IN BRIEF

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Gaithersburg Rated Best Place in Md. for Kids

BusinessWeek magazine and OnBoard Informatics chose Gaithersburg as Maryland's "best place to raise your kids" in a survey this month.

The second annual survey included towns that have at least 50,000 residents and a median family income of $40,000 to $100,000. It also considered factors such as school performance, crime rates, air quality, job growth, museums, recreation and diversity.

The magazine's Web site describes Gaithersburg as "a former farming town at the terminus of the D.C. Metro's Red Line" and "a diverse, affordable place with a shopping district called 'Old Towne' that dates back to the 19th century."

The runners-up in Maryland included Silver Spring and Aspen Hill, and the national winner was Mount Prospect, Ill., a Chicago suburb. Survey information is available at http://www.businessweek.com.

Town Hall Meeting Tonight in Rockville

Rockville City Council member Piotr Gajewski will host a town hall-style meeting at 8 p.m. today to discuss local issues and concerns.

The session will include a review of recent actions by the Rockville mayor and council and an open forum for residents to ask questions and voice opinions.

The meeting will be at City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave. For information, call 240-314-8280.

Bowling Center Hosts Charity Event Today

The National Center for Children and Families and 300 Shady Grove, a new bowling and entertainment venue in Gaithersburg, will host Thanks-Bowl-Giving at 5:30 p.m. today. Proceeds will benefit the center, which works to create healthy living environments for families in need.

Bowlers are invited to rent lanes by calling Sarah Corcoran at 301-365-4480, Ext. 164. Standout bowlers will receive recognition for extremely high or low scores.

The bowling center is at 15720 Shady Grove Rd. For information, call 301-948-1390 or visit http://www.3hundred.com/home.asp?loc=300shadygrove.

Rockville Pike to Detour At Randolph-Montrose

The State Highway Administration plans to open a temporary detour road along the east side of Rockville Pike-Route 355 at Randolph-Montrose Road beginning today or in the next few days, the state transportation department announced.

Weather permitting, that section of Route 355 should be reopened by the end of the month. Motorists who travel along East Jefferson Street will also be directed to Executive Boulevard and back to northbound Route 355 this week as traffic is rerouted.

For information, call 800-749-0737 or visit http://www.marylandroads.com.

Food Collection Event Includes Blood Drive

Congregation B'nai Tzedek, at 10621 S. Glen Rd. in Potomac, will host a public charity event Sunday.

The congregation will accept frozen turkeys or Giant Food gift card donations, which the Manna Food Center will distribute to people in need. A refrigerated truck will collect the turkeys from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Red Cross Blood Mobile will also be onsite from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to receive blood donations. To schedule an appointment, contact Jamie Perkins at 301-299-0225, Ext. 301, or jperkins@bnaitzedek.org.

For information, call 301-299-0225, or visit http://www.bnaitzedek.org.

State Agency Cautions Firewood Purchasers

With the arrival of cold weather, many Maryland residents are turning on their furnaces and buying firewood.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture recently issued an advisory about the state's regulations governing the measurement and sale of firewood.

There is a quarantine in Prince George's and Charles counties prohibiting the movement of ash wood materials and all hardwood firewood out of those counties. The restriction is designed to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, an invasive species that kills ash trees.

Maryland regulations require that firewood sold in the state be offered by the cord or fractions of a cord. Any other term -- such as truckload, rack, face cord or pile -- is illegal.

"Most consumers do not understand the meaning of a cord, or they are unaware of the many ways wood can be stacked to look like a cord when it isn't," said Will Wotthlie, chief of weights and measures.

A cord is the amount of wood stacked in a well-compacted manner in a space of 128 cubic feet, typically in a stack measuring 4 feet wide, 8 feet long and 4 feet high, with no internal gaps.

Bulk sales of firewood are supposed to be accompanied by a delivery ticket containing the date of delivery, the name and address of the seller and buyer, the quantity of wood delivered, the cost of the wood, the type of wood delivered, and the license number or other identifying number of the vehicle that transports the wood.

"We recommend that consumers contact the seller immediately if there appears to be any discrepancy and attempt to resolve the matter," Wotthlie said. "If the seller can't or won't correct the problem, consumers should call us before burning any of the wood."

The Weights and Measures office in Annapolis can be reached at 410-841-5790 or 800-492-5590.

For information about the emerald ash borer and restrictions on firewood, go to http://www.emeraldashborer.infoand click on the Maryland link. Information is also available from the University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center at 800-342-2507 or the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5920.

County Trash Collection To Shift for Thanksgiving

Some county residents can expect changes in trash and recycling pickups because of Thanksgiving.

Most residents whose trash is picked up on Thursdays will receive service that week on Nov. 28. Collections will also shift a day for Friday pickups.

Schedules might vary among municipalities. For example, Gaithersburg residents whose regular recycling day is Thursday will have collection Nov. 29.

For information about holiday schedules, call 240-777-6410 or visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov and search for "Division of Solid Waste Services."

-- Compiled by SARAH MARSTON