 Councilmember Luedtke and Lieutenant Ian St. John at the County's Emergency Communications Center.
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes when someone dials 9-1-1? I recently toured the County's Emergency Communications Center (ECC) and met some of the hardworking people who answer emergency calls.
Thank you to Senator Cheryl Kagan, who organized the tour and who has long supported 9-1-1 system improvements statewide.
This was a great opportunity to discuss with ECC specialists and other County and State leaders how we can better collaborate to improve public safety to serve our residents.
We know how important workforce development and employee assistance is for our 9-1-1 operators. This is difficult and stressful work. It's critical we bring attention to their professionalism and willingness to serve, as they are our "first" first responders. Learn more about Emergency Communications Specialists and the County's $5,000 hiring bonus for joining the team.
 Click for more info on this weekend's Damascus Placemaking Festival.
This free, family-friendly community event on Saturday and Sunday on Main Street in the heart of Damascus will bring together local businesses, residents, visitors, and civic groups and offer local food, music, arts, and activities.
Come out and celebrate Damascus’ small-town character while seeing its potential as a vibrant community destination. This temporary transformation of Main Street was planned by community members.
Learn more about the event on the website. I hope to see you there!
 Councilmember Luedtke meets with stakeholders at Sherwood High School to observe and discuss pedestrian safety issues.
We all deserve to move about our communities safely. Nowhere is this more important than in the areas surrounding our schools, where thousands of children walk each day.
A constituent contacted me to voice his concerns about the lack of an adequate crosswalk on Route 108 near Sherwood High School. His child, a freshman, crosses here every day. My office has been working with various community organizations including the Ashton Village Center Implementation Advisory Committee and Sandy Spring Civic Association to advocate for improvements from the State Highway Administration (SHA). Recently, along with Councilmember Will Jawando, we convened a meeting with the constituent, SHA, our State District 14 representatives, and other parents, students, and community members to observe pedestrian needs during daily dismissal time and see firsthand the safety challenges they face.
Solving problems like this takes persistence and I appreciate all the community members who continue to advocate for improvements that will make walking here easier, safer, and more accessible. SHA committed to reconsidering potential improvements and expediting the traffic study process. We should learn more in the next 30 days.
Situations like this are happening all over our community and underscore the importance of Safe Routes to School (SRTS), a program that aims to:
- Enable and encourage children to walk, bike, and roll to school
- Make walking and biking to school a safer and more appealing transportation choice, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age
- Plan and build projects and activities that will improve safety as well as reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution
Montgomery County's SRTS program focuses on improving sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb extensions; installing traffic signs along designated safe routes; promoting safety; and enforcing traffic laws.
Also, a friendly reminder: It is the law that drivers must stop for school buses when the flashing red lights are on and the stop arm is extended. See the graphic below for more details:
 Drivers must stop for school buses when the flashing red lights are on and the stop arm is extended.
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