In-person PCR testing continues at multiple sites throughout the community. A schedule of testing locations can be found at the County’s website.
If you are high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, wear a mask indoors in public settings. In addition, talk to your healthcare provider about additional precautions and whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP and monoclonal antibodies.
The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved the county’s $6.3 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2023 and the $5.3 billion six-year capital improvements program at this morning’s council meeting. The budget includes $2.9 Billion for Montgomery County Public Schools. “Montgomery County’s $6.3 billion operating budget and six-year capital budget creates the foundation for what is most important to us: a community with excellent schools, housing for all our residents, strong economic development, green spaces for recreation and relaxation, safe neighborhoods, robust libraries, strong public health services, resources for older adults to age in place with grace, a healthy environment and an essential safety net for our most vulnerable resident,” said Council President Gabe Albornoz on May 19 after a preliminary vote was held. The budget resolutions will be available on the Council’s webpage later today.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
During the preseason, May 28 – June 17, outdoor pool hours are 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3 – 6 p.m. on weekends and Memorial Day.
During the summer season, June 18 – Aug. 14, outdoor pool hours are 1 – 4 p.m. and 5 – 8 p.m. on weekdays, and noon – 3 p.m. and 4 – 7 p.m. on weekends. The Upper County Pool is closed on Fridays during the summer season. For more information about pool hours, visit the Montgomery County Recreation website.
Founded in 1992, the Keeping It Safe Coalition (KIS) is an alliance of County departments, local organizations and concerned residents that work to deter underage alcohol access and use. The student video contest was funded by the Montgomery County Department of Police’s Traffic Division.
“Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth and under-21 drinking is a public health problem in the United States,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “Video contests, such as this one, provide students with the opportunity to engage in advocacy with their peers and raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of under-21 drinking.”
“All the members of the Montgomery County Council are heartbroken by the senseless mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas, which has taken the lives of at least 14 students and one teacher. We know there is not a parent in America who doesn’t share in the grief and anger about this horrific tragedy.
“We mourn the loss of the children and the lives that they had ahead of them filled with promise and potential. We are also thinking about the parents, grandparents, siblings and loved ones who have lost the essential light in their lives at the hands of a gunman. We know that no words will ever ease their unimaginable pain.
Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Trooper Jason Reid, who is assigned to the Rockville Barrack, was on the scene of a motor vehicle crash on the ramp from eastbound I-495 to southbound Colesville Road (US 29) in Silver Spring, Maryland. According to a preliminary investigation, a tow truck operator was on the scene working on removing the vehicles involved in the crash. The tow truck driver, a 51-year-old male, was working on getting a Chevrolet Equinox onto the back of his tow truck.
While the driver was attempting to attach the winch to the underside of the vehicle, the Chevrolet Equinox slipped off the back of the tow truck bed and fell on top of him. Trooper Reid saw what happened, and despite having no previous training on the equipment, he was able to use the tow truck’s controls to lower the tow truck’s bed to the ground and re-position it underneath the front of the Chevrolet Equinox. Trooper Reid then used the rear of the tow truck’s bed to lift the car off of the victim and then pull him away from the vehicle.
Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro has endorsed David Blair for County Executive. In a press release from the Blair campaign, Navarro is quoted as saying, “I heartily endorse David Blair for County Executive because I believe he will bring the right leadership ability and experience that will move us forward towards a more innovative and economically vibrant county as he builds on the progress we have made in many crucial areas,” and “This COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated our challenges, but it has also opened exciting opportunities for innovation, equity and shared prosperity. David understands the importance of bringing everyone into the conversation, including traditionally underrepresented communities, and has a proven record of visioning and executing big, bold ideas. This seminal moment requires strong leadership that will leverage our assets in order to expand opportunities for all. We need David’s bold and enterprising leadership in the office of the County Executive.”
Navarro, the first and only Latina to serve on the Montgomery County Council, has represented District 4 since 2009, twice been chosen by her Council colleagues to serve as Council President, and is well known for her strong leadership on expanding early childhood education, advancing economic development in Wheaton and East County, ensuring racial equity and social justice are part of County policymaking, improving fiscal sustainability and government operations, and more throughout her impressive career.
“The Council was delighted that Planning Board Member Rubin reapplied to serve on the Planning Board for a full term, after completing a partial term in this role,” said Council President Gabe Albornoz. “Her experience, professionalism and commitment to the job are outstanding. The Council is grateful for her public service, and we look forward to continuing to work with her on important land use and planning matters that impact our entire community and the future of Montgomery County.”
Ms. Rubin was first appointed to a partial term on the Planning Board in Oct. 2021 after she retired as a special project manager for the Montgomery County Planning Department. Prior to that, she served as acting deputy planning director with oversight responsibility for the Divisions of County wide Planning and Policy, Management Services, Information Technology and Innovation and Research and Strategic Projects.
The new HD channel joins four other County HD channels and nine standard-definition (SD) channels available through Xfinity TV. The channels are part of the Connect Montgomery Alliance (CMA) that provides a variety of programming focused on local issues.
MCPS-TV airs mental health awareness programs such as “Mindful Moments” and “MCPS Waymaking,” as well as live coverage of County Board of Education meetings and Superintendent’s Community Conversations.
Jackass 4.5 is now available to stream on Netflix. The film contains unreleased footage and outtakes from Jackass Forever, which grossed over 80 million when it was released in theaters earlier this year. Originally a 30-minute show on MTV, the Jackass franchise was created by MoCo natives Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze, along with actor Johnny Knoxville. Tremaine and Jonze were childhood friends, both growing up in MoCo and graduating from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda in the mid 80s and are both executive producers of all the Jackass movies.
Tremaine is the former editor of the skating culture magazine Big Brother and a former art director of the influential BMXmagazine GO. He was also a former professional BMX rider. Tremaine has directed and produced all the movies in the Jackass franchise and was also the executive producer on the MTV reality series Rob and Big, and the executive producer of Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory, Ridiculousness, Nitro Circus, and Adult Swim’s Loiter Squad.