Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center 

Douglas M. Duncan, County Executive                                                 Anise Key Brown, Director

Bruce Romer, Chief Administrative Officer                                  Stephen A Jacobs, ECCAB Chair

APRIL 2006

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Save The Date!!!

“Celebrating Eastern Montgomery County”

April 29, 2006

Fairland Coummunity Center

14906 Old Columbia Pike

Burtonsville, MD 20904

The art show will feature entries from students in the 1st – 12th grade

The Third Annual East County Student Art Show is fast approaching.  The event will showcase the talents of students from our local schools.  This year, for the first time, we are happy to be welcoming the elementary schools.  Now, we will have a wonderful display of gifts representing all 27 schools in our community.  The show’s theme is “Celebrating Eastern Montgomery County,” a display of artwork that characterizes the beauty of life in Eastern Montgomery County.

A special presentation will be made by guest artist, Simmie Knox, during the afternoon program.  Mr. Knox is renowned for his portraits of public officials, including the official portrait of President Bill Clinton and Hilary Clinton.  His portfolio also includes portraits of such celebrities as Hank Aaron, Bill Cosby, Thurgood Marshall, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

We are also very pleased to have artist Don Woodward as our guest.  Don is a paraplegic.  He was hit by a drunk driver and has since developed his artistic skills through using two fingers of one hand and his mouth.  Don will be showing some of his paintings and will share his story of hope and appreciation.

The show is being held on April 29^th  at the Fairland Community Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville.  The exhibit Hall opens at 10:00 AM with the KIDS GALLERY, a creative art session for children 3 to 12 years of age. The Art Show Program begins at 2:00 PM.  There will be food and refreshments provided by Eggspectations, Starbucks, and many others. Everyone is encouraged to attend this festive and enriching event.

DPWT News

Photo Contest

The Department of Public Works and Transportation is celebrating the 2006 "National Public Works Week" with a photo contest.  DPWT is looking forward to an exciting collection of photographs depicting Montgomery County's Public Works and Transportation operations.  The First place winner will receive a $100 US Savings Bond!  Please visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dpwt to download a submittion application.

Earth Day 

DPWT would like to celebrate Earth Day with you on April 22, 2006.  Seize the rare opportunity to tour the Recycling Center on a Saturday!  Enjoy exhibits on recycling, waste reduction, and buying recycled... and more.  For information go to: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/swstmpl.asp?url=/content/dpwt/solidwaste/index.asp

Date:     Saturday, April 22, 2006

Time:    11:00 am to 3:00 pm, rain or shine!

Place:    850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland

Ride On News

County Executive Proposes Major Increase in Ride On Service

County Executive Douglas Duncan has proposed a major increase in transportation spending for the upcoming fiscal yearl.   

• Under Mr. Duncan’s proposal, 24 of Ride On’s 83 routes throughout the County will get additional service next fiscal year.
• The service enhancements will be applied to the fastest growing routes which are most in need of additional capacity. 
• A 21 percent increase in mass transit funding and more than $80 million of local money being put towards accelerating State road projects.
• At the curent trend ,Ride On will transport almost 27 million passengers this fiscal year, which represents an increase of four million trips in just two years. 

See the County's Press Release for additional information on the County Executive's announcement. For information on transit service, visit Ride On's website.

Fairland Library April Events

PC HINTS: provides individual or small group sessions for those who want to get more out of using computers at home or at the Library. Request an appointment by telephone (240-773-9460) or at the Information Desk for Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on April 4, 11, 18, 25 or for Saturdays at 9 a.m. on April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.

YOUNG READER’S BOOK CLUB: Wednesday, April 19 at 7 p.m.  The genre is biography. To register and pick up the books, please stop by the Information Desk.  Be prepared to talk about the books, and a craft activity will follow. For grades 1-3.  Call 240-773-9460 for more information.

CUDDLEUPS: Simple stories, songs and fingerplays for babies 6-23 months old on Thursday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m.  Please call to register: 240-773-9460.

For a complete list of all the Fairland Library events in April, please follow this link.

New School Immunization Requirements

County health officials announced today that new school immunization requirements would take effect for the 2006-2007 school year. Here are some of the new requirements in place throughout the State of Maryland

• All students in pre-school programs and kindergarten through ninth grade to be immunized against hepatitis B and chickenpox (varicella).
• Next year’s fifth through ninth grade students must have documentation of the new requirements on file at school.
• During March and April school health staff will contact parents of students who do not.
• Students who do not show proof of the required immunizations will be excluded from attending school at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year.

Approximately 80,000 new cases of hepatitis B occur in the United States each year. Of these cases, eight percent strike adolescents. The hepatitis B virus is 100 times more infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Parents should contact their doctor to make sure their child is properly immunized. For more information on immunizations, call the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Immunization Program at 240-777-1050 or School Health Services at 240-777-1550. For specific information, parents may contact their child’s school health nurse.

 Volunteer Center Announcements

Disaster Preparedness Workshop

Volunteers Needed to Operate Habitat for Humanity's New ReStore

Volunteers are needed in various capacities at the new Habitat ReStore that will be operated by Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, MD, Inc. at 9100 Gaither Road in Gaithersburg. The ReStore will generate funds to build more Habitat homes and serve as a community resource for discounted building materials, home furnishings and appliances.

Among the positions available are Volunteer Day Managers, who's duties include:

• Staff the store, train and guide other volunteers, and assist with other volunteer responsibilities.
• Day Managers must be at least 18 and should have an interest in Habitat’s building program and community mission. 
• Volunteers must have the ability to relate and communicate well with customers and basic knowledge of home repair or a willingness to learn are also required.
• Habitat ReStore Day Managers may work one day every week, every other week or every month, depending on their availability.

Volunteers are also needed to stock shelves, price merchandise, help customers with purchases and make sales. Habitat ReStore volunteers should be able to stand, walk, carry light objects, and operate a simple cash register, or be willing to learn. They will be scheduled to work one three-hour shift per week.

The hours for the store, which will open in mid-April, will be Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Training for all volunteers will be provided.

The Habitat ReStore offers a low-key and informal environment where people can work alone, in pairs or in groups. Volunteers gain the satisfaction of helping to build a dynamic new business and the chance to hone or develop skills in management and simple home repair.

Volunteer Program to Help Caregivers Offers Training Session

The Montgomery County Telephone Reassurance for Caregivers Program provides support, companionship, and information for family caregivers who frequently feel isolated, overwhelmed, and exhausted by their caregiving experiences.

Through weekly 20-minute phone calls, trained volunteers give caregivers the opportunity to talk about their experiences, stay connected with the community, become more aware of their needs for self-care and identify other resources that strengthen their support network. Training for prospective volunteers will be held on March 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Charter House, 1316 Fenwick La., Silver Spring. Topics will include volunteer roles and responsibilities, caregiver needs and challenges, effective listening/communication, community resources, and program policies and procedures.

For more information, contact the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600.

Arab American Heritage Month

The diverse cultural traditions and heritage of the Arab American community will be celebrated throughout April by Montgomery County Public Libraries at Arab American Heritage Month programs.

Special events will be held according to the following schedule:

April 1-29 -- Meet the Arab Culture Exhibit. Rockville Library, 99 Maryland Ave. Available for viewing during library hours. Call 240-777-0140.

Tuesday, April 4, Arab American Heritage celebration. Speakers- The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar, president, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Helen Samhan, executive director, Arab American Institute Foundation. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Executive Office Building, Terrace Level cafeteria, 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Contact Yuli Estler, 240-777-0024.

Saturday, April 22 -- Arab American Heritage Month family program, including an introduction to Arabic culture, story times, traditional henna and hand painting, arts and craft, traditional clothing and musical instruments. Free for all ages 11:30-1 p.m. Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave. Call 301-840-2515.

For more information about the special Arab American Heritage Month events, call Yuli Estler at 240-777-0024.

County Council Public Hearings

The Montgomery County Council has scheduled public hearings on the FY07 Operating Budgets.

• April 5, 6, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m.
• April 5 at 1:30 p.m.

Persons wishing to testify should call 240-777-7931 beginning March 16, 2006.

If you have items that you would like to include in our newsletter please forward them to: Eastco.citizen@Montgomerycountymd.gov Our next meeting of the East County Citizens Advisory Board (ECCAB), will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 7:15PM at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, Md. Residents and guests are invited to attend as the first 15 minutes of each meeting are reserved for Residents to address their concerns to the ECCAB.

Return To Welcome Page Go to ECCAB Page