May 10, 2024

A Message from County Executive Marc Elrich

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich this week offers greetings from South Korea, where he is leading an economic development trade mission (it also will go to China) that aims to bring international businesses to Montgomery. He also adds thoughts on his recent ‘State of the County’ address that focused on the many ways the County has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in a strong position to build its future. And he joins in honoring the people who are recognized during special weeks in May including teachers, nurses, correctional officers and the fallen heroes of the police department.

UCAB Quality of Life Subcommittee

Topic: Emerging Business Improvement Districts (Germantown);

Guest Speaker is Paula Ross, President & CEO,

Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce

Monday, May 13, 2024

7:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89530528871

Meeting ID: 895 3052 8871

Montgomery County Board Vancancies

Apply Online at Links Below

County Executive Marc Elrich is committed to representation on all of the County’s boards, committees, and commissions that is reflective of, and responsive to, our County’s residents. Public participation contributes to the work of County government and provides an important service to the community when a variety of issues, concerns, and viewpoints are presented.

You may access information regarding boards, committees, and commissions, including application instructions here. Please carefully read application instructions on that page. Then select View and Apply for Vacancies for all currently posted notices.

Currently, there is a valuable opportunity to serve on the following:

The deadline for application is May 17, 2024.

Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board

The deadline for application is May 31, 2024.

Montgomery County Trial Board

The deadline for application is September 1, 2024

Applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, genders, geography, disabilities, ethnicities, and ages are encouraged to apply. Members of County boards, committees, and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. The County Executive’s appointments are generally subject to confirmation by the County Council. Members must complete training on the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Montgomery County Ethics Law, and basic parliamentary procedure. Members are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for in-person meetings attended. County boards, committees, and commissions may meet virtually by video and/or teleconference.

Upcoming Community Events

Montgomery Parks is hosting a “Roller Disco” evening from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 17, at the inline skating rink at Ridge Road Recreational Park in Germantown. The free event, open to all ages, will feature 1970s and 1980s themed music, including music to the 1980 movie Xanadu.

The Ridge Road Recreational Park is located at 21155 Frederick Road in Germantown. It has a fully accessible inline skating rink. Only roller skates and in-line skates are permitted inside the rink. Skateboards, longboards and bikes are not permitted.

The event will feature a live DJ and sweet treats for purchase from Sno Blast DMV. Attendees must bring their own skates. Seating is available, but guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to picnic on the grass.

Germantown Employment Area Study

Montgomery Planning invites you and your neighbors to an open house on Wednesday, May 15 to engage in conversations with members of the planning team about our Germantown Employment Study. The meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. in Medium Room A at the Germantown Library (19840 Century Blvd., Germantown, MD 20874). Registrations are encouraged but are not required – just come on by!

The study will assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges that Germantown faces today. We will work with community members to understand what interventions could accelerate the implementation of the 2009 Germantown Employment Area Sector Plan’s recommendations. The study will also consider whether housing growth or employment growth should be a major part of the 2009 Sector Plan area’s future or if there are other aspects of Germantown that need more attention.

The timing of the study is related to changes in the housing and employment markets and the need to respond to continued vacancies in office buildings since the COVID-19 pandemic. The study will also consider ways to enhance Germantown’s town center and economic activity.

The study is expected to conclude with a presentation of findings to the Planning Board and the Montgomery County Council in the fall of 2024.

Complete a short online questionnaire to share your experience in Germantown

Learn More

Visit our website to view recordings, materials, and upcoming events

View a summary video of the study’s scope of work

Free Electric Scooter Training for Those 18-and-Older to be Held in May and June

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will be offering low-cost adult bike classes in May and June. The classes will include Learn to Ride and Basic Skills classes. MCDOT also will offer four free, walk-up electric scooter classes following select bike classes. Read More

Great Adventures Await Close to Home Throughout May, Including 10 Percent Off Local Products in County ABS Stores

Visit Montgomery is encouraging visitors and residents alike to start spring by discovering many adventures that are close to home throughout the County. May will be “Go MoCo Month” and each week local shops, restaurants, hotels and attractions will offer special deals and events. Among the May special deals will be Montgomery Alcohol Beverage Services stores offering 10 percent discounts throughout the month on locally produced products.

🚛Truck Day🚚 Next Saturday, May 18, from 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. at the Rockville Salt Barn, 17000 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, Maryland 🌟MCDOT Truck Day is kid centered with music, balloon animals, food trucks and of course trucks to climb in. The event will feature the middle school’s students named and painted snowplows. Fourteen middle schools participated in the Paint the Plow contest this year. There will be a raffle ticket given for a remote-control truck for each Paint the Plow vote cast with schools winning cash prizes to support their art programs. The uniquely named and decorated plows are used to clear snow during the winter storm season. Learn more, MCDOT - Highway Services >

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-highway/PaintThePlow/index.html#TruckDay

Every Mind Matters

Every Mind Deserves Care and Attention

Schedule a Free Residential Deck Inspection with the Department of Permitting Services During ‘Building Safety Month’ in May

Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services inspectors will provide free residential deck maintenance inspections for homeowners during the month of May as part of the County’s annual “Building Safety Month” campaign. The DPS free deck inspection program is limited to 250 appointments.

Free ‘Resilience Hub Workshop’ to Address Climate Risks for County, Nonprofit and Faith-based Partners on Tues., May 21, in Silver Spring

The impact of climate change is already being felt in our community, with more frequent heat emergencies, severe storms, flash floods and droughts posing the greatest threats. Those threats can disproportionately impact some of our highest risk communities, those with a reduced capacity to adapt because of historical disinvestment and the marginalization of people of color, immigrants, refugees and low-income residents. These communities can experience more exposure and risk from climate hazards with limited resources to mitigate the impacts. Resilience hubs can help.

Montgomery County Artist Residency

We are excited to share the Request for Qualifications that has been published for the Montgomery County Artist Residency. We are now accepting submissions from artists interested in applying for a one-year residency in the East County, Mid-County or Upcounty Regional Service Areas. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 5pm. There is an artist training taking place on Sunday, May 19 at Mid-County Regional Services Center led by Consulting Artist, Kenya Miles that is mandatory for all applicants to attend.

We would appreciate any your support you can offer in getting the word out about the RFQ in UpCounty, including sharing it with your relevant channels and letting us know of any recommendations you may have for groups, spaces, organizations, etc who we should contact directly or leave flyers with. If there are any upcoming meetings in your RSA that we should plan to attend to share out about the opportunity, please let me know. And finally, if there are any specific languages that you think we should translate our flyers into, we'd appreciate your recommendations. We want to make sure that we are reaching the diversity of artists who are doing great work in your service area.

Attached you'll find a graphic that can be used for sharing and below you can find a copy of the Eblast that went out announcing the Artist Residency. You can use this link to find and share all of the information about the opportunity.

https://www.creativemoco.com/experience-art-culture/public-art/montgomery-county-artist-residency/

Neighborhood Events Matching Funds Grant Program

The Montgomery County Government established the Neighborhood Events Matching Funds Grant Program (NEMF) to promote community engagement, encourage capacity building, networking, and stimulate the local economy.

Neighborhood organizations, block groups, tenant associations, civic clubs, and other community groups that are active and in good standing may apply for funds to hold events and activities by completing an application. Eligible activities include those that are open to residents and create sustainable and lasting impacts for the neighborhood.

Due to increased demand and the limited budget for this program, funding priority will be given to first-time applicants. The maximum fund amount is $1000 per applicant, per funding cycle. Funds will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Apply Here

Grand Opening of Black Hill Regional Park

Free Summer Coding Camp - Register Now

Space is limited. 300 available spots per camp session.

Devices will be provided by MCPS during the camp session. Students will not need to use their personal laptops/iPads. Register Now

Happenings at BlackRock

Events at Montgomery County Public Library

Bao Phi, Author of ‘A Different Pond,’ to Join ‘Contemporary Conversations’ Series on May 20 at Gaithersburg Library

Renowned Vietnamese-American children’s author and poet Bao Phi will be the featured speaker at the Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) “Contemporary Conversations” series celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The free event, titled “Footprints on Different Ponds: An Evening with Bao Phi,” will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 20, at the Gaithersburg Library.