 Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Happy 2026! I hope that everyone had a wonderful start to the year. The County Council was in recess for the winter holidays, and we are now back in session with an already jam-packed schedule. In addition to committee and Council sessions, I spend a significant portion of my time out and about in District 2. Every Friday, I block off my day to visit local businesses, community groups, faith organizations, medical centers, HOAs, you name it!
As I begin to add meetings to my Friday schedule, I am calling upon you to let me know about all the great things happening in District 2. If you would like me to visit your business or organization, please send me an email! I am excited to continue my tradition of being out in the community, and I need your help and insight to make this a success!
Fridays are also when I host informal community meetings - known as Breakfast with Balcombe. Keep an eye out for more information about future meetings!
Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Montgomery County will be hosting a free celebration at 4:00PM on Sunday, January 18th at the Music Center at Strathmore. The celebration will feature music, storytelling, local talent, and celebrity guest appearances. The event is free, but tickets are required. For ticket information, visit the Music Center at Strathmore website or the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights website.
In addition, the Montgomery County Volunteer Center is hosting its MLK Day of Service and Volunteer Fair on Monday, January 19th from 9:30AM-12:00PM at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza. This event will bring together volunteers to participate in meaningful service projects to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To register and see other service opportunities, visit the Volunteer Center website.
If you'd prefer to remain in the Upcounty this weekend, the BlackRock Center for the Arts has you covered on Saturday, January 17th with SAY IT LOUD, the annual MLK event which will include movies, artist receptions, record fairs, and live performances. Visit the BlackRock Center for the Arts website for all the information you need to plan your day!
I hope to see you there!
ALT TEXT: A flyer advertising Montgomery County's annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration, which will be held on Sunday, January 18th at the Music Center at Strathmore.
It was great fun to attend the Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department’s annual holiday party. One of the volunteer awards went to Betty Jean Selby for her SEVENTY years of service to the UMCVFD!
 Council Vice President Balcombe with Betty Jean Selby, honored for seventy years of service to the UMCVFD.
The Junior Achievement Finance Park at the Thomas Edison High School for Technology is a great resource, and it just got better with a new agricultural storefront! While students are learning how to budget for their monthly groceries, they are also learning about careers in farming and food distribution, and where their food actually comes from. Thanks to the Office of Ag and the MD Ag Education Foundation for making this happen.
 Council Vice President Balcombe and local leaders at a ribbon cutting for the new agricultural storefront.
The draft Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board on December 4, 2025. You can view the current draft of the plan on the Planning website.
On Wednesday, January 21st, the County Council will hold a public hearing about the plan. I encourage you to participate and share your thoughts with the Council. Information about the public hearing is below.
DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7PM
LOCATION: Rocky Hill Middle School cafeteria
ADDRESS: 22401 Brick Haven Way, Clarksburg, MD 20871
You can register to participate in this public hearing through the County Council's public hearing website or by calling 240-777-7803. You can submit written, audio, or video testimony if you are unable to attend the public hearing in person but would still like to share your thoughts.
To learn more about the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan:
I'm excited to begin our series recognizing historical happenings from District 2, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Montgomery County. If you have any suggestions of moments in time that I should lift up, please send them my way! You can email my office directly at councilmember.balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov. I look forward to sharing stories from D2!
 A graphic of District 2's geographic outline, with the text "District 2 Historical Highlights: Celebrating 250 years of Montgomery County."
- Built in 1815 - and still accessible today - the Black Rock Mill operated as a sawmill and grist mill. Grain was ground into flour at mills like Black Rock; however, with the opening of the Ohio Valley to agriculture, grain production shifted westward out of Maryland. Black Rock remained a saw mill for a number of years, until it went out of business by the mid-1920s. Take a hike along the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail, and visit the mill today.
- Built in 1893, the Kingsley Schoolhouse in Clarksburg served the local, rural farming community of the Little Bennett Creek Valley until 1935. The school acquired the nickname Froggy Hollow School due to the large number of frogs that could be heard peeping in the low-lying area. The schoolhouse still stands, can be visited, and the spring peepers are just as loud as they were back in 1893.
Economic Development (ECON) Committee
The Economic Development (ECON) committee will meet on Monday, January 26th, where we will receive a briefing on quarterly economic indicators.
You can review the staff packet on the Council website and watch the sessions on-demand on the Council YouTube channel.
Transportation and Environment Committee
The Transportation and Environment (TE) committee will be meeting on Monday, February 2nd, to receive a briefing on WMATA Red Line shutdown mitigation measures.
You can review the staff packet on the Council website and watch the session on-demand on the Council YouTube channel.
Council Legislation
The Maryland General Assembly Session kicks off today! In the coming weeks and months, the Council will review bills being introduced in Annapolis, starting with local bills that are focused on Montgomery County.
Upcoming Public Hearings
To testify at a Council public hearing or to submit written, audio, or video testimony, please visit the Council website or call 240-777-7803. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 1:30PM public hearing is 2PM the day prior. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 7PM public hearing is 5PM the day prior.
January 21, 2026
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7:00 PM: Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan
The following County boards, committees, and commissions are seeking applicants:
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Electrify MC has funds available to help residents transition from fossil fuels (oil, gas, and propane) in their homes. Plan now to access limited-time financial incentives from the County, which can be combined with state and federal rebates! Visit the Electrify MC webpage to learn more and sign up to electrify your home.
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Pepco is continuing to offer support to those facing financial challenges in our difficult environment. If you require assistance offsetting your energy costs due to financial challenges, visit Pepco's website and check out the Customer Relief Fund.
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Montgomery County Recreation summer camp registration begins at 6:30AM on Tuesday, January 20th for County residents. Non-county residents will be able to register beginning Thursday, January 22nd. Visit the ActiveMONTGOMERY website to register.
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WSSC Water will be visiting homes in the 20841 zip code in the coming weeks asking to verify the homeowner’s pipe material type. This free service is part of an EPA national public health initiative to remove lead from America’s drinking water. To learn more and find out how to verify your own pipe material, visit WSSC Water's website.
- The Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) is offering a free 8-week online family resiliency program for parents/caregivers of children ages 5-18, in English, Spanish, or Amharic. Learn more at PEP's website.
If you would like to get in touch with me regarding anything mentioned in this newsletter or any other concerns you may have, please email me at Councilmember.Balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov or call my office at 240-777-7960.
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