Friends,
There is a third vaccine on the market to protect against COVID-19!! This is great news for all of us waiting to receive our vaccination. Currently, the County’s health clinics are vaccinating residents 75 and older. However, with additional vaccines, the County is preparing to open vaccinations to the remainder of Priority Group 1B and 1C (ages 65 to 74). Residents in these Priority Groups are encouraged to preregister for vaccinations. As vaccine doses are available, residents who have preregistered will be contacted and offered an appointment. Also, the County is standing up equity-focused vaccination sites in zip codes that have been hardest hit by COVID-19. The Chinese Culture and Community Center in Gaithersburg is a recent equity-focused vaccination site.
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COUNCIL NEWS
At the County Council this week -
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The Council issued a proclamation commemorating Women's History Month: Women at the Forefront of the COVID-19 Battle. The proclamation was followed by remarks from several outstanding Montgomery County women at the forefront of responding to the global pandemic. Here is the link.
- The Council presented a proclamation recognizing MCPS 5th grade student Arjun Krishnan who was selected as a winner of the Barnes & Noble Children’s Short Story Competition. Arjun attends Jones Lane Elementary School in Darnestown. Here is the link.
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The Council received a briefing on the Planning Board draft of the Ashton Village Sector Plan. This sector plan includes all of the area within the Sandy Spring/Ashton Rural Village Overlay zone that is east of the area covered by the 2015 Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan.
- The Council unanimously enacted Bill 47-20, Ethics, Ethics Commission - Conflicts of Interest – Financial Disclosure. The bill would require employees to attend a public ethics training course, amend the law governing appeals of a decision by the Ethics Commission, and more.
TOWN HALL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
I was delighted to host a virtual Town Hall for Small Businesses last week. Our special guests included State Senator Nancy King and Scott Royal, CEO and President of Westat. Small businesses owners attended via Zoom and had an opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. It was a great discussion with many issues raised including the impacts of COVID-19 on the small business community. Link - Town Hall recording.
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SENIOR FELLOW
Betty Ring is the new Senior Fellow for the Katz Office. Prior to retiring, she worked in corporate training and development for hospitality, technology and financial services organizations as well as in education at University of Maryland Global Campus. As a Senior Fellow, she will be focusing on organizing a virtual senior forum, developing an inter-generational mentoring program with my Student Advisory Group, and other initiatives related to addressing senior needs for District 3. She has been a resident of Gaithersburg since 1987, and her daughter and grandchildren all graduated from MCPS. She enjoys gardening and spending time at the Outer Banks of North Carolina!
DISTRICT 3 HISTORICAL NOTE
This Victorian “colonial” house built by Henry and Rosa Miller in 1895 was hailed as being of a “modern style” having steam heat, as well as hot and cold water. The house was sold to Washington DC real estate broker, Edward Schwartz, in 1913. Mr. Schwartz remodeled the house and it was the first house in Gaithersburg to have electricity. The City bought the property in 1958 and made it the City Hall and Civic Center. In 1989 it was renovated and the exterior was restored to its original appearance.
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THINGS TO ZOOM!!
P2P Payment Systems - Are They Safe? - Virtual
Friday, March 5, from 5:30-6:30 pm
Join MCPL and the Office of Consumer Protection for a presentation on how to use peer-to-peer (P2P) payment systems safely. P2P payments or money transfer apps — like Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Cash App (etc.) allow users to send one another money from their mobile devices through a linked bank account or card.
The Path to Leadership: The Next Chapter; Influential women in Montgomery County politics- A Women's History Month Program
Monday, March 8, from 2:00-3:00 pm
Join MCPL as Claire McDonald, creator of Montgomery History’s online exhibit “The Path to Leadership,” discusses the influence of Montgomery County women in the political arena pre- and post-suffrage.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Tuesday, March 9, from 10:00-11:00 am
Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires hard work and thorough planning. Learn how-to from the Maryland Women's Business Center.
March 2021 Financial Health and Wellness: Planning for Retirement
Tuesday, March 9, from 7:00-8:30 pm
Not running out of money before running out of time is most people’s biggest concern. Learn how to use your assets or sources of income to invest in safety and security.
Mindful Volunteering: One Size Does Not Fit All - Virtual
Thursday, March 11, from 1:30-2:30 pm
Come hear advice and perspective on finding volunteer work that connects with you, your interests, and your goals!!
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Community Conversation - Suicide Prevention
Montgomery County residents are invited to an online conversation next week with health experts and partners about suicide prevention and mental health issues impacting our community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
This program will be led by Tammi Ginsberg and David O’Leary, board members for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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FOR ALL COVID-19 UPDATES
VISIT THE COUNTY'S COVID-19 website.
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