Holiday Schedule for Independence Day, July 4

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for the Independence Day holiday, July 4:

• County Offices – closed;
• Libraries – closed;
• County Liquor & Wine Stores (DLC) – all stores will be open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
• Recreation – aquatics facilities open until 6 p.m., except the Germantown Indoor Swim Center, which will close at 3 p.m. All other classes and programs canceled. Administrative office, senior centers and recreation centers are closed;
• Montgomery Parks - for special programs, events and operating schedule, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks, and tennis centers;
• Ride On – Saturday Schedule;
• Metrorail & Metrobus – Information available here;
• TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center – open;
• TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store – closed;
• County Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection. The collection will slide by one day. For information on slide schedule, visit the website;
• Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station – closed;
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free;
• State offices and courts – closed.

Montgomery County Host Fireworks Shows in Germantown and Kensington

Montgomery County Recreation is hosting two fireworks displays on Wednesday, July 4.

The Independence Day celebrations will take place at the following locations:

Germantown Glory at South Germantown Recreational Park located at 18041 Central Park Circle in Germantown (Boyds); Mid-County Sparkles at Albert Einstein High School located at 11135 Newport Road in Kensington.

Germantown Glory kicks off at 7 p.m. with a concert by Gringo Jingo performing the best of Santana. Follow the signs for free on-site parking. Mid-County Sparkles begins at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by Quiet Fire, a soul, rhythm and blues, a rock band that covers hits from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.

Parking for individuals with disabilities will be available on-site at Einstein High School. Free parking and shuttle service will be provided from Westfield Wheaton, which is located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road. Parking at Westfield Wheaton opens at 6 p.m. Event-goers who park at Westfield Wheaton prior to 6 p.m. may be subject to towing by the property owner. Shuttle service will begin at 6:15 p.m.

The firework displays will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. at both celebrations. The rain date for the fireworks display only is July 5.

For more information, call MC311 at 311 or 240-777-0311 or visit the Montgomery County Recreation website.

Preliminary Primary Election Returns Will be Available on County Website the Evening of Primary Election Day

Up-to-the moment Election Day results for the June 26 Primary Election will be available on the County’s Board of Elections website after the polls close on June 26.

Votes cast during early voting are counted on Election Day and released shortly after 8 p.m. Known, unofficial, results from Election Day are scheduled to be available beginning at 9:20 p.m. and are updated every 25 minutes. Absentee and provisional ballots will be counted beginning June 28 with complete, unofficial results expected by July 10.

Statement by County Executive Ike Leggett on Stormwater Management Capital Projects

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett made the following statement on the County Council’s intent to reform the stormwater management program.

“I am pleased that the County Council signaled its intent to approve the reform of our stormwater management construction program, which will enhance our ability to meet important environmental goals and will support projects designed to meet our State-mandated MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit.

Upon final approval by the Council, it will keep Montgomery County as the leader in protecting the environment, giving us the most efficient and cost-effective method to meet our MS4 permit requirements with minimal delays and without an increased burden on our taxpayers.”

Montgomery County Minimum Wage Increases on July 1

Minimum wage is set to rise in Montgomery County on July 1. The size of the increase is determined by the number of workers employed by the business. The bill states that County businesses with 51 or more employees must pay workers $12.25 hourly. Employers with 50 or fewer workers must pay employees $12 hourly.

County Executive Ike Leggett signed Bill 28-17, concerning Human Rights and Civil Liberties – County Minimum Wage, on November 17, 2017.

Effective date	Large employer	Mid-sized employer	Small employer
July 1, 2018	$12.25	$12	$12
July 1, 2019	$13	$12.50	$12.50
July 1, 2020	$14	$13.25	$13
July 1, 2021	$15	$14	$13.50
July 1, 2022	$15+ CPI-W	$14.50	$14

CPI-W = Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers

An employer who provides "home health services" or "home or community-based services" and receives at least 75 percent of gross revenues through state and federal Medicaid programs, may apply to the Office of Human Rights for designation as an eligible services provider subject to an adjusted implementation schedule.

The minimum wage does not apply to employees younger than 19 years old who work fewer than 20 hours per week. However, an employer may pay a wage equal to 85 percent to employees under the age of 20 years for the first six months that the employee is employed.

More information about Bill 28-17, visit County website.

Enforcement of the law is handled through the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Minimum Wage Transition Table by Public Information Office on Scribd

Free Foreign Film Series Comes to Montgomery College

Montgomery College has a full lineup of entertaining foreign films as part of its Monday evening film series. All films begin at 7 p.m. and are open to the public. The films are shown at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center located at 51 Mannakee Street in Rockville.

Visit the website to see the summer schedule, which continues through August 27.

Free Concerts Available All Summer

Summer concerts are a perfect way to end a long day or get a jump start on the weekend. Pack a picnic and take advantage of the many concerts located throughout the County.

The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County has put together a comprehensive listing of concerts to ensure that you don’t miss a show.

Check out their Free Summer Concert Guide.

Online Form Available for Employers Required to File Minimum Wage Report for Tipped Employees

The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights has announced an online form is available for all employers who are required to file quarterly wage reports for tipped employees.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council passed Montgomery County Code, Chapter 27-Human Rights and Civil Liberties, Section 27-69 to establish a base pay for tipped employees in 2015. The law requires that each qualifying tipped employee is paid the minimum Tipped Credit Wage of $4 an hour and must be paid an additional amount to equal, in total, the current minimum wage during each quarter. Employers are required to file a wage report within 30 days after the end of each quarter.

The online form is available at the Office of Human Rights website. More information is available on Montgomery County’s minimum wage and overtime law, or see the minimum wage transition table.

Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County Accepting Nominations for County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities

If you know an exceptional person, team, or organization who has strengthened our community through arts and humanities, here is a way to get them the recognition they deserve. The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County is accepting nominations for the 2018 County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities.

To nominate a deserving artist or organization for these awards, visit the online nomination site and submit your nomination by Sunday, July 15.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the following awards:

• Education Award
• Community Award
• Volunteer Award
• Outstanding Artist or Scholar Award
• Business or Individual Patron Award
• Emerging Leader Award

This is the 17th year for this special ceremony, which will be presented on Monday, October 29, at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center located on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. More information is available here.

Montgomery Parks’ Host Free FIFA World Cup Watch Party on Saturday, June 23

Montgomery Parks will host a FIFA World Cup Watch Party on Saturday, June 23. The free event is located at the at the Wheaton Sports Pavilion located at 11751 Orebaugh Avenue. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with kick-off slated for 11 a.m. This matchup, between Mexico and South Korea, will be shown on a blow-up big-screen in a family-friendly atmosphere.

The Open House offers visitors an up-close look at the facility and provides an opportunity to meet representatives from the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, Shadow of The Almighty (S.O.T.A.M.) Futbal Academy, and Play It Again Sports.

Food trucks will be on-site, and there will be children’s games to keep the young ones happy.

More information, visit montgomeryparks.org/events/wheaton-sports-pavilion-world-cup-viewing-party.