Small crowds gathered periodically Sunday to watch the work underway to raise massive girders over Colesville Road for the Purple Line. Colesville will remain closed between Wayne Ave and East-West Highway until Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6 a.m.
The Silver Spring, Forest Glen and Wheaton Metro stations will close during the upcoming holiday weekend, while the county has announced closures for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced the station closures due to Purple Line integration work.
The newest commissioner on the Montgomery County Planning Board refers to himself as “the accidental candidate” when talking about his appointment. Partap Verma, who joined the board in July, looks at this as a natural transformation from work he began after moving to the Forest Glen area in 2013. His priorities include pedestrian safety, affordable housing, and the upcoming Silver Spring master plan process.
The County Council will hold a public hearing on the draft Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan tonight, according to the schedule released this week. The plan covers the Georgia Avenue corridor from the edge of downtown Silver Spring at Spring Street to Dennis Avenue. It is intended to consider land use and transportation strategies, including traffic conditions and redevelopment opportunities, and make recommendations that will improve the area.
The 10th annual Community Stories film festival from Docs in Progress is this week, as is the annual Community Bridges Girl Legacy gala. Other highlights include a fundraiser for veterans at UP studios, several recitals at Levine Music, a census workshop, and an online chat with the county executive.
There is no shortage of opportunities for civic or charitable involvement this week. The Victim’s Rights Foundation and Passion4Learning are both holding gala celebrations, while there are fundraisers planned for WOWD Radio and Shepherd’s Table and Takoma Park Library’s fall sale. On the civic side, there are meetings about saving trees in downtown Silver Spring, PEPCO’s ongoing work, and the Countywide Pedestrian Master Plan.
The State Highway Administration has received federal approval to redesign the portion of Georgia Avenue from 16th Street to Forest Glen Road, officials announced. The work will include narrowing traffic lanes, adding a raised and landscaped median, sidewalks on both sides of the road and a two-way bike track on the west side of Georgia, along with a new traffic signal at Flora Lane.
Attendees can combine activities and advocacy at the second Montgomery Hills Street Fest scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 from 3–7 p.m. The festival will be held on Columbia Boulevard, between Seminary Road and 16th Street, and feature local artisans who specialize in pottery, painting, fused class, jewelry and clay pendants, along with food and entertainment.
National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign designed to promote partnerships between police departments and local neighborhoods, will be held tomorrow, Aug. 6, around the country. The county’s police department will be participating in various community events.