Silver Spring Heritage Trail

I was thrilled to attend the Silver Spring Heritage Trail signs unveiling ceremony this past Saturday, April 17th in Downtown Silver Spring. I joined County Executive Issiah Leggett, Councilmembers Valerie Ervin and Marc Elrich and elected Maryland State officials for this special ceremony.

The Silver Spring Heritage Trail is the first official Montgomery County Main Street Heritage Trail—A joint endeavor between the County Executive's Office, the County Council, the Silver Spring Regional Services Center, the Silver Spring Historical Society, and the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission Staff.

The Silver Spring Heritage Trail is the County's legal mitigation requirement from the 1998 loss through demolition of the historic 1927 Silver Spring National Guard Armory on Wayne Avenue for redevelopment of the core of Silver Spring's Central Business District.

The Trail showcases one of Silver Spring's original Main Streets, Georgia Avenue, the birth of Silver Spring's Central Business District, the first Newspaper, "The Maryland News", the first Department Store, the first Bank, and the first Bakery, among other interesting and historical places in Silver Spring. These Pioneering Structures are Enlivened "now and then" by multi-cultural small independent businesses and a variety of institutions.

Visit the Heritage Trail to experience adaptive reuse at its best! Heritage Tourism is economic development, also known as "Sense of Place Economics!”

Trachtenberg Office Visits Montgomery County Emergency Shelters

A representative of the Trachtenberg Office visited two of Montgomery County’s emergency shelters in the aftermath of the severe winter storm that impacted the County on February 5-6, 2010. Nearly 30 inches of snow fell during the historic storm, and more than 80,000 residents lost power, at some point, during the storm.

The County had established three emergency shelters for residents: the Schweinhaut Center, 1000 Forest Glen in Silver Spring, the Longwood Center at 19300 Georgia Ave, in Brookville/Olney and Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. Our Chief of Staff Alan Bowser visited the shelters at the Schweinhaut Center and at Richard Montgomery High School and thanked the Red Cross staff and community volunteers for their work on behalf of Councilmember Trachtenberg.

Today, the County has announced that overnight shelter operations will be consolidated at Richard Montgomery High School in order to provide a range of amenities for residents seeking shelter.

"As power is being restored to more parts of the community we want to make sure that residents seeking shelter have shower facilities, as well as other amenities," said County Executive Isiah Leggett in a statement. "We continue to monitor the need and are working with our utilities to bring power back to those affected by the outages."

Individuals planning to go to the shelter should bring all medications and personal supplies that they require. No pets are allowed at shelters except for registered service animals.

Richard Montgomery High School is located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.

NAACP’s 2009 Annual Meeting, Rockville, Maryland

The Montgomery County NAACP held its 2009 Annual Meeting at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland, and the Trachtenberg Office was represented. Chief of Staff Alan Bowser attended the meeting, which included participation by Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland State Senator Jenny Forehand, Maryland State Delegate Herman Taylor, Montgomery County Chief of Police Tom Manger, Montgomery County Board of Education member Dr. Judy Docca, Linda Plummer, Past President Montgomery County NAACP, former Montgomery County School Superintendent Paul L. Vance, and Selena Singleton representing Rep. Donna Edwards. NAACP President Henry Hailstock led the meeting, which included the presentation of a certificate honoring the late Blair Ewing.

Founded Feb. 12. 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots–based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. The Montgomery County Chapter of the NAACP’s website is at http://www.naacp-mc.org/

Councilmember Trachtenberg’s Chief of Staff Alan Bowser is a member of the Montgomery County Executive’s African American Advisory Group and a former Executive Board member of the African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County.

Congratulations to Serena Locust of Silver Spring

SILVER SPRING RESIDENT HAILED AS “UNSUNG HERO”

Serena Locust of Silver Spring selected to receive Linowes Leadership Award for improving her local community.

On December 10th, 2009, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region celebrated civic spirit and honored four recipients of the 2009 Linowes Leadership Award. Among the honorees is Silver Spring resident Serena Locust of Northwest Park Apartments.

The Linowes Leadership Awards was established in 1997 by the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. The award is presented each year to “unsung heroes” working to improve communities throughout the Washington metropolitan area. During the past decade, Linowes awardees have created change and inspired others to leadership in the fields of the arts and humanities, education and youth development, social justice, poverty and homelessness, and neighborhood revitalization.

Serena Locust is a resident of the Northwest Park Apartment Community. She was born and raised in the community and has had ties there for over 40 years. The inspiration of her work revolves around the children of the community and began years ago volunteering as President of the PTA at Broad Acres Elementary School. Her passion for children later turned into a career. Serena is currently employed by MCPS as a Paraeducator at Broad Acres Elementary School and the Educational Coordinator of the YMCA Community Center at Northwest Park Apartments.

Serena has been involved with notable initiatives and projects in her area. She has been an active participant for over 4 years with the Silver Spring Regional Center’s Weed & Seed Program, worked actively with Parks & Planning to renovate Broad Acres Park, testified before the County Council in the Spring of 2009 during public hearings regarding budget priorities, is a graduate of Impact Silver Spring’s Leadership Program and convenes regular community meetings to discuss neighborhood issues dealing with a broad range of issues.

The ceremony honoring the recipients of the Linowes Award was held at a Business Attire event at the National Association of Home Builders Building in Washington, D.C. The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation was also honored for their support for charities and causes.

From left to right, Alan Bowser (Office of Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg), Serena Locust, Luther Hinsley (Avery Park Community Association), and Victor Salazar (Northwest Park Oakview Weed and Seed Program)

Trachtenberg Office Staff Attends Liberty’s Promise After-School Program in Silver Spring

Liberty's Promise supports young immigrants in need while encouraging them to be active and conscientious American citizens. The programs aim to make the immigrant experience an affirmative one for young newcomers while instilling in them a sense of pride and support for American ideals of democracy and freedom. By doing so, Liberty's Promise seeks to reaffirm our fundamental egalitarian and democratic traditions for future generations.

Chief of Staff Alan Bowser and Wil Gutierrez represented Councilmember Trachtenberg at Liberty’s Promise Silver Spring’s Civics and Citizenship class. This class teaches immigrant youth about their community and how to become active participants in American civic life.

Mr. Bowser spoke to young students present about County Government, community activism, political careers and Councilmember Trachtenberg’s efforts to engage youth in the political sphere.

Wil Gutierrez and Liberty's Promise's Silver Spring's Civics and Citizenship Class

The Trachtenberg Office attends Press Conference of the Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force

The Trachtenberg Office was represented at today’s Press Conference on the release of the Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force’s Report entitled “Biosciences Strategy: Montgomery County’s Strategy for Developing a World-Renown Life Sciences Industry." The Report was presented to Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, by the Task Force Chiar David Mott, at the Shady Grove Innovation Center.

As part of a series of aggressive initiatives to strengthen and grow the County’s vital bioscience community and preserve its role as a local and regional economic engine, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, working in conjunction with the County’s Department of Economic Development (DED), brought together in 2008 the best and brightest from throughout the biotech industry to serve on the new Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force. The Task Force has 34 members.

The Task Force identified a number of opportunities and challenges facing Montgomery County’s biosciences industry and has recommended the following to the County in it's December 2009 Report:

1) Enhance the environment for entrepreneurship and the creation of new life science companies. For example, create public-private partnerships that combine the capital resources of top venture capital firms with managers, scientists and entrepreneurs.

2) Catalyze greater technology transfer and commercialization and leverage Montgomery County’s federal and academic assets more effectively. For example, work with the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University and other regional academic research institutions to facilitate greater licensing and commercialization of their research discoveries and technologies.

3) Foster a more enabling financial, regulatory and business environment. One strategy is to pass county enabling legislation to create a Montgomery County specific biotech investment tax credit by summer 2010.

4) Enhance bioscience educational opportunities and expand the higher education presence in the County to build a robust biosciences workforce. This can be achieved by supporting partnerships between Montgomery College, other higher education institutions, industry and Montgomery County Public Schools to support science, technology, engineering and math curriculum development.

5) Market the county’s bioscience sector nationally and internationally by partnering up with the Maryland Biotechnology Center to create a high-profile marketing effort that goes along well with the state’s BioMaryland branding and global marketing campaign.

For more information:
December 2009 Task Force Report (12-10-09)
Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force Home Page
Montgomery County Press Release
Washington Business Journal Article (12-10-09)

The Trachtenberg Office Donates Basket to the County Council’s Holiday Drive

 

The Trachtenberg Office with its spectacular basket for the County Council’s holiday drive to benefit “Neighbors in Need.” The Council’s silent auction raised $2,437 to help meet the basic needs of individuals and families in Montgomery County. We’re thrilled that this year’s basket raffle raised $525 more than last year. From left to right: Pat Brennan, Wil Gutierrez, Naomi Bloch, Councilmember Trachtenberg and Laurie Edberg.

Community Bridges: Montgomery County Council Recognizes Ana Lopez

Ana Lopez, executive director of the Community Bridges program that works with girls ages eight to 15 from low-income, predominantly immigrant families in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, was recently recognized by the Montgomery County Council after she was named winner of the Agnes Meyer Foundation Exponent Award. The award celebrates visionary nonprofit leaders and presents a $100,000 grant to the recipient’s organization for leadership development.

At the ceremonies in Rockville on November 24 were, left to right: Councilmembers Valerie Ervin and Nancy Floreen, Ms. Lopez, and Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Duchy Trachtenberg.

Trachtenberg Office Supports Holiday Food Drive

The Tractenberg Office is supporting the Montgomery County Council’s Holiday Food Drive. Naomi Bloch of our staff is a member of the Montgomery County Council's Charity Committee and has helped to transport food from the Council’s Offices in Rockville to the Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg.

For more information about Manna Food Center, visit http://www.mannafood.org/.

Duchy at Silver Spring's Thanksgiving Parade

I had a really great time at Silver Spring's Thanksgiving Parade. Along with many Girl Scouts from the National Capital Region, we traveled the crowded parade route along Georgia Avenue and down Ellsworth Drive. Thanks to all for the very warm welcome!

Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers

At the "Tribute to America's Veterans" concert in Silver Spring, we honored the contribution of all of the Nation's veterans and our active duty military men and women. We also gave special recognition to the Buffalo Soldiers of the 92nd Infantry Division, aka the Buffalo Soldiers Division--African-American men who served in combat during the Italian Campaign in the Mediterranean theater. At the program, we saluted Buffalo Soldiers Joseph Hairston, James Daugherty, and Charles Williams.

Wayne Goldstein Playground Dedication in Kensington

On Saturday, I attended the Wayne Goldstein Playground Dedication at the Kensington Heights Neighborhood Park in Kensington, Maryland. It was a beautiful ceremony and a wonderful tribute to our good friend, Wayne Goldstein, who passed away in April 2009. We remembered him in our words, thoughts and prayers, and honored him by planting a tree and unveiling a sign for the playground with his name. We also recognized his mother, Trenice Goldstein, who was present at the ceremony. Wayne was a former president of the county's Civic Federation, president of Montgomery Preservation Inc. and a columnist for The Sentinel newspaper.

Among his many friends who were there to honor him were Congressman Chris Van Hollen, County Executive Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Council President Phil Andrews, County Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin and myself, Delegate Al Carr, Peggy Dennis and Jim Humphrey of the Montgomery County Civic Federation, Lorraine Pearsall, Montgomery Preservation, Inc, Donna Savage, Kensington Heights Citizens Association, Amy Presely, Montgomery County Planning Board, and Montgomery County Director of Parks, Mary Bradford.

Duchy at the Randolph Civic Association

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend the monthly meeting of the Randolph Civic Assocation at the Viers Mill Recreation Center in North Bethesda. We discussed the proposed White Flint Sector Plan and issues regarding growth, traffic, and schools. It was a pleasure to meet so many active, dedicated, and very well informed members of our Montgomery County community and I look forward to working with them in the future.

Duchy on Cable: H1N1 Flu -- Just the Facts

I had the opportunity to work with Montgomery College's cable television producers to discuss the H1N1 flu that is affecting communities throughout the County and across the country. The program "H1N1 Flu: Just the Facts" is available on the internet through the college’s podcast directory http://podcast.montgomerycollege.edu/podcast.php?rcdid=246 and on the Montgomery College YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpvlXH7WFIY

Trachtenberg Supports Bill That Would Provide Equal Benefits to Same Sex Domestic Partners of Employees of County Contractors

I was proud to join Montgomery County District 4 Councilmember Nancy Navarro and other Council colleagues today to announce details of an “equal benefits” bill that Councilmember Navarro will be introducing before the Council that would extend to employees of many contractors and subcontractors performing work for the County the same benefits already granted to County employees. The bill will be officially introduced before the Council on Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

The County has a longstanding policy, in law and practice, against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Montgomery County already grants equal benefits to a same sex domestic partner of a County employee that are offered to an employee’s spouse, through Bill 29-99, effective March 3, 2000. Navarro’s bill would simply extend this law to many employees of County contractors and subcontractors.

Councilmember President Phil Andrews, Vice President Roger Berliner and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal and I are co-sponsors of the legislation. The equal benefits bill also has the support of County Executive Isiah Leggett.

The legislation would extend equal benefits to a same-sex domestic partner of a covered employee recognized under a marriage license, domestic partnership or civil union granted out of state or to a same-sex domestic partner as defined under Maryland law. The legislation would only cover employees who perform work for the County on a contract that is currently covered by either the County’s Wage Requirements Law or the recently enacted Prevailing Wage Law.

Benefits that may be extended under the legislation could include bereavement leave, family medical leave, sick leave, health benefits, dental benefits, disability insurance, life insurance and retirement benefits.

Grand Opening of the Cabin John Dog Park

The Trachtenberg Office was well represented at the Grand Opening Celebration of the Cabin John Dog Park. Scores of big dogs and little dogs were in attendance for the raucous party sponsored by the County's Department of Parks.

The New Silver Spring Library

I was thrilled to represent the Montgomery County Council at the unveiling of the pictures of the exterior views of the new Silver Spring Library to be located at the intersections of Wayne Avenue, Fenton Street, and Bonifant Street. More than 1,000,000 patrons are expected to use the library annually. The new building will feature three floors of library space and community use rooms, as well as county offices, an art shop and public gallery.








For more information about the new Silver Spring Library, visit
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/libtmpl.asp?url=/content/libraries/buildings/ssproject.asp

Montgomery County Council Supports Family Justice Center

In observance of Montgomery County’s Community Service Day 2009, the Trachtenberg Office organized a donation drive for the new Family Justice Center. We were thrilled by the outpouring of generous support from County Council offices and legislative staff. We were happy to present three overflowing boxes of books, toys, games, diapers and other useful items.


Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg and Staff
(left to right, Dr. Dana Beyer, Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, Patricia Brennan, Alan Bowser, Naomi Bloch)

For more information about the Family Justice Center, please contact and visit this link.

"Thinking Green" in the Trachtenberg Office

The Trachtenberg Office is "Thinking Green!" We give high priority in our office to recycling and conservation. One of the County programs that we support is the WeCar/MC Car Share program.

The Division of Fleet Management Services in the County's Department of General Services (DGS) encourages employees to take advantage of the WeCar/MC CarShare program. This innovative program reduces the County’s transportation expenses and helps the environment while providing a convenient method of business transportation for County employees. All of the CarShare vehicles are hybrids with greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions which lessen the impact on the environment.

“Montgomery County is committed to piloting this program for its environmental benefit, but also because we believe that, in the long run, we can save money by reducing the total number of fleet vehicles the County owns, which will cut fuel, maintenance, insurance and liability costs,” said DGS Director David Dise. “Since the program was implemented in January, the County has saved more than half a million dollars.”

The County currently has 20 hybrid and sub-compact vehicles available at five locations for shared use by employees. Users can reserve a car online, mainly for hourly use, and return it to an assigned parking space. The County currently has a more cost-effective rental program for day-long vehicle use.

The "New" New Hampshire Avenue

The Trachtenberg Office joined a group of representatives from Takoma Park and State, County and local officials to tour the area related to the New Hampshire Avenue Corridor Concept Plan. The plan proposes:

Rebuilding New Hampshire Avenue as a multi-use boulevard with pedestrian and bike friendly design;

Mixed-use redevelopment of commercial properties and infill development on some institutional and multi-family properties;

Improved access to transportation;

Consolidate pedestrian commercial activity around Sheridan Street and the stoplight south of Ethan Allan Avenue, and other "squared" intersections;

A family style pub at Sligo Creek Parkway;

Restore natural areas, improve parks, and use the New Ave to slow and filter rain events before the water washes debris into the creek

Check out their website at http://www.thenewave.com/