County Offering In-Home COVID-19 Testing to Eligible Residents

The county is now offering no-cost, in-home COVID-19 testing for eligible residents who live in area zip codes most affected by the coronavirus. A response team of a health worker and a human services worker will provide temperature checks, monitor vital signs and give COVID-19 saliva tests to all household members who give consent.

Council Continues to Provide Funding to Assist in COVID-19 Recovery

The County Council continues to work on providing funding for specific sectors to assist in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 health emergency. At the behest of County Executive Marc Elrich, the council yesterday introduced legislation to appropriate $20 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to expand rental assistance for eviction and homelessness prevention.

M-NCPPC Raises Major Concerns over DEIS for Managed Lanes

M-NCPPC Votes to “Not Concur” with Managed Lanes Alternatives

The bi-county Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission expressed major concerns about a Draft Environmental Impact Statement during a briefing last week with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration. The DEIS is part of the state’s Managed Lanes Study to evaluate alternatives to improve traffic congestion along I-495 (Capital Beltway) in Maryland, and on I-270 from I-495 to I-370.

Planners to Hold Virtual Listening Sessions on Downtown, Adjacent Communities Plan

The county’s Planning Department will hold the first of three virtual “listening sessions” on what’s been rechristened the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan on Tuesday, July 21 from noon to 1:15 p.m. The discussion is part of the launch of the sector plan process for the Central Business District and surrounding area.

County to Open Former Library as Cooling Center During Heat Alert

The county will open the former Silver Spring library location today (July 20) as a cooling center in response to a declared heat emergency alert. The building at 8901 Colesville Rd. will open at 11 a.m. Monday and close at 7 p.m. In addition, the Silver Spring Civic Building has been designated a cooling center today as well, also from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Snider’s Sold to Local Group of Food Market Operators

Snider’s Super Foods in Montgomery Hills has been sold to a locally based group of small food markets, according to Terry Sweet, one of Snider’s managers. The purchasers operate Streets Market & Café, based in Washington, D.C. The company opened its first store in 2014 and currently operates nine locations in the District, Baltimore, Arlington and Alexandria, Va.

Planning Board Declines to Reconsider DTSS Renovation Plans

Downtown Silver Spring to Get $10 Million Renovation, New Tenants

The Planning Board this morning declined to reconsider its July 2 resolution approving a site plan amendment that proposed a $10 million renovation of the Downtown Silver Spring development. Chairman Casey Anderson noted that the board had received “multiple requests” for reconsideration of the earlier action.