Organizations can apply independently or in collaboration with other groups. This mini-grant program will strengthen current efforts of the Montgomery County Community Food Rescue (CFR), a food recovery network of Manna Food Center. Applications are due by 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.
A pre-application technical assistance conference will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22. More information and the online application are available online.
Sidney Hechinger opened his first hardware store in Washington D.C. in 1919. In 1953, the company had grown to five stores. Sidney brought in his son, John Hechinger, and his son-in-law, Richard England, as partners. By the early 70s, the company had doubled in size to ten stores. Hechinger and England took the company public in 1972.
John Hechinger Jr. became was named president of the company in 1986. He was the third generation of Hechingers to run the show and reincorporated the company in Delaware the next year. At the time, the company was up to just over 50 stores. By 1995, there were 131 stores in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. That’s when the competition from Home Depot and Lowe’s forced Hechinger to close almost twenty stores, while reformatting a few others. It was the first major decrease in stores the company had ever seen.
The award, from FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, makes the County a leading adopter of this clean technology.
The award will enable replacement of 13 diesel-fueled buses in the County’s Ride On fleet with zero-emission, hydrogen-electric powered buses. The project advances the County’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035. It reduces annual emissions by 640 tons while ensuring reliable and sustainable bus service.
Panelists in the town hall will include Acting County Health Officer James Bridgers; Council Vice President Glass; the County’s LGBTQ+ Community Liaison Amena Johnson; infectious disease specialist Jessica Rosen, a physician with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); and DHHS Director Raymond Crowel.
The panelists will provide an update on the current Monkeypox situation in Montgomery County and Maryland, as well as share information on the County’s monkeypox vaccine program and answer questions about prevention and treatment.
As we noted back in May, Montgomery County is providing 40,000 Chromebook computers to residents who do not have a computer. Eventbrite is being used to create appointment tickets to manage computer pick-ups. If all appointments are taken, check back on the page in a few days for new events. 4 to 5 events will be hosted every week through October 2022. As more computers are received this summer and fall, we will offer more appointments into 2023. Every person receiving a computer:
There is a limit of one computer per person. You do not need to be a U.S. Citizen to receive a computer but you must be a Montgomery County resident. EVERY PERSON, INCLUDING CHILDREN, MUST HAVE THEIR OWN APPOINTMENT AND APPEAR ON THEIR APPOINTMENT DAY IN PERSON WITH ID TO RECEIVE A COMPUTER (For Example: If a parent wants a computer for the parent and two computers for two children, the parent must make 3 appointments and bring the two children with ID to receive the computers. If you make an appointment for June 21, you cannot show up on a different day.)
In Round 2, Solar United Neighbors (SUN) continues to work with more than a dozen local jurisdictions and organizations around the Capital Area in encouraging residents to put solar panels on their homes.
By joining the #CapitalAreaSolarCoop, residents will join neighbors in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. in the quest to lower energy costs, become energy independent and participate in the renewable revolution.
Marc Elrich had a 42 vote lead going into Saturday’s canvassing of 102 provisional ballots that were found unopened and sealed during an audit on Thursday. The ballots were canvassed, scanned, and tabulated starting at 11am Saturday morning and the unofficial final result gives Marc Elrich a 35 vote lead. The Board of Elections will meet at 3pm to certify the election results and David Blair is expected to request a recount.
If a recount petition is filed, election officials must work at least eight hours for each day of the recount and may choose to pause the recount on Sundays and holidays, per the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
The 102 unopened and sealed provisional ballots will be canvassed, scanned, and tabulated starting at 11am Saturday morning. The Board of Elections will meet at 3pm to certify the election results. On Thursday, August 11, at 11:19pm, Montgomery County’s Acting Election Director, Alysoun McLaughlin, released the following statement:
“Our precertification audit identified additional provisional ballots to be counted and the Board of Elections will be unable to certify the election as scheduled at its meeting tomorrow afternoon.”
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings all affirmed the Triple-A rating—the highest achievable—for the County. Montgomery County has earned Triple-A ratings from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. every year since 1973 (50 consecutive years); from Standard & Poor’s every year since 1976 (47 consecutive years) and from Fitch every year since 1991 (32 consecutive years).
All three rating agencies emphasized Montgomery County’s large and diverse tax base, proximity to the District of Columbia, growing commercial and residential development as well as the County’s strong fiscal management policies and strong financial position.
Friday, August 12th is the first day of the 2022 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. The fair takes place August 12-20 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (501 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg). Sitting on 62 acres, the Fair has more than 50 buildings that are filled with more than 5,000 animals every year. The Fair has animals, entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibits, free entertainment, and much more for the whole family to enjoy. Visit www.mcagfair.com to purchase tickets. General Admission tickets are $12 online vs. $15 at the gate and children 11 and under don’t pay for fair admission. Additional information below, Per Montgomery County:
The annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair will be held over nine days for Aug. 12-20 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. The fair is operated by the Montgomery County Agricultural Center Inc., which was formed as a privately operated 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization in 1949. The fairgrounds are located at 501 Perry Parkway in Gaithersburg. General admission is $15 onsite and $12 online. Children 11-and-under are free. Parking on the fairgrounds site is $10. Free parking with shuttle bus service to the fairgrounds is available from nearby Lakeforest Mall at Lost Knife Road and Odenhal Ave. Special admission days will be Senior Day on Tuesday, Aug. 16, with free admission for attendees 62-and-over from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Military Day on Thursday, Aug. 18, with free admission all day for active military in uniform or with a valid military ID from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
In honor of the 2022 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair that will be operating in Gaithersburg from Aug. 12-20, Montgomery History will be looking back at the history of a local dairy farm with guests from the MOOseum.
Bill Duvall, Don Barron and Frank Cornelius from the King Barn Dairy MOOseum will lead the presentation on the agricultural story of dairy farming in Montgomery County through a century’s worth of history of the Crown Farm in Gaithersburg. The farm is now the site of a mixed used development.