we focus on COVID, monkeypox, RSV and flu, I want to acknowledge and thank the work of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services’ HIV/STI services and all the preventive work and outreach it does.
In 2019, the County was named an “Ending the HIV Epidemic” jurisdiction, along with Baltimore City, Prince George’s and D.C. The initiative is a Federal plan to reduce new HIV infections by 90 percent in places in the U.S. where new infections are happening the fastest. Our plan outlines strategies to help us reach that goal. There are about 4,000 people in Montgomery County currently living with HIV and an average of 123 people were diagnosed with HIV every year for the past five years.
We encourage everyone to:
Get tested for HIV, even if you do not think you are at risk.
Seek treatment for HIV if you test positive.
Ask your healthcare provider about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, the HIV-prevention medication, to reduce risk of HIV.
Learn the facts about HIV and talk with partners, family and friends about it.
Fight HIV stigma by showing support and compassion for people living with HIV.
County residents seeking free or low-cost HIV testing, treatment or prevention should contact Montgomery County HIV Services at 240-777-1869. Find out more about our efforts at Do It For You MC.org. With successful treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives and prevent transmission of HIV to others.
Plane Crash Near Airpark
We are extremely grateful to all those who responded to the small aircraft entanglement with high tension wires near the Air Park in Gaithersburg this past Sunday. This was a unique and complicated emergency incident that knocked out power to more than 120,000 Montgomery County residents.
This was an incredible response and recovery effort from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service while dealing with an unprecedented situation. I also want to commend and thank Pepco and AUI Power for their quick work and collaboration to ensure that everyone was safe during this rescue and for restoring power as soon as possible.
Additionally, the County Police Department, along with the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and Maryland State Police swiftly and adeptly managed traffic and monitored impacts on County until power was returned.
All in all, this incident—along with the Gaithersburg fire and building collapse two weeks ago—are examples of Montgomery County’s first responding agencies at their very best. We are very fortunate to have such incredible talent and decision-making skills in our public safety departments. We are grateful for their quick actions and deliberative approach to ensure everyone was kept safe.
Gene Meyer has spent decades exploring every nook and cranny of Maryland from the Eastern Shore to Appalachia—first for The Washington Post and then for Maryland Life magazine. History is always an essential ingredient of his work, and people and places in Montgomery County are part of the mix. He will bring those experiences to the Montgomery History free online presentation Hidden Maryland: In search of America in Miniature at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
