Holiday Schedule for Independence Day

      Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Independence          Day.

• County Offices - closed.
• Libraries - closed.
• Department of Liquor Control retail stores - all stores open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Recreation - Aquatics programs and facilities open. The Germantown Indoor Swim Center closes at 3 p.m. All other pools close at 6 p.m. All recreation centers, senior centers and administrative offices are closed.
• Montgomery Parks - visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
• Ride On - operates on a Saturday schedule.
• Metrorail and Metrobus - Information available at www.wmata.com.
• TRiPS Commuter Store (Silver Spring) - open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store - closed.
• County-provided refuse/recycling pickup - no County-provided collection services will occur on this day. After the holiday, all County-provided recycling and trash collections will slide and be one day later than normal with the last pickup on Saturday.
• Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station - entire facility closed.
• Parking at garages, lots, curbside meters -free.
• State offices and courts – closed.

County’s Independence Day Celebrations Feature Fireworks and Free Concerts in Germantown and Kensington

Montgomery County Recreation will host two Independence Day fireworks displays on Thursday, July 4.

• Germantown Glory will be held at the South Germantown Recreational Park located at 18041 Central Park Circle in Germantown (Boyds). The event kicks off at 7 p.m. with a concert by Quiet Fire, a soul, rhythm and blues and rock band that covers hits from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
• Mid-County Sparkles takes place at Albert Einstein High School located at 11135 Newport Road in Kensington. The festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by Bobby & the Believers, a Motown and rock and roll cover band.

The fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. The timing of the fireworks may change due to weather conditions. Low lawn chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome at both events. Food vendors will serve both locations. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. The rain date for the fireworks only is July 5.

Montgomery County Recreation thanks its sponsors - the Maryland Soccerplex, Montgomery Parks and Westfield Wheaton - for their support.

More information about the celebrations, including parking information, is available on the Montgomery County Recreation website.

New Taxpayer Receipt Module on Website

Recently Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich unveiled the County’s new “Taxpayer Receipt.” The County is the first jurisdiction in the region to implement this online tool that enables taxpayers to see how their estimated local income and property taxes will support budgeted services for the Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020).

Taxpayers can enter their estimated income into the module and, if they own a home, its estimated value will be displayed in an itemized list that indicates how tax dollars are utilized by the County for education, public safety, transportation, and other services.

Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/tax-receipt to view your taxpayer receipt. 

What You Need to Know About County Executive Marc Elrich’s Economic Vision

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich recently presented his vision for economic development to the County Council.

Economic Vision
Focuses on building a modern economy that encourages entrepreneurship, moves people and goods efficiently, develops today’s and tomorrow’s workforce, reduces burdensome regulations and promotes opportunity for all.

Five components of Elrich’s economic vision include:

1. Creating a robust transportation system to move people, goods and data efficiently for doing business. Elrich’s transportation team is working to advance a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system as quickly and efficiently as possible, and is supporting innovation, including the pilot FLEX microtransit program. Elrich is working to gain support for the addition of two reversible lanes on I-270, and he is working with state and regional partners to support Metro.
2. Better development of our workforce. Education is an integral part of the County’s economic development infrastructure from early childhood development to lifelong learning to attracting young families and to matching jobs with available talent.
3. Enhancing entrepreneurship. The Elrich administration is reviewing its overall entrepreneurial climate and strategy – including a look at its three existing incubators. They are also focused on branding the County better to promote the rich array of available assets and to connect local businesses with resources and services.
4. Engaging cooperatively with business leaders and business owners around the County to identify what they need to thrive in Montgomery County.
5. Tracking our progress: measuring the performance of the County, its Economic Development Corporation and WorkSource Montgomery for results.

During the first six months of his administration, Elrich hosted six 4Business listening sessions; personally visited local companies; made procurement more user friendly; opened the Business Connect hub at the Upcounty Regional Services Center; and drafted the Small Business Strategic Plan.

In the coming weeks and months, the Silver Spring Business Connect hub will open and two roundtable charrettes are planned later this year as part of the 4Business: Benchmarking to Be the Best for Business initiative. Elrich encourages the business community to send their input about doing business in Montgomery County to 4business@montgomerycountymd.gov by August 31.

Montgomery County Government is Hiring

Looking for a fulfilling career that offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits? Montgomery County has dozens of open positions in rewarding positions. County employees serve an essential community need while building a thriving career.

With more than 30 departments, there are potential career opportunities in areas including executive/managerial; public safety; health and human services; labor and trades; administrative and more.

More important, than filling positions is finding the right fit for the position. Montgomery County hires team members who value innovation and inclusiveness and reflect the County’s culture of serving with integrity and purpose.

While Montgomery County employees come from around the globe, a preponderance of the County’s workforce comes from within our community. County residents are encouraged to regularly visit the Office of Human Resources' recently redesigned recruitment website to see available positions, which are updated often.

For more information on the process, visit the application tutorial resource.

Elrich Appointee Raymond Crowel to Serve as Director of County’s Department of Health and Human Services

County Executive Marc Elrich (L) and Director
of Health and Human Services Raymond Crowel (R)

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has appointed Raymond Crowel to serve as the new director for the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The nomination was unanimously confirmed by County Council on Tuesday, June 24.

Crowell has more than 30 years of experience leading senior level teams and partnerships in creating and managing service systems that effectively and efficiently address complex human service needs. He has extensive experience in managing the needs of vulnerable populations including children and families involved in the child welfare system youth and adults involved in the justice system as well as the immigrant and ethnically diverse communities.

Crowell served as the chief of behavioral health and crisis services with the Department of HHS for the past 10 years.

The mission of the Department of Health and Human Services is to promote and ensure the health and safety of the residents of Montgomery County and to build individual and family strength and self-sufficiency.

With more than 3,000 employees and 120 programs, HHS is the County’s largest department. The agency is responsible for public health and human services that help address the needs of Montgomery County’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The department’s core services protect the community’s health, protect the health and safety of at-risk children and vulnerable adults, and address basic human needs including food, shelter and clothing.

Dynamic Ride On Flex On-Demand Service Reshaping How Residents Get Around

Montgomery County’s first public microtransit service, Ride On Flex, launched on Wednesday, June 26. This dynamic on-demand service offers new and affordable transportation options in the Rockville and Glenmont/Wheaton service areas. The no-fixed-route, no-fixed-schedule service will reshape the way some residents think about getting around in the served areas.

Riders can request trips from a designated pick up location to a drop-off location within the same service zone using a mobile app. The Ride On Flex app is available for free download from the Apple or Google store.

An 11-passenger bus will provide service within the pre-defined geographical zones at specific times of the day. Riders will be given an estimated time for pick up and drop off and directed to a nearby location. Flex will operate in the Rockville zone from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and in the Glenmont/Wheaton zone during peak periods (6 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m.). The zones offer connections between households, transit hubs, commercial centers and public services.

Riders will pay no more than $2 for the service, as current Ride On fares will apply. While users will book a ride using the app, they will pay the fare as they board the bus, just as with any Ride On service.

Read more on the MCDOT Ride On Flex website.

Department of Liquor Control Gets New Name

The County’s Department of Liquor Control officially changed the name to Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) on July 1.

The new name reflects the department’s continued improvements to the ongoing business model, which modernizes and embraces the department’s commitment to customer service.

The rebranding spotlights the strategic business changes such as investments in new technology and infrastructure and streamlined updated processes that elevate customer services and communication.

ABS better defines the department’s work. The use of “alcohol beverage” was chosen over “liquor” because the department sells beer and wine in addition to liquor as part of its wholesale and retail operations.

The use of “services” instead of “control” emphasizes the customer service-oriented relationships the County department has worked hard to cultivate.

The department’s rebranding also includes a new tagline: A Business of Montgomery County Government.

The Maryland General Assembly approved the name change in its 2019 session.

More information is available on the department’s website.

2019 Farm Tour and Harvest Sale: Farm Life, Fresh Produce and Family Fun,

Save the dates! The 30th annual Montgomery County Farm Tour returns to the Agricultural Reserve on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28.

There are 19 participating farms on this year’s tour. Connect with nature and start a family tradition by picking your own produce, meeting the animals, learning about farming practices and more.

For the latest Farm Tour information, visit the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture website.

Whiskey Rocks Event Sets Single-Day Sales Record

The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) set a one-day store record of more than $116,000 in sales during the Whiskey Rocks celebration on June 14, which was held at the Burtonsville retail store located at 15620 Old Columbia Pike.

The whiskey celebration attracted hundreds of customers to taste and purchase hard to find whiskey products. Dozens of customers lined up the day before the event to be at the front of the line when the retail store opened.

Some of the sought-after whiskeys available for purchase at this event included: Elijah Craig 18-Year, Michter’s Barrel Strength, Mister Sam Tribute, Blood Oath Pact No. 5 and Old Fitzgerald 13-Year Bottled-in-Bond.

In addition, the Whiskey Rocks celebration featured tastings, raffles, a free lunch sponsored by Buffalo Trace, free seminars and special barrel releases that kept consumers engaged throughout much of the day. The night before the event, Dogfish Head Alehouse hosted a whiskey dinner at its Gaithersburg location, which was billed as part of the DLC’s Whiskey Rocks event.

All profits earned by the DLC are transferred to the Montgomery County General Fund supporting police and fire, transportation projects and other public services that tax dollars would otherwise fund.

The next Whiskey Rocks events is planned for January of 2020. To receive updates about upcoming DLC events, product lotteries and sales, visit the DLC’s website.