MoCo Government Archives - Page 122 of 243

Child and Adult Used Bicycles Can Be Donated at the Annual Department of Transportation Event on Friday, Oct. 20, in Rockville

Published September 21, 2023 at 9:07AM

Per Montgomery County: Bicycles that are no longer being used by some can make a big difference for others. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s annual Bicycle Donation Drive will be held on Friday, Oct. 20. The event will make it easy to donate previously owned bikes and ensure they will have a continued impact. From 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 20, bikes will be collected (rain or shine) outside of the Montgomery County Council Office Building Garage at East Jefferson and Monroe Street in Rockville.

Bicycles should be in good working condition or in need of only minor repairs. Donations will be refurbished and MCDOT will match the bikes with residents in need through the Bike Match program. Community members are welcome to organize a bike collection at their school, place of worship or within their neighborhood and bring the bikes to Rockville on Oct. 20. For drives that collect 10 or more bikes, MCDOT will arrange to pick them up at a prearranged location.

Potomac Community Recreation Center to Celebrate Opening of New Outdoor Fitness Park on Sunday, Sept. 24

By Patrick Herron

Published September 21, 2023 at 9:05AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Recreation and Friends of the Potomac Community Center will be joined by elected officials and community members at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, to dedicate a new Outdoor Fitness Park at the Potomac Community Recreation Center. The Potomac Community Recreation Center is located at 11315 Falls Road in Potomac. This outdoor area will provide access to fitness opportunities throughout the year. Community members of all ages will be able to exercise together to enhance mental and physical wellbeing. This site is handicap accessible.

The Friends of the Potomac Community Center, in partnership with the State of Maryland Community Grant and Montgomery County Recreation, selected the space above the community center playing fields for the fitness park. The $295,000 project included funds from a State of Maryland grant and fundraising efforts by The Friends of the Potomac Community Center. The new fitness park works to meet the goals of The Friends of the Potomac Community Center fitness, health and wellness initiative.

Montgomery County Announces Pride Decal Contest Winners

By Patrick Herron

Published September 20, 2023 at 5:59PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Community Partnerships today announced the winners of this year’s Show Your Pride! LGBTQ+ decal contest, which was open for submissions in early June. Bethesda resident Vinnie Yankowski was named winner of the youth category and former Silver Spring resident David Spengeler won the adult category.

“Anti-LGBTQ+ bias is surging across the U.S.,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It’s more critical than ever for Montgomery County to stand behind our diverse LGBTQ+ communities. These decals are a symbol of who we are as a county—everyone is welcome here, and this is no place for hate.”

Montgomery County Council to Hold Committee Meetings on Sept. 21

By Patrick Herron

Published September 20, 2023 at 2:33PM

Per Montgomery County: Committees will review the Spending Affordability Guidelines for the FY25 Capital Budget and the FY25-FY30 Capital Improvements Program and review Montgomery County Public Schools FY23 End of Year Categorical Transfers; receive an update on adult education efforts from Montgomery College and the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy

The Education and Culture (EC) Committee will meet on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 1:30 p.m. to review Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) categorical transfers and receive an update from Montgomery College and the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL) about their adult education efforts.

Montgomery County and MCPS Offer Free Programs for Kids and Teens When School is Not in Session

By Patrick Herron

Published September 20, 2023 at 9:32AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Recreation, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools Out of School Time (OST), will offer out-of-school programming for students throughout the 2023-24 school year. Kids Day Out, for elementary school students, is a day filled with fun, supervised activities, planned with an emphasis on kid-friendly, healthy recreation. Programs will take place at various locations across the County beginning Monday, Oct. 9. Locations include:

Each day of programming takes place from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Students should make sure to bring lunch.

Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services Will Provide Sexual Health Services at New Germantown Location Beginning Monday, Oct. 9

By Patrick Herron

Published September 19, 2023 at 4:50PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will begin providing sexual health services at the new Upcounty Sexual Health & Wellness Clinic beginning Monday, Oct. 9. The clinic, located at the Sidney Kramer Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road in Germantown, will offer free and low-cost testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV infection.

A community open house and ribbon cutting for the facility is planned for Thursday, Oct. 5 from 1-4 p.m.

Safe Streets Act of 2023 Passes; Includes Additional Speed Cameras, Right Turn on Red Prohibited at Busy Intersections, and Enhanced Walk Times at Crosswalks

By Patrick Herron

Published September 19, 2023 at 1:39PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously today to approve the Safe Streets Act of 2023 (Bill 11-23). The new law, spearheaded by Council President Evan Glass, will create safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers on Montgomery County roadways.

The new law, spearheaded by Council President Evan Glass, will create safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers on Montgomery County roadways. The legislation prioritizes pedestrians by enhancing walk times at crosswalks, and prohibits “right turn on red” at busy intersections in downtown areas. To create safer routes to school, the legislation will also require infrastructure reviews following incidents in school zones, walksheds and bus stops.

Councilmember Will Jawando Announces 2023 Councilmember for a Day Challenge for Students

By Patrick Herron

Published September 18, 2023 at 4:00PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, who chairs the Education and Culture Committee, will host the Council’s eighth Councilmember for a Day challenge for local high school and middle school students. The annual Councilmember for a Day program was developed in 2016 by former Councilmember Craig Rice as a way for youth to lend their voice on public policy issues and engage with local government in enacting change. Councilmember Jawando is continuing this tradition to engage youth in public policy and, more importantly, provide an opportunity for Councilmembers to learn what issues are important to our youth and what solutions they can offer.

The culminating project for students is a video on a public policy issue, from whom a winning video will be selected. The winner will be the guest of honor at a Council breakfast, receive a Council proclamation, serve as an honorary Councilmember for a Day, and receive prizes to enable their continued digital storytelling.

Bill to Increase Wages for Tipped Employees in Montgomery County to be Introduced

By Patrick Herron

Published September 18, 2023 at 3:50PM

A bill that would increase wages for tipped employees will be introduced at the Montgomery County Council meeting on Tuesday, September 19. Bill 35-23, County Minimum Wage – Tipped Employees would adjust the calculation of the minimum wage for tipped workers and phase out the tip credit amount under the Montgomery County’s minimum wage law. Currently, businesses are required to pay servers $4.00 per hour; if a server does not make the current minimum hourly wage ($15-16.70) per hour, employers are required to make up the difference.

The bill’s lead sponsors are Councilmembers Will Jawando and Kristin Mink. Per Montgomery County, “The tip credit represents an amount of the minimum wage a worker is expected to receive in tips. The current amount of the credit is the hourly minimum wage minus four dollars or a lesser credit if the employee or representative of the employee satisfies the Executive Director of the Office of Human Rights that the employee receives a lesser amount in tips. The limit and phase-out of the tip credit would be staggered over multiple years as proposed in the legislation.”

Anti-Hate Task Force to Hold a Virtual Meeting on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

By Patrick Herron

Published September 18, 2023 at 3:26PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Anti-Hate Task Force’s Muslim cohort will present their policy recommendations to the task force at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. The Anti-Hate Task Force was formally adopted through a resolution with unanimous support in June. The task force is made up of community and faith leaders working to engage the community and develop recommendations to inform policies that promote safety and combat hate crimes in Montgomery County.

Cohort groups representing the Jewish, Black/African American, LGBTQ+, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic and Muslim communities will present their policy recommendations at meetings throughout the fall. Each of the six cohort groups may also hold listening sessions to provide an opportunity for the public to engage and provide input. The Muslim cohort held a listening session on Sept. 11.

Montgomery County Friendship Picnic to Take Place This Sunday

By Patrick Herron

Published September 18, 2023 at 10:00AM

Per Montgomery County: The tenth annual Montgomery County “Friendship Picnic” will again bring people of diverse cultures and faiths together to make new friends and discuss ways to build a stronger community. The free picnic will be held from noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, at Wheaton Regional Park. Wheaton Regional Park is located at located at 2000 Shorefield Rd. in Wheaton. A free satellite parking shuttle service to and from the Wheaton Ice Rink and athletic fields will be available.