Congratulations to the Northwest Park Oakview Weed and Seed Program

I want to extend my sincere congratulations to the Northwest Park Oakview Weed and Seed Program which was recently honored as a 2010 Achievement Award Winner by the National Association of Counties.

In a recent letter to the Office of the Montgomery County Executive, Larry Naake, Executive Director of the national Association of Counties, said that “NACo is proud to confer this award and recognize your county’s hard work to promote quality, efficient, and responsive management and administration.”

Weed and Seed, a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is an innovative, comprehensive multiagency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and community revitalization. CCDO oversees the Weed and Seed initiative. Weed and Seed is foremost a strategy—rather than a grant program—that aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in designated high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The more than 250 Weed and Seed sites range in size from several neighborhood blocks to several square miles, with populations ranging from 3,000 to 50,000.

The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" violent criminals and drug abusers and public agencies and community-based private organizations collaborate to "seed" much-needed human services, including prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration programs. A community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding elements. At each site, the relevant U.S. Attorney's Office plays a leadership role in organizing local officials, community representatives, and other key stakeholders to form a steering committee. The U.S. Attorney's Office also facilitates coordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts so that sites effectively use federal law enforcement partners in weeding strategies. In some instances, the U.S. Attorney's Office helps sites mobilize resources from a variety of federal agencies for seeding programs.

The Weed and Seed strategy is a multilevel strategic plan that includes four basic components: law enforcement; community policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and neighborhood restoration. Four fundamental principles underlie the Weed and Seed strategy: collaboration, coordination, community participation, and leveraging of resources.

Congratulations to the Weed and Seed program staff and all of the community stakeholders who have made the Montgomery County’s Weed and Seed Program a national model.

To learn more about the National Association of Counties, visit their website at http://www.naco.org/

Help Clean Up Broad Acres Park for Montgomery County's Community Service Day!

The Friend of Broad Acres Park and the Northwest Park Oakview Weed and Seed Program are celebrating Montgomery County's 23rd Annual Commuity Service Day.

The Northwest Park Oakview Weed & Seed Program along with the Silver Spring Regional Center, Broad Acres Elementary School, the State’s Attorney’s Office of Montgomery County, the Office of Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, St. Camillus Parish, Long Branch Athletic Association, partnering organizations and local residents will gather together to celebrate Community Service Day.

Come meet your neighbors and get involved in your community! Help us clean up Broad Acres Park and the grounds surrounding St. Camillus Church, Broad Acres Elementary School, Northwest Park Apartments and Hampshire West Apartments.

When: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Where: Broad Acres Elementary School, 710 Beacon Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20903

Time: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT!

VOLUNTEERS SHOULD DRESS TO GET DIRTY! PLEASE WEAR LONG PANTS, BOOTS AND GLOVES!

THIS IS AN MCPS SSL APPROVED EVENT!

For more information about this great event contact:

Victor Salazar, Weed & Seed Program (240) 876-1077
George Simms, State’s Attorney’s Office (240) 777-7383
Dwayne Jenkins, Silver Spring Regional Center, (301) 565-7300

Dedication of the Broad Acres Park in Silver Spring

On Wednesday, September 23rd, representatives of the Trachtenberg Office joined the Montgomery County Department of Parks, Broad Acres Elementary School, the Silver Spring Regional Center, and the Northwest park Oakview Weed & Seed Program for a celebration and dedication of the newly renovated Broadacres Local Park.

The dedication program included brief remarks from Broad Acres Elementary School Principal Michael Bayewitz, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Council President Phil Andrews, Director of Parks Mary Bradford, Community Advocate Serena Locust, and other special guests. St. Camillus Church offered a blessing for the park, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting on the local neighborhoods newest resource.

Broadacres Local Park, located next to Broad Acres Elementary School, now features a basketball court, soccer field, paved trails and landscaping. The students of Broad Acres Elementary School also left their mark on the design of the park, with their original artwork prominently featured in the seat walls of the new plaza area and park entrance.