Consumer Complaints Against Auto Repair Shops Can Be Assisted by Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection

Spring and summer are times when more people get into their vehicles and head out on adventures. However, more miles driven mean increased chances for vehicle break downs, and in some cases, the need for major repairs. When transactions between vehicle owners and car repair businesses in Montgomery County reach serious conflicts, the County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) often can help.

OCP registers car repair shops and enforces the County code regarding consumer rights. When a resident registers a complaint concerning an interaction with a business, OCP is guided by Montgomery County Code 31-A, which governs automobile repair businesses in the County. Maryland State Commercial Law, Title 14, Subtitle 10 also applies.

In addition, the OCP staff includes automotive special investigator David Elswick, who has 17 years of experience as an automotive technician. He has Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification in 28 areas and three master automotive designations. Investigator Elswick is available to assist with any issues consumers or businesses may encounter.

The highlights of laws regarding vehicle repairs performed by Montgomery County auto repair services include:

• Estimates for work of more than $25 must be given upon request. The final bill must be within 10 percent of the estimate—unless the customer is notified. County Code §31A-10.
• Authorizations (whether written or oral) are required. Maryland Commercial Law §14-1008.
• Used or rebuilt parts are to be identified in the estimate. The customer's description of the problem, or requests for repair, are to be included.
• Labor charges, service charges, charges for release of the vehicle if it is not repaired and other charges for determining the estimate are to be stated prior to making the estimate.
• A detailed invoice identifying the customer and vehicle, including the odometer reading, is to be provided upon completion of repairs.
• The invoice is to be signed by the merchant. The technician is to be identified, terms or limitations of the warranty must be stated and replaced parts are to be offered, except parts returned to the manufacturer under warranty.
• Parts to be rebuilt, called "core" parts, can be returned to consumers. However, the consumer will have to pay a charge that the shop would receive as credit. If the consumer does not want to pay the core charges, most repair facilities will let them see the parts before they are sent to the rebuild service—if arrangements are made before the job is accepted. Montgomery County Code §31A-13; MD Comm Law §14-1004.
• Notices are to be posted advising consumers of their rights and the shop's policy on storage charges. No storage charges are due for a period of 24 hours from the date of completion of the repairs, unless otherwise agreed.
• Not all disclaimers are enforceable. Merchants are responsible to take reasonable care of the vehicle, though a court may have to make the decision of what is "reasonable."

Investigator Elswick said it is important for consumers to substantiate any complaints about a repair shop with the proper evidence.

“We recommend that you keep any replaced parts, and your receipts,” said Investigator Elswick. “Having repairs made by another shop will complicate your complaint, and in many cases, will result in the need to pursue the matter through court. Give the repairing shop a ‘reasonable’ number of attempts to correct problems.”

For more information about how to address issues with a vehicle repair shop, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP/consumer/auto-repair.html.

For assistance from the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection, send an email to consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.gov or call MC 311 (240-777-0311).

Annual Residential Roads Street Sweeping Program is Underway

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) this week began its annual Street Sweeping Program. The program will run through June, sweeping more than 4,100 lane miles of residential roadways.

MCDOT will post “No Parking” signs a few days in advance of sweeping operations. Residents can find the sweeping schedule by calling MC311 or visiting MCDOT’s Residential Street Sweeping website at montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Highway/streetsweep.

Last year, more than 1,000 tons of debris were collected and removed by crews. Sweeping routes are prioritized based on their proximity to sensitive watershed areas that are identified by the County’s Department of Environmental Protection.

The street sweeping program helps promote the health and vibrancy of local watersheds, many of which lead to the Chesapeake Bay.

32nd Annual Rockville Science Day Will Provide Exciting Free Experiences for All Ages on Sunday, April 23, at Montgomery College in Rockville

The 32nd Annual Rockville Science Day will provide free experience for all ages from noon-5 p.m. at the Montgomery College campus in Rockville. Rockville Science Day, hosted by the Rockville Science Center, will feature a variety of science and technology-related exhibits, activities, games and demonstrations including rocket-building (and launching), telescope viewing and a wide variety of robots.

The college is located at 51 Mannakee St. in Rockville Parking is free. Food will be available for purchase at the event.

Rockville Science Day will include backyard wildlife, ship models, microscopes, snakes, Botball, stream science, Civil War medical practice, coding challenges, math puzzles, chemistry in action (flames, explosions and reactions), electric vehicle demonstration, quadcopters, archaeology mini-digs, 3D printing and brain games.

The history of the Rockville Science Center began with the 1989 establishment of the Rockville Consortium for Science. The consortium's creation was driven by a group of science and tech professionals living in Rockville who were interested in providing more science education opportunities to the city’s residents.

From its earliest inception, the mission of the consortium was to:

• Increase science literacy in the general public.
• Encourage young people to develop and maintain their natural interest in science.
• Help people understand the scientific principles underlying environmental concerns, technological development and global systems.
• Establish a science center that will serve as an educational resource for the public.

The consortium no longer exists, but the Rockville Science Center strives to continue the consortium's vision by sustaining a vibrant facility that offers people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to explore the wonders of science and connect with the scientific community in our region.

For more information on Rockville Science Day, go to https://www.rockvillesciencecenter.org/rscd.

April as ‘Earth Month’ Will Include Environmentally Friendly Activities and Calls to Action

Montgomery County will celebrate April as “Earth Month” with special events promoting sustainability, conservation and eco-friendliness. Highlights include the two-day GreenFest event in Wheaton at Brookside Gardens and Marian Fryer Plaza, social media campaigns and park clean-ups.

The 2023 international theme for Earth Month and Earth Day—April 22—is “Invest in Our Planet.” The theme focuses on engaging governments, institutions, businesses and people to join actions to take care of the planet.

Montgomery County will have a series of events, activities and campaigns designed to inspire action and a commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. Those will include:

• GreenFest—GreenFest in the Gardens. Saturday, April 22: Events Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. Sunday, April 23: Activities at GreenFest in the City at Marian Fryer Plaza in Downtown Wheaton.
• Bike and scooter classes for adults. Find more information at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-DIR/commuter/bikewalk/index.html
• Food is Too Good to Waste—Social media campaign to reduce the amount of food waste generated at the source, channel excess food to those with unmet needs and compost food waste.
• Montgomery Parks Volunteer Park Cleanups/ Events
• Nature Centers hosting native plant sales. https://montgomeryparks.org/plant-sales/.
• Stream and Park Cleanups throughout the month. https://montgomeryparks.org/support/volunteer/stream-park-cleanups/
• Long Branch Earth Day. Saturday, April 22. https://discoverlongbranch.com/featured-events/long-branch-earth-day/
• Something Awesome: Earth Month Edition. Saturday, April 22. https://montgomeryparks.org/events/something-awesome-earth-day-edition/
• Earth Day trash clean up. Saturday, April 22. https://montgomeryparks.org/events/earth-day-trash-clean-up/.
• Arbor Day Tree Planting—Friday, April 28. Veterans Park, Wheaton (time TBD).
• Alcohol Beverage Services is featuring eco-friendly products at its 26 retail stores all month. Customers should look for the “Sustainable Product” shelf tags.

"Earth Month is a time to recommit ourselves to the importance of protecting our precious and vulnerable environment," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. " Montgomery County is making progress toward our Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. Jurisdictions around our nation and the world, including The White House, have taken notice of what we are achieving. This month and throughout the year, I encourage all community members and businesses to commit themselves to our sustainability efforts and take part in all of the County’s activities and initiatives to combat climate change."

Follow Montgomery County on social media and promote Earth Month 2023 using the hashtags: #MoCoClimateSmart #BeClimateSmartMoCo #MoCoEarthMonth and #2023MoCoEarthMonth.

Celebration of April as ‘Earth Month’ Will Include Free ‘GreenFest in the Gardens’ on April 22 and ‘Greenfest in the City’ on April 23 in Wheaton

Montgomery County’s eighth annual GreenFest is back this year, taking place in two different locations, ‘GreenFest in the Gardens’ will take place at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton on Saturday, April 22. ‘GreenFest in the City’ will happen at Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Downtown Wheaton on Sunday, April 23. Both will be free, family friendly events organized by a coalition of public, nonprofit and university partners.

The Greenfest events, which are part of the County’s celebration of April as “Earth Month,” will feature more than 60 vendors at each location. The vendors represent green businesses, environmental nonprofits, arts and crafts vendors. They will feature educational activities for children and adults.

“GreenFest is one of my favorite yearly County events and I am pleased that we have now extended it to two days this year,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “GreenFest provides County residents climate-friendly actions we can all take at home, at work, and in our daily lives and I hope all community members will join us at Brookside Gardens and Marian Fryer Town Plaza to celebrate Earth Day. Montgomery County is dedicated to building a community culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability, and ‘GreenFest’ is a great example of how we can all work together toward that goal.”

GreenFest in the Gardens at Brookside Gardens will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 22. It will focus on practical ways to protect and preserve the natural environment.

Highlights will include:

• Children’s activities
• Plant clinic
• Tree giveaways
• Arts and crafts fair
• Plant vendors
• Children’s yoga
• Electric landscape equipment exhibit
• Food trucks (vegan options available)

GreenFest in the City will be from noon-4 p.m. on April 23 at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, which is located at 2425 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton. It will address how residents can “green” their homes and daily commutes.

Highlights will include:

• Electric vehicle show
• Demonstrations on EVs and EV charging and sustainable and healthy cooking.
• LEED Certified Building tour of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Wheaton headquarters located across from the plaza
• Bike rodeo
• Children’s activities
• Green business vendors
• Local artisan and craft vendors
• Local restaurants

GreenFest is an excellent opportunity for residents to learn more about environmental issues, connect with local organizations and celebrate the planet.

For more information on GreenFest, visit https://montgomerycountygreenfest.org and follow #MCGreenFest.

Walk with Shakespeare, or See His Unfinished First Play, as Gaithersburg Celebrates the Works of Shakespeare April 21-30

William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play will be found at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn with performances April 21-23 and April 28-30 and residents can experience his works in the Third Annual Walking with Shakespeare event on Saturday, April 22, as Gaithersburg’s Arts on the Green celebrates one of the world’s greatest playwrights.

William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) will be performed at the Arts Barn, which is located at 311 Kent Square Road in Gaithersburg, on Friday-Sunday, April 21-23, and Friday-Sunday, April 28-30. Performances on Fridays and Saturdays start at 8 p.m. Performances on Sundays begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for students (ages 15-21) and $15 youth ages 14 and under. Tickets can be purchased here.

In partnership with Sandy Spring Theatre Group, Arts on the Green will present William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor. The recently discovered manuscript of Shakespeare’s first play, written in his own hand, shows all of his most famous characters and familiar speeches in a brand-new story.

However, because it is 100 hours long and contains multiple unwieldy story lines, it has been abridged down to a brief 90 minutes. It is recommended for ages 12-and-over.

This will be the third year for the “Walking with Shakespeare” that includes twists and turns of all kinds. It will be from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, in Observatory Park, which is located at 100 DeSellum Ave. in Gaithersburg. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students 18-and-under. Tickets can be purchased here.

Walking with Shakespeare will experience William Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays as they come to life on this unique walking tour. It will celebrate the Bard’s 459th birthday with a stroll through the spring air. There will be traveling minstrels along the way as attendees travel past scenes from six Shakespearian comedies and tragedies. Each scene lasts approximately 10 minutes and all pathways are accessible.

Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a medieval re-creation organization, will have demonstrations of music, weaving, calligraphy and fencing. The program is recommended for ages 12-and-older.

For more information, call 301-258-6394 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

16th annual Kensington ‘Day of the Book Festival’ Will Be Family Friendly Street Event on Sunday, April 23

The 16th Annual Kensington “Day of the Book Festival,” which is a family friendly street festival spanning three blocks of Howard Avenue in the heart of historic Kensington, will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 23. The festival will feature authors, poets, literary and community organizations and will have live music on several stages.

Special guest speakers, poetry readings, cookbook demonstrations and children’s programs are all part of the event, which is billed as “Not your average book festival.”

The festival will get started at 11 a.m. at the La Rambla Stage with music by Eli August. After Kensington Mayor Tracey Furman greets attendees, Isidre Sala, head of the Catalonia delegation to the U.S., will talk about the history behind the Day of the Book. Festival Poet Laureate Nancy Naomi Carlson will then read her poem Why Sturgeon Leap.

Life coach and former journalist Steve Piacente will be the master of ceremonies at the La Rambla Stage. He is an award-winning author of three novels, Pretender, Bella and Bootlicker.

The list of authors who will be speaking at the festival can be found at Exhibiting Authors | 16th annual Kensington Day of the Book Festival.

Montgomery Parks Offering Special Events and Programs in Spring

Montgomery Parks will be blooming with a full lineup of special events and programs in April and May. There will be events for residents 55-and-older, hikes with (and without) dogs, a sale of native plants, outdoor Sunday brunches and a roller disco.

The Montgomery Parks special events and programs calendar for April will include:

• Online Spring Native Plant Sale. Continues through April 24. Online sales only. Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville. Beautify your backyard with native plants and be a good neighbor to wildlife. Select and pay for plants online and pick them up at Maydale Nature Classroom on April 29. All orders must be placed by Monday, April 24. Buyers must have a free ActiveMontgomery account to purchase plants.
• Sunday Serenade. Sundays April 23 and 30. 10-11:30 a.m. Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda. Join at the amphitheater for a different live-music performance each Sunday. Featuring Bruce Swaim Quartet (jazz); Robbin Kapsalis and The Vintage (R&B/Soul); Bach to Rock (jazz). Bring seating or a blanket. Breakfast and pastries will be available for purchase. Free.
• Nature Center Pop Up. Sunday, April 23. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Martin Luther King Recreational Park, 1120 Jackson Road, Silver Spring, and Cabin John Local Park, 7401 MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin John. Stop by the Nature on Wheels van and talk to a naturalist, explore some natural objects, ask questions and try out biology-themed activities. All ages. Free.
• Archaeology Tour. Saturday, April 29. 11-11:30 a.m. Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda. Take a guided tour of the grounds of the Josiah Henson Museum and Park with an archaeologist and learn about the features and artifacts that inform our understanding of the Rev. Josiah Henson’s life at the Riley Plantation. Ages 6 and older. Registration will be on-site. $3 (museum admission not included).
• YogaDance (Ages 55-and-over). Through May 9. 10-11:30 a.m. East Norbeck Local Park, 3131 Norbeck Road, Norbeck. YogaDance is a practice that incorporates the benefits of yoga and dance with a touch of brain stimulation. All fitness levels welcome. Bring your own yoga mat. Chairs available on site. Registration required. $36.
• Adaptive Recreation: Gardening 101. Through May 16. 4-5 p.m. Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds. Program is designed to support gardeners with disabilities. Guidance and all materials will be supplied. At the end of the program, participants will have acquired the skills and plants to take home to continue their gardening adventures. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $30.

Department of Permitting Services Launches New Podcast Series to Assist Residents and Businesses with the Permitting Process

The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has introduced a new podcast series to help residents and businesses become more familiar with the permitting process. The first episode is now available.

The DPS podcast will connect listeners to permitting department staff including permit technicians, building inspectors, plan reviewers, the fire marshal, field supervisors and code compliance staff. All who will be featured on the podcasts are experts in their various fields. Collectively, they are known as “first preventers.” These code officials who will provide the latest information from the department, as well as resources and tips.

“DPS continues to streamline its processes to make the permitting process more efficient for customers and sharing information about these improvements is important,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are always looking for ways to enhance our communication methods and this new podcast is an innovative way to reach customers on the platforms that they use to keep them informed about DPS programs and services.”

The Permitting Services podcast is posted on the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps and is available on several podcast platforms including Amazon, Apple and Spotify. Subscribe to the podcast by selecting the follow or plus button on your provider’s podcast platform.

“We are striving to be a world-class permitting department,” said DPS Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan. “We are launching this podcast to help our DPS customers better understand the permitting process and get to know our code officials. We want our customers to truly see that we are their partners, and to know that we are here to help them with their commercial and residential projects. As part of that process, we will show our stakeholder partners that providing excellent customer service is a top priority at DPS.”

The Department of Permitting Services Podcast is hosted by Customer Support and Outreach (CSO) Division Chief Gail Lucas, who recently celebrated her 20th anniversary at DPS.

CSO Division Chief Lucas leads a team of more than 30 permit technicians who interact directly with customers, and she is an expert at navigating the permitting process.

“On this first podcast, we cover a variety of topics from our new director’s vision for the department to how to know when you need a building permit in Montgomery County,” Division Chief Lucas said. “We highlight the useful information available on the DPS website, tout the department’s free Design Consultation service, as well as our Design for Life Property Tax Credit Program, and look ahead to Building Safety Month in May. Our goal is to help our customers better understand the permitting process, and how DPS staff can assist from start to finish.”

CSO Division Chief Lucas said future podcasts will cover topics such as decks, fences and pools. There also will be podcasts dedicated to electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels. Other podcasts will focus on special events, use and occupancy certificates for new businesses and vendor licenses.

Listeners are encouraged to email ideas and questions for future podcasts to dps.podcast@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The Office of Broadband Programs in the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Services (TEBS) is providing technical support for the DPS podcast.

The Department of Permitting Services customer service lobby is located in Wheaton at 2425 Reedie Drive, seventh floor. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Customers do not need an appointment to visit the office. If you have permitting questions, you also can call MC 311 or 240-777-0311.

Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project Work Session by Planning Board Rescheduled to Thursday, April 27

The Montgomery County Planning Board will hold a work session about the Little Falls Parkway pilot project on Thursday, April 27, during its morning session. The actual time for the session has yet to be set, but will eventually be available at Planning Board agenda. At the work session, the Planning Board will hear Montgomery Parks’ response to public testimony and determine whether to retain the current two-lane configuration between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue and make additional improvements to the roadway.

During a March 30 public hearing on the project, Montgomery Parks presented details about traffic counts on the parkway and made a recommendation to make the pilot project permanent. The presentation was followed by public testimony.

The Planning Board work session on April 27 will take place in person in the second floor auditorium of at the Planning Board’s Wheaton Headquarters building
at 2425 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton.

To view the work session online, visit www.MontgomeryPlanningBoard.org and click the “watch” link on the homepage banner.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project was initiated in June 2022 to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway for the Open Parkways Program, while retaining space for recreation on the parkway.

Traffic counts were conducted on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue during May, July, September and December of 2022. During its presentation on March 30, Montgomery Parks showed how the parkway functions with two lanes of traffic and how the “road diet” improves safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project currently provides an open parkway for pedestrians and bicyclists for two of the four lanes between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. This section was previously part of Montgomery Parks’ Open Parkways program between River Road and Arlington Road (1.3 miles).

The Open Parkways program launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis to provide more outdoor space for recreation and exercise by closing portions of three parkways to vehicles on weekends. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of visitors have used the Open Parkways. The other two Open Parkways, Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive, will not be affected by the Little Falls Parkway pilot program.

Learn more about the pilot project online.