Maryland proposes education reforms for schools, teachers

April 13, 2010|By Liz Bowie, The Baltimore Sun.
Maryland education officials laid out a broad vision Tuesday for improving the state's schools and teaching corps, pledging to put the best educators in struggling classrooms while making them more accountable for performance and boosting emphasis on science, math and technoglogy courses. The promises came in a 257-page application that Maryland plans to submit to the U.S. Department of Education this year in a bid for a $250 million slice of $4 billion in federal school reform money known as Race to the Top funding. The long-awaited document — which comes shortly after more than 40 states were rejected during the first round of reform grants — spells out how Maryland would spend its money if selected for the competitive program.

Maryland is "now committed to going from national leader to world-class — not only for some students but for all students," the application says. Education advocates said Tuesday that they liked the ideas in the proposal, but criticized the state for suggesting certain shifts in education policy that could be unpopular with teachers unions and some school boards, rather than requiring them outright.

"The plan is both lacking in substance overall and the ideas in it are not bold. They do not go nearly far enough to address achievement gaps," said Matthew Joseph, executive director of Advocates for Children and Youth.

"I would say it is a good plan, but not a winning plan," said Andy Smarick, a visiting fellow at theThomas B. Fordham Institute who has analyzed a number of Race to the Top applications.

Local school districts — which now must digest the huge document — will be asked to sign the application by April 23 and pledge to carry out proposed reforms. Baltimore County Superintendent Joe A. Hairston said his district was ready to sign on and that he believed the county was well-positioned to implement the changes.

"This is more an attitude than anything else," he said. "It is a matter of whether individuals are willing to respond to the goals."

Officials in Montgomery County, the state's largest school district, said they are reviewing the document and will give feedback, but no decision has been made as to whether the county will support it. Despite its high national schools rankings, Maryland was one of only a handful of states not submitting an application in the first round of Race to the Top funding. Part of the delay came because some officials wanted changes in teacher tenure, evaluations and charter school laws to make its bid more competitive. SOURCE: Baltimore Sun

Tea party to hold Rockville rally on Tax Day, tomorrow

Thursday is the filing deadline for federal income tax returns. It is also the day of a "Tax Day Tea Party Rally" in the Rockville Town Square Plaza. The event, sponsored by Americans for Prosperity/Montgomery County, the Campaign for Liberty, and Accuracy in the Media, will feature radio host Jeffrey Kuhner of WTNT 570, Don Irvine of Accuracy in Media and Christopher Summers, founder and president of the Maryland Public Policy Institute.

Ed Amatetti, chairman of the activism and elections committee for the Montgomery County chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a group that supports smaller government, said the rally is a way for people to protest against the growth of government on a day when people are thinking of their tax bills. Although Americans for Prosperity is one of the groups hosting the tax day rally and calling it a tea party event, it does not organize tea party activists, he said. SOURCE: Gazette

Montgomery furlough proposal spurs equity debate among county employees

Montgomery County's dimming fiscal picture is sharpening a debate over equity among its employees, and some officials are pushing what they call a more progressive approach to managing cutbacks. As part of his $4.3 billion budget proposal last month, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) proposed 10 forced days off for thousands of county employees, amounting to a 3.8 percent salary cut. Such furloughs have become a common tactic from California to Prince George's County as the recession has battered budgets. But until this year, Leggett had resisted.

Now, among the questions bubbling up in the county are these: Is it fair that Jocelyn Smith-Joseph, a coordinator for the disabled who made $47,028 last year, would be forced to take the same number of furlough days as Carla Reid, who received $194,537 as Montgomery's head of permitting services? And is it right -- not to mention affordable, given grim new figures released Tuesday -- that teachers, uniformed public safety workers and many other county employees are exempt from furloughs?

Officials said Tuesday that income-tax revenue is down sharply again, opening a new $44 million hole in the budget and adding $100 million to the budget gap for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. That comes on top of what seems like a modest $24 million drop in revenue announced last week that had spooked officials. Leggett said he recommended furloughs for next year's budget because the savings would help make up for revenue reductions that forced him to propose the county's first overall cut in spending in more than 40 years. His plan, which officials said furloughs about 6,000 employees, would save $15 million.

But members of the County Council are considering shaking up that model. An idea advanced by member George L. Leventhal (D-At Large) and others would be to make the furloughs more "progressive." SOURCE: Washington Post

UMd.'s Student's Grandfather Speaks Out

BETHESDA, Md. - Former Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge and the grandfather of the 21-year-old University of Maryland student who was captured on video being taken down and hit unconscious by police in riot gear is speaking out. Jim McKenna believes the officers involved should be prosecuted. He said his grandson, Jack, has at least eight staples in his head, a wrist injury and possibly long-term psychological damage. Jim McKenna believes the video leaves little to the imagination.

"If the three of us, you and I and the cameraman, were to go out with batons and march out onto the street and bludgeon the first person we run into, which is essentially what they did, you can rest assure we would be tried, convicted and sent to jail," McKenna told FOX 5. SOURCE: FOX DC

Rules on foreclosure in Md. toughened

ANNAPOLIS — Lawmakers toughened foreclosure rules in the waning hours of the 2010 legislative session, mandating new steps in the foreclosure process designed to keep Marylanders in their homes and paying off their loans. Homeowners will be able to request mediation sessions with the holders of their loans to give them the opportunity to work on modifications. The foreclosure mediation legislation was a high priority for Gov. Martin O’Malley in a year in which his agenda focused heavily on plugging holes left by the recession.

The mediation law will “protect homeownership by giving every family the ability to bring these faceless mortgage servicing giants to the table before a family can be thrown out of their home in a foreclosure action,” O’Malley said Tuesday morning before signing some 170 bills. Among the new laws signed by O’Malley, House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., was the Maryland False Health Claims Act of 2010. It will allow the state or citizens to file suit to recover fraudulent claims made to Medicaid or other state health programs. The law allows for a civil penalty up to $10,000 and triple damages. SOURCE: Maryland Daily Record

Don Rogers, lawyer, assists business start-ups and early stage businesses

Potomac based Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, PA is one of the largest and most respected law firms in the Washington Metropolitan area. Founded in 1972, the firm practices law across a variety of areas from corporate law, to real estate, to litigation to estate planning and family law. Mr. Don Rogers is one of the managing partners, and over the past 30 years, Mr. Rogers has worked with many business entities, including start-up and early-stage business enterprises to assist them in achieving their business objectives. Mr. Rogers has assisted his clients in obtaining required resources such as seed capital, venture capital, and strategic alliances, developed various stock option plans for key employees and assisted clients in implementing succession plans for transition to the next generation of owners.

Mr. Rogers is also the Chairman of the EagleBank Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, providing funds to fight cancer and other worthwhile charities. His accounting degree (B.S. in accounting from Hunter College of the University of New York) and his J.D. from Georgetown University, and his LLM in taxation from Georgetown University allows him to provide businesses in the Maryland area and beyond with accounting and legal advice. Additional information on Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker is available at ShulmanRogers.com.

PHOTO: Don Rogers, managing partner

Management Salaries in MoCo Government

MCGEO, Montgomery County’s employee union, held a rally last week to protest what they believe are unfair budget cuts targeting their members. One of their complaints is that county managers are overpaid and are largely protected from the layoffs that will be imposed on rank-and-file workers. But MCGEO is not merely complaining – they hired McCarthy Consulting of Edgewater, Maryland to obtain salaries of county manager classifications and compare them to comparable classifications in other counties. And now we present that data to our readers. Brace yourselves, folks.

Following are salaries for all managers in the Montgomery County government who make more than $150,000 per year and comparative statistics for their peers across the region.

Chief Administrative Officer Salaries
Montgomery: $266,300
Fairfax: $240,200
Alexandria: $233,100
District of Columbia: $225,000
Baltimore County: $190,000
Howard: $125,000
Prince George’s: $120,200
Anne Arundel: $106,500
Mean Salary: $188,288
MoCo % Above Mean: 41%

Chief of Police Salaries
Montgomery: $216,600
District of Columbia: $201,100
Baltimore County: $195,000
Howard: $112,800
Baltimore City: $112,200
Fairfax: $105,800
Anne Arundel: $99,600
Prince George’s: $98,900
M-NCPPC: $90,800
Alexandria: $87,800
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $125,691
MoCo % Above Mean: 72%

Fire Chief Salaries
Montgomery: $211,800
District of Columbia: $181,800
Baltimore County: $172,500
Howard: $108,800
Fairfax: $105,800
Baltimore City: $104,000
Anne Arundel: $99,600
Prince George’s: $98,900
Alexandria: $87,800
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $122,600
MoCo % Above Mean: 73%

Chief Counsel/County Attorney Salaries
Montgomery: $206,500
Fairfax: $201,600
Alexandria: $195,000
Arlington: $187,500
Baltimore City: $160,000
Baltimore County: $158,700
WSSC: $138,900
District of Columbia: $118,700
Prince George’s: $109,000
Howard: $101,800
Anne Arundel: $99,600
Mean Salary: $152,482
MoCo % Above Mean: 35%

Finance Director Salaries
Montgomery: $195,600
M-NCPCC: $172,000
District of Columbia: $157,900
Baltimore City: $112,200
Fairfax: $100,800
Prince George’s: $98,900
WSSC: $92,300
Howard: $91,900
Anne Arundel: $88,100
Alexandria: $83,600
Baltimore County: $76,300
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $110,967
MoCo % Above Mean: 76%

Personnel/Human Resources Director Salaries
Montgomery: $195,200
Baltimore County: $130,400
District of Columbia: $128,300
Baltimore City: $112,200
Fairfax: $100,800
Prince George’s: $98,900
Anne Arundel: $88,100
WSSC: $83,800
Alexandria: $83,600
Howard: $82,900
M-NCPPC: $75,000
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $103,433
MoCo % Above Mean: 89%

Planning/Economic Development Director Salaries
Montgomery: $194,500
Baltimore County: $126,500
District of Columbia: $118,500
Baltimore City: $112,200
Fairfax: $100,800
Howard: $91,900
Anne Arundel: $88,100
Alexandria: $87,800
M-NCPPC: $75,000
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $105,730
MoCo % Above Mean: 84%

Budget Director Salaries
Montgomery: $194,500
Baltimore County: $158,700
District of Columbia: $157,900
Prince George’s: $109,000
Fairfax: $100,800
Anne Arundel: $99,600
Howard: $91,900
Baltimore City: $77,200
M-NCPPC: $75,000
WSSC: $74,000
Arlington: $59,100
Mean Salary: $108,882
MoCo % Above Mean: 79%

Information Systems Director Salaries
Baltimore County: $195,000
Montgomery: $194,500
District of Columbia: $128,300
Fairfax: $105,800
Prince George’s: $98,900
M-NCPPC: $91,000
Anne Arundel: $88,100
Alexandria: $87,800
Howard: $82,900
Baltimore City: $77,500
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $110,164
MoCo % Above Mean: 77%

Library Director Salaries
Baltimore County: $177,000
Montgomery: $169,500
District of Columbia: $133,900
Fairfax: $100,800
Alexandria: $83,600
Baltimore City: $77,200
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $114,857
MoCo % Above Mean: 48%

Public Information Director Salaries
Montgomery: $165,000
Baltimore County: $137,800
District of Columbia: $107,100
Fairfax: $87,700
WSSC: $83,800
Howard: $82,900
Alexandria: $79,700
M-NCPPC: $75,000
Anne Arundel: $72,300
Prince George’s: $70,300
Arlington: $62,000
Baltimore City: $39,700
Mean Salary: $88,608
MoCo % Above Mean: 86%

Director of Parks/Recreation Salaries
Montgomery: $162,000
Baltimore County: $155,600
District of Columbia: $118,500
Howard: $91,900
Anne Arundel: $88,100
Alexandria: $83,600
Baltimore City: $77,200
Arlington: $62,000
Mean Salary: $104,863
MoCo % Above Mean: 54%

Aging Director Salaries
Montgomery: $151,400
Baltimore County: $141,100
District of Columbia: $103,000
Prince George’s: $98,900
Anne Arundel: $88,100
Baltimore City: $77,200
Howard: $74,900
Fairfax: $69,100
Arlington: $53,000
Mean Salary: $95,189
MoCo % Above Mean: 59%

McCarthy Consulting also collected data on 59 rank-and-file occupations and found that MoCo workers made 10.7% more than area averages.

SOURCE: MPW

ProMark delivers super efficient homes in amenity-rich, transit-ready environments

ProMark Real Estate Services has served the greater Washington, DC metro region for over a decade. Managing Member Robert O. Eisinger founded the company in 2000 with longtime business partner Thomas D. W. Fauquier. The company continues in the tradition of Eisinger, Kilbane & Associates, historically one of the area’s most innovative commercial developers and among the first real estate firms in the country to capitalize on the purchase of air rights. The Eisinger family has deep roots in the local real estate industry and maintains a long history of groundbreaking design, environmentally responsible development and civic engagement. Today, the company is engaged in both the White Flint and Gaithersburg West planning processes and is developing a new workforce housing prototype to overcome the barriers to the development of market-rate, moderately priced housing in Montgomery County, MD. Recognizing that the region’s vitality is tied to its ability to house an economically diverse resident population, ProMark delivers super efficient homes in amenity-rich, transit-ready environments.

> Hilary Allard Goldfarb. Planning Director, ProMark. 16220 Frederick Rd. Suite 325. Gaithersburg, MD 20877. 301-208-6700 (office). 240-481-4282 (cell)

PICTURE: an aPAD concept living space

Be cautious around landscaping

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service reminds residents to use caution and common sense when it comes to fire safety as warm weather arrives. One of the most common causes of fires this time of year is improperly discarded smoking materials. Montgomery County Fire Chief Richard Bowers is urging residents to be aware of the dangers of improperly discarded cigarettes, particularly around landscaping. “The risk of a mulch fire is more common than one might expect. We have seen a steep increase in mulch fires as commercial and public facilities ban smoking inside buildings and smoking materials are discarded into landscaped areas as people enter and/or exit a building presenting a significant safety hazard,” said Chief Bowers.

• If you smoke, PLEASE properly dispose of all smoking materials and matches. • If you see anything smoking in a landscaped bed, put it out safely if possible and immediately report it to someone inside the building. If the burning material is not thoroughly doused with water or removed, it may re-ignite.

SOURCE: MCFRS

Did Congress revoke its own health insurance??

WASHINGTON — It is often said that the new health care law will affect almost every American in some way. And, perhaps fittingly if unintentionally, no one may be more affected than members of Congress themselves. In a new report, the Congressional Research Service says the law may have significant unintended consequences for the “personal health insurance coverage” of senators, representatives and their staff members. For example, it says, the law may “remove members of Congress and Congressional staff” from their current coverage, in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, before any alternatives are available.

The confusion raises the inevitable question: If they did not know exactly what they were doing to themselves, did lawmakers who wrote and passed the bill fully grasp the details of how it would influence the lives of other Americans? The law promises that people can keep coverage they like, largely unchanged. For members of Congress and their aides, the federal employees health program offers much to like. But, the report says, the men and women who wrote the law may find that the guarantee of stability does not apply to them.

“It is unclear whether members of Congress and Congressional staff who are currently participating in F.E.H.B.P. may be able to retain this coverage,” the research service said in an 8,100-word memorandum.

SOURCE: New York Times

Md. House kills Saqib's Sunshine Act

"Bad News. The House referred my Legislative Voting Sunshine Act to 'summer study,' effectively killing it for a year." -- Del. Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery), in a Facebook posting Monday night. SOURCE: Washington Post quoting Facebook post

David Graling leads Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, CPAs

Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman has been part of the Washington, DC metropolitan region since 1981. The firm provides accounting, auditing and consulting services to an extensive client base, which consists of nonprofit organizations and for-profit corporations, including government contractors, research and development firms, retail businesses, professional service firms, partnerships and trusts, as well as individual clients. In addition to the Washington, DC metropolitan area, we also serve businesses in other locations in the United States, and we are involved in on-site field office auditing in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and central and southern Asia.

David F. Graling, CPA, MBA. President of Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, CPAs. 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 650 N Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: (301) 951-9090. dgraling@grfcpa.com. www.grfcpa.com

MC can now own biotech company with public tax dollars

ANNAPOLIS - The Maryland General Assembly approved a bill that would allow Montgomery County to invest taxpayers dollars in biotech startups. The measure would empower Montgomery to make stock investments in Maryland companies. State law prohibits local governments from making equity investments, which are regarded as high-risk, according to a legislative analysis of the bill. The state government is allowed to make such investments, however, and Montgomery officials wanted in on the return.

"We want to allow the county to do what the state does," said Montgomery's legislative analyst, Sheila Sprague. Sprague said the bill, sponsored by the Montgomery delegation, was drafted at the urging of County Executive Ike Leggett. The Senate unanimously approved the bill, while the measure won approval by a 135-3 vote in the House. Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to sign the measure. But a Montgomery County senator stopped the ball rolling when the measure went before the Senate Finance committee during the approval process.

"I read this [bill], and I see it as saying county government can own 25 percent of a private business ... and I actually have a problem with that," said Sen. Rob Garagiola, D-Poolesville. "It seems like there could be a lot of conflicts." Finance Committee Chairman Thomas M. Middleton asked Garagiola to return the bill to the Montgomery delegation and add a clawback provision to give taxpayers some financial security. When Garagiola aired his grievances before the delegation, Sens. Brian Frosh, D-Bethesda, and Mike Lenett, D-Aspen Hill, chimed in.

Frosh said the bill seemed "risky," and Lenett suggested, "Why don't we just save the money [instead of investing]." But Sens. Rich Madaleno, D-Wheaton, and Rona Kramer, D-Olney, said the bill was fine as written. Kramer said the money the county would be investing would be spent on grants and loans, and the county should be able to profit off its investments. Montgomery's Department of Economic Development would be in charge of making the county's investment decisions. The department has about $850,000 in county appropriations for business loans, said Director Steve Silverman. But the department can petition the County Council for more money. The bill would unleash the department's funds for investments, and there is no cap limiting the amount of money the county can use for investments versus loans.

SOURCE: Washington Examiner

Ruth Melson at Maryland Federation of Republican Women Conference in Gaithersburg

Last Friday through Saturday, the Maryland Federation of Republican Women held their semi-annual conference at a Holiday Inn in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Ruth Melson is the president of one of the Montgomery County clubs. Maybe 75 candidates attended the event.

PLUG: Lt. Gov Brown shows off copier from Capitol Office Solutions

Capitol Office Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xerox and an HP partner. It provide small to mid-size firms with local service and works with firms to improve efficiency and productivity by helping them manage there printing. They have a focus on sustainability and helping companies achieve their green missions. Their equipment is on display at Bethesda Green. Capitol Office Solutions has the ability to provide your company with superior technology from the entire family of XEROX products with local technical and administrative support. Their technologies cover scanning solutions, document management, enhancing workflows, reducing waste & increasing office efficiencies. Currently, some of our partners are EFI, Nuance, Equitrac, CREO, eCopy and Xerox Docushare.

Michael Sullivan. Account Executive. Capitol Office Solutions. 9065 Guilford Road. Columbia, Maryland 21046

PICTURE: Congressman George Leventhal and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown in front of the Xerox ColorQube and looking at some literature.

Silver Spring homeless center in danger of closing

Mary Mulholland puts it lightly. "Ebony didn't walk in here wearing a suit," said Mulholland, the director of Community Vision, a homeless services center in Silver Spring.

In reality, Ebony was homeless, unemployed, 23 years old and in need of help — and she arrived at Community Vision in 2007 with the attitude that no one could help her. On Friday, Ebony sat in Mulholland's office in a suit. Poised and answering a visitor's questions as if it was a job interview, Ebony responded in complete sentences and maintained eye contact throughout. She then left Mulholland's office to prepare for a job interview later that day.

"If I didn't have Community Vision, I truly believe I would've been strung out on drugs or living in the streets," said Ebony, who asked that her last name not be used so as not to jeopardize her chances at employment. She hopes to work as a receptionist in the short-term and a stylist after she completes cosmetology school.

Ebony's not on drugs nor is she living on the streets. She's working toward employment and living in the Sophia House, a shelter in Rockville. But because of a cut in county funds, Community Vision — the only homeless services center south of the Beltway that provides job readiness training like Ebony received — likely will close if County Executive Isiah Leggett's proposed budget is approved.
SOURCE: Gazette

Ben Stein asks Steele to resign

Every single day, including Saturdays and Sundays, the phone rings at the Ben Stein household. On the line is a man or woman raising money for the Republicans: Republicans running for the Senate. Republicans running for the House of Representatives. The California Republican Party. And, above all, the Republican National Committee. Every single day.

We very often write checks, and we do it because we have a long history with the party. But we also give because we have a lingering belief (and a hope) that the GOP is the party of small town, all-American virtues and verities. I suspect millions of others get these fundraising calls from the GOP and write those checks for the same reason. I'd like to keep sending in that money, but I really can't with the current Chairman of the RNC in office.
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Allegany County defeats MC in Special Olympics

— CUMBERLAND — The Allegany County Special Olympics basketball teams were escorted into town recently by the Cumberland Police Department in celebration of three Maryland State championships. The State Tournament was held at the Capitol Sports Complex in District Heights and teams from across the state competed in the two-day event. Teams were grouped into brackets according to their physical abilities. The Allegany Energizers, coached by Linda Lewis, won the gold medal in Division 6 by defeating Baltimore County. Cody Butler had a team-high 18 points, with Ben Ratke scoring nine. Other members of the team are Johnnie Carroll, Flo Jessie, Jimmy Jones, Stephanie Pyles, Megan Sneathen, J.T. Thomas and Jessica Resh.

The Energizers beat Upper Shore 30-14 in a preliminary game with Butler scoring 16 points. The Allegany Extreme, coached by Keith Roach, beat Anne Arundel 36-20 in the Division 3 gold medal game. Dillon Yates had 10 points to lead the way, while Cody Twigg had seven and Jennie Myers six. Other members of the team are Marci Horner, Adam Lazarus, Wally Harper, Brittney Resh and Crystal Knapp. The Extreme beat Carroll County 25-18 in the preliminary game, 25-18. Yates had eight points and Horner six. The Allegany Express, coached by Julian Thomas, won the Division 1 gold medal.

The Express beat Montgomery County 38-19 in the championship game, and also beat Baltimore County 38-36 in the preliminary game. Chris Butler led all scorers, averaging over 10 points per game. Other members of the Express are Mike Wines, Johnny Hott, Joey Paige, Scott Noel, David Sines and Andy Salmon. The local teams participated in several qualifying tournaments to prepare for the competition. The teams played in the St. James Invitational Tournament in Washington County and the Adams County Invitational at Gettysburg (Pa.) College, and hosted the Allegany County Invitational.

Greenbaum announces opening of Title Town Settlements in Rockville

Todd Greenbaum is pleased to announce the opening of Title Town Settlements.  Title Town Settlements is "Your Hometown Settlement Team" located in Rockville, MD.  The company's mission is to consistently achieve superior customer service by providing constant personal attention, expert workmanship, and unwavering dependability throughout the settlement process. At Title Town Settlements we know you expect us to provide superior work quality, but also covet the personal attention that you deserve.  We have the experience and knowledge to ensure the quick and easy settlement you desire and make each transaction a priority so you feel right at home.

Todd has conducted hundreds of closings, handles all aspects of the real estate transaction from start to finish, prepares deeds, mortgages and other documents necessary to the settlement process and teaches Continuing Education to real estate agents.  He specializes in residential and commercial purchase and refinance transactions, including short sales and foreclosures.  His goal in founding Title Town Settlements was to create a company that focuses on the balance between the high level of customer service that clients expect while being able to establish long-lasting personal relationships.  Many title companies focus only on the amount of business they are doing and lose sight of the personal attention clients deserve.   

Todd is an Attorney admitted to practice in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia and is an active member of the Maryland, D.C. and Montgomery County Bar Associations. “ 

Todd I. Greenbaum. Attorney-At-Law/President
Title Town Settlements, LLC. 721 Fallsgrove Drive #2121. Rockville, MD 20850. T. (301) 580-2850

Van Hollen Town Hall Meeting in Germantown Tonight

Congressman Chris Van Hollen will convene a town hall meeting for residents of the Eighth Congressional District. The Congressman will report to residents about the activities of the 111th Congress and the important issues facing the nation. He will answer questions and respond to comments from the audience. All residents of the Eighth Congressional District are invited to participate.

WHEN: Monday, April 12, 2010. 7:30 – 9:00 PM

WHERE: Montgomery College, Germantown Campus Globe Hall – High Technology and Science Center 20200 Observation Drive, Germantown, MD

Certified housing counselors will be available. The Town Hall will be broadcast live on Montgomery College TV. A sign language interpreter will be provided. Parking is available on campus and there is a drop-off entrance in the rear of the building with several handicapped parking spaces.

DIRECTIONS: By Car: Take I-270 to Exit 15A (Route 118-North). Continue to the second traffic light at Observation Drive; turn right onto campus.
By Metro: From Red Line Shady Grove Station, transfer to Ride On Bus Route 55 to the on-campus stop.
By Bus: The campus is served by Ride On Bus with connections to Metrorail.

QUESTIONS: Please call 301-424-3501

SOURCE: Inside Charm City