Come see Emma G and Joey J Drums perform on Thursday 7/1 at 5:30pm at Thursdays in the Park. There will be food, from Julia’s Gourmet and beer from @silverbranchus plus fun and music — a perfect summer night in the Pike District.
The next meeting of the Coalition for Smarter Growth Montgomery for All will be Thursday, June 24th from 7:00-8:00pm. They’ll be joined by District 1 Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who will be talking about Thrive Montgomery 2050. He’s a member of the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee, which will be leading the council’s review of Thrive. This is a chance to hear this thoughts and ask him questions! Register here to receive the Zoom information.
The Josiah Henson Museum opened their doors to the public on April 23rd, and they have over 400 visitors in the midst of capacity restrictions and limited days of operation (Friday – Sunday). They are thrilled to announce that they have two public programs to celebrate and commemorate the birthday of Reverend Henson this June.
This free pre-recorded virtual program, presented by the new Josiah Henson Museum and Park, celebrates Reverend Josiah Henson’s birthday with performances by the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices and a panel discussion, “Josiah Henson, Celebrating His Legacy.” The panel consists of select national museum leaders, educators, and historians, and Shirl Spicer, Countywide Museum Manager, Montgomery Parks, moderates. To Register https://apm.activecommunities.com/montgomerycounty/Activity_Search/123046
FREE EVENT NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join our “Freedom Well Chalk Walk” an in-person celebration of the Reverend Josiah Henson’s birthday week and Juneteenth. When asked, “How do you plan to use your freedom?” Henson answered, “I will use my freedom well.”
Learn about Reverend Henson’s journey to freedom through an interactive chalk walk on the park grounds. Draw your own images on the Freedom Mural and take home a seed stick station.
NO ONSITE PARKING AVAILABLE – Parking is available at The Shriver Aquatic Center at Wall Local Park located at 5900 Executive Boulevard, North Bethesda, MD 20852.
Looking to enjoy some live music and time outdoors this summer? Check out “Thursdays in the Park” in the Pike District’s Pop-up Park at Grand Park Avenue & Market Street. Live music, food & beverages, and games every Thursday through the end of July starting tomorrow!
There’s much good new to share about Covid-19 in Montgomery County — so much so that this could well be our last post on the pandemic.
June 2021 from Pete Fosselman, Master Plan Ombudsman in the Montgomery County Office of the County Executive
• The Research and Innovation Center proposed for the White Flint Metro site continues to move forward. The County Executive has been meeting with potential universities and higher education institutions. Meanwhile, the CEX staff and I continue to meet regularly with WMATA Staff.
• The County’s Budget and Finance Departments continue to work with the County Council and the Pike District property owners on the White Flint Taxing District deficit. We met June 1st with DOT and the Planning Staff to review the existing Capital Improvement Projects and the future 355 Bus Rapid Transit.
• The Harwood Flats development off Nicholson Lane adjacent to the Home Goods is finalizing details with DOT and DPS. The project is mixed use with 335 residential units.
• The Grand Park project across from Pike & Rose and adjacent to the Conference Center has entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the development of the western end of the block which will be the first of three phases to move forward.
• North Bethesda Market II has a sketch/preliminary plan amendment in for review at the Planning Department.
• Rose Village (aka Wilco Property) The vacant office building currently on this parcel will be torn down, but the other two existing office buildings will remain. 375,000 square feet of office space and 1,300 and 1,500 residential units will be constructed along with a one-acre civic green area.
• The site plan for the Northpark at Montrose (aka Wilgus property) will go to the Planning Board on June 24.
• The Montgomery Housing Partnership has proposed a six-story residential building at the intersection of Nebel Street and Old Georgetown Road. The project will have 170 residential units with 25% affordable housing. MHP has submitted a sketch plan to the Planning Department.
• Pike and Rose Lot 2 is proposed for a Research & Development building and is at the Planning Department for a site plan amendment. We met with DOT and FRIT June 1st to go over the 355/BRT improvements schedule.
• Advancing the Pike District team is focused on three active components: 1) coordinating with stakeholders to implement solutions identified in the “Development Trends, Infrastructure Update, and Short-Term Solutions” report, 2) working with property owners to create streetscape design guidelines for the Pike District, and 3) designing the Pike District Connector.
• Pike District Connector team is coordinating with MCDOT to finalize pedestrian improvements along the Connector route and is working with Montgomery Parks, Better Block, and community members to design activations at critical intersections along the Pike District Connector, with a goal of opening the Connector in early August.
• The County Executive sent a letter to the WMATA Board the last week of May indicating the community’s desire to rename the White Flint Metro to the North Bethesda Metro. Thanks to Council Member Friedson, Friends of White Flint, the Downtown Advisory Committee, and the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce
The Josiah Henson Museum & Park tells the story about the life and challenges of Reverend Josiah Henson, enslavement in Maryland, and the ongoing struggles of racial equality and justice. The new museum is located at 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda.
Josiah Henson Museum & Park will open with timed & ticketed entry. Tickets for timed entry to Josiah Henson Museum & Park are now available online at ActiveMontgomery.org with the first entries to the Museum available on Friday, April 23 at 10 am.
Josiah Henson Museum & Park is the former plantation property of Isaac Riley where Reverend Josiah Henson was enslaved. This park is a historic resource of local, state, national and international significance because of its association with Reverend Henson, whose 1849 autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s landmark novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The Park contains the historic Riley/Bolten House (1800-1815) and its attached log kitchen (1850-51). Ongoing archaeological excavations seek to find where Josiah Henson may have lived on the site.
Delegate Arian Kelly has a fabulous update on vaccination data in the state and county. Did you know:
There’s encouraging news on Covid here in the county.
This report also includes a comprehensive guide to vaccinations in the county.
And as a bonus, here are the slides from Governor Hogan’s recent press conference.