Marc Elrich has released a statement on the news of the Purple Line opening at least seven months later than the previous estimate and costing $148 million more. His full statement can be seen below:
From the beginning of this process, I have been clear about the perils of engaging in a poorly conceived and constructed public private partnership. Taxpayers and transit riders will continue to pay for the mismanagement of the Hogan Administration. We deserved better.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council have announced that $5.75 million in Community Grants funding is available to assist County community nonprofits. The money is to be dispersed to nonprofits with unique and innovative programs focusing on youth, seniors, residents with disabilities and underserved populations to cover special community needs that are not otherwise being addressed by County funding or efforts.
Applications can now be submitted by eligible nonprofits. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13. Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, outgoing grants program manager at the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing [email protected].
Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery Connects,” Montgomery County’s digital equity and inclusion program, has launched a new program to distribute 34,000 free laptop computers to low-income families. There is a limit of one computer per address. Eligible recipients must be Maryland residents, but do not need to be U.S. citizens.
Qualifications to receive a computer include:
The County is working with organizations and recycling facilities that refurbish electronics for reuse or disassemble them to sell the metal and plastic components. The County requires its contractor and nonprofit partners to erase data from equipment that will be reused and to destroy remaining memory devices. To protect against unauthorized use of personal information, it is recommended to erase personal data before dropping off computers and other electronics.
Community members and businesses can take their electronic recyclables to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station. The electronics drop-off is open daily and is in the Recycling Area of the Transfer Station site. Residents are responsible for the off-loading of material from their vehicles. View a complete list of acceptable electronic products and other related articles at https://bit.ly/2ZVZoB2.
Sami Saeed, a rising senior at Richard Montgomery High School, was sworn in as the 46th Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) on July 11. Saeed was sworn in by Assistant Chief Deputy Clerk Delores Riggs, Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Mr. Saeed was elected to serve a one-year term on the Board by middle and high school students of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). He received 70 percent of 55,598 votes cast in the April 19, 2023, election. Mr. Saeed has served as the president of the Richard Montgomery Student Government Association (SGA) and as a member of the SMOB Advisory Council and the Montgomery County Commission on Youth and Children. He is an avid writer and has written for both The Tide, Richard Montgomery’s student newspaper, and The MoCo Student newspaper.
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, July 11 at 1:15 p.m. and the meeting will begin with a proclamation, presented by Council Vice President Andrew Friedson, to recognize National Parks and Recreation Month. More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
Per Montgomery County: The Aging and Disability Services Division of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services recently began offering free hearing aids and personal sound amplifiers to eligible residents 60-and-over. The distribution of these devices will be conducted by Access HEARS, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect individuals with hearing loss.
Through this program, 400 over-the-counter hearing aids and personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) will be distributed. Eligible individuals must be Montgomery County residents ages 60-and-over with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss and an annual income below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Individuals earning less than $36,450 and couples earning less than $49,300 qualify to participate. Participants must provide proof of age, residence and income.
Per Montgomery County: Residents who are looking for a new furry friend are encouraged to go to the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) in Derwood. The adoption center is at “critical capacity,” particularly regarding large dogs of more than 40 pounds. It is waiving adoption fees for the next 50 dogs adopted.
From Jan. 1 through June 30, 1,117 dogs came into the animal center. During the same period in 2022, 916 dogs came into the building, meaning there was an increase of 201 dogs admitted during the first six months of 2023 compared to the previous year. The increase in the number of dogs entering the animal center in June of this year was substantial. In June, 214 dogs entered the shelter, but only 173 dogs exited. This is a significant reason the shelter is currently at capacity.
Per the Arc Montgomery County: The Arc Montgomery County kicked off their 65thanniversary on Sunday, June 25, 2023 on the beautiful campus of the Barrie School. The event, with full reserved capacity of over 300 registered attendees, included the installation of the 2023-2024 Board of Directors, presented by Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, and an awards ceremony recognizing community partners, including Montgomery Parks Program Access, who have gone above and beyond in supporting The Arc’s mission of inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Immediately following the awards ceremony there was a celebration picnic with a grill buffet, DJ, raffle prizes, a moon bounce, arts & crafts, and a photo booth for everyone of all ages and abilities to celebrate together. Councilmember Will Jawando delivered a proclamation honoring this historic anniversary during a cake-cutting ceremony.
Per Montgomery County: The Latino Health Initiative (LHI), one of three minority health initiatives that are part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), recently hosted its first-ever community health worker (CHW) certification program graduation. The group of 20 graduates was honored following completion of a rigorous six-month training program that included 100 hours of instruction and a 40-hour practicum.
CHWs, also known as health promoters, play a vital role in informing and advocating for community members who face cultural and language barriers in accessing health care services. As trusted frontline health workers, CHWs reach many in the community who are uninsured or underinsured, or otherwise unconnected to health care resources.
Per Montgomery County: On Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m., Council President Evan Glass will host the first meeting of the newly formed Anti-Hate Task Force alongside County elected officials and leaders from the Jewish, African American, LGBTQ+, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino and Muslim communities. Council President Glass introduced a resolution creating an Anti-Hate Task Force and appointing its members, that was formally adopted with unanimous support during Council session on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
The task force kicks off its first meeting on Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m. in the Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center, located at 11701 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. The meeting will be live streamed on YouTube. The task force is expected to hold several meetings in the upcoming months, and present final recommendations in late November.