Saturday, February 23, 2013
Patch brings a unique perspective to everyday news written by users like you. Read what some of our Local Voices bloggers had to say this week.
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Saturday, February 23
Maryland's Municipal Public Ethics Laws are in Danger: You Can Help So, would you like to know more about your elected officials' conflicts of interest, or less? If some people get what they want in Annapolis this year, you'll be knowing a whole lot less. You can help stop this from happening. Latest from Governor Martin O’Malley: SOTU and What We’ve Done in Maryland – Part V When the President delivered his State of the Union last week, he demonstrated bold leadership on finding new and innovative ways to cut waste, increase efficiencies, improve education from Pre-School to higher education, keep families safe, and create jobs. The vision the President laid out will move our nation forward. Here in Maryland, we are already working …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Montgomery County Executive delivered the address Wednesday in Silver Spring.
Issuing his first State of the County address in four years, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett detailed new education and development initiatives, The Washington Examiner reported. Leggett (D) hopes to promote adult-level English classes to "make it easier for English-as-a-second-language residents to master the language, enabling them to get better jobs and expand the county's tax base," according to the report. The County Executive also wants to create an after-school program to help underachieving students. The proposal would "expand the current 'Excel Beyond the Bell' program—an after-school support system available in just a few middle schools in the county—to all middle schools," according to the report. Read the full text of…
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Montgomery County legislators approved Tuesday a ban of smoking on most county-owned or county-leased property.
Need a cigarette break? Better be careful where you go to have that smoke. The Montgomery County Council approved Tuesday a ban of smoking on most county-owned or county-leased property. The ban was approved with the following recommended amendments from the Health and Human Services Commission: The bill will allow the Director of Health and Human Services to designate outdoor smoking areas on certain county properties. “There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke,” Councilwoman Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park said in a statement. “We are stewards of public health. The passage of [the smoking ban] will help us to protect our residents, employees and visitors from dangerous exposure. I applaud my colleagues for…
Residents complain of overhead flight noise.
If there’s one thing Bethesda-Chevy Chase residents can bond over, it's hating helicopter noise. Several times a month editors at Patch receive questions or complaints from residents asking about the helicopters heard over their neighborhoods at night. What's going on? Who can we call about the helicopter noises? What’s the number for the county’s helicopter department? Well, the answers are: It depends, a couple of people and there isn’t one. The helicopters you hear flying over Montgomery County are likely one of three types – news choppers, police choppers or medical choppers. “Aside from the occasional news helicopter up covering a crime scene at night, helicopters are typically up at night for rescue or crime fighting reasons,” …
Monday, February 11, 2013
The Montgomery County Council will meet Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Rockville.
The proposed smoking ban on all Montgomery County-owned property is nearing a vote as the County Council is set to hear the bill's final reading at Tuesday's meeting. Montgomery County's Health and Human Services Commission recommended the Council approve the ban with the following amendments: The full packet on the Montgomery County smoking ban is available on the County Council website. Related Coverage: Other agenda items of note include: The full agenda can be viewed on the Montgomery County Council website.
Monday, February 4, 2013
The following arrest information was supplied by the Montgomery County Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This is not an all-encompassing list. Please click map markers, color coded by police district, for incident details
Thursday, January 31, 2013
And is being "hip" necessary to Montgomery County's future success?
Can suburban Montgomery County be made hip? County Councilman Hans Riemer reportedly believes so: "I really think that we are on the verge of a golden age in Montgomery County," Riemer said at a happy hour called "Can we make the suburbs hip? The future of White Flint," Bethesda Now reported. "The region that we are in is ... dynamic, growing, exciting... . ... But we have to and we are positioning ourselves in that region to capture that future growth," he added, Bethesda Now reported. The White Flint Sector (430 acres bounded by the CSX tracks, Montrose Parkway, Old Georgetown Road and the White Flint Mall) has been approved, so far, to be redeveloped with 2,220 residential units added to the existing housing stock of 2,321 units; 9,801 …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Have your say in Montgomery County's fiscal year 2014 operating budget tonight.
Montgomery County residents will have the chance to give input into the county’s fiscal year 2014 operating budget today in Bethesda. The budget forum, sponsored by County Executive Ike Leggett, begins at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center located at 4805 Edgemoor Ln., Bethesda. Today’s meeting is the third of five residential forums designed to allow community members a say in the county’s annual budget priorities. The next two budget forums will take place Tuesday and on Feb. 4 in Silver Spring.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The brunt of the flu virus may have passed, but other strains of the virus are keeping the number of flu-like illnesses high in Maryland.
The flu strain that has been making many sick in Maryland and around the country may be peaking, but that doesn't mean it's time to cease precautions and skip the flu shot. Other strains could circulate, keeping the flu around for months. Overall, the intensity of flu-like illnesses in Maryland remains high, according to the latest Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene report for the week ending Jan. 19. The influenza virus was geographically widespread according to the last report, meaning there is flu activity throughout different regions, said David Blythe, a medical epidemiologist with the state. While the virus is difficult to predict, he said there is a possibility the flu has peaked and is headed toward a decline. Even …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Patch brings a unique perspective on everyday news written by users like you. Read what some of our Local Voices bloggers had to say this week.
How to Survive an Active Shooter After every school shooting, school administrators across the country pledge to review their lockdown plans. However, most people never learn the recommended response to active shooter incidents. Miller Favors Death Penalty For Teacher Killers While some Maryland legislators want to debate the repeal of the death penalty there is one category of murder Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller would like to add to the list of capital punishment eligible cases. House Speaker John Boehner in a Bind (About to be Burned?) It's tough being House Speaker. John Boehner has to be the standard bearer for the national party, for his caucus, yet he also has to work out …
Holly Stephens
11:40 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
And another: ----------------- I am a high school student who agrees with the County Council's decision to approve a smoking ban in some public areas. I agree with the decision because there are times people don't want to breathe second hand smoke. I think it is so appropriate to create smoking areas for smokers. Not everybody smokes or lies the stench of smoke from cigarettes so why should they … more ›