MoCo Government Archives - Page 115 of 241

Gold’s Gym Gaithersburg Building Sold for $3.68 Million

Published October 10, 2023 at 6:50PM

Montgomery County’s Revenue Authority purchased the building that was most recently home to Gold’s Gym at 18810 Woodfield Rd in Gaithersburg for $3.68 million in a deal that has been in the works for over five years, according to Maryland Newsletters.

This past summer we let you know that Gold’s Gym at 18810 Woodfield Rd in Gaithersburg, located next to the Montgomery County Airpark, would close in August. The gym’s last day in business was Friday, August 25. In an email Gold’s Gym sent to its members, the gym stated, “The county is taking the land back under what is called eminent domain relating to the neighboring airfield – we are being required to exit and turn the building back over to the landlord.”

Montgomery County Council Committee Meeting on Oct. 11, 2023

By Patrick Herron

Published October 10, 2023 at 4:10PM

Annual Review of HHS Boards, Committees and Commissions

‘Speak Up, Save a Life’ Video Contest Comes With $1,000 Top Prize

By MCS Staff

Published October 10, 2023 at 2:36PM

This contest challenges teenagers to create an original video to promote awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse/overdose and fentanyl among teens. It is open to all 6th – 12th grade students living in Montgomery County. Top prize is $1,000, second place is $750, third place and fan favorite winners will receive $500 all donated by The Magnolia Companies in honor of two young Montgomery County residents lost to fentanyl; Michael Pisarra and Matthew Loudoun.

Students can enter the contest on their own or as a group; however, students may only participate in ONE entry. If a student in any way participates in more than one PSA video, all of those entries will be disqualified. Video entries including illegal items, inappropriate language, or illustrating the use of needles/syringes, a violent or graphic overdose, or violence in general will not be accepted.** Participants are encouraged to be creative!

Montgomery County Council Approves the Pedestrian Master Plan

By Patrick Herron

Published October 10, 2023 at 12:39PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council voted today to approve the Pedestrian Master Plan, which is Montgomery Planning’s first comprehensive vision to improve accessibility and create safer, more comfortable experiences for people walking and rolling around the County.

“As chair of the Transportation and Environment Committee, meeting our Vision Zero goals and creating safer, more walkable, bikeable and accessible streets are top priorities for me,” said Council President Evan Glass. “The passage of the Pedestrian Master Plan and the recent enactment of the Safe Streets Act bring us closer to our goals of making our streets safer for everyone. I’m proud of the steps we are taking to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety, and I look forward to the implementation of the various recommendations laid out in this plan. Additionally, I want to thank the Montgomery Planning Board and staff for their work on this holistic pedestrian and bicyclist plan.”

Montgomery County Council Meets on Oct. 10 to Vote on the Pedestrian Master Plan

By Patrick Herron

Published October 9, 2023 at 6:55PM | Updated October 9, 2023 at 7:41PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. and will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles and County Executive Marc Elrich will recognize World Mental Health Day. The second, presented by Councilmember Natali Fani-González will recognize the work of employees at the Department of Transportation.

At 1:15 p.m. an additional proclamation, presented by Councilmembers Sayles, Marilyn Balcombe and Dawn Luedtke, will recognize National Farmer’s Day. More detail on each agenda item is provided below:

County Executive Elrich Signs Bill Banning The Sale and Use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers and Leaf Vacuums by July 2025

By Patrick Herron

Published October 9, 2023 at 2:02PM

“The keywords with this bill are phasing out and phasing in,” said Jon Monger, director of the County’s Department of Environmental Protection. “We are phasing out gas powered leaf blowers and phasing in electric leaf blowers over the next two years. We designed this legislation to give landscape companies, independent landscapers and the public ample time to comply with the law.”

The new law will:

Marc Elrich Releases Statement on Hamas Attacks on Israel

By MCS Staff

Published October 8, 2023 at 7:42PM

Montgomery County Executive has released a statement via Twitter/X on the Hamas attacks on Israel. His full statement can be seen below:

“The attacks by Hamas on civilian populations across Israel is the definition of terrorism – terrorism being actions that target civilian populations with the goal of creating such pain and suffering that their governments will change their policies.

Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings on Oct. 9, 2023

By Patrick Herron

Published October 8, 2023 at 11:32AM

Per Montgomery County: The Economic Development (ECON) Committee will meet on Monday, Oct. 9 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss business retention strategies and receive a briefing from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) on second quarter Montgomery County economic indicators in 2023.

The members of the ECON Committee include Chair Natali Fani-González, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles.

Montgomery County Funds Development of 76-Unit Apartment Building to Bolster Affordable Housing Opportunities Along the Burgeoning Purple Line Corridor in Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Published October 8, 2023 at 11:30AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County made another bold move to expand its number of affordable housing units by providing funding for the construction of Park Montgomery West, a new 76-unit rental apartment building to be built at 8856 Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring. Conveniently located along the developing Purple Line Corridor, Park Montgomery West will help preserve and meet the increasing demand for transit-oriented affordable housing in one of Maryland’s most populated counties.

Montgomery County’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) facilitated $10.6 million in financing, along with a Payment in lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with Enterprise Community Development, Inc. (ECD) to support the construction of the 76 new apartments and the renovation of 141 existing units. The PILOT agreement waves County real estate taxes for ECD on its affordable units.

Jennie M. Forehand, Who Represented Montgomery County For 36 Years, Has Passed Away

By MCS Staff

Published October 8, 2023 at 11:02AM

Former Maryland State Senator Jennie Margaret Meador Forehand, who represented Montgomery County for over 35 years,’passed away on October 3, 2023, at age 87, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease according to an obituary posted on orileybranson.com

Per the obituary, “Jennie was born in Nashville, TN and grew up in Charlotte, NC where she met her husband Bill in 7th grade. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, married in 1958 and moved to Maryland in 1961. After Jennie’s retirement from public service in 2014, she and Bill moved to Indianapolis, IN.

‘Glow-in-the-Dark Pickleball,’ Fall Harvest Festivals and ‘Spooktacular’ Happenings Highlight Montgomery Recreation’s October Special Events

By Patrick Herron

Published October 8, 2023 at 9:37AM

Per Montgomery County: A variety of fall harvest festivals and Halloween-themed happenings highlight Montgomery County Recreation’s calendar of special family-friendly events in October. The events will include “Glow-in-the-Dark” pickleball, swimming with pumpkins and haunted houses.

The festivals and events will be hosted at community recreation centers, senior centers and aquatic facilities across the County. Registration for events can be completed online at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. Not all events require registration. Registration for fall programs is also currently underway. Winter program registration begins Monday, Nov. 13.