Tax Credits Available for Snowstorm-Affected Historic Homes

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:

February 22, 2010

For more information, contact:

Valerie Berton

Communications Manager

Montgomery County Planning Department

301/495-4600

Tax Credits Available for Snowstorm-Affected Historic Homes

SILVER SPRING, MD – Owners of historic buildings in Montgomery County are eligible for local tax credits for repairs needed for snowstorm-related damage, historic preservation planners said Monday.

Owners of buildings listed in the county Master Plan for Historic Preservation may apply for the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Tax Credit for repairs to roofs, gutters and the like as long as the work does not alter the look of a building’s exterior features.

To qualify, the cost of the repair work must exceed $1,000. The tax credit, applied toward county property taxes, will equal 10 percent of expenses.

The County Council created the historic preservation tax credit program in 1984. The Historic Preservation Commission reviews tax credit applications, certifies that project work is eligible for tax credits and forwards recommendations to the county Department of Finance for approval. Any unused portion of the tax credit may be carried forward for as many as five years.

For a list of eligible activities, criteria and to download an application form, visit www.montgomeryplanning.org/historic/instructions/taxcredit.shtm or call 301-563-3400.

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Police Search for Critically Missing Teen from Silver Spring

For Immediate Release	For More Information:
February 25, 2010	Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Police Search for Critically Missing

Teen from Silver Spring

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Family Crimes Division are seeking the public’s help in locating a critically missing teen from Silver Spring.

Brittany Nicole Blanken, age 16, of the 4100 block of Havard Street in Silver Spring, was last seen at her home on February 16, 2010. She is described as a white female, 5’5” tall, 130 pounds, with long brown wavy hair. She has a pierced tongue and a tattoo of the word “Toi” with a line design on her left calf. She was last seen wearing a black or purple jacket, blue jeans, and tan Timberland-brand boots.

She suffers from a medical condition and does not have her medication with her. Police and family are very concerned for her welfare.

If anyone has information about Brittany Blanken’s whereabouts, they are asked to immediately contact the Montgomery County Police Family Crimes Division at 240-773-5400 or the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

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Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Chris Van Hollen

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

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TOWN HALL MEETING WITH

CONGRESSMAN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

ALL RESIDENTS FROM THE 8^TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-08) will convene a town hall meeting for residents of the Eighth Congressional District. The Congressman will report to residents about the activities of the 111th Congress and the important issues facing the nation. Van Hollen will answer questions and respond to comments from the audience. All residents of the 8th Congressional District are invited to participate.

WHEN: Monday, April 12, 2010

7:30-9:00 PM

WHERE: Montgomery College – Germantown Campus

Globe Hall – High Technology & Science Center

20200 Observation Drive – Germantown, MD

Certified housing counselors will be available.

A sign language interpreter will be provided. Parking is available on campus and there is a drop-off entrance in the rear of the building with several handicapped parking spaces.

DIRECTIONS: By car: Take I-270 to Exit 15A (Route 118-North). Continue to the second traffic light at Observation Drive; turn right onto campus. By Metro: From Red Line Shady Grove station, transfer to Ride On Bus Route 55 to on-campus stop. By Bus: The campus is served by Ride On Bus with connections to Metrorail.

QUESTIONS: Please call (301) 424-3501.

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Councilmember Navarro Requests Strategy to Engage County’s Residents with Limited English Proficiency

March 2, 2010

Council President Nancy Floreen

Montgomery County Council

100 Maryland Avenue, 6^th Floor

Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Council President Floreen:

Since taking office this June, I have made a commitment to engaging the increasingly diverse residents of Montgomery County in local government. As we are all aware, our community is on the cusp of becoming a majority-minority jurisdiction, with 47.7% of the residents being people of color as of 2008. As of 2000, 26.7% of our population was foreign born and 31.6% spoke a language other than English at home. These numbers are only growing.

For that reason, I respectfully request that the County Council take prompt action to develop a proactive strategy to engage the County’s limited English proficiency (LEP) population in opportunities to provide input to the Council. Some possibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Recording bilingual or multilingual messages for Council voicemail greetings.
2. Distributing hearing and town hall notices translated into common languages spoken in Montgomery County and through networks that are likely to actually reach LEP residents.
3. Making translation assistance available for LEP residents who choose to testify or attend County Council hearings and events.
4. Working with the Executive branch on ensuring County agencies are able to provide translated notices and documents, such as code enforcement violation notices and rental application forms.

My hope is that over time, these practices can be established as part of an ongoing process to ensure that Montgomery County government remains open and accessible to all of our residents.

I look forward to working with you and the rest of our colleagues on making this a successful endeavor.

Sincerely,

Nancy Navarro

County Councilmember District 4

cc: Councilmembers Phil Andrews, Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin, Mike Knapp, George Leventhal, and Duchy Trachtenberg

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Community Bridges - “Smart: The Rebirth of Cool” Campaign

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620 Pershing Drive, 2nd Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 • 301-585-7155 • info@communitybridges-md.org

“Smart: The Rebirth of Cool” Campaign

Challenge Statement: Community Bridges recognizes that the challenges that diverse girls of Montgomery County, MD are faced with (i.e. peer pressure, low self-esteem, oppression, poverty) increases their chances of participation in unhealthy behaviors while minimizing their ability to thrive.

In order to counteract these issues, Community Bridges is going beyond its programming to address the environments of our girls. The “Smart: The Rebirth of Cool” Campaign was consequently birthed to achieve the following:

Our Mission: To encourage diverse youth to create change in their school environments.

Objective:

A. To create a campaign that mobilizes and unites diverse youth and adults in redefining what it means to be cool and smart in today’s society in Montgomery County, MD.

B. Capacity building of youth/creation of youth leaders with meaningful power.

Outcomes:

A. A kick-off event for 200 youth and adults on 03/20/10 at Montgomery College, MD

B. Increased youth involvement and leadership in schools and communities—SGA’s, Youth Boards

C. New partnerships with youth, families, schools and communities

D. Decreased school and dating violence

E. Increased youth expectations regarding their future

F. The identification and training of someone that will take the reigns of the campaign in their respective school, community, and/or organization.

Kick-Off Event: “Smart: The Rebirth of Cool”

Schedule for Event March 20th, 2010
09:30am	Set-up
10am-10:30am	Registration, bagels and juice
10:30am	Opening
11:15am	Workshop I
01:00pm	Lunch
01:45pm	Workshop II
03:30pm	Closing
04:00pm	Clean up

Workshop I: Purpose of this workshop is to define and break down what’s the particular drama they are struggling with in their schools and communities.

Objectives:

- Help youth vent their fears, issues and concerns as they arise in their schools.

-Help youth discuss their struggles with being smart and cool in dealing with the drama.

Format:

The arts will be used to facilitate the conversation (i.e. poetry, writing lyrics, drawing, videomaking, hip hop routine, stepping, etc.)

Workshop II: Action Planning

Objectives:

Have the youth work in groups to create an “issues to action” proposal for a particular issue that was discussed during the first half of the day. At the end of the day, we would have them present their proposal before the audience and a panel of judges. The group that wins will receive $1000 to implement their action plan in their community.

Format:

· “issues to action” – HCF

o Obstacles to youth success/advancement

o Brainstorm solutions à action plan

§ Groups present action plans

§ Whoever wins action plan get $1,000 to implement

· Facilitators meet with them after the conference to help them implement action plan

Number of Workshops:

2 High School Workshops

2 Middle School Workshops

2 Elementary School Workshops

2 Adult/Community Workshops

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