Visit one of the ten Early Voting Centers from October 25 through November 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to cast your ballot. Many voters find that early voting is more convenient than voting at their assigned polling place on Election Day (Tuesday, November 6). 

While there is no presidential election this time around, you still have the opportunity to have your say for offices that affect you more directly, including the governor, Congress, the state legislature, the county executive, the County Council, and the school board.

Early Voting Centers:

• Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
• Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus
• Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
• Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
• Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
• Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring
• Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315 Falls Rd, Potomac
• Saint Catherine Laboure (Claridge Room), 11801 Claridge Road, Wheaton
• Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring

For more information, call 240-777-VOTE, visit 777vote.org, the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website, or follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Facebook or Twitter. 

On Tuesday, October 16 at 9:30 a.m., I will present a County Council Proclamation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer found in women, behind skin cancer.The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it's found and treated early.The use of mammograms to screen for breast cancer can help detect cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. 

As a survivor of breast cancer, I know that Montgomery County is fortunate to have many partners across various disciplines that not only raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer but also provide medical and support services to those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  

By way of this proclamation we will show that we stand with the mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, and friends who have been affected by breast cancer, and that we recognize the ongoing efforts of dedicated advocates, researchers, and health care providers who strive each day to defeat this terrible disease.

Last month, I was pleased to learn that the FDA is finally taking action to protect kids from the harms of e-cigarettes and vaping. In 2015, the full Council passed legislation that I sponsored that prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes in public places, the use and sale of e-cigarettes to minors, and requires child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers.

I introduced this legislation because of my concern about the health effects of nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals found in e-cigs. Perhaps swayed by the belief that electronic cigarettes are safe, or emboldened by the fact that e-cigs have little odor that parents could detect, teens who have never tried traditional cigarettes are using e-cigs, putting themselves at risk for nicotine addiction, nicotine poisoning or exposure to harmful chemicals. I was not willing to gamble with the health of our current generation of young people by waiting for federal regulations. The Council did the right thing by putting these protections in place. Here's a link to my bill and a link to the FDA Commissioner's statement.

On Wednesday, October 24 the Council will host our 8th Annual Youth Town Hall. I encourage all students throughout the County to attend and share your views. I'm always impressed by our County's talented youth and with the thoughtful questions they ask the Council about important issues affecting their lives.

The event is from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Third Floor Hearing Room at the Council Office Building, located at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and a pre-meeting pizza reception is scheduled  for students and Councilmembers in the building’s second-floor cafeteria. Check here for more information.

Help to celebrate Community Service Day on Friday, October 26 and donate your old bikes, helmets and bike parts. MCDOT, along with other co-sponsors, will collect these items, make the necessary repairs, and will donate them to low-income children and adults in the County through Rockville’s Terrific Kids Program and the County’s Linkages to Learning Program. For more information, visit here.

October is also Energy Action Month. Participate in the several programs and events during the month that help save energy and money.The Books and Bulbs free events allow county residents to bring their old, inefficient light bulbs and trade them for up to 3 LED bulbs. Check here for participating libraries and more information.