Isiah Leggett Reports
County Council News
Leggett to Sponsor Five Budget Forums
"Save Your Home"
Martin Luther King, Jr. - Weekend of Service and Sacrifice
Montgomery County Plans Major Expansion of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Events
Montgomery County Begins "Podcasts" to Better Inform Residents
County Adds Facebook and Twitter Websites to Montgomery on Demand Service
Health and Human Services Offers Evening Hours for Customers; No Appointment Necessary
ElIgible County Homeowners Reminded to Apply for Property Tax Credits
US Census Bureau Needs Thousand Workers for the Census Taker Position
New Military Helpline
Holiday Recycling Reminder
One Stop Fair Housing Shop
Metro to Charge Rush-hour Fares, Parking Fees on Inauguration Day
Metro Continues Car Sharing Program
Metro Partners with CVS/pharmacy to Sell SmartTrip Cards
Ride On to Join Metro in Adding a Bus-to-Rail Transfer Benefit Starting January 4
Be Aware: Deer Management Operations Began October 24
Upcoming Events at Brookside Gardens
Upcoming Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board and Advisory Committees Meetings

Isiah Leggett Reports

County Council News
(Click on the link to view) http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Council/PressRelease/PR_list.asp

"Many of our neighbors right here in Montgomery County are hurting, and you can do something to help. All the indicators of real need -- from foreclosures to food stamps -- are skyrocketing in our County. Montgomery's historic commitment to people in need has seldom been as tested as it is today. County Executive Ike Leggett and I invite you to join thousands of Montgomery residents rallying together over the historic weekend of January 16-20 that includes the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and the inauguration of Barack Obama as the President of the United States.
 
Our goals are ambitious. We hope to raise $100,000 to meet the challenge of a generous donor and collect food to refill the shelves at the Manna Food Center. We have little more than three weeks to mobilize 1,000 volunteers to knock on 50,000 doors January 17-18 and 2,500 volunteers to work on community service projects on the January 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.
 
Join the Yes Montgomery Can! campaign and participate in our Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend of Service & Sacrifice January 16-20, 2009. We will have a website now being built (www.yesmontgomerycan.org) where people will be able to register their support, contribute to the Community Foundation's "Neighbors in Need Montgomery Fund," donate food to the Manna Food Center, and volunteer their time. We won't be able to do this without your help. Please email me to sign-up to take a leadership role in the campaign or to volunteer to help: bruce.adams@montgomerycountymd.gov  This is our chance to answer President-Elect Obama's call for a new spirit of service and sacrifice right here at home. You can make a difference. Yes, you can!".
For other volunteer opportunities during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend of Service go to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/Volunteer/MLK2009.asp.

The County is gearing up for a day of service and celebration to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 19, 2009. The Day of Service activities will be expanded this year to include three additional satellite sites throughout the County in addition to the annual program held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The annual musical tribute to Dr. King will again be held at the Music Center at Strathmore beginning at 4 p.m.
Day of Service Activities
Montgomery County’s Volunteer Center is organizing indoor volunteer projects along with a canned food drive for Manna Food Center at several locations around the County. The volunteer projects are all approved for Student Service Learning credits. Online pre-registration is requested for all locations by going to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mlk

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Activities include making Valentine’s Day cards for the Orphans Foundation, decorating bookmarks and cards for children with cancer and other terminal illnesses, packing snow day baskets for county-wide Meals on Wheels programs, learning how to register as a bone marrow donor and attending sessions by the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County. Additionally, this year will feature a volunteer fair for anyone wishing to learn more about ongoing volunteer opportunities in Montgomery County. Call 240-777-2600.

Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Projects and activities include making cards for seniors, visiting nursing homes, financial planning advice, computer internet instruction for seniors, blood pressure screenings, learning about the citizenship process, and hearing a storyteller share about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Call 240-777-8400.

Gapbuster Learning Center, 8216 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include arts and crafts projects, a health expo, watching and discussing a movie about civil rights and Dr. King, and pledging 40 days of non-violence. Call 301-588-5500.

Germantown Community Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is hosted by the NAACP Youth Leadership Council and will be a fun-filled day of service activities, workshops, videos and discussion, and community outreach. Call 240-777-2600.
Musical Celebration – 4 to 6 p.m.

The musical celebration and tribute to Dr. King will take place at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. This year’s theme is “Truth, Justice and Equality.” WUSA TV 9 Anchorwoman J.C. Hayward will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. The world-renowned Howard University Choir is scheduled to perform. The annual celebration is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. All tickets have been distributed, but those wishing to attend who were unable to obtain a ticket, should arrive by 3:30 p.m. The doors will open to non-ticket holders at approximately 3:45 p.m. until all seats are filled. For more information, call the Offices of the County Executive at 240-777-5199, or visit the website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mlk

Facebook, which once was a social networking site for college and high school students, is now used by a wide variety of individuals to access up-to-date information about other individuals and organizations. Twitter is a relatively new way to send and receive short text messages and status updates between individuals and organizations via cell phones. The Montgomery County Government Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com and searching for key words “Montgomery County Government.” Once there, it is easy to sign up to “become a fan” of the County’s page. Once signed up, you will have automatic access to information updates about County programs and services, along with invitations to County events.

Individuals who don’t already have a Twitter account can go to www.twitter.com and register for a free account. Once on Twitter, go to the “find people” link at the top of the page and type in Montgomery County MD. Click on “MontgomeryCoMD” and select “follow” to receive brief automatic messages on your cell phone whenever the County Public Information Office sends news updates about important issues. 

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is now offering evening hours every Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at three locations. Applications will be accepted and screening services will be available for income support programs, health care programs and child care subsidy and rental assistance. Some programs, such as emergency services and medical assistance for long-term care, require appointments.
Services will be available at:

8818 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD

1301 Piccard Drive
Rockville, MD

12900 Middlebrook Road
Germantown, MD

For information, call the HHS Information and Assistance Unit at 240-777-1245.

It can be very challenging for veterans and their families to find out about the services available to them and that is why the County has created the Military Helpline to assist them and help ease their transitions back to the community. Montgomery County service members, veterans and their families can now call our Military Helpline -- 301-738-7176 -- to learn about mental health services, family readiness organizations and housing, employment and transition assistance resources. Operated by the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, the Helpline is available free of charge Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Callers may leave a message when the helpline is not staffed and calls will be returned within 24 hours.

Holiday Recycling Reminder
The Christmas trees collection for recycling will be held on your normal recycling day  between December 26, 2008 through January 30, 2009.Reminder to remove all decorations.
Holiday recycling tips
 

Material	How to dispose/recycle
"Blister" packaging from electronics, toys	Put into the trash.
Cardboard boxes	Add to your curbside recycling. May be unflattened -- but, consider flattening and folding so that you don't advertise your new items to prospective thieves.
Clementine fruit boxes	If you don't have a reuse, put into the trash.
Cookie/popcorn/cake tins	Add to your blue recycling bin.
Gift wrap	If paper, remove ribbons and bows, and add to your paper recycling If foil or plastic-coated, put into

If you have any questions or concerns about your County-provided collection, please contact Division of Solid Waste Customer Service staff online or call 240-777-6410

Come and discover everything that you wanted to know about fair housing in Montgomery County! Forum will be held on Wednesday, January 28, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Maryland at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Building 1, Auditorium, Rockville, Maryland.

This is a free forum and advance registration is appreciated by January 26. To RSVP or for more information, contact Cecelia Hatton, Office of Human Rights at 240-7778468 or at fairhousing@montgomerycountymd.gov  

Metro will charge rush-hour fares and parking fees on Inauguration Day to help offset the cost of providing the extra service. For more information go to:  http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2377

   Metro Continues Car Sharing Program    

The Department of Parks has listed park closures on various days from sunrise until sunset for seasonal deer management beginning Friday, October 24 at Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (http://www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/ppsd/natural_resources_stewardship/living_with_wildlife/deer/deer_index.shtm )  Park users are encouraged to be safe and observe "Park Closed" signs that will be posted outside the affected parks. Scheduled closings run through Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Click here for information about the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB), including their monthly meeting schedule, agendas, and minutes.

NOTE TWO IMPORTANT CHANGES IN MCCAB's REGULAR MONTHLY SCHEDULE: 

• The Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board will host a County Executive Budget Forum from 7:00 -8:30 p.m. during their monthly meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 in the Cafeteria at Wheaton High School, Wheaton, MD.  The MCCAB meeting will begin at 6:30 and will resume following the Budget Forum. The Board will not meet on its regular scheduled date of January 20th. The February MCCAB meeting will be held on February 17th.  
• The Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 will be held at the Bauer Drive Community Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville, MD.

 Click here for information about the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (WUDAC), including their monthly meeting schedule, agendas, and minutes.

 Click here for information about the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee (WRAC), including their monthly meeting schedule, agendas, and minutes.

 If there are items you would like to have included in our newsletter
please email us at
midcty.citizen@montgomerycountymd.gov

*******************************

The Mid-County Sparkler is posted monthly on the web by the
Mid-County Regional Center at
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/MIDCOUNTY   

Isiah Leggett, County Executive, Montgomery County

Natalie Cantor, Director, Mid-County Regional Center
2424 Reedie Drive
Wheaton, Maryland 20902
(240) 777-8100

midcty.citizen@montgomerycountymd.gov or mail to

Mid-County Regional Center
2424 Reedie Drive
Wheaton, Maryland 20902

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