Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) is extending the “Home for the Holidays” fee-waived adoption event for all animals through Dec. 31. The adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA).
“Thank you to everyone who has shared our plea, visited the adoption center, and adopted since the beginning of the holiday promotion,” said Adoption Supervisor Faith Koleszar. “We asked for help and our call was answered. We are so grateful for the support we received. Because of our community, we have doubled the number of people coming in through the doors every day and over 100 animals have been adopted. In thanks and celebration, I am so happy FMCA offered to extend this promotion and do more good before the new year.”

The shelter is still full of animals waiting to find their new homes. Many types of animals are available for adoption including birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles, cats and dogs. Adopting is easy—and even easier with $0 adoption fees. The adoption process can be started online by filling out the adoption questionnaire and emailing in the required documents. Adopters also can choose to visit the Adoption Center during open hours to start the process in-person. The questionnaire, required documents and more information about the adoption process can be found at montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/howtoadopt.

New animals arrive at the shelter every day. Potential adopters are encouraged to view who is available for adoption online at montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption before their visit to the facility. Adoptions are first-come, first-served by appointment. Walk-in appointments are subject to counselor availability. Adoptions are same-day and animals are not held for adopters so they should be prepared to take an animal home at the time of their appointment. The shelter will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 25 and 26.

The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, which is operated by the Office of Animal Services, provides high standard sheltering and care to homeless, abused and neglected animals. It is the County’s only open-admission, municipal shelter. Through adoptions, education and outreach, MCASAC serves as a critical community resource to promote and advocate for responsible pet care. Animal services officers are available seven days a week to investigate complaints and respond to animal emergencies 24 hours a day. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices

A $50,000 winning Powerball lottery ticket sold on  Thursday, December 15 at the 7-Eleven located at 10594 Metropolitan Avenue in Kensington remains unclaimed as of December 20.  Other recent winners of note include a $100,000 winning scratch off purchased at the Cash, Latino Market & Jewelry (2505 Ennals Ave) in Silver Spring and a $1,000,000 winning scratch-off purchased in Hyattsville, MD.  Additional information on winners across the state of Maryland below, courtesy of MD Lottery:

Players across the state more than $29 million in the seven days ending Dec. 18
A Maryland Lottery player from Hyattsville is a millionaire thanks to a scratch-off ticket redeemed last week, and three other players — one each in Essex, Frederick and Silver Spring — won six-digit prizes in the same timeframe. In all, 27 tickets across Maryland delivered prizes of $10,000 or more during the seven days ending Dec. 18, and the Maryland Lottery paid more than $29 million in prizes during that span.

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.

Here is the weekly roundup of big winners:
Scratch-off Prizes Redeemed Dec. 12-18:

$1 Million Prize
Money Explosion, Lewisdale Market, 7701 23rd Street, Hyattsville

$250,000 Prize
Lady Luck, Tempo Lounge, 402 Back River Neck Road, Essex

$100,000 Prize
$100,000 Extreme Cash, Latino Market & Jewelry, 2505 Ennals Avenue, Silver Spring

$50,000 Prizes
Extreme Green, Wawa #8512-E, 302 Pulaski Highway, Elkton
Million Dollar Mega Multiplier, Hilton Sunoco, 3300 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore
Show Me $1,000,000!, Wawa #8513, 1001 West Patrick Street, Frederick
$30,000 Prize
SKEE-BALL®, Wawa #8512, 302 Pulaski Highway, Elkton

$10,000 Prizes
Bingo X10 5th Edition, Veterans Liquors, 11620 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville
Bonus Bingo X20, Corona Grocery, 3520 East Lombard Street, Baltimore
Lucky X10, Beckley’s Liquor Store and More, 7611-A Willow Road, Frederick
Million Dollar Mega Multiplier, NSR Mart #003, 25355 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown
Ravens X5, Jenis 7 Star Food Market, 4220 Pennington Avenue, Baltimore
FAST PLAY and Draw Game Tickets Sold for Drawings Dec. 12-18:

FAST PLAY
$191,129 Lucky Numbers ticket sold Dec. 13 at Wawa #8513-E, 1001 West Patrick Street, Frederick (unclaimed as of Dec. 20)
$10,000 Holiday Money Match ticket sold Dec. 16 at Wawa #8522, 9809 Belair Road, Perry Hall (claimed)

KENO
$20,012 ticket sold Dec. 17 at Weis Market #119, 1001 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy (claimed)
$20,000 ticket sold Dec. 17 at Route 40 Sunoco, 5612 Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore (claimed)
$15,004 ticket sold Dec. 17 at Barnabas Liquors, 4620 St. Barnabas Road, Temple Hills (unclaimed as of Dec. 20)

PICK 5
$50,000 ticket sold Dec. 18 at T&T Liquors, 13801 Annapolis Road, Bowie (unclaimed as of Dec. 20)
$25,000 ticket sold Dec. 15 at EZ Quick Food Market, 231 Mountain Road, Pasadena (claimed)
$25,000 ticket sold Dec.13 at Royal Farms #082, 517 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park (unclaimed as of Dec. 20)
$25,000 ticket sold Dec. 13 at Safeway #0870, 10101 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring (claimed)
$25,000 ticket sold Dec. 16 at BJ’s Wholesale Club #072, 1000 St. Nicholas Drive, Waldorf (unclaimed as of Dec. 20)

POWERBALL
$50,000 ticket sold Dec. 15 at 7-Eleven #11590, 10594 Metropolitan Avenue, Kensington (unclaimed as of Dec. 20)

RACETRAX
$19,006 ticket sold Dec. 17 at Queen’s Chapel Liquors, 3108 Queen Chapel Road, Hyattsville (claimed)
$18,527 ticket sold Dec. 18 at Long Reach Exxon, 6000 Foreland Garth, Columbia (unclaimed as of Dec. 20)
$15,690 ticket sold Dec. 14 at Foods In, 12549 Mattawoman Drive, Waldorf (claimed)
$15,543.70 ticket sold Dec. 14 at Laurel Exxon, 801 Washington Boulevard, Laurel
The Maryland Lottery encourages players to check their tickets by scanning them at any Lottery retailer or with the Lottery’s mobile apps. Draw game winners have 182 days from the date of a drawing to claim their prizes, and scratch-off winners have 182 days from the announced end-of-game date.

Last claim dates for scratch-off tickets are published in the scratch-off section of mdlottery.com.

Per Montgomery County: Today, the Montgomery County Council issued the following statement condemning the antisemitic graffiti found at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda.

“We are disgusted and angry to learn about yet another display of hate targeting the Jewish community in Montgomery County. Our nation continues to experience a deeply troubling rise in antisemitism, and we must continue to join together to denounce these acts of hate here at home.

Per Montgomery County: With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region, Montgomery County officials today offered precautionary recommendations to prevent further community spread of the virus. The County’s COVID-19 case rate has risen steadily over the last month and is now more than double the recent low on Nov. 28.  

 The increase in transmission has occurred both in the County and in other jurisdictions around the region.  Combined with influenza cases and other significant respiratory disease, emergency department visits and hospitalization rates have increased as well.

“Our current surge in cases is coming right before the holidays and with increased travel and gatherings, there is concern that transmission may increase and strain the health care system,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I encourage all residents to take extra precautions and to make sure they are up to date on vaccinations, including getting a flu vaccine.  We want people to enjoy being with family and friends, but we want to do it safely.”

Although the County is currently an area of low-level community transmission as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the case rate is quickly approaching medium-level community transmission.

Based on the advice of Montgomery County  Health Officer Kisha Davis, it is strongly recommended that people voluntarily engage in the following precautionary measures to slow transmission, protect the most vulnerable populations and keep hospitalizations down:

• Use a well-fitting face covering during visits to congregate places and indoor spaces with limited social distancing.
• Use of testing and test-to-treat antiviral medication after returning from travel or gatherings.
• Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster-shots.
• The County continues to offer free at-home rapid test kits and N-95 masks at libraries.

Visit the County’s COVID-19 data dashboard to review the latest metrics and key indicators. Find additional information on masks and transmission levels on the COVID-19 website.

If you are not vaccinated, find free vaccination clinics at www.GoVAXMoCo.com.  If you feel sick or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested. Find free testing clinics at www.MoCoCOVIDtesting.org.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.

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Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be helping residents find discounts on electric vehicles (EVs) with the launch of its new “EV Purchasing Co-op Dealership Incentives” web page. The program is the first in Maryland where a local jurisdiction is partnering directly with local automobile dealerships to provide incentives and discounts for EV purchases.

The program will amplify limited-time promotions and discounts on battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The initiative is the cornerstone of the next phase of the County’s EV Purchasing Co-op and will make the benefits of EVs more accessible by helping residents reduce the cost of going electric.

Under the program, County-based dealers each month are invited to share the EV incentives they are currently offering. Deals will vary in value, will be available for a limited time and may not be available every month. DEP will list deals that offer specific cost savings for plug-in electric vehicles, EV charging or other EV services. Once they find an incentive deal on the DEP website, potential vehicle buyers can contact the dealerships directly to take advantage of the offers.

The program is already underway. The first incentive available is relayed from Ourisman Chevrolet in Rockville, offering “No haggle manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) on new Chevrolet Bolt EV and Chevrolet Bolt EUV models.” The offer allows buyers to avoid additional dealership markups, which could save thousands of dollars.

EV adoption is a key part of Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. Residents and businesses that transition to electric vehicles can save thousands of dollars on fuel and maintenance costs in the first five years of EV ownership and reduce tailpipe pollution to zero.

“I am proud that our County is taking the lead and is the first County in the State to partner with automotive dealers to incentivize elective vehicle adoption,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The number of community members that have pledged to go electric as part of the EV Purchasing Co-op shows that there is significant demand for electric vehicles in Montgomery County. Now, with the introduction of EV Purchasing Co-op Dealership Incentives, we are delivering on our commitment to make electric vehicle ownership more accessible.”

To support dealerships as part of the initiative, the County will provide educational materials on EVs for dealership sales staff and prospective customers. The County also offers training to sales staff about the climate-related benefits of EVs and local incentives available to residents and businesses.

Dealerships participating in the Electrified Dealers Program will be identified on the County’s website to help consumers find dealers that are at the forefront of selling electric vehicles.

In addition to the dealership incentives, the EV Purchasing Co-op supports residents and businesses who are considering purchase of electric vehicles with:

• Education about EVs and EV charging.
• Information about incentives from the government, utilities and local businesses.
• Events to experience EVs firsthand.

Subscribe to DEP’s monthly EV Purchasing Co-op newsletter to hear about new discounts and incentives when they’re announced.

Residents and businesses can join the EV Purchasing Co-op and pledge to make their next vehicle electric. Since launching the first phase of the Co-op in January 2022, more than 1,000 residents and businesses have made the pledge.

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Per Montgomery County: Also on Dec. 13: Council will introduce two zoning measures and vote to fill two vacancies on the County Board of Appeals
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 9:15 a.m. The meeting will begin with a proclamation presented by Councilmember Will Jawando, Councilmember Kate Stewart and County Executive Marc Elrich recognizing CCI Health Services’ 50^th Anniversary.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

Fiscal Plan

Briefing: The Council will receive an update from Executive staff about the County’s fiscal plan. The fiscal plan provides a high-level overview of the County’s fiscal condition and position based on current revenue and expenditure assumptions. The December 2022 update includes revisions to the County’s revenues based on actual collections to-date, assumed additional revenue that will be received in the coming months, and estimated annual expenditures based on quarter one spending for the County government.

Overall, the County’s fiscal position in FY22 was better than expected due to actual FY22 tax revenues exceeding projections. Total tax revenues in FY22 were $291.8 million greater than budgeted. This allowed the County to end with general fund reserve levels greater than the 10 percent policy level.

Public Hearings

The Council will hold the following public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.

Expedited Bill 32-22, Department of Health and Human Services – Structure and Positions

Public hearing: The Council will hold a public hearing on Expedited Bill 32-22, Department of Health and Human Services – Structure and Positions, which would divide the position of County Health Officer and Chief of Public Health into two separate positions within the County. Currently this is a single position within the County. The lead sponsor is then-Council President Gabe Albornoz, at the request of the County Executive.

District Council Session

Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 22-11, Technical Corrections

Introduction: The Council will introduce Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 22-11, Technical Corrections, which would change the voting requirements for map amendments and zoning text amendments and make other technical corrections to the Zoning Ordinance, due to the increase from nine to 11 Councilmembers. The lead sponsor is Council Vice President Andrew Friedson. A public hearing will be held on Jan. 17, 2023.

Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 22-12, Overlay Zones -Clarksburg East and West Environmental Overlay – Exemptions

Introduction: The Council will introduce ZTA 22-12, Overlay Zones -Clarksburg East and West Environmental Overlay – Exemptions, which would clarify that any master-planned bikeway located in the Clarksburg East or West Environmental Overlay Zone is exempt from the impervious surface restrictions. The lead sponsor is Council President Evan Glass, at the request of the Planning Board. A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2023.

Legislative Session

Expedited Bill 34-22, Streets and Roads – Classification of Roads

Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 34-22, Streets and Roads – Classification of Roads, which is a corrective bill that would correct mistakes in the recently enacted “complete streets” legislation, Bill 24-22, which addressed road design and construction under Chapter 49. The lead sponsor is then-Council President Albornoz, at the request of Council staff and Planning Department staff.

Appointment of Board of Appeals

Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote to fill two vacant positions on the County Board of Appeals. The Council interviewed four candidates on Tuesday, Dec. 6. One position is to fill a partial term, which is scheduled to expire in September 2023, due to Mr. Roberto Pinero’s resignation and appointment as a temporary acting Montgomery County Planning Board member. This position can be filled by a Democrat.

The second position is vacant due to the end of the term for Mr. Richard Melnick. This vacancy is for a full term of four years and can be filled by a Republican, a resident affiliated with another recognized political party or an unaffiliated resident. This position cannot be filled by a Democrat. Mr. Melnick is reapplying for this position.

The current members of the board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Richard Melnick (Unaffiliated), and Caryn Hines (Democrat). Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Duties of the Board of Appeals include hearing and deciding requests for variances from development standards contained in the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance; hearing appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by County government agencies; and hearing oral arguments on and deciding appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner on conditional uses. The board also considers and decides requests for modifications of special exceptions.

Consent Calendar

Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Dec. 13, which is available on the Council website.

The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

The Council recommends that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.

Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Monday, Dec. 12 at 12:30 p.m. to continue its review of the remaining local and bi-county bills for the upcoming 2023 Maryland General Assembly.
More detail on the agenda item is provided below.
State Legislative Program

Review: The Council will continue its review of the remaining local and bi-county bills for the upcoming 2023 Maryland General Assembly and may choose to take a position on each bill. On Nov. 28, 2022, the 19th Council held a briefing and reviewed 15 local and bi-county bills. The newly inaugurated 20th Council continued its review of local and bi-county bills on Dec. 6, 2022. The legislation under consideration will cover topics including voting methods, special taxing districts, parking, mass transit, speed monitoring, alcoholic beverage licensing and collective bargaining agreements. The Maryland State Delegation conducted a public hearing about local and bi-county bills on Dec. 8, with additional public hearings scheduled on Dec. 15, 2022.

The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The Council recommends that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council or committee meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.
Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) is holding a fee-waived adoption event for all animals from Sunday, Dec. 11, through Saturday, Dec. 24. The “Home for the Holidays” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA).

The shelter is full, and adopters are urgently needed. All types of animals are available for adoption including guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles, cats and dogs. For those considering adding a new pet to your family, now is the time. Adopting is easy—and even easier during the Home for the Holidays with no adoption fees.

The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center is located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Rd. in Derwood. The main phone number is 240-773-5900. The center is open six days a week (it is closed on Wednesdays).

The adoption process can be started online by filling out the adoption questionnaire and emailing in the required documents. Adopters may also choose to visit the Adoption Center during open hours to start the process in-person. The questionnaire, required documents and more information about the adoption process can be found at montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/howtoadopt.

New animals arrive at the shelter every day. Potential adopters are encouraged to view who is available for adoption online at montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoptionbefore visiting the facility.

Adoptions are done on first-come, first-served availability—by appointment. Walk-in appointments are subject to counselor availability. Adoptions are same-day and animals are not held for adopters so they should be prepared to take an animal home at the time of their appointment.

The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center is operated by the Office of Animal Services, provides high standard sheltering and care to the homeless, abused and neglected animals. It is the County’s only open-admission, municipal shelter. Through adoptions, education, outreach and more, MCASAC serves as a critical community resource to promote and advocate for responsible pet care.

Animal Services Officers are available seven days a week to investigate complaints and respond to animal emergencies 24 hours a day. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices.

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Per Montgomery County:

 

Dear Friends,

This week I began my second term as County Executive, and we have a new and historic County Council. This is the most diverse County Council we have ever had with six women, two black members, two Latino members and our first openly LGBTQ+ Council president, Evan Glass. I look forward to working with every member of the 20th Montgomery County Council on many pressing issues and challenges.

In lieu of my weekly video this week, I wanted to share with you my inauguration speech that I hope you find time to view or listen to. In my speech, I focused on the urgent need to provide more affordable housing, continuing efforts to combat climate change, creating jobs by merging our education assets and economic development efforts and expanding equity and opportunity for all throughout Montgomery County.

As I stated in the conclusion of my inaugural speech, my hope is that we will face these tough challenges together and not be our own worst enemy.

“I still see myself as an activist. I serve the interests of people and I try not to over-promise. I recognize I don’t have magical powers and sometimes I can’t do what I would like to do because that’s just the way it is.

 

But I don’t think that just because you are an elected representative that the job description requires you to defend the institutions, policies or practices just because they exist. So, I have told my staff, at all levels, that if there are better ways of doing things, I am not afraid of change.

 

Some people see changing as a confession of errors. I see change as a growth opportunity.

 

At my core, I know:Montgomery County is the best place to raise a family, the best place to open a business and the best place to look to the future.

 

I am appreciative of all those who helped us get to where we are today, of all the people who believe in our County and the path we are on. I look forward to the work and partnership ahead with all of you.

 

I know that Montgomery County’s best days lie ahead. And we will get there together.”

I also look forward to renewed relationships and continued partnerships with our Congressional and State delegations, as well as welcoming the administration of Governor-elect Wes Moore and Lt. Governor-elect Aruna Miller. We very much appreciated Lt. Governor-elect Miller joining us and speaking at our inauguration ceremonies on Monday, and we are looking forward to seeing the new administration in action in Annapolis next month.

On Thursday, I joined many other leaders including U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen; Governor-elect Moore; Congressman Jamie Raskin; our State delegation chairs, Senator Ben Kramer and Delegate Julie Palakovich-Carr; and newly elected County Council President Evan Glass in speaking at the annual legislative gathering of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, the Asian American Political Alliance and the African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County. In our discussions about the coming year and beyond, we shared a lot of optimism about the possibility of more economic progress, as well as understanding and fulfilling the needs for residents and businesses who are still struggling.

I am hearing similar optimism, as well as appreciation, from those attending the budget forums we have been hosting over the last several weeks. I enjoyed meeting many residents, answering their questions and listening to their opinions and ideas. There are only two more budget forums left, so please join us.

You can attend a forum in person at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown on Monday, Dec. 12, or at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center on Wednesday, Dec.14. If you cannot attend in person, you can attend these forums online. You can also watch previous budget forums at our website.

Hospital Overload

Hospitals in our region continue to see elevated patient levels driven by this year’s “tridemic” of RSV, flu and COVID-19.

Graphics shared by our Department of Health and Human Services show our hospital emergency department visits are higher than at the same time last year and as high as the peaks of the first Omicron wave.

During my media briefing this week, we heard from Dr. Louis Damiano, president of Holy Cross Health Acute Care in the Maryland Region, about the impacts they are seeing. He said around one-third of all emergency room activity daily in Silver Spring and Germantown is tied to an upper respiratory infection. Some health experts predict this could be the worst flu season in many years, especially considering mild flu seasons since 2020. While hospitals have plans in place to expand the number of beds, if necessary, he is hoping that the public can help stem the wave of infections in need of hospital care by taking preventative steps.

Washing your hands, avoiding sick people and voluntarily wearing a facemask when you know the risk factors are high are some of the things you can do to protect yourself and loved ones. Just this week, the CDC put out new guidelines asking people in high transmission areas to wear facemasks on public transportation, in airports, on planes and while shopping in crowded stores. The FDA also has expanded its parameters and now encourages anyone six months and older to get their booster vaccines if they are eligible. Health experts are just as worried about the spread of the flu and RSV as they are about COVID-19 because severe cases of any of those three could squeeze hospitals even more.

At this point, health experts say if you feel sick and need to test, urgent care facilities may be your best options. The first call right now should go to your primary care physician to discuss what is going on with you or your children before rushing to the emergency room.

COVID-19 Update

As far as COVID goes, we have seen a jump in our case rate. We had been averaging around 80 cases per 100,000 people, but now sit around 130 per 100,000. That rate could continue to rise as we approach January.

As we have mentioned before: Your best defense is to stay up to date on boosters and get a flu shot. So far, only 31 percent of Montgomery County residents have received a flu shot and 27 percent have received the updated COVID booster.

The County hosted a children’s flu clinic this week in Silver Spring and next Saturday, on Dec.17, we will host our fourth “Boosterama” event at the Westfield Wheaton Mall from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This will be the first one that will also offer flu shots.

As you begin to make plans for the holidays, one of the most important things you can do is take preventive measures for gatherings with family and friends. Get tested before and after attending gatherings, take your facemasks and routinely wash and sanitize your hands.

Please consider that there may be others in your presence who are more vulnerable or take care of others who are compromised. Let’s help protect them and our healthcare workers—and let’s have a better holiday season and winter than last year.

Racist Vandalism at Scotland AME Church

The Montgomery County Police Department continues to investigate a case of burglary and vandalism at Scotland AME, a historic Black church in Potomac. It happened in late November, but new video showing the suspected vandals was recently shared by MCPD.

It saddens me to see our community plagued by more racist and hate-filled vandalism. My thoughts are with Pastor Dr. Evelina Huggins and all the members of the Scotland AME church during this difficult time of fear and uncertainty. We want them to know that the entire County stands with them and condemns these actions.

Throughout our nation’s history, Black churches have been a refuge from racism, hate and injustices. In fact, Black churches were at the epicenter of the civil rights movement.

It is a shame that, despite our efforts to make our Country more inclusive, there are still those who hate so much that they desecrate one of our sacred and historic landmarks like Scotland AME.

An attack on a house of worship or people in our community, is an attack on all of us. Hate has no place in Montgomery County. We are going to continue to work with our interfaith and nonprofit communities to ensure that their members and property are safe and secure.

Just a few months ago, we cleared the way for $800,000 in grant money to be used by organizations like churches for security improvements. The idea was to give groups and organizations that could be the targets of hate crimes an extra layer of protection. The money can be used to purchase security cameras, giving police a better chance of catching those responsible.

I am glad to hear that Scotland AME did apply for this grant and the security camera that was purchased with that money was the same one that caught these vandals on camera.

In this case, a reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to arrests. I would encourage everyone who needs it to utilize our non-emergency police phone number to report any bias or hate crime incidents at 301-279-8000.

Business Accelerator Program Now Accepting Applications

The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and M&T Bank will join forces to hold its second free Small Business Accelerator Program starting in early January. Registration for the 10-week course is now open.

The program brings together financial experts and government business leaders to help guide small business owners through strategic planning, banking fundamentals and ways to tap into capital. Lessons will also include developing a business plan, common legal issues for small business owners and marketing.

There are some requirements that must be met. The Small Business Accelerator Program is for Montgomery County-based businesses with at least two years in business. Business owners must be in good standing with the County and the business must produce revenue. Some exceptions will be made in certain circumstances with a compelling reason to be considered for the program.

Only about half of new businesses survive past five years. With the help of partners like M&T Bank, we hope to improve those statistics to give small businesses in Montgomery County a better chance of success. In the past, this program has been used to help minority-owned entrepreneurs reach new heights and access important resources. This upcoming course is open to anyone.

Classes will be held every Tuesday from 5-6:30 p.m. starting Jan. 10. You can find an application through the M&T Bank website and more information on our Office of Human Rights website by clicking this link.

These classes are a great way to start off the new year for our small business communities.

Montgomery Police Assist Santa

The holidays were on a Harley this week, as Santa Claus and the Montgomery County Police Department once again came through for kids staying at the National Institutes of Health’s Children’s Inn. On Wednesday, motorcycle police officers joined Santa for a shopping spree and tour across the County. I met up with the group as it stopped in Rockville to check out the Christmas tree before it made an early toy delivery in Bethesda.

The Children’s Inn served 657 families in 2021-22. Those numbers remain low as compared to pre-pandemic levels, but some of the world-class clinical research has resumed in order to give kids a chance at overcoming life threatening illnesses.

I am proud of the role Montgomery County, and specifically, our police department play in making sure these children and their families do not feel forgotten over the holidays.

The police department also is collecting toys for area families this Christmas. You can drop off toys at any police station through Monday, Dec. 12. The UpCounty Hub is helping distribute those toys ahead of the holiday.

The County’s Department of Health and Human Services also is busy with the “Holiday Giving Project.” For more than 30 years, the program has provided help to families over Thanksgiving and throughout December to help struggling households. Most of the referrals come through the public school system and Holiday Giving Project Coalition providers. We then use our network of community partners to get that assistance to families. In 2021, the project helped 12,240 families, with 25,804 children benefiting.

There are other programs helping local families including Toys for Tots, which will be helping families from a pickup location at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg this year. I want to thank everyone for their generosity, and I am encouraging our own County employees to contribute to the charities of their choice during our annual Employee Giving Campaign.

As always, my appreciation for all of you,

Marc Elrich

County Executive

Construction has begun at the upcoming “Oak, Barrel, and Vine” store at 512 N. Frederick Ave. in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center, next to Lil’ Cakes & Creamery and the recently opened Five Below. The county-run beer, wine, and liquor store is expected to open in spring 2023 and will feature a tasting room with beers on tap and space to hold events hosted by local breweries and distillers. Additional details below courtesy of Montgomery County:

The Oak Barrel & Vine branded stores feature handpicked items with a focus on spirits and locally manufactured products. The Gaithersburg store will have a large tasting room and event space, an improved selection of small format items, queue lines for faster checkout, improved wayfinding signs and better customer accessibility. The new location will fill a gap caused by the 2018 closure of the ABS Milestone store. It also will increase service levels to the growing population in the Gaithersburg area.

“The Gaithersburg Oak Barrel & Vine store will provide customers with the tasting and event space they have been requesting,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “The Oak Barrel & Vine brand is designed to reflect our community by showcasing local products and providing dynamic service in a safe and inviting environment. The large tasting room will allow customers to engage more fully, turning shopping into an experience.”

The first Oak Barrel & Vine store, located in the Cabin John Village shopping center, opened in 2021 and has become a customer favorite. The future second Oak Barrel & Vine store, located in the Montrose Crossing shopping center, is expected to open in January 2023. ABS intends to upgrade its remaining retail stores to the Oak Barrel & Vine brand over the next several years.

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County and operates 26 retail stores throughout the County. In addition, ABS manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, its profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars. Follow ABS on Facebook and Twitter.

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