Basketball is Back at LA Fitness Gyms in MoCo, Returning at Life Time on 5/14
Basketball courts at local gyms were closed for over a year after covid restrictions were put into place in March of 2020.
At the end of April, LA Fitness gyms with basketball courts reopened the basketball side of things, allowing up to 10 people to play on the court at once with masks required and no spectators on a first come, first serve basis.
Life Time in Gaithersburg recently sent members an email stating that basketball will resume at the gym starting Friday, March 14th.
A month and a half ago, Montgomery Parks started putting hoops back up in outdoor local parks after a year of many hoops being removed. Local photographer, Jordan “Jah” Henson documented the empty courts in a series of photos called Covid Courts.
Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly & Caterpillar Exhibit at Brookside Gardens Cancelled This Year
Montgomery Parks is canceling this year’s Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly & Caterpillar Exhibit at Brookside Gardens, due to the health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
“We share in the community’s disappointment that Wings of Fancy has been canceled for the second year in a row, however, this decision was made after careful consideration for the health and well-being of our guests, volunteers, and staff,” said Stephanie Oberle, Director, Brookside Gardens.
Visitors interested in learning more about local butterflies, and tips on starting a butterfly garden, can find photos and resources on the Brookside Gardens website.
Brookside Gardens’ Conservatory will reopen to the public on Thursday, April 29. The conservatory features plants from around the world, including banana, palm, eucalyptus, red powderpuff and cacao trees. Also on display are fragrant plants such as snapdragons, rose scented geranium, myrtle, and tricolor sage. Visitors can reserve free timed-entry tickets for one of two timeslots, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 12 p.m. to 1 pm, Thursdays through Sundays. Masks are required. Walkups are not permitted.
Brookside Gardens’ outdoor garden area is open daily from sunrise to sunset for exercise, meditation, and wellness. The Visitor Center and Gift Shop are open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beginning May 1, 2021, the hours will extend to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park Opens on April 23
Montgomery Parks has announced the opening of Josiah Henson Museum and Park on April 23, 2021. The museum and park are located at 11410 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda, on the site of the former plantation where Henson was enslaved from 1795 – 1830. The museum is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are required for admission and must be purchased online.
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.
“I’m proud that Maryland’s 8th District is home to the new Josiah Henson Museum and Park,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “This vivid retelling of the extraordinary life and legacy of Josiah Henson will help us bring to life African-American history in Montgomery County and across Maryland. I thank Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County for researching and uplifting the untold stories of our African-American community, and I look forward to visiting and promoting the museum.”
“Josiah Henson was a remarkable man, and I am thrilled that we can preserve and amplify his legacy through this new museum. The museum is a resource of not only local significance but national importance. It is the only archaeology-based museum in the country dedicated to telling the story of African American enslavement. I encourage everyone to plan a visit,” said Mike Riley, Director, Montgomery Parks.
The Josiah Henson Museum & Park includes:
- The Riley/Bolten House which dates to1800-1815 and its attached log kitchen which dates to 1850. These historic structures have been rehabilitated and now feature both traditional and multimediaexhibits, incorporating archaeological artifacts found onsite.
- A newly constructed 3,000 square-foot visitor center which includes an auditorium with an orientation film, gift shop, restrooms, and observation terrace.
- A 4-acre landscaped park with an accessible walking path featuring outdoor interpretive exhibits, and archaeological features.
Throughout the museum and park, Henson’s story is dramatically recounted through film, audio recordings, archaeological artifacts, graphics, and custom illustrations by artists. The experience transports visitors back in time and evokes moments of emotion and reflection. In addition to interpreting Reverend Henson’s life story, the museum also educates visitors about the history of enslavement in Montgomery County and the ongoing struggles for racial equity and justice.
“Our family is absolutely thrilled with the completion of the museum,” said Mia M. Lewis, a descendent of Josiah Henson. “My hope is that people will come to understand who the Rev. Josiah Henson truly was, a man of tremendous strength, intelligence, loyalty, and of great faith.”
The Josiah Henson Museum and Park is open Friday through Sunday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance online. In accordance with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, admission is limited to your reserved timeslot and masks are required. Visitor parking is available at Wall Local Park, 5900 Executive Blvd., N. Bethesda. There are a limited number of accessible parking spots on-site for permit holders at 11410 Old Georgetown Road.
Josiah Henson’s Life and Legacy
Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Charles County, Maryland on June 15, 1789. After being sold separately from his mother and siblings at the auction block, he was eventually traded to Isaac Riley and worked alongside his mother on the Riley plantation from 1795 – 1830. The plantation was located along what is now Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda. Through hard work and acumen, Henson rose to become the plantation superintendent. He also found Christianity after attending a sermon given by an itinerant preacher at the nearby Newport Mill.
Henson became an ordained Methodist minister and after suffering the violence and cruelty of four decades of chattel slavery, escaped to Canada on foot in 1830 with his wife and four children. There he helped established Dawn Settlement, a community inhabited by those formerly enslaved in the United States, continued his work in the Methodist ministry, and became an international speaker and abolitionist. Henson continued the fight for freedom, leading 118 people from enslavement in the United States to freedom in Canada as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
In 1849, Henson published his autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, which vividly depicted his experience of enslaved life in Maryland and Kentucky. The book inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s groundbreaking fictional novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which broke all sales records of the time and sold more than half a million copies by 1857. Uncle Tom’s Cabininspired the abolitionist movement in the mid-nineteenth century, and many believe the novel helped propel the country into civil war. Henson’s later work as a renowned speaker and author garnered him invitations both to the White House and Windsor Castle in London, England.
A Project 15 Years in the Making
In January 2006, Montgomery Parks acquired the property located at 11420 Old Georgetown Road from private ownership. The property included the Riley/Bolten House which dates to 1800-1815, and its attached log kitchen which dates to 1850. Modifications were made to the tidewater plantation house in the 1930s by White House architect Lorenzo Winslow in the Colonial Revival Style. Four adjoining parcels of land were acquired in subsequent years to create a nearly-4-acre park. The park first opened to the public in 2006. Parks staff conducted archaeological excavations for the past 10 years that have yielded over 50,000 artifacts. In addition to excavations, Parks staff hosted school programs based on archaeology, and led historic interpretive public programs about Henson’s life and the African American experience. In 2011, Parks staff wrote and submitted the nomination to list the Riley/Bolten House onthe National Register of Historic Places for its historic significance. The historic house has been listed on the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation since 1979.
In June 2013, The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Josiah Henson Park Facility Plan. The facility plan called for rehabilitating the Riley/Bolten House and converting it into a public museum, as well as building a new 3,000 square-foot visitor center and making the site more accessible to visitors.Funding for the project included: Montgomery County funds, State of Maryland funds, Federal funds, and private donations. The total project cost was $8.8 million dollars. Construction began in 2018 and was completed in February 2021.
The Josiah Henson Museum and Park is part of the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.
Tickets for Josiah Henson Museum and Park go on Sale Monday, 4/19/21
Tickets for the new Josiah Henson Museum and Park go on sale tomorrow (Monday) at 8 am on ActiveMONTGOMERY for the opening on Friday, April 23.
Buy your timed tickets online. Only advance tickets available (no walk-ups).
Per Montgomery Parks:
The Josiah Henson Park is a 3.34-acre park located at 11420 Old Georgetown Road in the Luxmanor Community of North Bethesda. The goal of the park project is to create a museum 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 project includes:
- The conversion of the historic Riley/Bolten House into a public museum
- The construction of a new 2,900 SF visitor center with a bus-drop off
- Additional parking on the former Rozier property
- The installation of exhibits that educate and interpret African American History in Montgomery County
- The exhibits will include a first-person narrative of Josiah Henson
Background
In June 2013, the Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Josiah Henson Park Facility Plan. The facility plan included the recommendation to rehabilitate Josiah Henson Park including the conversion of the historic house into a museum, the construction of a new orientation building, and a new site design that would make the park more accessible for visitors.
Montgomery Parks Adds Digital Counter to Capital Crescent Trail
Montgomery Parks will unveil a real-time, permanent, digital trail counter display on the Capital Crescent Trail, next to Ourisman Honda, in Bethesda, today, April 9, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. The counter will display the number of bicyclists and pedestrians who use the trail daily and annually. The display counts are gathered from an automated trail counter system, which is already installed on the trail
“Real-time data plays an important role in advocating for the care, management, and maintenance of our trails,” said Casey Anderson, Chair of the Montgomery Planning Board. “I think people will appreciate seeing just how many people use and love this trail, reminding them of the wonderful parks and trails in the county.”
The Capital Crescent Trail is one of the most popular trails in the county, with an estimated 2,500 users every day. Approximately 5.5 miles of the 11-mile trail runs through Montgomery County, with the remainder extending to Georgetown in the District of Columbia.
Funding for the trail counter display and its installation was provided by the Montgomery Parks Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit supporting Montgomery Parks through cultivating financial support and public engagement.
“The Montgomery Parks Foundation mission is to ensure Montgomery Parks can continue to provide exceptional parks and trails systems through additional philanthropic support,” said Katie Rictor, Executive Director of the Montgomery Parks Foundation. “We are thrilled we could provide the necessary funds to make this important addition a reality.”
The counter display is approximately eight feet tall and two feet wide. It is double-sided and will display the number of pedestrians on one side and the number of bicyclists on the other side. It will be backlit so counts will be visible at night.
