In Brief

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Gaithersburg Residents Can Recycle More Kinds of Plastic Containers

Because of an expanded city waste management contract, Gaithersburg residents can put more kinds of plastic items in recycling bins with newspaper, mixed paper, recyclable cans and glass containers, city officials announced last week.

The following items will be accepted:

· Narrow-neck plastic bottles that held food, beverages and household products, including milk, juice, water, syrup, vegetable oil, salad dressing, cleaners, detergent, shampoo and hair conditioner.

· Plastic food tubs and lids such as those used for margarine, butter, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, whipped topping, peanut butter, deli foods and medical prescriptions.

· Large plastic containers and buckets that held ice cream, detergent, pet food and cat litter.

· Plastic flower pots.

· Plastic beverage cups.

Residents are asked to empty and rinse all containers. Labels and plastic rings on bottle necks are permitted, as are plastic bottle caps. Residents should not recycle plastic wrap or bags or plastic containers that held hazardous automotive or garden products such as motor oil, antifreeze and pesticides.

For program information, call 301-258-6370 or go to http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov and click on the Public Works section listed under "Departments."

Rockville Approves 15-Year Agreement With Verizon for Cable Television Services

Rockville Mayor Susan Hoffmann and the City Council approved a 15-year franchise agreement with Verizon Maryland last week that permits the company to provide cable TV services in the city. Previously, only Comcast could provide cable services in Rockville, city officials said.

Verizon's cable services will become available to residents in two phases. The first phase will include most of the city served by Verizon's Rockville and Montrose wire centers; the second will include sections served by the Gaithersburg wire center, primarily the King Farm area.

Verizon will market its services to potential customers and announce when services will be available in particular neighborhoods, officials said.

The agreement, which will be enforced by the county government, applies exclusively to cable TV services and not high-speed Internet or telephone services.

For information, call the council's office at 240-314-8290 or go to http://www.rockvillemd.gov.

More Than a Dozen Montgomery Agencies To Take Part in 60th Annual County Fair

More than a dozen county government departments and agencies will participate in the 60th annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. The county's information booths will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, through Aug. 16.

Representatives from county offices will be at the "Montgomery Corner" across from the Community Square and will provide information about various county services in one location. The site will be marked by a school bus, open to visitors, and a bank-shot basketball trailer where fairgoers can test their shooting skills.

The following county departments will participate: the Board of Elections, Office of Consumer Protection, Department of Environmental Protection, Treasury Division (Department of Finance), Montgomery County Historical Society, Montgomery County Public Libraries, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Permitting Services, Public Information Office, Department of Recreation and Montgomery County public schools.

Other county programs will be represented throughout the fairgrounds, including the Division of Solid Waste Services/Recycling; Housing Opportunities Commission; Agricultural Services Division (Economic Development); Ride, Fire and Rescue Service; and the police department.

The fairgrounds are at 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg. Fair admission is $8; ages 2 to 7, $3; children younger than 2, free. A season pass. including parking is $65. Parking is $5 per car at the fairgrounds but free with shuttle service from Lakeforest Mall at Lost Knife Road and Odendhal Avenue in Gaithersburg. For more about the fair, call 301-926-3100, 301-963-3247 or visit http://www.mcagfair.com.

Gaithersburg Seeks Volunteers To Serve on City Committees

Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz and the City Council are seeking members to serve on committees that act in advisory roles to the council. City staff members help facilitate committee meetings and report recommendations to the council. In choosing committee members, the council will give preference to Gaithersburg residents and city business owners.

The following committees have vacancies:

· Animal Control Board: One vacancy. Applicants must be representatives of the Montgomery County Veterinary Medical Association and have training or experience in the care of animals.

· Art in Public Places Committee.

· Arts and Monuments Funding Corp.

· Character Counts! Steering Committee.

· Commission on Landlord/Tenant Affairs: Vacancies include one tenant member, one alternate tenant member and one alternate at-large.

· Communications Committee.

· Community Advisory Board.

· Cultural Arts Advisory Committee.

· Economic Development Committee.

· Education Committee.

· Environmental Affairs Committee.

· Gaithersburg Senior Council.

· Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.

· Market Square Advisory Committee.

· Multicultural Affairs Committee.

· Olde Towne Advisory Committee.

· Technology and Innovations Committee.

Some committee members have term expirations and some might be reappointed.

To be considered for a committee position, send a letter and résumé to the Mayor and City Council, 31 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. 20877.

For information, contact Sarah Paxton, executive assistant to the city manager, at 301-258-6310 or spaxton@gaithersburgmd.gov.

Information Session Planned for Those Interested in Master's in Education

Johns Hopkins University's School of Education and Montgomery County public schools will host an information session from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 26 for those interested in earning a master's degree in education.

Prospective candidates must have a bachelor's degree and wish to teach in one of the following subject areas: mathematics, English, science, Spanish, elementary foreign language immersion, English for speakers of other languages or special education.

Students who complete the university's two-year program receive Maryland teaching certification and a master's degree. During the teaching portion of the program, the students receive a stipend and tuition credit. Program classes are in late afternoons and evenings. Upon graduation, teachers are committed to three years of contracted teaching in county public schools.

The event will be at the university's Montgomery campus, 9601 Medical Center Dr., Rockville.

For information, call 301-294-7040 or go to http://www.teach.jhu.edu.

-- Compiled by SARAH MARSTON