County Launches Summer Employment Program for Young Residents

The county has launched a summer employment program for residents aged 16–23 who will work throughout the county to assist in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. The “COVID Corps” will be run by the county’s Recreation Department, which will provide mentors, guidance and training for selected applicants.

Vandals Deface Confederate Memorial at Grace Church

Vandals defaced a memorial marking the graves of 17 Confederate soldiers buried in Grace Church Cemetery at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Grace Church Road. The bodies were relocated from their original graves near Fort Stevens in Washington, D.C. to the cemetery in 1874, according to “Silver Spring and the Civil War,” written by Woodside Park resident Robert Oshel.

Takoma Park Avenue to Close for Outdoor Dining, Public Use

Northbound Laurel Avenue in Takoma Park will be closed beginning today (June 12) to allow for outdoor seating, dining, sales and customer pick-ups, according to a city announcement. Traffic will be rerouted around the Seventh Day Adventist church, while southbound Laurel Avenue will remain open to vehicles.

Part of Georgia Avenue Will Close Temporarily to Allow Outdoor Dining

A portion of Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring will be temporarily closed as of 5 p.m. June 12 to allow restaurants additional space to provide customers outdoor dining. The right lanes of Georgia will be shut down between Silver Spring and Thayer avenues in a pilot project that will run through at least June 21. The pilot, known as Streetdine, is the result of a collaboration between the State Highway Administration, the Silver Spring Urban District, County Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) and local business owners.

Silver Spring Arts Groups to Offer Virtual Summer Camps

Several Silver Spring arts organizations will offer virtual summer art camps for youth from pre-K to 18 years old, according to an announcement from the Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment District. “Many children have been away from their classmates, family members and friends for several months,” said Silver Spring Regional Services Center Director Reemberto Rodriguez in the press release. “The arts organizations in our Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment District are bringing to life summer offerings that fill an important need within our community.”

County Board Approves Expanded Area for Downtown Planning Study

The Montgomery County Planning Board yesterday unanimously approved a Scope of Work for the Silver Spring Downtown Plan that adds portions of adjacent neighborhoods to the study area. The decision at the virtual meeting adopted staff boundary Option D, an expansion within a half-mile/ten-minute pedestrian “walkshed” from the future Silver Spring Library Purple Line Station.