Post Election Thoughts...

Dear Gaithersburg:

It has been a pleasure for me to serve the residents of Gaithersburg for the past nine months. Being a City Council Member has given me a great appreciation for those who choose to run for public office, for the staff that keeps the cogs of this City in excellent working condition, and most of all for the residents of Gaithersburg who continue to demonstrate their willingness to get involved and help create a community that is collaborative, compassionate, inviting, and forward thinking.

I congratulate my colleagues, Mayor Jud Ashman and Michael Sesma on their reelection, and I extend my congratulations to Laurie-Anne Sayles for her election to the City Council. Serving the residents of Gaithersburg as a City Council Member is no easy task. There are long hours, the issues are often complex but the reward of being a servant is great! Those with whom I served on that dais have my respect and my support. It has been my absolute pleasure to work with Jud, Mike, Neil, Ryan and Rob. They are consummate professionals who work tirelessly for the residents of this city. The entire city staff are heads above in everything that they do to ensure our city runs so efficiently. My colleagues and City Staff have taught me a lot, and they have inspired me to increase my service and to remain actively involved my community.

I would also like to thank my fellow candidate and Philadelphia native, Jim McNulty, for running a great campaign. He is a wonderful asset to this community, and I look forward to continue our work together and all of the other citizen activists who help make this such a great City.

Thank you to everyone who believed in me, supported me, encouraged me and stood by me and most importantly voted for me. I absolutely could not have done any of this without you.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you as a City Council Member. It has been an unforgettable experience! I look forward to continuing my involvement as a proud resident of the City of Gaithersburg with concern, compassion and commitment!

OKTOBERFEST

OktoberFest turned out to be a wonderful day! The morning was a bit gloomy, but the end of the day was bright, sunny and humid! It was fantastic to meet and talk with so many residents; to hear your concerns and your compliments about how much you love our city. Thank you for stopping by to chat and I look forwarrd to seeing you at the polls!

Labor Day Parade

In Gaithersburg, the Labor Day Parade is one of the most exciting and fun filled events that we put on. From the very young, to the much older residents, Olde Towne is the place to be to see the various marching bands, floats, dance groups, antique cars and fire trucks, clowns, many community groups, and more!  Here are a few photos from my  wonderful time during the parade 

The Fair is Coming, the Fair is coming!

One of my favorite times of the year is when the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair comes to town. Watching the backdrop of the ferris wheel, roller coaster and other rides pop up on our way down 270 bring a happy feeling to my heart.

Many people equate the fair with rides, games and food, but the history of the fair goes well beyond those things...

This event provides the opportunity for 4-H and FFA members to exhibit their livestock, homemaking and craft projects. They also focus on promoting the science and preservation of agriculture in Montgomery County and educating Fair patrons and the community regarding agricultural related topics.

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair was born out of the desire of 4-H leaders to provide a county show for the 4-H members in Montgomery County.  This would allow the 4-H members to exhibit their prize livestock, garden and home economics projects to the community. Their initial meeting occurred on a cold, March night in Rockville in 1945 with the intent to start a Fair.  The Montgomery County Fair is now today, one of the largest county Fairs in the State of Maryland.

During the first years of this new program from 1945 to 1948, anyone in the community with an interest in agriculture donated their time and efforts to provide 4-H and FFA youth the opportunity to compete for top awards with their projects. Parents of these youth served refreshments for the participants, sold catalog advertisements, built pens and ties for the livestock, and organized the entries. Prize money was provided by the Maryland State Fair Board with the shows being held on borrowed ground.

The Montgomery County Agricultural Center Inc. (MCAC) was formed as a privately operated 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on January 7, 1949, when a group of local farmers were elected as the first Board of Directors by the volunteer membership of the organization. The MCAC had recently purchased 64 acres of land adjacent to the railroad tracks from Herman Rabbitt, a successful farmer and landowner in Gaithersburg.  On June 4th, 1949, hundreds of volunteers participated in after an old-fashioned barn raising and 12 outbuildings were constructed in one day.  The site of the new Montgomery County Agricultural Center was created.   Dedicated volunteers donated time, materials and talent to construct and continue operation of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds.  The Fairgrounds would not be what it is today if it were not for those visionary pioneers who were committed to agricultural education and family entertainment. 

As is true today for the agricultural center, the volunteers were, and still are, necessary to the successful operation of the Fairgrounds, through continued contributions of materials and free labor for the construction of the new facilities, as well as upgrading the old.  A network of more than 2,000 volunteers continue providing their time, making the agricultural center a vital part of the business community in Montgomery County.  The nine day Montgomery County Agricultural Fair that is held in mid-August requires support from over 800 volunteers who assume the responsibility for organizing and producing the single largest annual event in Montgomery County.

The positive relationships and friendly atmosphere here at the Fairgrounds makes the MCAC a unique organization that continues to provide service to the agricultural and nonagricultural segments of our population while educating the public.

So make plans to come on out to the Fair and enjoy rich history along with the food, games and rides; it'll be an unforgettable experience to top off your summer memories!

 

Upcoming Mayor and Council Meetings - August

Happy August everyone!

As we are in the midst of vacations and summer fun, I would like to remind you to join the Mayor and Council each week on Monday nights at 7:30pm at City Hall. If you are not able to make it out to see us in person, tune in on Youtube at "gburgmd" and watch live streaming. You can always check the city website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov for any meetings you may have missed. 

The month of August topics:

Monday, August 6th - No regular Mayor and Council Meeting

Monday, August 14th - Presentation and Tour of Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (Skate Park, Miniature Golf Course, Manor House and Smoke House)

Monday, August 21 - Public Hearing - Resolutions for Charter Amendments, Sections 5 “Salary and Benefits of Members” and 16 “Salary and Benefits”.  Staff Guidance regarding Right of Entry / Franchise Agreement for Small Cell Facilities

Monday, Augsut 28th - No Regular Meeting

I hope to see you at a meeting soon!

Yvette

Concerned, Compassionate, Committed to Gaithersburg

All Is Well

As we are enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer, it is important to take care of yourself to make sure all is well with you. Adopting new habits that ensure well being in our lives can sometimes cause us to be frustrated and dismayed. I encourage you to make small changes over the course of time, set goals and enjoy your life because at the end of the day, all really is well!

Watkins Mill Interchange at I-270

Govenor Hogan, State, County and City elected officials recently participated in the groundbreaking for the much anticipated project to construct a full interchange at I-270 and Watkins Mill Road. The State Highway Administration is scheduled to issue a Notice to Proceed to Wagman Heavy Civil, Inc. You should start to see the set-up of the Engineering Office and the staging area soon. The project is anticipated to take three years to complete. 

National Night Out

Nine Gaithersburg neighborhoods joined more than 16,000 communities nationwide for the 34th Annual National Night Out Against Crime campaign on Tuesday, August 1. These neighborhoods hosted events to encourage residents to become involved in their communities and increase awareness about drug prevention and anti-crime programs. State, County and City elected officials, Gaithersburg Police Officers and City staff joined the residents of Bennington, Brighton Village Apartments, Montgomery Meadows, Kentlands and Lakelands, Quince Orchard Park, Saybrooke, Summit Crest Apartments, Streamside Apartments, and Whetstone Run for a variety of evening activities. Here area few pictures from this year's event...