Wheaton Social Security Office is Moving

When:  November 18, 2009

New Location:  10230 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 304, Silver Spring 20903

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday - 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Social Security Office located at 11006 Veirs Mill Road in Silver Spring, MD will have minimal service beginning November 9, 2009.  The office will close down completely at noon on November 13th and is expected to reopen at the new location on November 18th.  You can transact business via website by visiting: www.socialsecurity.gov or you may contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213.

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Wheelchair Tennis Friday Nights at Wheaton Indoor Tennis

Wheaton Indoor Tennis is excited to offer Wheelchair Tennis on Friday nights! USTA Wheelchair Tennis continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most challenging of all wheelchair sports.  Every Friday night from 8-11 pm, courts will be reserved especially for wheelchair tennis play. Special Introductory Offer: From now through the end of the year, Friday Night Wheelchair Tennis court time is FREE for players in wheelchairs (ages18 and up). Registration is required go to:  http://www.parkpass.org/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=40296&From=fas

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Upcoming Street Paving Operations

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Division of Highway Services is working to resurface and repair roads and repair or replace curbs, gutters and sidewalks. Recent road resurfacing projects include Emory Grove Road from Goshen Road to Washington Grove Lane; Bou Avenue from Rockville Pike to Chapman Avenue; Connecticut Avenue from Bel Pre Road to Leisure World Boulevard; and the Manor Oaks, Ashton Manor and Ashton Meadows neighborhoods.
The following neighborhoods are scheduled to be resurfaced next: Manor Oaks, Goldmine Crossing, James Creek, Kings Bridge and Prathertown.
Concrete curb installation, sidewalk repairs or drainage improvements are underway on Fernwood Road from Democracy Boulevard to Brixton Lane and in the Wheaton Woods community.
Residents with questions about the paving or repairs can call 240-777-6000 or email mcdot.highway@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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Maryland Homeowners' Property Tax Credit Program 

As you encounter people at work and at home who may be eligible for the Maryland Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit program, please let them know that the deadline has been extended to November 2.  The program gives eligible homeowners a credit against their property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of their household income.  In other words, it sets a limit on the amount of property taxes any homeowner must pay based upon his or her income. Eligibility guidelines include:

·         Having an annual household income of about $64,000 or less; and

·         Owning and living in the home as a principal residence for at least six months of the year.

Applications are available from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation

(SDAT) by calling 1-800-944-7403, or going to www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/htc.html and downloading the form.

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Celebrate America Recycles Day!

Shred and recycle your personal papers and donate usable clothing and household goods at these locations (Montgomery County residents only).

These events will occur rain or shine.
Saturday, November 14 from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center (map)
3300 Briggs Chaney Road
Silver Spring 20904
Upcounty Regional Services Center (map)
12900 Middlebrook Road
Germantown 20874
Sunday, November 15 from 8:00am to 12:00pm
John F. Kennedy High School (map)
1901 Randolph Road
Silver Spring 20902
Sunday, November 15 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Walt Whitman High School (map)
7100 Whittier Boulevard
Bethesda 20817

More information

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 Choose Respect Montgomery 

Choose Respect Montgomery is a teen dating conference sponsored by Montgomery County’s Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and many County agencies and organizations. Workshops for students will be available on topics related to healthy teen dating behaviors, recognizing abuse in dating relationships and misuse of technology.  Parents are welcome to participate in separate workshop sessions offered in English and Spanish regarding teen dating relationships Consider inviting clients and friends or plan to attend on Saturday November 14, 2009 with your teen!   Register and download the flyer

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12th Annual American Indian Festival

The traditions, programs, color and pageantry of the American Indian will be highlighted at the 12th Annual American Indian Festival on  November 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Executive Office Building (Terrace and Lobby Levels), 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. The free festival will feature entertainment, lectures, crafts, educational displays and native food for the entire family.  Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Rockville Mayor Susan Hoffmann and other County officials will present proclamations recognizing November as American Indian Heritage month. Persons wishing to be seated in the sign-interpreted section – noon through 4 p.m. should email their requests to: drcinfo@montgomerycountymd.gov

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Choosing the Right Federal Benefit's Plan      

Congressman Chris Van Hollen invites you to his seventh annual federal employees’ health benefits forum on November 16 and November 19. Experts on federal health insurance plans and representatives of health insurance carriers will be present at both sessions to discuss various health plan options and answer individual questions. Click here for the detailed information

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Planning Director and Staff Offering Special Neighborhood Walkabouts

Invite County Planning Director Rollin Stanley and selected staff on a tour of your neighborhood as part of our new walkabouts exploring design, diversity, connections, and the environment in your part of Montgomery County. Here's your opportunity to:

Tell us about your community

Highlight community strengths and weaknesses

Identify issues

Learn more about planning initiatives

Contact the Planning Department to request your tour.

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Feeling Your Best at Any Age

Montgomery County Council Vice-President Roger Berliner and Montgomery County Commission on Aging invite you to a Forum on Senior Health and Wellness on November 13, between 1 and 4 p.m. with the special guest speaker U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen. More information

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Human Rights Commission Sponsors Essay Contest for County Eighth Grade Students

The Montgomery County Human Rights Commission and the Office of Human Rights are sponsoring an essay contest for all Montgomery County eighth grade students. This year’s contest asks students to choose a news event that occurred during the last year that they believe involved a human rights violation and discuss what should be done about it and who they think is responsible. Students should use the Bill of Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and/or the Montgomery County Code, Chapter 27, to prove their point.

There will be first, second and third place winners named and up to 10 honorable mentions. First place winners will receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond; second place, a $250 savings bond; and third place, a $100 savings bond. Honorable mentions will receive a $50 savings bond.
Entries must be postmarked or emailed by November 5. Additional guidelines and criteria are available at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/humanrights

Participating students will be recognized and prizes awarded at a celebration of Human Rights Day on December 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Magruder High School, 5939 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville. For more information, call Angela Sullivan at 240-777-8450 or email angela.sullivan@montgomerycountymd.gov

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Impact Now!

This year, IMPACT Silver Spring brings you an exciting opportunity for gaining an insight into some practical strategies for increasing profitability and creating sustainable community through relationships between business and community. In this economic climate, more than ever, business and community must share together and connect around common interests for collective gain. You are invited to join IMPACT Silver Spring, Montgomery County government, and business colleagues for a breakfast conversation at the IMPACT Now! event on Thursday, November 12, from 7:30 a.m. to  9 a.m. at AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. To learn more about the event and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Noelle Haile or Lianna Levine Reisner at 301-495-3336.

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Soroptomist International Of Upper Montgomery County Announces 2009-2010 Women's Opportunity Award

The Soroptimist Club of Upper Montgomery County is now accepting applications for their 2009-2010 Women's Opportunity Award. The Women's Opportunity Award is a cash award, not a scholarship, for female heads of household, who are attending, or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. The program begins at the club level, where award amounts vary. Local winners then become eligible to receive region-level awards funded by Soroptimist International of the Americas - one $5,000 first place award, and two $3,000 awards. The South Atlantic Region also funds one $1,000 award.  First place winners become eligible to receive one of three $10,000 finalist awards awarded at the Federation level. In addition to education enrollment requirements above, applicants must demonstrate financial need, and cannot have already earned an undergraduate degree.  Applications should be submitted to Soroptimist International of Upper Montgomery County no later than December 15. For more information and to receive an application, send your request to opportunityaward@yahoo.com

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