Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Provide Support to Areas Devastated by Recent Hurricanes

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) workers have returned safely after deployments to assist Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Florida following the devastation from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. 

Maryland Task Force 1 (MD-TF1) was made up of 27 personnel who served with eight other Federal Emergency Management Agency teams. They worked around the clock to support the relief efforts. In addition to the search & rescue work, they are providing welfare inspections, assessing infra-structure damage and providing logistical and incident management.

A team of six stress counselors supported the mental health services in Collier and Monroe Counties in Florida.

This rescue effort comes just a few weeks after the team had been deployed to support Texas after Hurricane Harvey ravaged the gulf coast.

The groups are highly specialized and trained to respond to catastrophes such as natural disasters, large-scale accidents and terrorist attacks. Personnel keep their skills honed by training year-round at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy in Gaithersburg.

There are about 200 persons who are members of the MD-TF1, most are associated with MCFRS. The team participates in realistic training scenarios, mostly hands-on at sites around the County, National Capital Region and Federal training locations in other regions. MCFRS is in the process of building and constructing a specific and enhanced training area 'rescue mall' at the new Public Safety Training Academy. This objective is will be accomplished through a private/public partnership and donations are welcome.

The MD-TF1, Urban Search & Rescue Team headquarters is based out of a warehouse in Rockville. The space provides ample meeting areas, equipment storage, including the large vehicles and a cache of specialized search and rescue equipment.

Rock-n-Relief Concert Raises Over $5,000 for Hurricane Victims

The Montgomery County Department of Recreation’s Rock-n-Relief youth concert, held Sunday, September 17, at AMP by Strathmore, exceeded its fundraising goal, bringing in over $5,000 for hurricane victims in Florida and Texas.

Radio personality Angie Ange from 93.9 WKYS hosted the two-hour concert that featured five bands and four soloists. Many of the young musicians who performed were previously involved with the Recreation Department’s MoCo’s Got Talent program.

Partnering with the Recreation Department were: Bach to Rock, Strathmore and the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA).

The hurricane relief funds will be distributed to communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, through the Houston Parks Board Foundation, and to communities in Florida impacted by Hurricane Irma, through the Florida Recreation and Park Association, via the MRPA, which serves as the trustee.

Many people continue to want to help our neighbors in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and beyond who experienced widespread devastation from the recent hurricanes. The most effective way to support disaster survivors in their recovery is to donate money and time to trusted and reputable organizations. FEMA is offering guidance on providing support for people directly impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma as well as Hurricane Maria.

Fox 5 TV Moves to Montgomery County; Will Bring Approximately 200 Jobs

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) announced that Fox 5 TV, a unit of Fox Television Stations, plans to move from its current location in northwest Washington, D.C. to Bethesda. The television station will occupy a new 57,500 square foot, state-of-the-art studio, newsroom and office space. This will bring approximately 200 jobs into the County.

Fox Television Stations, which locally encompasses WTTG Fox 5 and WDCA Fox 5 Plus, will move in the second quarter of 2021 to Carr Properties planned 937,000 square foot, mixed-use development under construction at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, one of the most highly acclaimed Trophy Class new buildings in the area.

For more information go to thinkmoco.com/fox-to-moco.

Montgomery County Adopts the International Green Construction Code

Montgomery County is taking a major step forward to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet climate protection goals with the unanimous Council approval of Executive Regulation 21-15 AMII, which adopts the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) establishing green building code requirements. The requirements of the IgCC will take effect on Dec. 1 in Montgomery County.

With adoption of the IgCC, Montgomery County establishes a baseline requirement that new, non-residential construction and additions of 5,000 square feet or more must be designed and constructed to reduce building energy use by at least 50% over the average commercial building energy consumption in the base year of 2000.

In addition to reducing energy consumption by 50%, projects must mitigate heat island impacts associated with development and divert at least 50% of construction and demolition waste material from landfills. This green building code is a critical step in meeting the County’s commitment to implementation of the County’s Climate Protection Plan.

For more information, visit the Department of Permitting Services website.

Montgomery County Procurement Forum Set for October 5; Showcases Public and Private Sector Contract Opportunities

The second annual Montgomery County Procurement Forum takes place on Thursday, October 5 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building located at 1 Veterans Place. The event, the largest hosted by the Office of Procurement, will feature more than 30 panelists and speakers, along with 20 exhibitors.

Local and regional government officials along with business leaders will provide remarks at the forum. In addition, the forum will feature an exhibitor’s showcase, breakout sessions and business development activities designed to guide participants through every aspect of the Montgomery County procurement process. One of last year’s popular sessions about opportunities provided by public/private partnerships in the region will return. New sessions have been added on “green” sustainability, and the nonprofit sector.

For more information and to register online, visit the event’s website.

County Executive Ike Leggett to Celebrate Success of Key Commercial Revitalization Projects in Burtonsville

Join Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, Department of Housing & Community Affairs Director Clarence Snuggs, property and business owners and community representatives to celebrate the completion of several significant façade improvement projects in Burtonsville. The program will be held on Saturday, October 7 at 11 a.m. at the Burtonsville Village Center located at 15500 Block of Old Columbia Pike.


Following the speaker’s program, the celebration will continue with the Taste of Burtonsville until 4 p.m. The Taste of Burtonsville will include a variety of food from some 15-20 restaurants, live music by three bands, face painting, balloon animals and several actors dressed as popular children’s characters.

The Neighborhood Revitalization Section’s Façade Improvement Program (FIP) helps property owners with costs to implement building and site improvements. Managed by DHCA’s Neighborhood Revitalization Section, the FIP encourages commercial property owners to update and enhance their property exteriors by offering up to a 50% reimbursement for costs for exterior building and site improvements, typically in exchange for a 15-year easement which controls the property’s exterior appearance.

DHCA’s Neighborhood Revitalization Section worked with three property owners as part of the Burtonsville Commercial Revitalization Program: Katz & Company Property Management; Site Realty and family-owned Seibel’s Restaurant. Nearly twenty businesses in leased or owned space benefitted from the improvements. The Department has also implemented a similar façade improvement program in Colesville, which it hopes to expand there as well as throughout the County.

More information about this FREE event and the Façade Improvement Program is available from County Calendar.

Department of Transportation Works Hard on White Flint Pedestrian Safety Initiatives

County Executive Ike Leggett participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of dozens of pedestrian safety improvement projects recently completed or planned in White Flint that support the area’s continuing transformation into a walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented community. Hosted by leaders from Friends of White Flint and Coalition for Smarter Growth, the celebration included Council President Roger Berliner and Montgomery County Transportation Director Al Roshdieh.

County Executive Ike Leggett participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of dozens of pedestrian safety improvement projects recently completed or planned in White Flint by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) that support the area’s continuing transformation into a walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented community on Wednesday, September 27.

Joining Leggett were County Council President Roger Berliner, MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh, Friends of White Flint Executive Director Amy Ginsburg and Coalition for Smarter Growth Montgomery Advocacy Manager Pete Tomao.

To read more about the MCDOT projects that are scheduled to enhance walkability, bikeability and access to high quality transit options in White Flint, check press release.

County Seeks Input on Proposed Zoning Changes to Address Deployment of Microtowers and Small Cell Antennas

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett is requesting public input on a draft Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) to revise the County’s zoning code to address deployment of small antennas on streetlights and lower-height buildings. A community meeting for this input will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, October 23 at the Stella B Werner Council Office Building located at 100 Maryland Avenue, 3rd Floor Hearing Room in Rockville. The meeting will be carried live on County Cable Montgomery on Verizon channel 30 or Comcast/RCN channel 6, Facebook and YouTube.

Because wireless technology is evolving, Montgomery County has recently received an unprecedented number of applications to deploy small cell antennas in residential neighborhoods as well as commercial areas around the County. Federal law is clear that Montgomery County cannot pass zoning laws that would have the effect of prohibiting service throughout the County. Therefore, the proposed ZTA is intended to allow providers to provide service while protecting the character of both our residential neighborhoods and commercial areas by regulating how and where these antennas can be placed, and how they should be screened or camouflaged.

The ZTA, an interactive map, and links to submit public comments can be found at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/antennaZTA.

Unity Walk is Opening Doors to Interfaith Understanding

On Sunday, October 8, hundreds of people from all faiths will walk together on New Hampshire Avenue that is known as “the Highway to Heaven” because the three-mile route has more diverse faith traditions than anywhere else in America. The Unity Walk is free as is the Resource Fair with 15 exhibits beginning at 1 pm at the Chinmaya Mission 46 Norwood Road in Silver Spring.

The Unity Walk will feature seven houses of worship opening their doors in welcome and offering understanding of how faith traditions have been worshipping for thousands of years. People will also learn about community service programs including the beautiful Community Clinic at the Muslim Community Center serving thousands and enjoy musical performances.

The Resource Fair will include free Henna painting and arts (block-painting and coloring), registry to vote opportunity, information on our Basic Human Rights, programs welcoming refugees and immigrants and a Sukkah will be built for people to join in celebrating the Jewish Sukkot Holiday (October 4-11).

More information is available at montgomerycountyinterfaithmd.org.

TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store Launched

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and County Transportation leaders launched the first Mobile Commuter Store in Maryland. The Mobile Commuter Store will bring transit information and resources directly to customers throughout the County, including Metrorail, Metrobus and Ride On SmarTrip cards and passes, MARC tickets, Bikeshare membership and keys, schedules and other information for travelers.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett announced the launch of the new TriPS Mobile Commuter Store. The TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store replaced the mobile commuter store formerly located in Friendship Heights. The new store will provide the same services, but with flexibility to go directly to customers throughout the County.

The Mobile Commuter Store provides Metrorail, Metrobus and Ride On SmarTrip cards and passes, MARC tickets, transit information, Bikeshare membership and keys, schedules and other information for travelers.