Thursday, May 16, 2013
Advocates for free school breakfast programs say student achievement is linked to the availability of breakfast in schools.
More schools in Montgomery County are participating in free breakfast programs, a reality that may result in increased student achievement, advocates for school breakfast said. "Expanding participation in breakfast is one of the best ways to ensure that Maryland’s children are healthy and ready to learn," said Cathy Demeroto, director of Maryland Hunger Solutions. "Efforts to expand school breakfast in Maryland are making a difference, and we’re pleased to see that the state is moving in the right direction. Still, we can build on this progress and reach even more children, especially in urban areas." During the 2011-2012 school year, 49.3 percent of low-income children attending Montgomery County Public Schools participated in the …
Monday, April 29, 2013
A work group requested the funds to help start a program that would redistribute wasted food to people in need.
A program to redistribute would-be wasted food to people in need in Montgomery County may cost $200,000 to get off the ground, The Gazette newspaper reported. County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring) proposed the "food recovery" program last October. Inspired by the work of two Montgomery County students attending the University of Maryland, the program would collect unused food from events and businesses, and redistribute the food to hungry people. A work group made up of government and school officials and representatives from local food banks, grocery store chains and nonprofits was established to study the feasibility of such a program last November. The group presented an interim report to the council's health and human …
Friday, February 1, 2013
Councilmember Valerie Ervin is the latest elected official to try to eat with a food stamp budget.
If you have never had the challenge of feeding yourself with only the amount of money allotted to you by a government food stamp program, a Montgomery County Councilwoman wants you to simulate the experience. "SNAP the Silence" is an effort by Councilmember Valerie Ervin (D-Dist 5) to get elected officials as well as everyday folks to empathize with people who depend on federal food benefits, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, for sustenance. The challenge is for a person to spend only $5 a day on food, which is a little bit more than the $4.28 average daily allowance per person for people participating in SNAP. "The current economic crisis has forced more people than ever to ask for public assistance," …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The Silver Spring Councilwoman joins Councilmembers George Leventhal and Phil Andrews, former County Executive Doug Duncan as Democratic candidates, The Washington Examiner reported.
Montgomery County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin, of Silver Spring, announced plans to join an already crowded Democratic field for the 2014 county executive race, The Washington Examiner reported. Ervin joins County Councilmembers George Leventhal (At Large) and Phil Andrews (Gaithersburg/Rockville), along with former County Executive Doug Duncan in the race, according to the report. Current County Executive Ike Leggett could still announce a run for re-election. Ervin, 55, said she'd had "serious discussions" with multiple community members, pollsters and media consultants about starting her campaign, according to the report. Read the full story on The Washington Examiner.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin led a group of state lawmakers to increase funding for a school breakfast program.
Nearly every student at Roscoe Nix Elementary in Silver Spring eats a free and nutritionally balanced breakfast. Teachers serve hot meals in the classroom before the first bell instead of the usual busy cafeteria. It's an unconventional approach to feeding students, but one that lawmakers from Montgomery County hope will become the norm in more schools. Council member Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring) joined students and members of the Maryland General Assembly Wednesday to tout the success of the Maryland Meals for Achievement program at schools like Roscoe Nix. She penned a letter to Gov. Martin O'Malley and State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery that calls for an additional $1.8 million in funding to put the program in 130 …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Ervin: ‘We’re turning on a faucet and only letting some drops drip out of the faucet, and then we’re pretending like that’s good enough.’
Officials, advocates and the community at large need to shed outdated ideas about the long-hailed strength of Montgomery’s affordable housing programs, councilmembers say, and come up with concrete plans that work effectively. More than a year in the making, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs has drafted a 100-page housing policy—the first update since 2001—that puts a priority on: Councilmembers want to make sure the county does not rest on the laurels of decades past, when initiatives like the MPDU program LINK made Montgomery a pioneer in affordable housing. “Before we start patting ourselves on the back and congratulating ourselves for all the wonderful things we’ve done, we still have to recognize that Montgomery County…
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich is the lead sponsor.
A new zoning text amendment that would affect the special exceptions process for gas stations in Montgomery County was introduced at Tuesday’s county council session. The zoning text amendment would apply to gas stations that process more than 3.6 million gallons of fuel per year. The proposed gas station at the Wheaton Costco would process an anticipated 12 million gallons of fuel per year. Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin and Nancy Navarro are sponsoring ZTA 12-07. (Update: Councilmember Craig Rice has also been added as a co-sponsor.) A public hearing will be scheduled for June 19 at 7:30 p.m. The ZTA’s language would direct the Board of Appeals to examine if the gas station would negatively affect the neighborhood regarding …
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
An online tool gives first place to Councilmember Nancy Navarro, whose district will include Wheaton starting March 7.
Of all the members of the Montgomery County Council, Nancy Navarro has the most social media clout--or at least according to Klout, a popular online tool that analyzes data from social networks such as Twitter. A Klout Score “measures influence based on your ability to drive action.” The Klout score considers three things: the number of people you influence, the degree of influence, and how much influence your network exerts. Navarro, who is now vice president of the council, weighed in at 26, narrowly beating Councilmember (and now Council President) Roger Berliner, whose Klout Score is 25. Councilmember Hans Riemer is close behind, with a Klout Score of 24. Adam Fogel, Navarro's chief of staff, said that open communication with …
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Governor O'Malley (D), state and local officials speak to nearly 1,000 people who attended the rally.
- GOVERNMENT
- Ben Gross
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Democratic National Committee held their 2012 Campaign Kick-Off Rally Wednesday at Montgomery Blair High School, giving the party a forum to engage constituents in the reelection of President Barack Obama and Maryland democrats in the 2012 election. Organized primarily by volunteers from the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) with assistance from other volunteers in Maryland, Virginia, DC and Pennsylvania, the event drew more than 1,000 people. It included State Delegates and Representatives, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), Montgomery County Council President Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) plus a host of city and local officials. “We’ve been working on this event for more than a month,” said Susan Miller, …
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Five things to help make your day a bit easier.
1. While this morning may only show some patchy fog, bring your umbrella for expected afternoon thunderstorms. Highs will likely reach the upper 70 and overnight lows in the 60s. 2. GreenWheaton will hold their September meeting at 7:00 p.m. at 2424 Reedie Drive. 3. You can read it now if you missed Valerie Ervin being named to a list of The 100 Most… 4. Bookmark Wheaton Patch so you can easily come back later today to find all the great deals in our Frugal Families column. 5. Check out these great on-line coupons for car repair, international food and billiards at local establishments.
Costco Gas Man
5:16 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I never said or implied they shouldn't get free lunches. You're a pathological liar. more ›