If you would like to follow along as we continue to work through the FY15 budget, you can get our committee and full Council agendas on our Web site, and all of our meetings are broadcast live either on television or on County Cable Montgomery’s Web site. We will pass a final budget on May 22. Although we have finished our public hearings, you can still let us know what you think. Also, check the Council's Web site for regular budget updates.

Don't let summer vacation get in the way of voting in the 2014 Primary Election. The election is earlier than ever this time, but the good news is that there are several easy options for casting your ballot.

Vote by Mail
Any voter can vote by mail. Download the absentee ballot request form and send it to the Board of Elections by June 17.

Vote Early
Early Voting is available June 12–19, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. at any of the nine early voting sites:

• Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
• Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11711 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton
• Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring
• Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
• Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Mid-County Community Recreation Center Social Hall, 2004 Queensguard Rd, Silver Spring
• Germantown Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
• Activity Center at Bohrer Park Social Hall, 506 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
• Damascus Community Recreation Center Social Hall, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus

Vote on Election Day
Local precincts will be open 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24.

Congratulations to all 111 Golden Shovel award winners. On April 22 we honored Montgomery County residents who went above and beyond to help their neighbors dig out during this year's snowy winter. Among the roughly 60 people who came to the County Council today for the ceremony were Joseph and Christiane Rosamont of Silver Spring. Here's what the Rosamonts' neighbor, Veronica Thomas, said about the couple:

"It is with great pleasure that I am nominating my neighbors, Joseph and Christiane Rosamont for the Golden Shovel Award. Christiane and Joe are my neighbors who have always helped me to clear my walkway during and after a snow storm knowing that my special needs son, Eric, is a wheelchair bound.

Though I have always appreciated their good will and generosity, this winter was a testament to their unselfish and willingness to help. On three occasions after they both helped me to clean the walkway after the snow storms, the snow plow came and plowed us back in making it impossible for wheelchair access to the curb where my son boards Metro Access to his day program. My two 'angels' were right back to help dig a path wide enough to get the wheelchair out.

I know there must be others like Joe and Christiane in Montgomery County, but they will only come in a close second. Thanks for this opportunity to submit my neighbors for such an award."

This is just one of many heartfelt nominations I received from extremely grateful neighbors. See the full list of winners. While there are indeed a lot of great stories to tell, I want to specially recognize Richard Hoye, Steve Leon and Tim and Debbie Marsh, who each received multiple nominations from their neighbors. See the awards presentation on County Cable Montgomery.