MoCo Government Archives - Page 154 of 258

Number of Montgomery County Residents Experiencing Homelessness Increased by 313 Since Last Year

Published May 15, 2023 at 11:52AM

Per Montgomery County: The number of adults and children experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County increased by 313 people since last year, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) survey report released May 10. The PIT survey is part of an annual regional analysis and report that started in 2001. According to the 2023 report, all nine jurisdictions in the Metropolitan Washington area included in the survey recorded an increase in the number of persons experiencing homelessness when compared to the 2022 count.

Montgomery County’s PIT count was conducted on the night of Jan. 25, 2023, as part of the nationwide effort to count people experiencing homelessness, including:

Montgomery County Minority Health Programs Release ‘Minority Voices 2022: Our Mental Health Journey’; Report Highlights Mental Health Needs of Minority Residents

By Patrick Herron

Published May 15, 2023 at 9:18AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s three minority health initiatives/programs (MHIP), which are part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), have released a report on the mental health needs of minority residents. “Minority Voices 2022: Our Mental Health Journey” is the result of a year-long partnership between the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), the African American Health Program (AAHP), and the Latino Health Initiative (LHI).

Through the sharing of personal experiences, the report aims to raise awareness, reduce negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding mental health, and initiate an open dialogue that encourages individuals to speak up and seek help. It also identifies barriers to seeking mental health support and the factors that positively impact mental well-being.

MCPS and County Leaders to Discuss New School Regulation that will Allow Students to Carry Narcan

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2023 at 8:19AM

Key leaders in education, law enforcement, health services, and drug use prevention advocates will gather to speak on emergency opioid overdose response in schools, including new detailed guidance on naloxone storage, training and use. Naloxone (also known by its brand name “Narcan”) is a potentially-life saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects due to an opioid overdose.

Naloxone is currently stocked in every Montgomery County public school as an emergency medication, and is available for free to Montgomery County residents without a prescription. Hundreds of MCPS students have received county-sponsored training at regional weekend forums. According to the new guidance, students are permitted to carry personally obtained naloxone on school property. This step is in response to the rise in youth overdose cases across the county and country.

Harriet Tubman Journey to Freedom Statue on Display at Button Farm in Germantown, Special Program on Saturday, May 13, as Montgomery County Hosts ‘Journey to Freedom History Day’

By Patrick Herron

Published May 12, 2023 at 12:07PM

Per Montgomery County: The Harriet Tubman: The Journey to Freedom statue will be the centerpiece as Montgomery County hosts “Journey to Freedom History Day” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday May 13, at the Button Farm Living History Center in Germantown. Montgomery County Executive, Marc Elrich will speak at the free event, which is being presented by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, the Menare Foundation Inc., Heritage Montgomery and Montgomery History.

At noon on May 13, Ranger Angela Crenshaw will host a talk on Harriet Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad and screen the documentary Harriet Tubman: Vision of Freedom. At 1 p.m., County Executive Elrich and members of the County Council will present a proclamation in recognition of the event. At 2 p.m., Capitol Tap and District Tap will share a dance performance about Ms. Tubman’s coded letter. The afternoon will conclude with Lesley Younge leading a story time for kids reading from her new book A-Train Allen. Throughout the event, Montgomery History will host a history table of information.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration to be Held in Germantown on Sunday, May 21

By Patrick Herron

Published May 12, 2023 at 8:55AM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of Community Partnership (OCP) and the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) will host the second annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown. The event is free and registration is not required to attend. Seneca Valley High School is located at 19401 Crystal Rock Dr. in Germantown.

The event will feature:

Nominations Sought for County’s African American Living Legends Awards That Will Be Presented at 26th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

By Patrick Herron

Published May 11, 2023 at 10:45AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County is seeking nominations for its African American Living Legends Awards that honor individuals who are 75 or older and have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness to their community. The awards will be presented as part of the 26th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, themed “Celebrating Freedom at the Rock … Acknowledge, Educate, Celebrate.” The awards ceremonies will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The community celebration will be from noon-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, at the BlackRock Center.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will host the African American Living Legend Awards presentation at to honor distinguished individuals who are living legends in the County and have helped shape the cultural heritage of the African American community.

Crews Resurfacing Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda

By Cordell Pugh

Published May 10, 2023 at 3:37PM

This week (May 8th), Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) contractors began resurfacing Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda. Crews will be working on weekdays from 9AM to 4PM, resurfacing all lanes of Parklawn Drive between Randolph Road and the CSX Rail bridge (just East of Nebel Street).

Montgomery County-based M. Luis Construction Co., Inc. is performing the work. Crews will be removing the top layer of asphalt and paving a new asphalt surface on top of the existing base course. Work is expected to wrap up in June, as long as the weather cooperates, according to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

Advice Available from the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection to Residents Who Have Felt Deceived or Taken Advantage of During a Business Transaction

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2023 at 3:33PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County residents who have felt deceived or taken advantage of during a business transaction can turn to the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) for advice and assistance. OCP and its staff of experts on various matters can help explain complicated terms of a business transaction or get involved when a resident feels they are the victim of deceptive business practices, communication barriers or have experienced a situation when they were treated unfairly by a merchant who does not want to resolve the matter.

Spring is a time that brings out a regular trend of deceptive or fraudulent vendors, especially regarding work to be done around homes. OCP is prepared to help.

Winners of Sixth Annual Montgomery County Commission for Women’s ‘Girl Power Contest’ Announced

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2023 at 3:28PM

Per Montgomery County: The winners of the Montgomery County Commission for Women’s (CFW) sixth annual “Girl Power Contest” have been selected. The contest asked entrants to write/illustrate their thoughts on giving advice to the six new female members of the County Council “to make sure our community is a place where women and girls can feel safe and encouraged.” The winners are Natalie Jean (adult category), Morgen Thompson (high school), Mya Twyman (middle school) and Colette Jaksic (elementary school).

The Girl Power Contest ran from March 1-30 in celebration of Women’s History Month. The contestants were asked to address the following question: “We now have six women on the County Council. What advice would you give them to make sure our community is a place where women and girls can feel safe and encouraged?”

County Council Raises Recordation Tax Rates to Increase Resources for School Construction, Montgomery County Construction Projects and Affordable Housing; New Rates Begin October 1, 2023

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2023 at 12:08PM

Per Montgomery County (5.9.23): Today the Montgomery County Council enacted Bill 17-23, Taxation – Recordation Tax Rates – Amendments, to increase resources for Montgomery County Public Schools’ construction projects, Montgomery County capital projects and the creation and maintenance of affordable housing through the Housing Initiative Fund. Councilmember Kristin Mink was the lead sponsor of the bill and Councilmember Will Jawando was a cosponsor. The Council’s vote was 7-4 to enact the legislation.

As a result of this legislation, resources to fund capital priorities are projected to increase by $187.3 million over the six-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) which covers fiscal years 2023 through 2028. Montgomery County’s most recent CIP status report shows a funding gap of $207.5 million, and the additional resources generated through updated recordation rates will help close this gap and fund essential construction projects including schools, affordable housing projects and transportation infrastructure improvements.

Joint Letter from Board President Silvestre, Superintendent McKnight, and the Three Employee Associations Concerning MCPS Operating Budget Funding

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2023 at 6:52AM

On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Board of Education (Karla Silvestre), Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight), Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA President Jennifer Martin), Service Employees International Union Local 500 (SEIU Local 500 President Pia Morrison), and Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (President Christine Handy) wrote the following joint letter to the Montgomery County Council concerning the funding of the MCPS operating budget:

“Dear Council President Glass and Councilmembers: