Attend the second Winter Speakers Series on Wednesday, December 10 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD). The topic is "Retrofitting the Suburbs: From Friendship Heights to White Flint" featuring Royce Hanson with guest panelists: Julie Davis, John Robinson and Evan Goldman.

Learn more about the series and view the recap from the first session from November 12.  

The Montgomery County Planning Department will hold the first MV Matters community meeting to discuss the Montgomery Village Master Plan on Monday, December 8, from 7-9 p.m. at the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Rd, Gaithersburg, MD). Anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the future of the Montgomery Village community is invited to attend the MVMatters meeting where planners will provide information on the next steps of the planning process and explain how "what matters to MV" will be used in the master plan. As a follow-up to the successful Montgomery Village Plan Kickoff meeting in October, the planning team is inviting residents to learn about specific subject areas, such as urban design, land use, parks, environment and transportation and more, through the MV Matters Series. Learn more about the Monday Matters meeting series.

The Montgomery County Planning Department is inviting stakeholders and residents to participate in the online "Feedback Loop" from December 8 through December 19 for the ongoing Bethesda Downtown Plan.This online questionnaire encourages the public to offer views on a number of concepts, ranging from bike paths to building heights, proposed for the Plan. From this feedback, planners will be able to confirm their understanding of the community's priorities for Downtown Bethesda.

The Bethesda Downtown Plan Feedback Loop will be available starting Monday, December 8 at www.bethesdadowntownplan.org 

The Montgomery County Planning Department recently commissioned Toole Design Group of Silver Spring, MD, nationally recognized experts in bicycle planning and design, to develop conceptual designs for a "cycle track" on Connecticut Avenue between Manor Road and Chevy Chase Lake Drive. These concepts incorporate the latest research and best practices to facilitate bicycle access to the future Capital Crescent Trail, Connecticut Avenue Purple Line station and future development around the station. Review the Connecticut Avenue Cycle Track Concepts Study.

A new snow removal pilot program is being launched this winter on the Capital Crescent Trail. For more details please visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/CCT.
 

Trail users are encouraged to share information on trail conditions via Twitter at #CCTSnow. 

Find out about hundreds of programs, classes and events taking place in parks this winter. Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/Guide

Montgomery Parks has made a difficult decision to cancel the annual Garden of Lights show this year due to ongoing construction at Brookside Gardens. Find information on many other holiday happenings in Montgomery Parks here.

Montgomery Parks 2014 - 2015 deer management program is in progress. The annual program helps to reduce and maintain deer populations in accordance with the goals of the County's deer management plan. For more details please visit www.Parksdeermanagement.org.

Montgomery Parks staff has a lot to be thankful for this year. We want to hear what you are thankful for. Please share your stories at www.Facebook.com/MontgomeryParks.

John P. "Jack" Hewitt, former Montgomery County Planning Board Commissioner, M-NCPPC Executive Director and first director of the Montgomery County Parks Department, died on October 25. A Silver Spring native and World War II veteran, Jack first worked for M-NCPPC in 1938 as a summer job, was hired permanently after serving in the war, and eventually became Parks Director from 1957 to 1971. During his tenure, he was responsible for increasing the park system from fewer than 2,000 acres to more than 20,000 acres.  Jack served as M-NCPPC Executive Director from 1971-74 and as a Montgomery County Planning Board Commissioner from 1987 to 1991.  He was past president of the American Park & Recreation Association, past president of the Maryland Recreation & Park Society, and recipient of the Pugsley Medal, a prestigious parks award. A leader even in retirement, Jack was a founding member of M-NCPPC Retirees Association and served on the Board of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

Watch the videocast of Planning Director Gwen Wright's presentation at NIH from November 5 where she presented on key strategies for achieving healthy communities as part of the seminar "The National Prevention Strategy: Prioritizing Prevention to Improve the Nation's Health." Learn more about the event. 

View the video presentation.

Short video features highlights of the digital map associated with the new Zoning Ordinance. Check it out.