Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich addresses how the
combined efforts of residents and businesses to follow COVID-19
guidelines the County established have led to Montgomery County having
some of the best numbers in Maryland in the battle against the virus.
However, he also explains why the County is not ready to adopt some of
the broad reopening guidelines Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced
this week.
Phased
Reopening Plans Tied to COVID-19 Vaccinations Approved
An amended Montgomery County Board of Health regulation to
allow a further phased reopening tied to COVID-19 vaccinations has been
unanimously approved by the County Council. The provisions of the
regulation are now in effect.
COVID-19 Update:
More Than Half of County Has Received At Least One COVID-19 Vaccine
Montgomery County this week passed a couple of significant
milestones in its battle against COVID-19 as now more than half of the
County’s population has received at least one vaccine and more than
one-third of all residents have been fully vaccinated.
Restaurants and
Food Service Businesses Are Reminded to ‘Skip the Straw’ Starting
Saturday, May 1, in New Campaign
Montgomery County restaurants and food service
businesses are being reminded to “Skip the Straw” starting Saturday,
May 1, in a new campaign by the County Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP). A bill proposed by County Executive Marc
Elrich and approved by the County Council created a law that
prohibits straws from being offered to dine-in customers, except upon
request or to comply with Federal disability rights laws.
Interagency
Partnership Launched to Address School Safety and Student Well-Being
Initiative
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by
members of the County Council, members of the Montgomery County Board
of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and the
Montgomery County Police Department on April 23 to announce the launch
of an interagency partnership to address school safety and student
well-being.
Montgomery
Department of Transportation Launches Electric Equipment Mowing Pilot
Program to Reduce Air and Noise Pollution
A pilot program to deploy its first ever all-electric
mowing team has been launched this season by the Montgomery County
Department of Transportation (MCDOT). The equipment produces zero
emissions and is noticeably quieter than traditional gas-powered
equipment.
More Than 50
Restaurants Participating in MoCo Eats Week Through Monday, May 3
More than 50 Montgomery County restaurants are
participating in “MoCo Eats Week,” which will continue through
Monday, May 3. Warm spring weather has contributed to an outstanding
turnout for the opening days of the special week that was organized
by Visit Montgomery and the County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage
Services.
COVID-19
Information Portal Has Statistics on the Virus Including Infections and
Vaccinations Given by Zip Codes
Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a
variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The statistics
are updated to reflect the most recent reports during the health
crisis. Among the information available is how many positive cases have
been reported in each zip code in the County. New to the dashboard
is how many vaccinations have been given by zip code.
County Executive
Elrich to Address County Energy Summit on Tuesday, May 4
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will be among the
speakers at the 2021 County Energy Summit, which will be held from
Tuesday, May 4, through Thursday, May 6. Due to the ongoing COVID-19
health crisis, the Summit will be held virtually.
Mobile Nature
Center ‘Nature on Wheels’ Will Make Its Debut This Weekend for
Montgomery Parks; Several Nature Centers Scheduled to Open
Nature
on Wheels, a mobile nature center and science field station
that will bring programming to parks throughout Montgomery County,
will make its debut at several locations this weekend. The Montgomery Parks rolling exhibition will have naturalists available to answer questions and
share information related to natural areas throughout the
park system. In addition, several nature centers are getting ready to
open.
Brookside
Gardens’ Conservatory Reopens, but 'Wings of Fancy and Caterpillar'
Exhibits Canceled
Brookside Gardens’ Conservatory in Wheaton has
reopened, but Montgomery Parks, which operates the park, is
canceling this year’s Wings of Fancy Live
Butterfly and Caterpillar exhibits due to health
and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
Montgomery County has announced the 13 winners of its
Climate Change Art Contest. The contest encouraged community members of
all ages to use artistic forms of expression to show the connections
between climate change and daily lives.
New Video Series
Puts Wheaton Small Businesses in the Spotlight
The Wheaton office of the Latino Economic Development
Center (LEDC), which has contracted with Montgomery County to help
promote small businesses in Wheaton, has launched the “Wheaton Small
Business Spotlight Series” that will highlight the services—and the
background stories—of hundreds of small operations of all types in the
Wheaton area.
New Assistance
Available to Small, Minority-, Veteran- or Women-owned Business
Negatively Impacted by COVID-19 Health Crisis
A new program of assistance is now available from Maryland
for small, minority-, veteran- or women-owned businesses that have been
negatively impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis. The Small, Minority
and Women-Owned Business Account COVID-19 Relief Program offers up to
$50,000 in paired loans and grants to eligible businesses.
‘Business
Development in Montgomery County’ Will Be Theme in Revitalization and
Recovery Virtual Town Hall on Friday, April 30
“Business Development in Montgomery County” will be the
theme from noon-1 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 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.
Montgomery Parks
to Present Plans for Proposed Dog Park at Norwood Park in Bethesda to
County Planning Board on Thursday, May 6
Montgomery
Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, on Thursday, May 6, will present plans for a proposed
dog park at Norwood Local Park in Bethesda to the Montgomery Planning
Board. The public is invited to comment or testify at the virtual
meeting in writing or by email.
