 As the holiday season begins, County Executive Marc Elrich highlights special events he recently attended that reflect the generosity of our residents and encourages everyone to shop on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30 to support local businesses. Earlier this week, the County Executive celebrated the second anniversary of the signing of the University of Maryland/County MOU establishing their Institute for Health Computing in North Bethesda. He also highlights the special appropriation he sent to the County Council which would fund several programs to help people stay in their homes and for homeless families to move into permanent housing. Finally, he explains his recent veto of Bill16-24, which proposed changes to development impact taxes.
Stories in this issue include:
The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will have holiday schedule and program changes for the observance of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28. In some cases, special schedules also will be in effect on Friday, Nov. 29
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the Montgomery County Police Department are warning residents ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to plan out their night and not drive if they choose to celebrate with alcohol or have used cannabis.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is offering free parking in County-owned garages and lots on Saturday, November 30 and Saturday, December 21. The free parking days are scheduled during two of the biggest shopping days of the year.
 Wheaton Arts Parade and Peijisan Art are collaborating to manage a new public art project that would cover traffic signal boxes in Wheaton with graphic art designed by local artists. They have established an informal survey for County residents to offer suggestions about the kinds of images and art they would like to see represented. Responses to the survey are due by Nov. 29.
 The annual exhibit of model trains at Brookside Gardens, an adventure searching for the world’s rarest species and winter skating shows at the Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena are among the special events and programs that will be sponsored by Montgomery Parks in December.
Author Jody Olsen will give a free talk about her book “A Million Miles: My Peace Corps Journey” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. This book talk will be hosted by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration has started construction on a $5.2 million safety and resurfacing project along a 2.76-mile section of MD 650 / New Hampshire Avenue from MD 198/Norbeck Road to MD 200 (Intercounty Connector) in Montgomery County. The project is expected to be completed by next summer, depending upon weather, and will lead to traffic delays throughout the construction period.
|
Employers based in Montgomery County that are company headquarters or national nonprofit organizations or who are in the category of “targeted industries,” may be eligible for up to $500,000 in grant funding to create jobs and support their growth and expansion.
The annual Montgomery Parks’ “Garden of Lights,” a breathtaking outdoor winter light display at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, is now open. This year’s exhibit features more than 1.5 million twinkling LED lights.
The City of Gaithersburg’s 29th Annual Winter Lights Festival will feature 3.5 miles of enchanted woodland with more than 450 illuminated displays and spectacularly lit trees that brighten the evening sky starting Friday, Nov. 29. The display in Seneca Creek State Park will have seasonal scenes like Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Toyland, Victorian Village and the North Pole.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has announced the launch of two groundbreaking funding programs designed to support innovative small businesses and underrepresented entrepreneurs. The Technology Innovation Fund and the Founders Fund will offer a combined $10 million in commercialization grants to spur economic development and create equitable opportunities for growth and prosperity.
|
The Montgomery County Commission for Women is now accepting nominations for the 2025 “Women Making History Award.” Presented in partnership with Montgomery Women, this annual award celebrates outstanding women who have made significant contributions to their professions and the community.
The free annual look at how the holidays would be celebrated in the historic agricultural areas of Montgomery County will be on display Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 7-8, at “Christmas on the Farm” at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. The park will be open each of those days from noon-5 p.m. for the celebration.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will hold a virtual public information meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to discuss the proposed Greentree Road Bridge replacement project over Bulls Run in Bethesda. Residents will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions.
“Rules for Writing Christmas Cards,” a comedy by Jennifer Faletto, will make its world premiere from Nov. 29-Dec. 15 at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn. The show will be presented by the Best Medicine Rep Theater Company, in partnership with the City of Gaithersburg.
Montgomery County will commemorate World AIDS Day, officially designated as Sunday, Dec. 1, with a free breakfast program and workshops focused on Black women’s sexual health and wellness from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The event, co-sponsored by the alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
|
