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Celebrate the Fourth of July with family-friendly events taking place all weekend long across the County. Montgomery County is proudly hosting two fireworks displays for Independence Day on July 4 in Germantown and July 6 at Albert Einstein High School. Plus, don’t miss celebrations like the Friendship Heights Independence Day Celebration, the Kensington Bike Parade, the Takoma Park Parade and the City of Rockville’s Independence Day Celebration! I will be participating in the Wood Acres Fourth of July Parade and look forward to seeing many of you there. Check out Visit Montgomery’s guide to all the festivities. And make sure to celebrate safely with these tips from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.
Wishing you and your family a safe and fun-filled Fourth of July!
I was pleased that the Council unanimously appointed Marc Yamada as Montgomery County’s next chief of police. With 35 years of service within the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), Yamada possesses the experience, knowledge and skills necessary to lead the agency and its respected public safety professionals. As a native to Montgomery County, he understands the diverse and complex needs of our residents and has deep ties to the community. I appreciate his vision for the department’s future, which includes strengthening community policing strategies, implementing new and innovative technologies and best practices to improve public safety.
As we usher in new leadership, the Council shared our deepest gratitude to Chief Marcus Jones for his four decades of service to Montgomery County and for his steady leadership. I am confident Chief Yamada will uphold Chief Jones’ legacy of excellence by continuing to enhance public safety across our community and keep our residents safe. We congratulate Chief Yamada and look forward to our continued partnership with him as he steps into this new role.
The Council honored the retirement of two highly respected public servants last week, Montgomery County Chief of Police Marcus Jones and Gigi Godwin, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Chief Jones has been a decorated member of law enforcement in Montgomery County for over 38 years, serving most recently as the 17th chief of police for Montgomery County since 2019. We thank him for his partnership, commitment to community engagement and fostering excellence within our police department.
Gigi Godwin has made significant contributions to the County during her 21 years with the Montgomery County Chamber. During her tenure, she expanded the Chamber through programs and initiatives like the Veteran Institute for Procurement, the launch of the GovConNet Council, increasing diversity amongst the Chamber’s leadership, and received numerous accolades honoring her accomplishments. The Council honored her longstanding dedication and service to Montgomery County and its business community, working tirelessly to promote the success of all businesses.
We are grateful for their impactful contributions and wish them all the best as they begin the next chapters of their lives.
It was an honor to join elected officials and transit leaders for the groundbreaking on the nation’s largest renewable energy-powered transit depot and microgrid in Derwood. Once completed, the facility will be the first of its kind on the East Coast to produce green hydrogen on-site. The bus depot is expected to accommodate 200 zero-emissions buses by 2035 and moves us toward transitioning all Ride On buses to zero emissions in line with our County’s climate goals. This project helps us prepare for a sustainable future with clean energy and public transit investments at the forefront. I am thrilled that Montgomery County is leading by example and paving the way for jurisdictions around the country to do this.
Learn more about the new renewable energy-powered bus depot.
I recently led the Council in presenting a proclamation recognizing the Montgomery County Historical Society’s 80th anniversary. Montgomery History is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the histories of all Montgomery County residents and communities. Their work has been and continues to be instrumental in preserving our collective history and ensuring this history is passed from one generation to the next. Montgomery History hosts special events in addition to their robust archives, collections and special exhibits that highlight the different facets of Montgomery County’s unique history.
Watch the proclamation presentation here.
The Agricultural Reserve’s Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale is around the corner. This event is a great opportunity to visit the countless farms on Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve, our hidden rural gem. This year, 24 participating farms, vineyards, cideries and breweries will host special events throughout the weekend of July 27 and 28. Soak in the beautiful scenery and enjoy fresh, local, seasonal products with activities for the whole family. Explore all that the ag reserve has to offer this summer during the Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale.
I encourage residents to continue to engage with my office on issues of importance to our community. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our small but mighty team works to respond to your inquiries. Please continue to engage with us by email, visiting our website, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and subscribing to our newsletter.
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