 Dear Friends,
Throughout this month, my team and I have been active across our district connecting with the community. I continue to visit town councils in District 4, and met with both the Garrett Park and Kensington town councils to discuss the work of the County Council and to learn about town priorities and initiatives. We have also continued collaborating with organizations, such as the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, the Pike District Partnership, and Nature Forward by hosting and attending a variety of events. And, we have passed historic legislation and moved forward with the County’s Pedestrian Master Plan and a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. I am proud of the work I was able to do on these bills in the Transportation and Environment Committee and continue to prioritize transparency and fiscal responsibility as the Chair of the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee.
We are looking forward to our upcoming Pike District Fall Clean Up on Saturday, October 28th from 10 AM - 12 PM and we hope you’ll join us!
As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or need assistance.
Sincerely,
 Councilmember Kate Stewart
(she, her) why pronouns
I join President Biden and Representative Raskin in condemning the terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas. I also support the ongoing diplomacy by the Biden-Haris Administration to secure the release of American and Israeli hostages, and to press nations in the region to provide humanitarian corridors for civilians in Gaza and prevent the conflict from growing to other fronts. I support the $100 million in immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza that the Biden-Harris administration has approved. We have many residents of our county with personal connections to people in Israel and Gaza, and the unfolding events have been traumatic. My heart goes out to all who are experiencing the pain of relatives killed, injured, or taken hostage.
With acts of hate against Jews and Muslims increasing in the U.S., I want to highlight that the county has available security grants for nonprofits including houses of worship. I was proud to join colleagues in approving this funding as a major priority this year, and the County Executive is speeding up sending out approved security grants. The county has opened applications for this latest round of grants, and you can find more information about how your organization can apply here.
I joined clergy, congregants from multiple local synagogues, and elected colleagues, including Congressman Raskin, at a vigil of solidarity with Israel at Har Shalom following Hamas’ attacks. As your district councilmember please know that our whole team is here for you if you need assistance and we will continue to work with our federal delegation to support our community.
If you need immediate help contacting the State Department or another federal agency, you can fill out Representative Raskin’s privacy release form at https://raskin.house.gov/help-with-a-federal-agency or call his District office at 301-354-1000.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A couple of weeks ago, I led a proclamation at the Council to recognize this month and was joined by my colleagues Councilmember Balcombe, Councilmember Luedtke, and Councilmember Katz. This is an issue close to my heart and for so many of our residents in Montgomery County.
The Brem Foundation has launched a new app called CheckMate, a new digital education tool around breast cancer risks, CheckMate is an accessible and interactive breast health quiz that users can complete on their phones or laptops. By responding to basic health questions, participants receive a personalized list of breast cancer risk factors and associated inquiries to facilitate conversations with their healthcare providers about suitable screening plans. Developed in collaboration with experts in early detection and tested with diverse groups of women, this tool addresses the rising incidence of breast cancer among younger women and the persistent high mortality rates for black women. It empowers individuals to become advocates for their breast health, providing vital insights into their risk factors and the importance of proactive screening.
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 Wednesday, October 18th was International Pronouns Day. This Tuesday, I led a proclamation at the Council to recognize this day to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns a standard practice. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. It not only shows that we recognize others for who they are, but it’s also a sign of respect and courtesy.
I was joined by Council President Glass and Councilmember Mink, as well as representatives from organizations such as Trans Maryland, Rainbow Place Shelter, and the MoCo Pride Center.
For more information about the importance of pronouns, please view this website or these resources.
Since taking office, our team has been working with our department of Health and Human Services to expand access to injection supplies for hormones and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Thanks to the partnership with HHS and the State Department of HHS, we have become aware of this service, provided by NEXT Distro and Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition. This confidential service helps address a gap in syringe distribution specifically for the needs of trans/non-binary/gender-expansive people who inject hormones.
Requests can be made using this form. We will continue to work on these issues and if you have feedback or face barriers to accessing care please reach out to my office.
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Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting several local town councils to hear from municipal leaders about concerns affecting constituents. On October 9th, I joined the Garrett Park Town Council to present a proclamation recognizing the town’s 125th anniversary. On October 11th, I joined Kensington’s Town Council where I shared updates from the Montgomery County Council and listened to the concerns and priorities of our residents and town officials.
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I also met with residents of The Grand and Inigo's Crossing in North Bethesda about their concerns. This past Tuesday, I joined members of the Seven Oaks-Evanswood Civic Association, and we discussed a number of important issues including Purple Line construction and my upcoming priorities. If your neighborhood association, community, or building has a meeting you would like myself or my staff to attend to hear from you, please email me at Councilmember.Stewart@montgomerycountymd.gov with the details.
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In response to resident concerns, Montgomery County Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting on the past, present, and future of the Grubb Rd and Spencer Rd intersection project on Tuesday 10/24 at 6:30 PM.
This meeting will be jointly hosted by Del. Solomon’s office and my office as we pursue safe roadways for all users.
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Last week, County Executive Elrich, Council President Glass, and I had the opportunity to celebrate the Silver Spring Village's 10th anniversary. We presented them with a proclamation thanking them for being a source of strength, unity, and support to our community. |
![]](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MDMONTGOMERY/2023/10/8396215/screenshot-2023-10-19-142409_original.png) Last week I hosted the League of Women Voters Montgomery County at the Council Office Building with Council President Evan Glass. My fellow councilmembers and I were glad to connect with these local leaders to discuss the importance of increasing civic engagement and voter participation.
Pike District Fall Clean Up - RSVP Today!
Our office is organizing a Pike District Fall Clean Up day in the community in conjunction with the Pike District Partnership and the Bethesda Regional Services Center. It is scheduled for Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to noon. You can sign up and find more information here or by scanning the QR code below.
To tangibly support organizations dedicated to improving our communities particularly along the Purple Line, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration is sponsoring a community grant program entitled Beyond the Rails.
Grant applications are being accepted for two categories - community and environment. Community projects aim to support the overall wellbeing of adjacent communities (e.g., environment, health, recreation, education, economic opportunity, etc.). Environment projects aim to enhance or protect the natural environment.
Grant awards range from $1,000 to $3,000 per year. The application deadline for the initial group of grants is November 30th and the application can be found here. Please contact grants@purplelinepartners.com with any questions or for assistance in completing the grant application.
 Montgomery County has passed a law prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers starting July 1, 2025. This 5-minute survey will gather your perspective on a possible gas to an electric leaf blower exchange and rebate program to help offset any financial burden of making the transition. Please complete this quick survey and share these links with others, especially with solo landscapers and small businesses! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KWKQLBJ
Compañías de jardinería en el Condado de Montgomery, MD: ¡Nos gustaría saber su opinión o experiencia acerca del uso de sopladores de hojas eléctricos!
El Condado de Montgomery ha aprobado una ley que prohíbe el uso de los sopladores de hojas que utilizan gasolina a partir del 1 de julio de 2025. Esta encuesta de 5 minutos recopilará su perspectiva sobre un posible programa de intercambio de sopladores de hojas que utilizan gasolina a sopladores de hojas eléctricos y reembolso que ayudaría a compensar cualquier carga financiera al realizar el cambio. Por favor, complete la encuesta y comparta estos enlaces con otros, especialmente con trabajadores de jardinería independientes y compañías pequeñas. https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/7C8BY22
Protecting Our Community Against COVID-19
 Last month, the FDA approved new COVID-19 boosters to target the recent subvariants of the virus. If you have health insurance, please schedule your shot at your local pharmacy or primary care doctor. If you don’t have health insurance, you can find free boosters by visiting https://www.vaccines.gov/.
Additionally, Montgomery County Public Libraries will continue to distribute COVID-19 antigen at-home test kits and masks at their branch locations. Click here for more info & to check if a location has temporarily run out of kits and masks.
Protect Yourself, Protect Others - Get Your Flu Vaccine
Stay protected during flu season by getting your annual flu vaccine! For more information of flu vaccination locations and for more recommendations visit: www.flu.gov and www.cdc.gov/flu for updates on flu activity.
Food Resources
Submit an online request for help with food resources or call 311 (or 240-777-0311) . You can ask about free food and food delivery, SNAP (food stamps), food providers near you, and other resources in Montgomery County.
You can also call the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center at 240-777-4940 for information on food and other important needs. Staff who speak many languages are available to answer the phones Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and they will return messages within 24 to 48 hours.
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Submit an online request for help with food resources or call 311 (or 240-777-0311) . You can ask about free food and food delivery, SNAP (food stamps), food providers near you, and other resources in Montgomery County.
You can also call the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center at 240-777-4940 for information on food and other important needs. Staff who speak many languages are available to answer the phones Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and they will return messages within 24 to 48 hours.
 MC311 Customer Service Center is Montgomery County’s source for nonemergency government information and services. You can reach MC311 by calling 311 in the County or 240-777-0311, 711 for MD Relay TTY, from anywhere, Monday - Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Use the links on this page, or follow us on twitter @311MC311.
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For more community resources, check out Councilmember Kate Stewart's website.
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Office of Councilmember Kate Stewart
