MoCo

Montgomery County recently launched a new online tool to help older adult residents find volunteer ride providers to help them get where they need to go, when they need to get there.

The online tool uses GIS mapping to connect an address with organizations, such as nonprofit groups and senior villages, who provide volunteer rides for such things as medical appointments and grocery shopping.  In addition to free bus rides and a discounted taxi program for eligible residents, the County supports non-profit organizations that offer volunteer rides.


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) participated in financing, with a 40-year Housing Initiative Fund (HIF) loan of $5,342,517, to support preservation and renovation of 177 affordable units at Parkside Landing Apartments in Rockville. Through lending, DHCA supported preserving 118 affordable units and producing 59 additional affordable units – for a total of 177 units now priced affordably.

Parkside Landing Apartments has a total of 236 garden-style, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units. The City of Rockville’s public housing agency, Rockville Housing Enterprises, Inc. (RHE), acquired the apartment property in 2012 to preserve the affordable rental community and recently completed a full renovation.


Sponsored

Your favorite charcoal-broiled chicken is just a few clicks away. Fresh out of the oven and delivered straight to your door! Order online at WeLoveThisChicken.com or call 301-942-4419. Also available through the UberEats app


Maryland

The personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Most & Least Diverse States in America, and Maryland was ranked the 9th ‘Most Diverse State in America.’

To determine where the most idea and identity exchanges have occurred at the highest level in the U.S. – and where the population is relatively more homogeneous – WalletHub compared the 50 states across six key categories: socio-economic, cultural, economic, household, religious and political diversity.


Bethesda

This week it was announced that a plaque with the name of former Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief James Seavey Sr. will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial wall in Emmitsburg, Maryland. An honored first responder in the greater D.C. area for 42 years and a key member of state, regional, and national fire and rescue organizations, James Perrine Seavey, Sr., passed away September 4, 2018, after a courageous five-year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Seavey’s death will be considered a line of duty death, with his battle with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma presumed to have been a result of contact with toxic substances during his 42 years of service as a first responder, per the Bethesda Patch.

Per his obituary, Seavey was born in D.C., but raised in Bethesda’s Westmoreland Hills. His calling began in 1976 as a 16-year-old Walt Whitman High School volunteer at the Glen Echo Fire Department. There he rose to the rank of Assistant Chief. He moved to the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department in 1990 and took office as Fire/Rescue Chief in 1992, a post he held until retiring on Dec. 31, 2017.


Event

General admission is $25 per person, which includes chili tastings. Free Admission for kids under 18, Police Officers and their Family is provided by MCPF). All proceeds benefit the Foundation’s mission to strengthen community-police relationships, support officers wellness, and enhance public safety initiatives across Montgomery County.

In addition to delicious chili, attendees can enjoy local craft beer from Lone Oak Brewery, family activities, and opportunities to meet and interact with Montgomery County police officers in a fun, relaxed setting.


Glenmont

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Glenmont Metro Station bus canopy rehabilitation project started on Monday, Sept. 12. The project will be closing two bus bays at a time to replace the skylights and do structural work. The project will be completed in 4 phases of bay closures, and is scheduled to be completed July 5, 2023. Signage will be posted at the station (more in the images below).

Passengers using Montgomery County’s Ride On buses are encouraged to wear a mask but are no longer required to wear them. Masks are available on all buses for riders who need them. Fare collection resumed on all Montgomery County buses on Aug. 1. The one-way pre-pandemic fare, which was $2 per ride, is now $1. Monthly passes, which were $45 per rider, are now $22.50. Bus interiors will continue to be cleaned by the County’s Department of General Services with hospital-grade disinfectant. Bus filter and ventilation systems are also treated with a disinfectant.


MCDOT

Based on bill (SB0147) signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan on April 21, Maryland’s “Move Over” law will expand once again on October 1, 2022. In Maryland, the law was originally enacted in October 2014 requiring motorists to move over for emergency vehicles, law enforcement vehicles and tow trucks. The law was expanded in 2019 to include service vehicles such as transportation, service and utility vehicles, as well as waste and recycling trucks that have their lights flashing.

The expanded law that will be enacted on October 1st, will require a driver to make a lane change or slow the speed of their vehicle when approaching from the rear any stopped, standing or parked vehicle displaying hazard warning lights, road flares or other caution signals including traffic cones, caution signs or non-vehicular warning lights. The expanded law is aimed toward protecting all road users.


Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks and Montgomery Planning, both part of The Montgomery County Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, are combatting climate change in the county by using clean energy, enabling energy efficient transportation in the county, implementing new programs and initiatives, supporting carbon sequestration efforts, and collaborating with the Montgomery County Department of the Environment in meeting the County’s Climate Action Plan. All of these efforts among others are detailed in the Montgomery County Climate Action Annual Report, which showcases 2022 accomplishments and outlines plans to combat climate change in 2023.

The Montgomery County Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a strategic plan to cut community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions by 80% by 2027 and by 100% by 2035, as compared to 2005 levels. The plan also seeks to reduce climate-related risks to county residents, businesses, and the built and natural environment.


Health

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the state continues to expand its COVIDReady campaign to encourage Marylanders to maximize their protection against COVID-19 and the flu this fall and winter.

The bivalent boosters—which contain “tools” (spike proteins of the virus) to target the original COVID-19 virus as well as its omicron variants—are available at more than 850 pharmacies, clinics, and local health departments statewide. Find a clinic at covidvax.maryland.gov or by calling 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829).


MoCo Government

The grant program is accepting proposals for projects that could include tree planting, installing permeable pavers or creating rain gardens. The projects should aim to improve the County’s water quality and stream health as called for in the County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. Eligible projects that are outside of the municipalities of Rockville, Gaithersburg and Takoma Park will be considered.

Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17.


Gaithersburg

Coming soon signage is up for Oak, Barrel, and Vine at 512 N. Frederick Ave. in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center, next to Lil’ Cakes & Creamery and the recently opened Five Below. The county-run beer, wine, and liquor store will feature a tasting room with beers on tap and space to hold events hosted by local breweries and distillers.

Montgomery County opened its first Oak, Barrel & Vine location at 7913 Tuckerman Ln in Potomac in October 2021. In August the ABS began renovations at its Montrose store (1205-B Rockville Pike) to turn that location into an Oak, Barrel, & Vine. A complete list of ABS store locations and hours is available at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/ABS/stores/.


Beyond MoCo

Several Maryland schools were ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best National University list that was released earlier this week.  Some of the factors that U.S News uses when compiling the list include graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, “expert opinion”, student excellence, and standardized test results.  John Hopkins University (Baltimore) ranked #7, University of Maryland (College Park) #55, University of Maryland Baltimore County #137, and Morgan State University (Baltimore) #317.  According to U.S. News, “these rankings and the other school information and data on usnews.com are based on many months of data collection and analysis. The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings expose users to the broad range of four-year degree options available. U.S. News recommends prospective students explore the rankings to create an initial list of schools based on academics, and then use the website’s search tools and data to more closely examine other factors based on their personal priorities and interests.”

Announcing: U.S. News ranks the Best National Universities for 2022-2023. https://t.co/pC308Ska9D #BestColleges