MoCo Archives - Page 303 of 605

Winners Honored in 24th Annual Recycling Achievement Awards

Published May 25, 2023 at 7:29PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich celebrated the 24th Annual Recycling Awareness Week by honoring recipients of the County’s Recycling Achievement Awards for outstanding achievements in waste reduction, reuse and recycling. The ceremonies, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, recognized individuals, multi-family properties, businesses, organizations and government facilities. Recycling Awareness Week is a designated week each year during which the County highlights and showcases the achievements of our community and honors them for their efforts to help the County reach its goals of reducing waste and recycling more, aiming for Zero Waste.

“Since 1999, Montgomery County has celebrated its own Recycling Awareness Week by highlighting the hard work and commitment by our businesses, government agencies, multi-family properties, and individuals,” said County Executive Elrich. “Each year, the list of awardees includes more recipients who recognize the importance of reducing waste and recycling more. I am thankful for today’s awardees who are taking action to help us achieve our goals as we aim for Zero Waste.”

Montgomery County Council Votes to Approve $6.7 Billion Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget and Amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program

By Patrick Herron

Published May 25, 2023 at 1:45PM

“The Council’s budget deliberations carefully balanced our strong and steadfast commitment to our students and teachers with our residents’ many other priorities, while also upholding our responsibility to be fiscal stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Glass. “We fully funded teacher contracts and met salary and benefit agreements for our hardworking first responders, police and healthcare workers. At the same time, we cut the County Executive’s proposed 10 percent property tax hike by more than half. I’m grateful to my Council colleagues who brought new and unique perspectives to the table and shared a commitment to transparency and oversight every step of the way.”

The Council’s budget deliberations this year focused on balancing the needs of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) with those of other County agencies and departments, as well as reducing the 10-cent property tax rate proposed by County Executive Marc Elrich. Following weeks of deliberations and careful review of Council and committee recommendations, the Council lowered the proposed tax rate and was still able to provide historic funding for MCPS.

Council President Evan Glass’ Statement on the Council’s Approval of the FY24 Operating Budget and Amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program

By Patrick Herron

Published May 25, 2023 at 11:11AM

The 11 members of the Council had very different views and opinions on this budget. Some wanted higher taxes, some wanted lower. This is what democracy looks like. The end result was one of consensus, recognizing that we all supported the labor contracts of our county and school employees, maintaining a strong social safety net, and preserving our reserve fund.

While there may be disagreements about the details of the budget, there should be no disagreement that this budget process has been more transparent than any other in recent memory. Each committee chair reported their recommendations to the full Council in open, televised meetings and I abolished the omnibus budget consent calendar.

Update on Taste of Wheaton’s Cancellation

By Patrick Herron

Published May 25, 2023 at 9:02AM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 9:27AM

On Tuesday, we reported that this year’s Taste of Wheaton event scheduled for June 4 at Marian Fryer Plaza (2424 Reedie Plaza) in Downtown Wheaton had been cancelled. Taste of Wheaton is an annual event that takes place in early June that features food, music and dance, rides, and children’s activities. According to the Sidney Cooper of the Wheaton Urban District, the event “encountered contracting hurdles we could not overcome in time for the event to be the success the community expects and deserves” and “we look forward to bringing it back bigger and better in 2024.”

When asked on Twitter if restaurant recruitment played a factor in the cancellation, County Councilmember for District 6 Natali Fani-González replied, “The County Exec team notified me a couple of days ago about the unfortunate cancellation. Restaurant recruitment has to do with the decision. More will be discussed at the June WUDAC meeting.” Last year’s participating restaurants included Frank’s Burger Place, Green Plate Catering, Hollywood East Café, IHOP, Los Cobanos, Methi Indian Restaurant, Nando’s Peri Peri, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nut House Pizza and Terra Mare Restaurant.

Council Meets on May 25 for Final Vote on Montgomery County’s $6.7 Billion Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget and Amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program

By Patrick Herron

Published May 24, 2023 at 8:42PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Thursday, May 25 at 9 a.m. The meeting will begin with two proclamations. The first, presented by Councilmembers Stewart and Albornoz, will recognize Foster Care Month. The second, presented by Councilmember Stewart, Council President Glass and Councilmember Balcombe will recognize Chesapeake Bay Day. In addition, the Council will hold a final vote on County’s $6.7 billion FY24 Operating Budget and the $5.7 billion amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).

More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

Summer Reading Challenge Pre-Registration By Montgomery County Public Libraries

By MCS Staff

Published May 24, 2023 at 4:27PM

Per Montgomery County Public Libraries: It’s time to pre-register for MCPL’S Summer Reading Challenge: All Together Now! Children ages 0-12 and teens ages 13-17 can pre-register (or log in) online or at your local library, and on June 17 you can pick up your free book at your local branch and start logging your reading and activities online!

At the same time, you’ll be helping our community be kind to animals, to one another, and to the planet this summer, while working together with several Montgomery County organizations to strengthen our community! Much more to come on that!

‘Germantown Glory’ Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks to Take Place on Tuesday, July 4th

By MCS Staff

Published May 24, 2023 at 4:09PM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 5:51AM

‘Germantown Glory’ will take place on Tuesday, July 4th. It will feature live music beginning at 7 pm and fireworks beginning at 9:15 pm. No alcohol or pets are permitted. Time is approximate and may change due to weather. Additional information will be available closer to the event date. This event will be held at South Germantown Recreational Park (18041 Central Park Circle Boyds, Maryland 20841).

So far, other Montgomery County Independence Day celebrations have been announced in Gaithersburg, Kensington/Wheaton, Poolesville, and Rockville:

‘Mid-County Sparkles’ Celebration and Fireworks Display to Take Place on July 1

By MCS Staff

Published May 24, 2023 at 3:59PM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 5:51AM

Mid-County Sparkles, one of Montgomery County’s Independence Day celebrations, will take place on Saturday, July 1st. Live music begins at 6 pm and fireworks begin at 9:15 pm. No alcohol or pets are permitted. Time is approximate and may change due to weather and additional information will be available closer to the event date. This event will be held at Newport Mill Local Park (11201 Newport Mill Road Wheaton, MD 20895).

So far, other Montgomery County Independence Day celebrations have been announced in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Poolesville, and Rockville:

“Nah, Doesn’t Interest Me” – Marc Elrich on a Commanders Stadium in MoCo

By MCS Staff

Published May 23, 2023 at 8:40PM

“Nah, doesn’t interest me,” County Executive Marc Elrich said regarding MoCo putting in a bid for the Commanders new stadium, in an interview with the Washington Business Journal.

The team is currently in the process of being sold– coincidentally from one MoCo native (Dan Snyder) to another (Josh Harris), but Elrich stated that “people who makes deals for stadiums get their clocks cleaned” and that he’s “got enough problems in the county without having another drain on the county budget and a bunch of lousy jobs for people making minimal wages so I can have a billionaire raking in all this money.”

Montgomery County Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day on Monday, May 29

By Patrick Herron

Published May 23, 2023 at 3:31PM

Montgomery Parks—Visit www.MontgomeryParks.orgfor complete information. Additional information:

Montgomery County Council Seeks Applicants for Two Vacancies on the County Board of Appeals

By Patrick Herron

Published May 23, 2023 at 10:21AM | Updated May 23, 2023 at 10:46AM

By law, no more than three members of the Board shall be from the same political party. Applicants may be registered to vote in the County as a member of any political party or unaffiliated with any political party. Voter registration will be verified by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

The current members of the Board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Richard Melnick (Unaffiliated), Caryn Hines (Democrat), Laura Seminario-Thornton (Republican) and Alan Sternstein (Democrat). Members of County Boards, Committees and Commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.