Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan Updates
Join us for Virtual Visioning Sessions this March!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Visioning Phase! This is the phase where the Montgomery Planning team works with you to craft the vision for the future of Silver Spring. We will start in mid-March with the goal of arriving at a draft plan by the fall of 2021. There will be many ways to participate!
To get started, we will host five community virtual Visioning Sessions. These sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. throughout March and April. All of these sessions will be interactive - we will 'sketch' a plan and gather virtual sticky notes full of ideas for different areas of the plan. Because of the interactive format, we will be capping attendance at 40 people for each session.
We are organizing this initial stage of sessions by "Visioning Districts" to help us focus the discussion on each of these areas; all of the work from these sessions will be pulled together into one cohesive vision for the plan area. Please refer to the map below to understand how these “districts,” which are only a tool for the Visioning Sessions, are organized.
To register, click the links below (all events will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m.):March 23 - South Silver Spring
March 30 - Metro Center/Ripley District
April 6 - Fenton Village
April 13 - Adjacent Communities
April 20 - North Silver Spring
If you register, you will receive a reminder 48 hours before the event, and a request to let us know if you cannot make it, so we can ensure we are not holding spots for those who are unable to attend. All sessions will be recorded and posted on the website.
We recommend participants join these sessions via computer or tablet, as it will be more challenging to follow the session on a smartphone. Participants will be allowed to join via phone, and facilitators will work to include them in the event, even if they cannot see the screen.
Silver Spring Downtown (Real Estate) Developments
Recently Built, Under Construction, and Approved Presentation
Presentation
Meeting Recording
A Special Presentation by the Planning Department in collaboration with the Regional Director on the major projects recently built, under construction, and approved in the Silver Spring Region
Through the years the Planning Department has done these informative presentations highlighting what is happening in the real estate market in Silver Spring. This year, Elza Hisel-McCoy, DownCounty Chief Planner and Stephanie Dickel, Area 1 Supervisor, made the presentation. Please catch the replay and the presentation above!
Campaign Launched to Save Long Branch Restaurants: ‘Pledge to Preserve’
This February, residents of the Long Branch neighborhood began signing on to a campaign to save their neighborhood restaurants. The campaign, called Pledge to Preserve, was launched Feb. 5 by the Long Branch Business League and MHP.
Zeroing in on the many restaurants in the Long Branch neighborhood that have suffered enormous financial losses over the past year of pandemic-related damages, the initiative asks community members to voluntarily commit to purchasing meals at least three times a month from any Long Branch restaurant.
At the end of the campaign’s first week, already twenty-eight local residents had signed on to the campaign. “If we can get every person on our list to convince one friend to pledge, we can double that number soon,” said Catherine Rytkonen, the Business League’s marketing manager.
The Pledge to Preserve webpage lists the 15 participating Long Branch restaurants — along with their cuisine type, menu, and social media connections.
The initiative represents a local Long Branch response to a wider national crisis. According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), one in four jobs lost during the pandemic have been in the food and beverage industry. That’s the equivalent of 5.9 million jobs lost.
According to the same study, if no direct aid is provided some 85 percent of independent restaurants will likely close by the end of this year.
The pandemic-related crisis hit a small business sector that could ill afford such a challenge.
“Even in normal, non-pandemic years it is difficult to run a restaurant and keep it in the black,” the Pledge to Preserve webpage points out. “Many restaurants generate as much as half their annual income from weddings, parties, and holiday-related events (Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Christmas). This year all that has been cancelled.”
What is more, even though Long Branch’s restaurants have so far managed to keep their doors open, there is no guarantee they will all survive the coming months without vigorous and, indeed, greatly increased support from private persons and the public sector.
Montgomery County to Host COVID-19 Economic Revitalization and Recovery Virtual Town Hall
Friday, March 5, on 12:00pmLegal Advice Program for Small Businesses During the COVID-19 Crisis
“Legal Advice During the Pandemic” will be the theme from noon-1 p.m. on Friday, March 5, when Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Economic Revitalization and Recovery program continues its series of virtual town hall meetings to keep businesses informed on strategies for doing business as the health crisis continues. The upcoming town hall will feature Judy Stephenson, the County small business navigator, and Marla Bilonick, the executive director and CEO of the Latino Economic Development Center.
County Executive Marc Elrich initiated the series of town halls held every other Friday as a way to share timely updates on COVID-19 topics of interest to the business community. The town halls give businesses an opportunity to hear directly from County leaders. Jerome Fletcher, the County’s assistant chief administrative officer (ACAO) for economic development, hosts the sessions. He also provides updates on grant programs available to County businesses and offers ideas that can help economic recovery.
During the March 5 town hall, Ms. Stephenson and Ms. Bilonick will share information on a new legal advice program that the County will sponsor. In addition, the Latino Economic Development Center will provide information on the program to small businesses. The new program will include legal clinics and webinars.
Among the topics the legal program will cover will be rent issues, renegotiating contracts with vendors, renegotiating contracts with clients, renegotiating loans, employee/personnel issues, insurance concerns, starting a business and closing a business.
If business owners, employees or residents have questions they would like to see addressed at the March 5 town hall, they can be submitted by Wednesday, March 3, to BizPortal@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.
The town hall will be broadcast live via Teams. To join the broadcast, go to https://tinyurl.com/4kknxdmp.
The town hall will be broadcast on County Cable Montgomery (cable station CCM), which is available on Comcast and RCN (channels 6 and HD996) and Verizon (channel 30). The town hall can be viewed live via County social media at https://www.facebook.com/montgomerycountyinfo.
Town halls are recorded and available for 90 days at the Montgomery County Business Portal at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/biz-resources/covid19/
El Condado de Montgomery presentará, el viernes 5 de marzo, Foro Virtual sobre Asesoramiento Legal para Pequeñas Empresas durante la crisis COVID-19
"Asesoría Legal Durante la Pandemia" será el tema a abordar el viernes 5 de marzo desde el mediodía hasta la 1 p.m., cuando el programa de Revitalización Económica y Recuperación COVID-19 del Condado de Montgomery continúe su serie de reuniones virtuales para mantener a las empresas informadas sobre estrategias para hacer negocios a medida que continúa la crisis de salud. El próximo encuentro contará con Judy Stephenson, navegante de pequeñas empresas del Condado, y Marla Bilonick, Directora Ejecutiva del Centro de Desarrollo Económico Latino.
El Ejecutivo del Condado Marc Elrich inició la serie de foros virtuales que se celebran cada dos viernes como una forma de compartir actualizaciones oportunas sobre los temas de interés de COVID-19 para la comunidad empresarial. Las reuniones dan a las empresas la oportunidad de escuchar directamente a los líderes del Condado. Jerome Fletcher, Subjefe Administrativo del Condado para el Desarrollo Económico, es el anfitrión de las sesiones. También proporciona actualizaciones sobre los programas de subvenciones disponibles para las empresas del Condado y ofrece ideas que pueden ayudar a la recuperación económica.
Durante el encuentro del 5 de marzo, la Sra. Stephenson y la Sra. Bilonick compartirán información sobre un nuevo programa de asesoramiento legal que el Condado patrocinará. Además, el Centro de Desarrollo Económico Latino proporcionará información sobre el programa a las pequeñas empresas. El nuevo programa incluirá clínicas legales y seminarios web.
Entre los temas que cubrirá el programa legal estarán temas de alquiler, renegociación de contratos con proveedores, renegociación de contratos con clientes, renegociación de préstamos, problemas de personal, problemas de seguros, inicio y cierre de un negocio.
Si los propietarios de negocios, empleados o residentes tienen preguntas que les gustaría ser contestadas en el foro virtual del 5 de marzo, pueden ser enviadas antes del miércoles, 3 de marzo, para BizPortal@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.
El foro virtual será retransmitido en directo a través de la plataforma digital Teams. Para unirse a la emisión, haga clic en este enlace https://tinyurl.com/4kknxdmp.
El encuentro se transmitirá por el Canal de Cable del Condado Montgomery (estación de cable CCM), que está disponible en Comcast y RCN (canales 6 y HD996) y Verizon (canal 30). El foro también se puede ver en vivo a través de las redes sociales del Condado en https://www.facebook.com/montgomerycountyinfo.
Los foros quedan grabados y disponibles durante 90 días en el Portal de Negocios del Condado de Montgomery en https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/biz-resources/covid19/
Nominate a Volunteer Today!
Nominations are now open for the Montgomery Serves Awards, our county's highest honor for volunteerism. These annual awards recognize individuals, businesses, and groups that have demonstrated remarkable commitment to direct volunteer service in our community. Nomination deadline: Friday, March 12. A Montgomery Serves Awards selection panel will review and select winners that have demonstrated commitment and dedication to direct volunteer service in each award category.
This February, residents of the Long Branch neighborhood began signing on to a campaign to save their neighborhood restaurants. The campaign, called Pledge to Preserve, was launched Feb. 5 by the Long Branch Business League and MHP.
Zeroing in on the many restaurants in the Long Branch neighborhood that have suffered enormous financial losses over the past year of pandemic-related damages, the initiative asks community members to voluntarily commit to purchasing meals at least three times a month from any Long Branch restaurant.
At the end of the campaign’s first week, already twenty-eight local residents had signed on to the campaign. “If we can get every person on our list to convince one friend to pledge, we can double that number soon,” said Catherine Rytkonen, the Business League’s marketing manager.
The Pledge to Preserve webpage lists the 15 participating Long Branch restaurants — along with their cuisine type, menu, and social media connections.
The initiative represents a local Long Branch response to a wider national crisis. According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), one in four jobs lost during the pandemic have been in the food and beverage industry. That’s the equivalent of 5.9 million jobs lost.
According to the same study, if no direct aid is provided some 85 percent of independent restaurants will likely close by the end of this year.
The pandemic-related crisis hit a small business sector that could ill afford such a challenge.
“Even in normal, non-pandemic years it is difficult to run a restaurant and keep it in the black,” the Pledge to Preserve webpage points out. “Many restaurants generate as much as half their annual income from weddings, parties, and holiday-related events (Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Christmas). This year all that has been cancelled.”
What is more, even though Long Branch’s restaurants have so far managed to keep their doors open, there is no guarantee they will all survive the coming months without vigorous and, indeed, greatly increased support from private persons and the public sector.
Friday, March 5, on 12:00pmLegal Advice Program for Small Businesses During the COVID-19 Crisis
“Legal Advice During the Pandemic” will be the theme from noon-1 p.m. on Friday, March 5, when Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Economic Revitalization and Recovery program continues its series of virtual town hall meetings to keep businesses informed on strategies for doing business as the health crisis continues. The upcoming town hall will feature Judy Stephenson, the County small business navigator, and Marla Bilonick, the executive director and CEO of the Latino Economic Development Center.
County Executive Marc Elrich initiated the series of town halls held every other Friday as a way to share timely updates on COVID-19 topics of interest to the business community. The town halls give businesses an opportunity to hear directly from County leaders. Jerome Fletcher, the County’s assistant chief administrative officer (ACAO) for economic development, hosts the sessions. He also provides updates on grant programs available to County businesses and offers ideas that can help economic recovery.
During the March 5 town hall, Ms. Stephenson and Ms. Bilonick will share information on a new legal advice program that the County will sponsor. In addition, the Latino Economic Development Center will provide information on the program to small businesses. The new program will include legal clinics and webinars.
Among the topics the legal program will cover will be rent issues, renegotiating contracts with vendors, renegotiating contracts with clients, renegotiating loans, employee/personnel issues, insurance concerns, starting a business and closing a business.
If business owners, employees or residents have questions they would like to see addressed at the March 5 town hall, they can be submitted by Wednesday, March 3, to BizPortal@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.
The town hall will be broadcast live via Teams. To join the broadcast, go to https://tinyurl.com/4kknxdmp.
The town hall will be broadcast on County Cable Montgomery (cable station CCM), which is available on Comcast and RCN (channels 6 and HD996) and Verizon (channel 30). The town hall can be viewed live via County social media at https://www.facebook.com/montgomerycountyinfo.
Town halls are recorded and available for 90 days at the Montgomery County Business Portal at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/biz-resources/covid19/
El Condado de Montgomery presentará, el viernes 5 de marzo, Foro Virtual sobre Asesoramiento Legal para Pequeñas Empresas durante la crisis COVID-19
"Asesoría Legal Durante la Pandemia" será el tema a abordar el viernes 5 de marzo desde el mediodía hasta la 1 p.m., cuando el programa de Revitalización Económica y Recuperación COVID-19 del Condado de Montgomery continúe su serie de reuniones virtuales para mantener a las empresas informadas sobre estrategias para hacer negocios a medida que continúa la crisis de salud. El próximo encuentro contará con Judy Stephenson, navegante de pequeñas empresas del Condado, y Marla Bilonick, Directora Ejecutiva del Centro de Desarrollo Económico Latino.
El Ejecutivo del Condado Marc Elrich inició la serie de foros virtuales que se celebran cada dos viernes como una forma de compartir actualizaciones oportunas sobre los temas de interés de COVID-19 para la comunidad empresarial. Las reuniones dan a las empresas la oportunidad de escuchar directamente a los líderes del Condado. Jerome Fletcher, Subjefe Administrativo del Condado para el Desarrollo Económico, es el anfitrión de las sesiones. También proporciona actualizaciones sobre los programas de subvenciones disponibles para las empresas del Condado y ofrece ideas que pueden ayudar a la recuperación económica.
Durante el encuentro del 5 de marzo, la Sra. Stephenson y la Sra. Bilonick compartirán información sobre un nuevo programa de asesoramiento legal que el Condado patrocinará. Además, el Centro de Desarrollo Económico Latino proporcionará información sobre el programa a las pequeñas empresas. El nuevo programa incluirá clínicas legales y seminarios web.
Entre los temas que cubrirá el programa legal estarán temas de alquiler, renegociación de contratos con proveedores, renegociación de contratos con clientes, renegociación de préstamos, problemas de personal, problemas de seguros, inicio y cierre de un negocio.
Si los propietarios de negocios, empleados o residentes tienen preguntas que les gustaría ser contestadas en el foro virtual del 5 de marzo, pueden ser enviadas antes del miércoles, 3 de marzo, para BizPortal@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.
El foro virtual será retransmitido en directo a través de la plataforma digital Teams. Para unirse a la emisión, haga clic en este enlace https://tinyurl.com/4kknxdmp.
El encuentro se transmitirá por el Canal de Cable del Condado Montgomery (estación de cable CCM), que está disponible en Comcast y RCN (canales 6 y HD996) y Verizon (canal 30). El foro también se puede ver en vivo a través de las redes sociales del Condado en https://www.facebook.com/montgomerycountyinfo.
Los foros quedan grabados y disponibles durante 90 días en el Portal de Negocios del Condado de Montgomery en https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/biz-resources/covid19/
Nominate a Volunteer Today!
Nominations are now open for the Montgomery Serves Awards, our county's highest honor for volunteerism. These annual awards recognize individuals, businesses, and groups that have demonstrated remarkable commitment to direct volunteer service in our community. Nomination deadline: Friday, March 12. A Montgomery Serves Awards selection panel will review and select winners that have demonstrated commitment and dedication to direct volunteer service in each award category.
Nominations will be evaluated based on volunteer service performed in 2020 (or throughout the nominee’s lifetime for the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award) as detailed in the nomination narrative. The narrative is limited to 1,000 words.
See the nomination form for narrative guidelines.
Nominees must either live, work, or serve in Montgomery County.
Nominees’ volunteer service must have been performed outside the context of their paid employment (i.e., it cannot be part of their job).
Nominees should not be nominated for their financial contributions.
Past winners are ineligible to win in the same category. Current members of the Montgomery County Commission on Aging are ineligible for the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award.
Nominators will be notified of their nominees’ status once all honorees have been selected.
Nominations must use the appropriate nomination forms and submitted no later than Friday, March 12, 2021 at 5:00 PM
Click here to nominate
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police survey
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division, is committed to working in partnership with the community to provide quality public safety services in a professional and timely manner. Therefore, your on-going feedback is vitally important to us as we evaluate our performance in meeting that expectation while simultaneously seeking to ever improve. Please help us in this endeavor by completing the short survey available at this link:
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/park-police/contact-park-police/park-police-survey/
Encuesta
La Policía Nacional-Capital, División del Condado de Montgomery, está comprometida a trabajar en asociación con la comunidad para brindar servicios de seguridad pública de calidad de manera profesional y oportuna. Por lo tanto, sus comentarios continuos son de vital importancia para nosotros a medida que evaluamos nuestro desempeño en el cumplimiento de esa expectativa y, al mismo tiempo, buscamos a mejorarnos. Ayúdenos en este esfuerzo completando la breve encuesta a continuación.
Todas las respuestas son opcionales
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/park-police/contact-park-police/park-police-survey/#spanish
Middle Eastern American Authors Series at Montgomery County Public Libraries
In partnership with the Office of Community Partnerships’ Middle Eastern American Advisory Group (MEAGG), Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will offer a series of programs focusing on various Middle Eastern American authors and illustrators.
The free virtual author series will take place monthly on the third Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. February through July. The events will be moderated by Debbie Trent, MEAGG chair, or Karen Leggett, co-chair of the Maryland Friends of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt). Registration is required for the free programs.
Hena Khan; March 16
Hena Khan, award-winning Pakistani-American children’s author, whose works include Amina’s Voice, named a Best Book of 2017 by the Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews and NPR, and its sequel Amina’s Song.
Rashin Kheiriyeh; April 20
Rashin Kheiriyeh, internationally recognized author/illustrator, who has published more than 80 books in the U.S, Europe, and Asia, including her native Iran.
Nadia Hashimi; May 18
Nadia Hashimi, Montgomery County pediatrician turned novelist, whose parents came to the U.S. from Afghanistan before the Soviet invasion and author of Sparks Like Stars.
Susan Muaddi Daraj; June 15
Susan Muaddi Daraj, author of A Curious Land: Stories from Home, a short story collection which won the 2014 AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction and a 2016 Arab American Book Award.
Pauline Kaldas; July 20
Pauline Kaldas, Professor of English and Creative Writing at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA and author of Looking Both Ways, a collection of essays and The Penguin Book of Migration Literature.
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/park-police/contact-park-police/park-police-survey/
Encuesta
La Policía Nacional-Capital, División del Condado de Montgomery, está comprometida a trabajar en asociación con la comunidad para brindar servicios de seguridad pública de calidad de manera profesional y oportuna. Por lo tanto, sus comentarios continuos son de vital importancia para nosotros a medida que evaluamos nuestro desempeño en el cumplimiento de esa expectativa y, al mismo tiempo, buscamos a mejorarnos. Ayúdenos en este esfuerzo completando la breve encuesta a continuación.
Todas las respuestas son opcionales
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/park-police/contact-park-police/park-police-survey/#spanish
Middle Eastern American Authors Series at Montgomery County Public Libraries
The free virtual author series will take place monthly on the third Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. February through July. The events will be moderated by Debbie Trent, MEAGG chair, or Karen Leggett, co-chair of the Maryland Friends of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt). Registration is required for the free programs.
Hena Khan; March 16
Hena Khan, award-winning Pakistani-American children’s author, whose works include Amina’s Voice, named a Best Book of 2017 by the Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews and NPR, and its sequel Amina’s Song.
Rashin Kheiriyeh; April 20
Rashin Kheiriyeh, internationally recognized author/illustrator, who has published more than 80 books in the U.S, Europe, and Asia, including her native Iran.
Nadia Hashimi; May 18
Nadia Hashimi, Montgomery County pediatrician turned novelist, whose parents came to the U.S. from Afghanistan before the Soviet invasion and author of Sparks Like Stars.
Susan Muaddi Daraj; June 15
Susan Muaddi Daraj, author of A Curious Land: Stories from Home, a short story collection which won the 2014 AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction and a 2016 Arab American Book Award.
Pauline Kaldas; July 20
Pauline Kaldas, Professor of English and Creative Writing at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA and author of Looking Both Ways, a collection of essays and The Penguin Book of Migration Literature.
Food Resources in Montgomery County and a Food Access Survey
Today, the Food Council launched a short 8-question COVID-19 Community Food Access survey seeking input from residents to guide Montgomery County food security initiatives in 2021. Residents’ feedback on how the County can best serve our communities and improve food access during and after the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to informing program implementation, policy development, and future funding priorities.
The deadline for survey responses is Wednesday, March 17th, 2021. The survey is currently available in English and Spanish, and we will be launching the survey in French, Amharic and Mandarin in the coming weeks.
Food Access Survey (English): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mcfoodsurvey
Food Access Survey (Español): https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/encuestaalimentaria
Residents who complete Part I of the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a $25 gift card, and residents who complete Parts I and II of the survey will be entered to win a $50 gift card.
Online Process to Request Food Assistance\ Resources Available 24/7
Residents looking for information on food assistance resources can now request help by completing a simple online form. Available in seven languages (Amharic, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese), the form is reviewed by a trained resource specialist, and residents receive a return phone call within one business day. The specialist will determine a resident’s individual food needs and help them locate food assistance in their community. No Personally identifiable information is needed to get help.
Information is available about free food distribution sites, free meal and grocery delivery, SNAP (Food Stamps), local food assistance providers, and other resources in Montgomery County. Residents can also call 311 and ask for the Food Access Call Center to get help with their food needs.
The Food Access Call Center opened in June 2020 and has been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to address the increasing need for food assistance across the County. As of mid-December, the Food Access Call Center has responded to more than 2,000 calls/referrals.
The deadline for survey responses is Wednesday, March 17th, 2021. The survey is currently available in English and Spanish, and we will be launching the survey in French, Amharic and Mandarin in the coming weeks.
Food Access Survey (English): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mcfoodsurvey
Food Access Survey (Español): https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/encuestaalimentaria
Residents who complete Part I of the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a $25 gift card, and residents who complete Parts I and II of the survey will be entered to win a $50 gift card.
Online Process to Request Food Assistance\ Resources Available 24/7
Residents looking for information on food assistance resources can now request help by completing a simple online form. Available in seven languages (Amharic, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese), the form is reviewed by a trained resource specialist, and residents receive a return phone call within one business day. The specialist will determine a resident’s individual food needs and help them locate food assistance in their community. No Personally identifiable information is needed to get help.
Information is available about free food distribution sites, free meal and grocery delivery, SNAP (Food Stamps), local food assistance providers, and other resources in Montgomery County. Residents can also call 311 and ask for the Food Access Call Center to get help with their food needs.
The Food Access Call Center opened in June 2020 and has been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to address the increasing need for food assistance across the County. As of mid-December, the Food Access Call Center has responded to more than 2,000 calls/referrals.
Recent Press Releases
Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors Feb. 22-26 will Include Make Your Home Comfortable and Digital Storytelling
Montgomery County Ride On Bus Schedule Changes Beginning Sunday, Feb. 28, Will Increase Overall Service and Improve Efficiency
Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors Feb. 22-26 will Include Make Your Home Comfortable and Digital Storytelling
Montgomery County Ride On Bus Schedule Changes Beginning Sunday, Feb. 28, Will Increase Overall Service and Improve Efficiency
