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Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Solutions and Collaboration For the Airpark

Thank you to everyone who attended and spoke at last week's Airpark Community Advisory Committee Town Hall. We had a huge turnout with many constructive suggestions that should help the Committee in its work.

While progress on reducing noise and increase safety of operations is slow given the complex structure of the Airpark and the federal government's ultimate governing authority over many aspects of aircraft safety and travel, improvements are already happening. Neighbors and pilots are finding common ground on ways the Airpark can update its "Fly Friendly" guidelines and modernize facilities. There is significant work to do, but these conversations are moving in the right direction. I will continue working with the community and all stakeholders to make sure concerns are heard and improvements are made.

Councilmember Luedtke and members of the Airpark Community Advisory Committee hear public testimony regarding the Airpark.

Make Your Voice Heard: Operating Budget Public Hearings April 7-9!

The Montgomery County Council will hold public hearings on the County Executive’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Operating Budget on April 7, 8, and 9, and I encourage you to participate.

The budget is one of the most important things the Council does each year, as it determines funding for schools, public safety, transportation, libraries, parks, and community services. Resident input is an important part of this process, and I encourage anyone interested to sign up to testify or submit written testimony to share their priorities with the Council.

Celebrating State Champion Blake Bengals

Councilmembers Luedtke, Evans, Jawando, and Mink present the proclamation to the Blake High School Boys Basketball Team!

Last week, I joined members of the Council’s Education & Culture Committee to recognize the James Hubert Blake High School Boys Basketball Team for their incredible championship season.

The team finished with a 25–1 record and made school history by winning the MPSSAA Class 4A Maryland State Championship — the first state title in Blake High School history. I’d also like to congratulate the Magruder High School Boys Basketball Team for an outstanding season and their impressive run to the MPSSAA Class 3A State Championship game. It was a great opportunity to celebrate the hard work, teamwork, and dedication of student-athletes from our communities who made their schools proud this season.

Expanding Speed Camera Authority on High-Injury Roadways

This month, the Council introduced Bill 17-26, which would allow Montgomery County to install speed cameras on high-injury roadways where there is a history of severe and fatal crashes caused by speeding.

This follows a State enabling law I advocated for alongside community members, including residents around Shady Grove Road — a Vision Zero high-injury roadway identified because of its crash history. This legislation is about preventing serious crashes and saving lives by slowing traffic in the places we know speeding is most dangerous. A public hearing will be scheduled in the coming months, and I will share more information on how residents can get involved and support this important safety effort.

In The Community...

Top: Councilmember Luedtke alongside staff and family marching in the Gaithersburg St. Patrick's Day Parade. Middle Right: Councilmember Luedtke alongside Councilmember Lisa Henderson at the Gaithersburg St Patrick’s Day Parade. Middle Left: Councilmember Luedtke attends RespectFest2026. Bottom: Councilmember Luedtke attending the Children’s Opportunity Alliance “Breeze Through the Trees” race at Ruppert Nurseries..

Recognizing Those Who Serve

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Montgomery Serves Awards, which recognize outstanding volunteerism across our community. These awards honor individuals, businesses, and community groups who made a meaningful impact through service in 2025, as well as residents age 60 and older who have dedicated a lifetime to helping others. If you know someone who makes our community stronger through volunteer work, I encourage you to submit a nomination by April 3.

National Walking Day in Montgomery Village!

Montgomery Village will host a National Walking Day event on April 1 from 5–7 pm at the outdoor fitness park. The event encourages residents to get outside, be active, and connect with neighbors while enjoying local trails and parks. It’s a great opportunity to get moving and celebrate the start of spring with the community.

Food Scraps into Compost, Not Trash

Montgomery County residents can now recycle food scraps for free at select farmers markets, including the the Derwood Farmers Market (Saturdays, 9am-1pm) and Olney Farmers & Artists Market (Sundays, 9am-1pm). Food waste makes up a significant portion of what we throw away, and this program helps turn food scraps into compost instead of sending them to the landfill. Residents can drop off items like fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, meat, dairy, and coffee grounds at participating markets on weekends. This is an easy way to reduce waste and support our County’s sustainability goals. 

Register Now for the County Energy Summit

Registration is now open for the 2026 Montgomery County Energy Summit, taking place April 28–29 at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The summit brings together building owners, property managers, and sustainability professionals to share ideas and practical strategies to improve building performance and reduce energy use. This year’s event will also include a hands-on building decarbonization workshop where participants can work through real building scenarios and solutions.

Share Your Input on Policing in Schools 

The Montgomery County Advisory Commission on Policing will host a virtual public forum on April 13 at 6:30 p.m. to hear from residents about the role of police in County schools. The forum will include a listening session where community members can share feedback, perspectives, and testimony. Residents must register in advance to attend or testify, and written testimony may also be submitted online. This is an important opportunity for community members to help shape public safety policy and school safety conversations in Montgomery County.

Multicultural Senior Services Fair Coming to Gaithersburg 

Seniors and caregivers are invited to attend the Multicultural Senior Services Fair on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. This free event connects residents with important resources including Medicare and Medicaid support, housing, transportation, food programs, and caregiver services. Interpretation and multilingual materials will be available to help ensure all seniors and families can access the information and support they need.

If you would like to get in touch with me, please email me at Councilmember.Luedtke@montgomerycountymd.gov or call my office at 240-777-7860.

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