Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah! 🦃🕎🍂

News You Can Use Thursday, November 25, 2021 COVID and Vaccine Information Media Briefing Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich  November 24, 2021 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Earl Stoddard, and acting County Health Officer Dr. James Bridgers provided COVID-19 and vaccination updates and discussed the American Rescue Plan on Wednesday. Elrich opened the briefing with a COVID-19 update. The county has a test positivity rate of 1.99% and a case rate of 10.32 per 100,000 residents. There were 76 cases on Tuesday which included 7 hospitalizations. In comparison to last year, Elrich noted that the Thanksgiving holiday will be safer thanks to vaccinations, but urged residents not to be complacent and continue to follow safety precautions while traveling and gathering with family and friends. Everyone 18 and older is eligible for a booster shot. Individuals do not need to get the same vaccine originally received.Visit www.govaxmoco.com for further details. Stoddard thanked the Department of Health and Human Services for providing an additional 5,000 vaccination doses to the county. He provided an update on the Employee Testing Program which recently got agreements with all employee unions this week. There has been an increase in reported vaccination statuses from unreported after the program's implementation. Currently, 83% of county employees are completely or partially vaccinated. This past Monday, the Test to Stay initiative was piloted in a small classroom. Stoddard is hopeful and eager to expand the program to more schools in order to keep kids in the classroom. Dr. Bridgers provided a pediatric vaccine strategy update. He noted that the county is working on their race and ethnicity framework to ensure there is equity and access for all. This weekend, vaccines will be distributed at MCPS sites. Children under 18 have been hit disproportionately, so Bridgers urges families to continue to get vaccinated. Elrich announced an American Rescue Plan to support COVID recovery and relief with $48.5 million included in the 2022 Fiscal Year operating. Supplemental budget requests include $34 million in Emergency Rental Assistance, $7.7 million for Por Nuestra y Bienstar (Latino Health Initiative) and the African American Health Program (AAHP), and $6.8 million toward food security efforts. These requests will help expand county equity efforts and will be available through September 2025. Elrich also addressed public safety concerns after a car rally in Silver Spring this past weekend. He thanked Montgomery County Police for containing the situation and explained that the department is looking for individuals involved in the disruption, referring license plates to insurance companies, and plans to deploy more license plate readers in the county. He encouraged the public to report reckless driving incidents to non-emergency numbers and to provide video evidence if available. Small Business Saturday is this weekend. Elrich encourages residents to shop local and support small retail businesses. For every dollar spent shopping local 68 cents stays in our community compared to 43 cents at national chain retailers. To watch the full briefing, click here. County Resources This website provides a listing of all county food resources. It is regularly updated so be sure to check back often. Montgomery County Council Approves Ride On Fare Holiday until January 2022 The County Council extended free Ride On bus service for all County residents through January 1, 2022. "Across our County, public transportation plays an essential role in getting our residents to where they need to go," said Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz. "By extending this fare-free service to January 2022, we will continue to sustain our workforce and expand economic vitality while safeguarding our racial equity and climate goals during a global pandemic." Read more here. CFW Programming Separation and Divorce Seminars Please join us as local family law attorneys walk through the "ins" and "outs" of going through a separation and divorce in Maryland. All classes are FREE and are from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Seminars will be taking place online. Participants will receive the meeting information after signing up. Classes are the FIRST Wednesday of every month through June 2022: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 7:00 PM Wednesday, January 5, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, February 2, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, March 2, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, April 6, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 4, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, June 1, 2022 7:00 PM Sign Up Today! Fall 2021 Self-Defense Seminars The Montgomery County Commission for Women will offer five opportunities to participate in an evening S.A.F.E. seminar (Self-defense Awareness & Familiarization Exchange) for $10 per participant. This introductory self-defense seminar will assist women of all fitness levels with information that may reduce their risk of exposure to violence and introduce them to the physical aspects of self-defense. These events will be presented on Zoom and are from 7:00pm-8:30pm. The link will be forwarded after registration. Tuesday, December 7, 7:00 PM Thursday, December 16, 7:00 PM Sign Up Today! Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Updates Vaccinations for 5-11 Year Olds MCPS is partnering with the County's Department of Health and Human Services and Holy Cross Hospital to offer a number of free vaccination clinics for children at schools and county sites once the vaccine is available. Due to limited appointment availability, information about how to register for an appointment at weekday vaccination sites is being shared with school communities by each school's respective principal. More information can be found here. Feedback on Proposed School Calendar for 2022-2023 MCPS has developed three calendar scenarios that reflect different start and end dates for the 2022-2023 school year.  All draft scenarios include: A minimum of 180 instructional days Full spring break Contingency days A few additional Early Release days on September 14, December 7, and March 15 for school-based professional development. Learn more about the different calendar options and submit your feedback here. Superintendent Search The Montgomery County Board of Education is pleased to announce the national search for the next superintendent of schools for Montgomery County Public Schools, who will begin serving on July 1, 2022. The Board will be gathering input from the community on the critical characteristics of the next superintendent in a number of ways. There is a survey, virtual town halls, interviews, and focus groups with a broad spectrum of community leaders. Volunteering Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community. Check out the opportunities available here.  Holiday Volunteer Opportunities There are many current opportunities across the county to support holiday needs. See ways you can help, from food distribution to gift wrapping, here. Employment Montgomery County Minimum Wage Increased on July 1 The minimum wage increased in Montgomery County on Thursday, July 1. Sponsored by then-County Council member Marc Elrich and signed into legislation on Nov. 17, 2017, Bill 28-17 raises the minimum wage incrementally, each July 1, until it reaches $15 per hour in 2022.   More information about the county's minimum wage increase can be found here.  Other Employment News The Maryland Department of Labor updates its website each day with news and FAQs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on employment. You can access this website here.  Need to find a job or have general employment questions? Check out Worksource Montgomery, which is currently offering virtual workshops. Find out which establishments are currently hiring here. Wheaton American Job Center is Open!  As of July 12, 2021, WorkSource Montgomery has reopened the American Job Center in Wheaton to the public. They are welcoming walk-ins or appointments.  Visit here for more information read about the reopening. Community Events Friday Public Ice Skating Sessions Bring your friends and family to have a great time at the Wheaton Ice Arena this Friday, November 26, for ice skating sessions! The Cabin John Ice Rink will also host public ice skating time this Friday. Click the links to learn more. Virtual Family Storytime Join Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) for Family Storytime via Zoom on Saturday, November 28!   This event filled with diverse stories and activities promotes and develops language skills and imagination, encouraging young children of all ages to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning! Click here for more information. Brookside Garden of Lights Brookside Gardens has transformed into a magical winter wonderland for the 23rd year of Garden of Lights.  The winter-season tradition is open from November 19 through January 2, except November 22 - 25 and December 24 - 25. You can purchase your tickets in advance on Eventbrite. Health & Wellness Safely Host a Gathering Amid the Pandemic This NPR audio clip, also available in transcript format, will give you tips to feel safe while receiving guests over for Thanksgiving. Ten Tips for Enjoying the Holidays Your feelings about the holidays are very personal. They can cause us to feel happy, sad or ambivalent. This article by Johns Hopkins gives us ten tips to enjoy the holidays as much as possible. 4 Mindful Tips to De-Stress This Holiday Season Many find that the holidays bring as much stress as they do joy. To help make the most of your festivities, Neda Gould, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Mindfulness Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, shares some mindful tips. To read the full article, click here. Farmers Markets for Fresh Food Did you know there are many Farmers Markets all throughout the County? Find one near you for fresh produce, meat, eggs, dairy products, seafood, prepared foods, and more!  Holiday Funday! Solving crossword puzzles is good for mental health by improving a person's memory and other intellectual skills. Enjoy our Friday Funday Crossword Puzzle and share your results with us on social media using #MoCoCFW! Tune in next month for answers and more fun! Join Us! Welcome to social media, @MoCoHTPC! The Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee increases understanding of the issue in our county and develops interagency coordination of strategies for response and prevention. For important resources and information, follow them on social media and visit their website here. Visit our Website and Facebook Page Be sure to visit our Facebook page and our website for all the latest news and stories. Be the first to "Be in the know"! Visit our Instagram Page Did you know the Commission for Women was on Instagram? Check out our page and give us a follow!   Check out our LinkedIn! Follow us on LinkedIn to see event and professional updates from the Commission!  Montgomery County Commission for Women| 240-777-8333  www.montgomerycountymd.gov/CFW STAY CONNECTED: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help This email was sent to you using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Montgomery County, Maryland Government. As a subscriber, you agree that we may contact you by email and use the information you submit as described in the Montgomery County Privacy Policy. Please do not reply to this email. Replies to this email will not be responded to or read. If you have any questions or comments, please visit the MC311 Portal at www.mc311.com or call 3-1-1 (240-777-0311 if outside the County) to speak with a Customer Service Representative. 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