In partnership with Montgomery Goes Purple, MCPS invites families to come out Saturday, Feb. 25 for an event and discussion on Fentanyl. Panelists will share important information on the dangers and prevalence of illegally-made fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment when needed. The event will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Northwood High School Auditorium, 919 University Blvd W. in Silver Spring.

Breakout discussions for students and parents/caregivers & students, resource fair, COVID-19 vaccinations and refreshments will be available. Panel and breakout sessions will be in English and Spanish. Hundreds attended the Fentanyl Family Forum that took place at Clarksburg High School on January 28th.


Montgomery County Recreation is working to ensure the dream of attending prom can come true for all high school students. To ease the financial obstacle, the department is collecting gently used and new dresses, suits and accessories for “Praisner’s Project Prom Dress” giveaway event on Saturday, April 15, at the Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center in Burtonsville. Dresses, suits and accessories can be donated at the recreation center until March 15 during the following hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The center is located at 14906 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. Three other community centers are also collecting items and have specific donation drop-off dates (see below).

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, any high school student can visit the Praisner community center, show their school ID card, shop the racks and select an outfit for free.


Per Montgomery County: The Council will hold a public hearing on the capital budget at 7 p.m.; Committees will receive updates on workforce development, workplace learning in Montgomery County Public Schools and shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness, and will review spending affordability guidelines for the FY24 Operating Budget

The joint Economic Development (ECON) and Education and Culture (EC) Committee will meet on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. to receive an update on workforce development needs in Montgomery County and workplace learning in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).


Last April, Montgomery Parks opened the Josiah Henson Museum and Park, a 3.34-acre park located at 11420 Old Georgetown Road in the Luxmanor Community of North Bethesda. The museum and park is dedicated to telling the story of resilience and perseverance in overcoming slavery, based on the detailed words and experiences of Josiah Henson – enslaved in Montgomery County for much of his life.

The Josiah Henson Museum and Park tells the inspirational life story of Reverend Josiah Henson, who was born into slavery yet defied the odds to become an influential author, abolitionist, minister, public speaker, and a world-renowned figure. One of Henson’s many accomplishments was his 1849 autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, which inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s landmark anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.


Interagency workgroup to examine the county’s process for reviewing development projects to ensure economic competitiveness and to recommend possible improvements; findings will be delivered by October 15, 2023 to the Montgomery County Delegation

The Montgomery County House Delegation, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, and the Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), have agreed to collaborate together on a workgroup to examine the county’s development review process, with a special focus on economic competitiveness. Delegate Lesley Lopez (D- District 39) will serve as the workgroup’s Chair. The Development Review Process Workgroup will be formed by May 1, 2023 and will deliver findings to the Montgomery County Delegation by October 15, 2023.


Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of the County Attorney seeks expressions of interest from lawyers interested in being appointed, pursuant to Montgomery County Charter Section 213, as special counsel to provide legal services to the newly formed Police Accountability Board (PAB) and Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) sitting in Montgomery County, Maryland. Additional information on the PAB/ACC can be found here.

The PAB and ACC is tasked with reviewing issues and receiving public complaints arising from local Law Enforcement agencies including the Montgomery County Police Department, the municipal police departments, and the Sheriff’s office.


Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m. The meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmember Andrew Friedson will recognize the 130th Anniversary of the Noyes Library for Young Children. The second, presented by Councilmember Sidney Katz and County Executive Marc Elrich will recognize Animal Services Officer Dany Flores-Lopez.

At 11:30 a.m., the Council will hold its annual Black History Month commemoration, hosted by Council President Evan Glass, Councilmember Will Jawando, Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles and the full Council. The theme for this year’s commemoration is Black Resistance.


Montgomery County first enrolled in the World Health Organization/AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in December 2015. It now joins more than 700 Age-Friendly communities across the country and more than 20 other nations around the world. By 2030, Montgomery County’s population is projected to be 1,124,790 and more than 25 percent residents will be age 60 or over (281,198).


Town hall will be held at Lakelands Park Middle School in Gaithersburg with virtual participation available

The Montgomery County Council will hold a hybrid town hall meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Lakelands Park Middle School, which is located at 1200 Main St. in Gaithersburg.  Councilmembers have scheduled this time to answer questions and listen to concerns from community members. Some of the topics for discussion will include public safety, public health, housing and transportation, and other issues of community concern.


“Whether it’s attracting Fortune 500 companies from around the country, retaining the businesses that already call Montgomery County home, or simply making it easier to do business here, there is a lot more we can do,” said Council President Glass. “Moving this economic roadmap forward is crucial to ensuring that Montgomery County residents of all income levels feel financially secure.”

“Montgomery County needs to focus on our local economy in order to better compete in the global economy. By cutting red tape and streamlining our processes, we will further open our doors to residents and businesses from around the region and the world.”


Cava Group Inc., the parent company of CAVA restaurants, announced on Monday morning that the group confidentially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to go public in the United States. CAVA, the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry, has opened over 200 restaurants since opening its first fast-casual spot in Bethesda in 2011.

In 2006, first-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis launched the full-service Cava Mezze restaurant in the Traville Gateway shopping center (Rockville), with Moshovitis as executive chef. Following the launch of four additional restaurants, in 2008, Xenohristos, Grigoropoulos, and Moshovitis launched a line of dips and spreads to over 200 stores, including Whole Foods Market. In 2009, Brett Schulman joined them as CEO and co-founder of the fast-casual chain CAVA (originally called Cava Mezze Grill, later rebranded as Cava Grill and then simply as CAVA). The group opened the first CAVA restaurant in Bethesda in January 2011.


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