Gun Buyback to be held in Germantown on Saturday, April 20

The D.C. Area Interfaith Gun Violence Prevention Network (Interfaith GVP Network), in partnership with the Montgomery County Sheriff and the Office of the State’s Attorney, will host a gun buyback event from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 in the parking lot of the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley in Germantown. Community members will be able anonymously and voluntarily turn in their firearms and receive a food store gift card in return.

The United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley is located at 13421 Clopper Road in Germantown. The event will be held rain or shine.

This will be the first faith-based, “up-county” gun buyback in a section of Montgomery County, which in recent years has seen an uptick in gun violence. The buyback follows successful gun buybacks held since summer 2023 in Baltimore, Rockville and Upper Marlboro.

Community members will be able anonymously and voluntarily to turn in their firearms and receive a $100 food store gift card for functioning handguns, rifles and shotguns and a $200 food store gift card for functioning military assault-style weapons and privately manufactured firearms (“ghost guns”). All firearms will be accepted with no identification requested and a no-questions-asked policy by law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office will inspect all firearms prior to the Interfaith GVP Network deciding the eligibility for gift cards and providing gun safety information.

The Interfaith GVP Network is seeking financial support from businesses, members of the Interfaith GVP Network, other faith groups, foundations, County offices and the public to help fund the buyback. The network hopes to raise a minimum of $30,000, enabling it to collect at least 300 guns at an average of $100 per gun. All donations will be 100 percent tax deductible.

To donate by credit or debit card, go to https://bit.ly/gunbb. To donate by check, make it payable to “Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore” and specify in the check’s memo line: “Up-County Gun Buyback.” Mail checks to Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, c/o Kurt Hansen, 6621 Struttmann Lane, Rockville, MD 20852.

33rd Annual Rockville Science Day on Sunday, April 21, Will Feature Rockets, Robotics, Astronomy and Electric Vehicles

The 33rd Annual Rockville Science Day on Sunday, April 21, will continue its tradition of mixing the forefront of scientific advancements and historical looks on the scientific developments. The free event, from noon-5 p.m. at the Rockville campus of Montgomery College, will include demonstrations and the ability to talk with experts in fields including rockets, robotics, astronomy and electric vehicles.

The Rockville campus of Montgomery College is located at 51 Mannakee St. in Rockville. Parking is free. Exhibitors and volunteers are still being sought for the event. Science Day has exhibits that will fascinate all ages.

The 2023 Rockville Science Day was attended by more than 3,500 visitors and featured about 100 exhibitors. More are expected for the 2024 event.

Among the exhibitors for this year’s show will be National Capital Astronomers, NARHAMS Model Rocket Club, NASA, Croyden Creek Nature Center, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, the National Capital Radio & Television Museum, MoCo Makers, Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington, Echoes of Nature, Montgomery Amateur Radio Club, US Pharmacopeia, Chemical Society of Washington, National Human Genome Research Institute, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Maryland Science Center, the Button Farm Living History Center, Maryland Bluebird Society, the Robotics Clubs & Teams and Pepco.

After more than three decades of growth and evolution, Rockville Science Day continues to pursue its original missions 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

The creators of Science Day also were determined to establish a science center on the Montgomery College campus. The center serves as an educational resource for the public.

To learn more about Rockville Science Day, go to https://www.rockvillesciencecenter.org/.

Department of Environmental Protection Is Celebrating April as ‘Earth Month’ with Countywide Activities and Events

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is celebrating April as “Earth Month” with activities and events aimed at taking action and fostering environmental awareness and stewardship across our community.

Throughout April, residents can participate in activities to promote sustainability, conservation and eco-conscious living. From educational workshops to community clean-up events, DEP is working with the community to make a positive impact on the local environment. Earth Month will cap off on April 27 with “GreenFest,” the largest annual environmental festival in the County.

"I encourage everyone in our community to act now and join us in celebrating Earth Month and as we renew our commitment to protecting the environment," said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Take a composting class, join a neighborhood cleanup and come to GreenFest. By engaging in these meaningful activities and promoting sustainable practices, we can make a difference in our County today and for generations to come."

Earth Month activities will include:

• Earth Month Clean-Up Events: Join DEP staff and community members for neighborhood cleanup efforts at various county locations. The events will provide an opportunity to take an active role in preserving the natural beauty of the surroundings.
• Composting and Recycling Workshops: DEP will host a series of workshops covering topics such as composting, energy efficiency and sustainable gardening. These sessions will empower participants with practical knowledge and tips for reducing their environmental footprint.
• Food Waste Prevention Week Education: As part of the effort to reduce food waste in the County, DEP will have information about food waste prevention at grocery stores throughout the County during April.
• Illumination Stations: Shine a light on energy savings and keep more money in your pockets. DEP is hosting a series of events where people can apply for energy assistance and exchange old incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs for new energy-efficient LED light bulbs.
• GreenFest 2024: DEP and a coalition of public and nonprofit partners will host this annual event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Blackrock Center for the Arts in Germantown.

“Simply put, Earth Month is about individuals, communities, schools and other partner organizations taking action to help our environment,” said DEP Director Jon Monger. “I hope you will join in community cleanups, Earth Day fairs, composting workshops and other events and ways to learn more about how we can individually and collectively take action as stewards of our planet.”

For a full calendar of Earth Month events, visit the Montgomery County DEP website.

Third Annual ‘Rockville Skate Jam’ on Saturday, April 20, Will Include Competitions and Demonstrations

The Third Annual “Rockville Skate Jam” on Saturday, April 20, at the new Rockville Skate Park will include a day of activities for many members of the family. The fun activities will include morning yoga, skateboard competitions and skateboard demonstrations. The event is free.

Activities will begin at 9 a.m. and continue through 5 p.m. at the Rockville Skate Park, which is located at 355 Martins Lane in Rockville. Food and drinks will be available for purchase during the event. A DJ will provide music.

The day’s schedule of activities will include:

• 9-10 a.m. Yoga
• 10-11 a.m. Skate competition check-in and practice
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Skate competition
• 1-2 p.m. Skate demonstrations
• 2-5 p.m. Skate competition continues

The skating competition will consist of three heats. Skaters will compete to see who has the best run. The competition is free to enter and participants will be grouped by skill level. Sign up here.

Check here for the skate competition outline.

Check here for the skate competition schedule.

Check the weather hotline for updates on the day of the event at 240-314-5026. If postponed by inclement weather, the Skate Jam will be held on April 27.

‘Montgomery County’s Gift to D.C.: The Washington Aqueduct’ Will Be Focus of Montgomery History Presentation on Tuesday, April 23

The Washington Aqueduct, carrying drinking water to the nation’s capital, but running mostly through Montgomery County from Great Falls, was a technological marvel when completed 160 years ago in 1864. After all that time of continuous service, it is currently undergoing a major rehabilitation. That miraculous project will be the subject of a free, online presentation from Montgomery History at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23.

Through current and historical photos, Ralph Buglass, a Montgomery County native and avid history buff, will relate the fascinating history of this structure, now a National Landmark, and look at its equally fascinating chief engineer, Montgomery Meigs, who was also quartermaster general of the U.S. Army during the Civil War. In charge of all the troop logistics, Meigs has been described as “second only to General Ulysses Grant” in winning the war for the Union.

“Montgomery County’s ‘Gift’ to D.C.: The Washington Aqueduct” can be viewed via Zoom at Webinar Registration - Zoom.

Mr. Buglass has taught at lifelong learning institutes associated with Johns Hopkins and American universities and Montgomery College. He speaks frequently to community groups, businesses and other organizations and national conferences. In 2020, with Peerless Rockville, he co-authored Images of America: Rockville, a pictorial history of the city’s 250 years.

Newest Episode of ‘Make a Difference,’ Which Looks at Volunteer Opportunities of Many Types, Goes In-Depth on How to Help in the 2024 Elections

“Make A Difference,” the County Cable Montgomery show about how volunteers can have a positive impact on programs and other residents in Montgomery County, in its newest episode explores how volunteers can help the 2024 elections operate smoothly. The show can now be viewed on cable or online via the County's YouTube channel.

Sandy Smith is the long-time host of “Make a Difference,” which is produced by Montgomery County Volunteer Center in collaboration with the County’s Office of Public Information. Each month, residents can find a new episode via County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity (channels 6 and HD 996), RCN (channels 6 and HD 1056) and Verizon (channel 30). Residents also can watch the program on-demand via https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccm/makeadifference.html or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/izNe2UUYZ48.

Montgomery County’s cable station produces numerous shows that can help residents or that better explain how County Government is using the funds in its budget.

In this episode of Make a Difference, Ms. Smith talks with Gilberto Zelaya, the community engagement/public relations officer from the County Board of Elections. They talk about volunteer opportunities that could be available as the Board of Elections prepares for the Maryland primaries in May and the Presidential election in November.

Mr. Zelaya addresses that it will take more than 4,000 volunteers to assist with the 2024 elections. Volunteers will undergo training and then be assigned to positions. Volunteers will have some input on the types of positions in which they serve. The show also provides general information about the voting process.

Cable viewers can see Make a Difference on CCM at the following times: Sundays (2:30 and 6:30 p.m.); Mondays (10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.); Tuesdays (2:45 and 11:15 a.m.) and Saturdays (5:15 p.m.).

More information about volunteer opportunities with the Board of Elections is available http://www.777vote.org.

For more information about other types of volunteer opportunities in the County, go to http://www.montgomeryserves.org.

Nature Center Programs in April Will Include Family Puzzle Palooza, Full Moon Friday and Butterfly Gardening for Beginners

A Family Puzzle Palooza, a celebration of a full moon on a Friday and butterfly gardening for beginners are among the special events that Montgomery Parks will host to make April special in its nature centers.

April nature center programs will include:

• Adaptive Recreation–Birding 101 Series. Through May 15. 4–6 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda. Curious about birding, but not sure where to begin? This series is for you. All skills levels welcome. Ages 18 and older. Registration required (registration will close 48 hours prior to the start of each individual class). $45 per person for entire series; $15 per person per class.
• Online Native Plant Sale. April 8–22 (Plant pickup, April 27). | 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Pickup). Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville. Growing native plants encourages beneficial insects, birds and wildlife. Support your backyard ecosystem and Maydale Nature Classroom with this fundraising event. Online sales only. For more information, visit Maydale Online Native Plant Sale.
• Family Puzzle Palooza. Saturday, April 20. 10 a.m.–noon. Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton. Cozy around a campfire while completing a 520-piece original Brookside Nature Center puzzle. Puzzlers encouraged to bring snacks. Ages 8 and older. Registration required. $40 (one registered attendee may bring up to five other puzzlers).
• Butterfly Gardening for Beginners. Saturday, April 20. Noon–1 p.m. Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville. Learn the types of plants to attract butterfly species, how to choose the best plants for your garden and tips to get your butterfly garden started at this beginner-friendly gardening program. Ages 16 and older. Registration required. $7 per person.
• Nature Night In. Saturday, April 20. 5:30–8:30 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda. A fun night of nature-based games, crafts, a picnic dinner and hike, weather permitting. Children must be potty-trained and dressed appropriately for the weather. Pack a nut-free dinner, snack and water. Registration required. Ages 4-10. $20 per person.
• Seed Bombs. Monday, April 22. 2–3 p.m. Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville. Celebrate “Earth Day” by making tiny “green grenades” of native herb, flower and vegetable seeds to create pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators in your garden. Ages 4 and older. Registration required. $7 per person.
• Nature Center Pop-up. April 26 and 28. 4–6 p.m. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Friday, April 26, 4-6 p.m. Long Branch Arliss Neighborhood Park, 8810 Garland Avenue, Silver Spring. Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Rock Creek Regional Park, 15700 Needwood Lake Circle, Rockville. Visit the Nature on Wheels vehicle and meet a naturalist to learn about the park, explore some natural objects, ask questions and do biology-themed activities. Registration optional. All ages. Free.
• Full Moon Fridays. Friday, April 26. 6:30–8 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda. Enjoy the full moon for a hike and campfire. Registration required. Ages 10 and older. $8 per person.
• Ready, Set, Go! Friday, April 26. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton. A family friendly, nature-themed scavenger hunt adventure on the trails of Wheaton Regional Park. The hunt will be facilitated using the GooseChase smartphone app. Ages 8 and older. Registration required. $15 per person.

Go to Montgomery Parks event calendar for a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery. Visit the Spring 2024 Montgomery Parks Program Guide.

Office of Procurement Will Host ‘Vendor Connection Summit’ in Silver Spring on Thursday, April 25

The Montgomery County Office of Procurement will host a “Vendor Connection Summit” from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 25, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Any company or business that is interested in doing business with County Government is encouraged to attend—and they do not have to be companies located in the County. There is no fee to attend.

The Silver Spring Civic Building is located at 1 Veterans Pl. in Downtown Silver Spring, near the Silver Spring Metrorail Red Line station.

More than 50 prime contractors, government agencies and local resources are expected to be represented at the expo-style event. Attendees can meet with prime contractors that currently have a contract with Montgomery County and discuss potential subcontracting opportunities. Attendees can help themselves by bringing business cards and capability statements.

Advance registration is not required, but pre-registration is encouraged. Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PRIMES2024. Walk-ins are welcome and can register on-site.

For more information about the event, contact Bethany Manimbo at bethany.manimbo@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Arab Culinary Traditions Helps Celebrate Arab-American Heritage Month in Free Online Presentation on Wednesday, April 24

Arab-American Heritage Month will be celebrated with a free, delicious online discussion of “Arab Culinary Traditions” starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. The panel will be hosted by music promoter Mary Knieser and will feature an array of community members invited to share their own family food memories.

Arab Culinary Traditions is being presented by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. To join the event via Zoom, go to Meeting Registration - Zoom.

The organizers are still looking for a few more potential panelists with Arab heritage to join the discussion. Anyone who would like to share their own family culinary traditions should contact Lisa Martin at lisa@silverspringtowncenter.com.

Mary Knieser grew up listening to her father's stories about her grandparents and the other immigrants who came from Lebanon to the United States in the 1890s and early 1900s—and the struggles they faced. Although many worked in factories, others, like her grandmothers, became peddlers and walked hundreds of miles, selling clothing and linens to the farmers and their families in western New York and northwest Pennsylvania. One of Mary's great uncles, "Sammy The Peddler," was still traveling the same back roads in the early 1960s.

From her mother and grandmother, Mary and her brothers learned traditional Lebanese cooking that included the sweet pastries served on holidays. Her father was an expert at making soft, paneer-like cheese and canning cracked olives. Their household usually had a crock of milk, wrapped in towels and fermenting, soon to be yogurt, and a batch of dough waiting to be rolled thin and baked. Her mother often invited friends to dine with the family, introducing them to traditional Lebanese food like hummus, grape leaves and kibbee. Now, with her own grandchildren, Mary is sharing some of the same food, pastries, and of course, the stories.

Resident Input Sought on Prioritizing Key Health Needs at Meetings Scheduled Throughout April

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will hold in-person public meetings throughout April to seek resident input to prioritize the important health needs identified in the 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). During these events, attendees will receive a brief presentation on the identified needs and then participate in a paper voting process to prioritize them.

Registration is required to attend the meetings and can be completed online via Sign Up Genius or by calling 240-777-4385, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call to register if language interpretation or other assistance is needed.

“It is important for our residents to be actively involved in prioritizing the important health needs identified in the 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment, so that they can contribute their insights and shape the direction of our health initiatives,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Through this collaborative process, we can ensure that our resources are allocated effectively to address the most pressing health concerns facing our community.”

The remaining meetings will take place at the following libraries:

• Aspen Hill Community Library, Medium Room. 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville. Monday, April 22. 6-7 p.m.
• Chevy Chase Community Library, Medium Room. 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase. Wednesday, April 24. 6-7 p.m.
• Gaithersburg Regional Library, Medium Room 2. 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg. Monday, April 29. 6-7 p.m.

Significant health needs identified in the CHNA are listed below in alphabetical order:

• Access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Services
• Access to Human Services Needs, such as Education, Income, Housing, Employment, Food and Personal Social Services
• Access to Parks, Public Spaces, Wellness and Recreation
• Access to Quality Dental Health Services
• Access to Quality Primary Care Health Services
• Access to Specialty and Extended Care
• Access to Technology
• Access to Transportation
• Active Living and Healthy and Nutritious Eating
• Cultural and Language Competence
• Environmental Health
• Health and Human Services System Navigation
• Injury and Disease Prevention and Management
• Maternal and Early Childhood Health
• Pedestrian Safety
• Safe and Violence-Free Environment
• Social Associations and Community Connectedness
• Waste Management

Language and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available at each meeting upon request and must be requested when people register. Requests for interpretation must be made five business days before the scheduled event.

A staffed children’s corner and light refreshments will be available at each meeting. Meetings have a registration limit of 50 participants, except for the event at the Maggie Nightingale Library, where the limit is 20 participants due to room capacity.

If people cannot attend in person, but want to vote on the significant health needs, they are encouraged to do so online via Survey Monkey through April 30. Surveys are available in six languages in addition to English and are available at the following links:

• Amharic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Amharic
• Chinese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Chinese
• English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HR35X8D
• French: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/frnch4
• Korean: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Krean
• Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spnish1
• Vietnamese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Vietmese

For questions or comments, email Elizabeth Beck at Elizabeth.Beck@montgomerycountymd.gov.