August 24, 2022

Montgomery County Holiday Schedule for Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 5

The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will observe schedule and program changes for the observance of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 5.

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Gaithersburg’s Webb Telescope Weekend Celebration to Include Movie Screening and Skywatching on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 26-27


The achievements of the Webb Telescope will be celebrated with a weekend of events promoted by the Gaithersburg Community Museum on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26 and 27, with events including an indoor movie screening and an outdoor Skywatching event and discussion.

The James Webb Space Telescope is the most ambitious space observatory ever built through international cooperation. The telescope launched on Dec. 25, 2021, and the first color images were made public on July 12, 2022.

The weekend celebration will include the free indoor screening of the movie Hunt for Planet B at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn, which is located at 311 Kent Square Rd. in Gaithersburg. The movie is considered suitable for ages 6 and older. Free tickets are required. Reserve tickets here.

The Hunt for Planet B captures the human drama behind NASA’s high-stakes Webb Telescope, interweaving the creation of the massive machine with the story of a pioneering group of female scientists on a quest to find life beyond the solar system. What begins as a real-time scientific adventure turns into a meditation on the universe.

The “Space Telescopes, Galaxies & Nebula” free outdoor event will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 27, at Observatory Park, which is located at 100 DeSellum Ave. in Gaithersburg. The event is considered suitable for ages 6 and older. Free tickets are required. Reserve tickets here.

The skywatching event, in partnership with the Rockville Science Center, will explore the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope for a full evening of astronomy fun. NASA Solar System Ambassador and astronomer Caitlin Ahrens will discuss the cosmic structures that space telescopes have revealed. There also will be be hands-on activities and telescope viewing. This will be a NASA Webb First Look Community Event.

For more information on the event and other upcoming activities, go to Skywatching.

The Gaithersburg Community Museum, which is located in the restored 1884 B&O Railroad Station complex near the intersection of Summit and Diamond avenues in Olde Towne Gaithersburg, is a caretaker of the Latitude Observatory and Observatory Park. Its mission also encompasses a responsibility to honor the scientific past while introducing a new generation of residents to the opportunities that exist in looking into the vastness of the universe. The museum frequently partners with NASA to bring educational programming and Skywatching events to the Gaithersburg community.

Programs of the Gaithersburg Community Museum are 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 www.msac.org.
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‘Art of Trash Grabbing’ Free Workshops Combing Art and Environmental Stewardship Will Be Held Saturday, Aug. 27, at Three Parks in Gaithersburg


“Art of Trash Grabbing” free community workshops will be open to residents from throughout the County from 10 a.m.-noon at three City of Gaithersburg parks on Saturday, Aug. 27. At the workshops, artists will teach participants how to decorate metal trash grabbers using watershed themes, stormwater slogans and other environmental messages.

The rain date for the event is Sunday, Aug. 28. The Gaithersburg Parks, Arts and Recreation Corporation is sponsoring the event in collaboration with the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture and the Public Works Stormwater Management Division.

The workshops are free; registration is required. Events will take place at:
The community workshops are fun and family-oriented and combine art and environmental stewardship. Following the workshops, there will be park clean-ups where participants can use their newly decorated tools.

Trash grabbers and art supplies will be provided for registered participants. Workshops are recommended for ages 5-and-over. Those under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. SSL hours are available for Montgomery County Public School students.

Participants are advised to bring water, sunscreen and insect repellent. Park clean-up supplies will be provided.

More information on the event can be found at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

This program is funded in part through grants from Keep Maryland Beautiful, Forever Maryland, Maryland Environmental Trust and Maryland Department of Transportation.

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County Offering COVID-19 Vaccines to Children 6 Months to 5 Years


Montgomery County continues to provide COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Parents are encouraged to protect their children and get them vaccinated.

The Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State of Maryland statistics estimate that there are more than 64,000 Montgomery County children in the age group of 6 months to 5 years old.

Multiple vaccination clinics are held weekly and appointments are encouraged, but not required. Learn about upcoming clinics and make an appointment at www.GoVaxMoCo.com.

The Maryland Department of Health also is providing vaccines to pediatricians and participating private local pharmacies.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website.
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‘Hand-Dancing Extravaganza’ Led by DJ Rick Will Provide Motown and Old School R&B for Free Dancing in Downtown Silver Spring on Tuesday, Aug. 30



DJ Rick will provide the music from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, on Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring for a Hand-Dancing Extravaganza as part of the free Twilight Tuesdays entertainment series. The music will include favorites Motown and Old School R&B.

Hand dancing essentially is a smooth version of the Lindy Hop that features almost constant hand holding and turning between partners, with several step patterns used to keep time.

Hand dancing, also known as "D.C. hand dancing" or "D.C. swing,” is a form of swing dance that can be traced as far back as the 1920s, from the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, to the 1950s when dancers in the District of Columbia developed their own variety.

Hand dancing is characterized by gliding footwork and continuous hand connection communication between the partners, hence its name. It fell out of favor during the disco era, but in the 1980s, hand dancing resurfaced in the Washington dance community.

In 1993, the Smithsonian Institution recognized hand dancing as an American art form. The Smithsonian exhibit led to the establishment of the National Hand Dance Association.

The event will be presented by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
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Ceremony of Remembrance to Commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday, Sept. 1, and County Will Launch 'Montgomery Goes Purple'


Montgomery County's ceremony of remembrance and candlelight vigil has been rescheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1, in Downtown Rockville to memorialize lives lost to overdose or substance use. The event will commemorate “International Overdose Awareness Day,” a global event aimed at raising awareness of overdoses and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths. The event will be held at 7:15 p.m. at Memorial Plaza, which is located at 101 Monroe St. in Rockville (the terrace between the Montgomery County Executive Office Building and the County Circuit Court).

The original event was planned for Aug. 25.

Family members and friends will remember loved ones and light candles in their honor. Prior to the ceremony, a resource fair featuring mental health and substance use prevention and treatment information will be held at 5:30 p.m. The resource fair is open to the public.

A commemorative photo display, highlighting individual lives lost to overdose, will be located outside the Executive Office Building, adjacent to Memorial Plaza. The display will open later this week and will continue through September.

The event will also launch "Montgomery Goes Purple” for Recovery Month, an international observance to celebrate recovery and encourage individuals with a mental health or substance use disorder to seek recovery supports, and celebrates those in recovery. Recovery Month, which uses purple to signify support throughout the month of September, increases awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders, attempts to reduce stigma, and promotes messages that emphasize that behavioral health is essential to total health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover.

The event is co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney, the Circuit Court’s Adult Drug Court, the City of Rockville, the Montgomery County Collaboration Council, Montgomery Goes Purple, Montgomery County Public Schools Goes Purple, Rockville Goes Purple and Gaithersburg Goes Purple. The event is supported by Montgomery County's Police Department, Sheriff's Department, Department of General Services, the Circuit Court's Technical Services Office, and the District Court's Mental Health Court.

Free parking is available in the jury parking lot located at the corner of East Jefferson and Monroe Streets.
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August 18, 2022

Message from the County Executive

 

Dear Friends,

This week I’m at the annual gathering of county leaders from across Maryland who come together in Ocean City for the Maryland Association of Counties conference where we discuss our shared critical issues as well as potential partnerships. This is a time of great transition for our state as a new governor, comptroller and attorney general will take office in January. I’m having some productive conversations with elected leaders from around the state.

Montgomery County earns AAA bond rating for 50th consecutive year


I am pleased to report that Montgomery County has once again earned a AAA bond rating from all three ratings agencies. This is an incredible accomplishment since only about 50 counties out of approximately 3,000 nationwide earn a triple AAA rating from Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch.

And this year was a milestone as it is the 50th consecutive year that we’ve earned a AAA from Moody’s. Standard & Poor's and Fitch have been rating Montgomery County with AAA for the last 48 and 33 years respectively.

These AAA ratings mean that Montgomery County is a top-rated issuer of municipal securities and that our government has secured the highest credit rating possible by a local government. We achieved this rating due to our strong fiscal management policies that have held true even in the face of economic struggles brought on by challenges like the pandemic, inflation, supply chain shortages and staffing issues.

Specifically, Moody’s noted that we will “continue to benefit from a dynamic and expanding economy, very affluent resident population, and a growing and highly educated work force.”

Standard & Poor’s wrote that the “County has leveraged its very strong economic underpinnings to support its sound financial position” and “has historically maintained strong or very strong budgetary flexibility.”

And additional praise came from Fitch reporting that Montgomery County “demonstrated the capacity to absorb revenue losses during periods of economic downturn” and lauding our office for “sound fiscal decisions to restore and enhance the County's financial cushion and operations during recovery periods.”

Our AAA bond rating allows the County to sell long-term bonds for capital improvement projects at the most favorable rates, which allows us to maximize savings over the life of the bonds. Basically, this is the equivalent of the county having a perfect credit score – meaning that we can sell bonds and raise funds at lower interest rates saving our taxpayers money.


It means projects like a new library in Clarksburg or the forthcoming wellness center at John F. Kennedy High School in Wheaton can be financed at lower interest rates. Improvements at Montgomery College, such as the financing of the new East County Campus, as well as our many infrastructure projects can move forward and cost less.

I appreciate the recognition by the credit agencies of our sound management of the county’s finances.

The State of Maryland counts on Montgomery County

Montgomery County is often described as the economic engine of the state, and I am happy to report that we continue to receive positive economic news. Just in the past six months over 3.5 million square feet of life sciences space has been announced for development. Additionally, our North Bethesda development activity continues, and we received over $16 million dollars of investment from the State to be used over the next two years.

We are also seeing companies grow, expand, and relocate to Montgomery County. Deka Biosciences started in an incubator and is breaking ground on 14,000 square feet of office space. Another of our incubator companies, Arcellx, is expanding their Rockville operations by adding another 60,000 square feet of lab space. Horizon Therapeutics recently announced they are moving their 192,000 square feet east coast manufacturing hub to Rockville. And Lentigen/Miltenyi Biotec is moving their U.S. headquarters to the County from California, adding 130 new employees, and expanding nearly 150,000 square feet.

AC Motels by Marriott opens in Bethesda


Our economic success is not limited to our life sciences sector. This week, I attended the opening of the new AC Hotel Bethesda by Marriott. This hotel at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Street was formerly Second District headquarters for the Montgomery County Police Department. You’d never know that now after extensive work and a beautiful redesign inside and out. Now it is home to more than 200 new hotel rooms, thousands of square feet of conference space and a new dining option for hotel visitors and Bethesda regulars.

Montgomery County is proud to be the corporate headquarters and home to Marriott and we appreciate their continued investments in our County’s hospitality industry. Montgomery County has a nearly $2 billion dollar tourism industry employing thousands of workers. The county’s hotel occupancy rate has rebounded from 9 percent during the worst of the pandemic to nearly 80 percent occupied rooms today.

COVID cases drop, Montgomery County returns to Low community level


Our community level status had been right on the line between medium and high for the last four weeks. This week we dropped below 200 cases per 100,000 people and our hospitalization numbers and rates have also dipped. This resulted in our COVID-19 Community level status returning to “low” for the first time in months.

These numbers are encouraging but the lag in people getting their boosters remains a problem. Our data has shown that vaccination and vaccination plus getting the boosters makes a difference in outcomes for people who get COVID.


While vaccines plus boosters may not provide absolute protection against getting COVID, it has a positive impact on reducing the severity and the death rate from COVID. As the chart shows, the unvaccinated are 3 to 4 times more likely to test positive for COVID and they are 4 times more likely to be hospitalized than people who are vaccinated and boosted. For adults who have not yet been vaccinated , we now have a new vaccine from Novavax that is produced in a traditional way and not based on mRNA technology.

As students prepare to return to school, new guidance from the CDC

We learned last week that the CDC will no longer require students exposed to someone with COVID-19 to be quarantined if they are not showing any symptoms. Additionally, the school system is currently recommending a mask optional approach to start the school year, but, if outbreaks occur, Montgomery County Public Schools leaders will have the option of implementing their own facemask recommendations per class or campus wide if needed.

Our Health and Human Services department has been meeting with school leaders, and they are encouraging every family to take advantage of the County’s vaccination opportunities from now until the start of the school year to make sure that all the students are up to date on their COVID vaccinations and boosters. It not only helps protect them from getting severely sick but also helps our community by limiting the potential for community spread of COVID among teachers, students and school staff.

I also met with MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight and they are diligently preparing for potential health threats. I offered my continued support and look forward to a safe and productive school year.

Another bit of good news on the school front, Dr. McKnight reports that they are rapidly closing the staffing gap. This is important for the successful opening of our schools, and I appreciate their all-out effort at recruitment for these essential positions.

Additionally, I want to be sure MCPS parents and students are aware of the upcoming Back to School Fair at Westfield Wheaton on Saturday, August 27th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free event is an opportunity for families to learn about the school system as well as county programs and services. We will also be providing a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic, COVID rapid tests and critical information for the health and safety of our students and their families.

Town hall on Monkeypox (MPX) town on Monday


This Monday, August 22nd, county Health Department leaders will be hosting the first in a series of virtual townhalls focusing on Monkeypox - also known as MPX. Prevention, treatment and clarifying information will be the topics of the townhall. Attendees will also have the chance to ask questions and share concerns about MPX.

The event can be seen live on Montgomery County’s Facebook page or County Cable Montgomery.

You can also learn more about monkeypox on our website https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/RightNav/Monkeypox.html

Please know that nationally the supply of monkeypox vaccines is limited. We are using our limited supply to target those most at risk. At the same time, we continue to accept pre-registration for the vaccine when more are available. The list now has close to 2,500 names so when more vaccines are available, we can quickly contact people who have expressed interest in getting the two-dose regimen.

Feds approve millions for Ride On Green Carbon Buses


We have some exciting public transit and climate conscious news to pass along. This week Montgomery County won a $15 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration that breaks new net zero ground.

The funds will be used to purchase 13 new hydrogen fuel cell buses and build a green hydrogen station for refueling. It’s the first public transit project involving green hydrogen on the East Coast. LINK to press release https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=42004&Dept=50

Obtaining the hydrogen-electric powered buses helps Montgomery County as it strives towards a goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2035. This move alone will reduce annual emissions by 640 tons while ensuring reliable and sustainable bus service.

I’m pleased that the Federal Transit Administration selected our project for this competitive award, and I want to thank the state delegation for supporting the effort. Without their help we may not have been able to win this grant with more than 500 nationwide projects applying for funding.

By the end of the year DOT anticipates having 14 electric buses on the road. The hydrogen fuel buses are expected to start running by the end of 2025.

Mini-grants available to help fill gaps in hunger aid infrastructure


The Montgomery County Community Food Rescue Mini-Grants Program is back! These grants are intended to provide opportunities for improving capacity and infrastructure of the local food system in all aspects of food recovery, and for innovative and collaborative approaches to reducing food insecurity.

As we've seen throughout the pandemic there's been an outpouring of support to match the increased need in the community as some families struggle with impacts from COVID-19 and more recently inflation.

Community organizations involved in food recovery and food security could receive anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 in mini-grants to help improve capacity and infrastructure of the local food recovery system.

Opportunities will be available for potential recipients to have questions about the mini-grants answered, including a technical assistance conference happening Monday, August 22 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Applications are due September 6th.

These grants will help to directly impact people’s lives. I encourage any eligible organization to apply and help us reduce hunger and food waste in our County.
 
As always, my appreciation for all you do,



Marc Elrich
County Executive
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August 17, 2022

‘Maryland Tax-Free Week’ Continues Through Saturday, Aug. 20, with No State Sales Tax on Clothing or Shoes Under $100 and the First $40 of Backpacks


“Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week” will continue through Saturday, Aug. 20—just in time for back-to-school shopping.

During the week, any single qualifying article of clothing or footwear priced at $100 or less—regardless of how many items are purchased in the same transaction—will be exempt from the State's six percent sales tax. The first $40 of any backpack purchase is also tax free.

The website of the Office of the Maryland Comptroller has a list of tax-exempt items, frequently asked questions and valuable facts for shoppers and merchants. The website can be viewed at Franchot Announces Shop Maryland Tax Free Week is August 14-20, 2022 (marylandtaxes.gov).
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Registration Now Underway for Fall Recreation Programs and Activities

Registration Now Underway for Fall Recreation Programs and Activities

Registration is now underway for Montgomery County Recreation fall programs and activities.

The list of offerings, and online registration, is available at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org.

Programs and activities are tailored to a variety of interests, skill levels and ages. Fall offerings include aquatics, fitness, sports, visual and performing arts, therapeutic recreation and adult 55-and-over programming.

New this fall, residents can build their own guide with programs to fit their interests. The guide tool allows for the creation of a personalized program guide based on categories, locations and ages.

There are hundreds of programs available this fall that promote an active, healthier lifestyle. For additional information, call 240-777-6840.
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Nearly $15 Million ‘Low or No-Emissions’ Award Will Allow Montgomery to Create the First Hydrogen Electric Bus Project on the East Coast

Nearly $15 Million ‘Low or No-Emissions’ Award Will Allow Montgomery to Create the First Hydrogen Electric Bus Project on the East Coast
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has won a competitive grant award of nearly $15 million from the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the purchase of 13 new hydrogen fuel cell buses and the construction of a green hydrogen fueling site at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance Transit Operations Center in Gaithersburg. The project will be the first public transit application of green hydrogen on the East Coast.

The award, from FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, makes the County a leading adopter of this clean technology.

The award will enable replacement of 13 diesel-fueled buses in the County’s Ride On fleet with zero-emission, hydrogen-electric powered buses. The project advances the County’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035. It reduces annual emissions by 640 tons while ensuring reliable and sustainable bus service. 

“This is the first project of its kind on the East Coast and drives forward several of our priorities, including converting our bus fleets to clean energy, reducing harmful emissions and improving our transit system—all in alignment with our ambitious climate goals,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I’m pleased that the Federal Transit Administration selected our project for this competitive award and I want to thank the Maryland Congressional Delegation for supporting the effort. I specifically want to thank Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. David Trone and Rep. John Sarbanes for their support.”

By producing hydrogen onsite using zero-emission electrolysis, the County avoids the byproducts of traditional fossil fuel-based hydrogen production. The zero-emission buses use hydrogen to power electric motors and emit only water from their tailpipes. 

The new fuel cell buses, along with existing and planned battery-electric buses in the Ride On fleet, will enable MCDOT to provide clean, sustainable and reliable bus service.

In March 2022, FTA  announced approximately $1.1 billion available to jurisdictions across the name for grants to assist modernization of bus fleets and to help transit agencies purchase or lease low- or no- emission vehicles that use advanced technologies to help improve air quality and combat climate change. FTA received 530 eligible project proposals totaling approximately $7.72 billion in requests.

These are the first of the FTA's competitive grant selections under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The programs support the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to expand the nation's transportation infrastructure, create and maintain good-paying jobs and fight climate change.

“With today's awards, we are helping communities across America—in cities, suburbs and rural areas alike—purchase more than 1,800 new buses, and most of them are zero-emission,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Funded through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this announcement means more good jobs for people across the country, cleaner air in our communities and more affordable and reliable options to help people get to where they need to go."

The FTA award covers 57 percent of the total $28.6 million dollar of the Montgomery County project. The County will provide the required match from funds programmed in its capital budget for buses.

MCDOT continues its commitment to move to a zero-emissions fleet. In September 2017, MCDOT received an FTA grant for $1.75 million to purchase four electric buses and charging stations. Those buses are currently in service in the Silver Spring area. MCDOT received more than $4 million from another FTA grant to replace 10 diesel buses with new electric models. Those buses will be in service later this year.

“We are consistently seeking and applying for grants to further the County’s transportation system,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “These hydrogen buses are a key element in reaching our zero-emissions goal. They have a longer service period than electric buses to accommodate longer routes in our system and are faster to refuel. Our track record of innovation and sustainability makes us well-positioned to adopt this technology successfully.”

Montgomery County is partnering with industry experts to deliver the project. The Center for Transportation and the Environment, a nonprofit national leader in zero-emission bus deployments, will provide technical assistance. Trillium, a leading provider of clean fuels, will design and construct the hydrogen fueling station. 

The buses are expected to be in service by late 2025.
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