New Village Website Launched

The Village is proud to launch its new website at:

www.chevychasevillagemd.gov

The new website, developed together with a contracted website developer and feedback received from the Board, residents and staff, is designed to be more user-friendly and chock-full of information. The new website features a mobile-friendly display, online service requests and tracking, and the ability to submit permits and Hall reservations online with the option to pay for those fees via a credit card. Lastly, the site features a more responsive content search engine, making it easier for visitors to find the information they really need.

The new site integrates much improved blast email and social media functions by allowing residents to customize the types, frequency and methods (email and/or text) that you receive updates and information from the Village office.

Residents are encouraged to visit the new web site and provide staff with your feedback by emailing the Village office at ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov.

We hope residents enjoy the new website and find it to be a useful resource. Future issues of the Crier will highlight the new and improved website content and functions.

We hope residents enjoy the new website and find it to be a useful resource.

National Night Out Flyer - August 2, 2016

County Offers Tips on Surviving the Heat

With temperatures forecast for the upper-90s to 100° later this week, and heat indexes forecast to exceed that, County officials are urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves against heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Residents are also asked to check on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors who may be isolated to be sure they are not showing signs of heat-related illnesses. County facilities, including libraries, swimming pools, recreation and senior centers, as well as regional services centers, will be open and may provide respite from the heat.

“Summer heat can be dangerous, especially for seniors and those with chronic illnesses,” said County Health Officer Dr. Ulder J. Tillman. “It is important for all of us to check on our friends, relatives and neighbors to make sure they are safe during extreme temperatures.

The following precautions will help residents remain safe and comfortable during excessive heat days:

Stay indoors, whenever possible. Visit nearby air conditioned buildings in your community if your home is not air-conditioned. In addition to County facilities, residents can visit shopping malls, movie theaters and museums. A hyperthermia plan for homeless shelters has been activated and shelters that are normally closed during daytime hours will remain open so that individuals can stay indoors. Progress Place in downtown Silver Spring will remain open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for all homeless individuals.

Heat Safety Tips

Be careful to avoid strenuous activities that can result in overexposure to the sun, such as sports and gardening. If you must do a strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning before 9 a.m.
Libraries, recreation centers and pools are good places to cool off, along with shopping malls and movie theatres. To quickly find the location of public facilities, go to http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mymontgomery and type in your location. The website includes the locations of pools, parks, libraries, regional services center, recreation centers, Metro stations and hospitals. Residents with questions about specific locations and hours of operation should call 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 from a cell phone. Anyone without air conditioning and unable to get to a cool facility should call the Montgomery County Crisis Center at 240-777-4000 for assistance.
Drink more water than usual.
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids.
Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
Remind others to drink enough water.
Avoid drinks containing alcohol, or caffeine or, high amounts of sugar.
When outdoors, wear proper protection from the sun. Light-colored clothing, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen protection are recommended.
Never leave young children, the elderly, or pets in a car for ANY amount of time, even if the windows are cracked open.
The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center staff recommend that domestic animals be kept indoors during periods of extreme heat. Many types of animals can be subject to serious injury and possible death from a variety of heat-related causes. Animals that must remain outdoors need to be provided with shade and given plenty of water. Executive Regulation 10-10AM, Anti-Cruelty Conditions for Dogs, Section 1.0-II-D is enforced in the summer months as long as and/or whenever the Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Warning. This regulation states that, “A person must not tether a dog under circumstances that endanger its health, safety, or well-being, including: unattended tethering of a dog during a weather emergency.” The penalty for this violation is a fine of $500.
Monitor those at high risk. Those at greatest risk of heat-related illness include:
- Infants and children up to four years of age;
- Individuals 65 years of age and older;
- Individuals who are ill or on certain medications; and
- Individuals who are overweight.

Knowing the signs of heat exposure can prevent serious illness from becoming life threatening. Should any of the following occur, get out of the heat, loosen any tight or heavy clothing, and drink plenty of water:

Heat cramps: symptoms include painful muscle spasms, usually involving the abdominal muscles or legs;
Heat exhaustion: first signs are cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, dizziness, nausea, headache and weakness; and
Heat stroke: the most serious sign of overexposure. Symptoms include red, hot, dry skin, weak pulse, rapid breathing and changes in consciousness. Seek emergency medical attention by calling 9-1-1.

For general information about County programs and services, call 3-1-1.

For more tips on having a safe and enjoyable summer, please go to the County’s Summer of Safety A to Z page at montgomerycountymd.gov/summersafety, or on social media, follow tweets with #MoCoSafety.

Hot Weather Tips for Pets; Owners Encouraged to Take Special Care During Extreme Heat and Humidity

The staff of the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center want to remind pet-owners that there are important practices to follow during periods of extreme heat to ensure the safety of dogs and cats. Owners are encouraged to bring their domestic pets inside during periods of extreme heat and humidity. Animals that have to remain outdoors must have access to shade and plenty of cool water.

Montgomery County’s Executive Regulation 10-10AM, Anti-Cruelty Conditions for Dogs, Section 1.0-II-D is enforced in the summer months whenever and for as long as the Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Warning. This regulation states that, “A person must not tether a dog under circumstances that endanger its health, safety, or well-being, including: unattended tethering of a dog during a weather emergency.” The penalty for this violation is a fine of $500.

Just as the public is advised not to leave young children or the elderly in a parked car, this guidance also applies to pets. The temperature inside a vehicle can drastically rise after just a few minutes. That leaves vulnerable people and pets susceptible to heat stroke, brain damage, and even death. Parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does little to alleviate the heat inside a vehicle.

Dogs are frequently left unattended in a vehicle and because their bodies are designed to conserve heat, if they are left unattended in a vehicle they can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reports that animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.

Signs of heat stroke in dogs include: a body temperature of 104 to 110 degrees, excessive panting, dark or bright-red tongue and gums, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, staggering, stupor, seizures, profuse salivation, vomiting and unconsciousness.

The HSUS provides this suggested treatment for heatstroke in dogs: Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her directly to a veterinarian.

The Montgomery County Police Animal Services Division reminds residents not to leave animals unattended in a motor vehicle. Violations of county or state code can result in the animal being removed from the vehicle and the owner being charged with cruelty to animals. The Animal Services Division can issue a $500.00 civil citation to a pet owner for leaving an animal in an unattended motor vehicle under Chapter 5, 201 (a) (13). In extreme cases, the pet owner may be charged under the Maryland Criminal Law 10-604 for animal cruelty.

There are additional heat-related safety concerns that the MCASAC staff joins the HSUS in providing:

Limit Exercise

Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.

Provide enough shade and water

Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don't obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it can make it worse.

A fan won’t help

Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don't cool off pets as effectively as they do people.

Consider the Humidity

Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society of Veterinary Medical Association explains, "Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly." Taking a dog's temperature will quickly tell you if there is a serious problem. Dogs' temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104 degrees.

Concerns about the safety of an animal during extreme heat and at any time can be reported to the police non-emergency number 301-279-8000, or if it is an emergency to 9-1-1.

Right-to-Life Protesters Expected Tuesday, July 26

On Tuesday, July 26, 2016, a right-to-life group, Defend Life, will be exercising their 1st Amendment rights by displaying large, graphic signs on the sidewalk along northbound Connecticut Avenue from 4:00pm-6:30pm. Chief Fitzgerald and several Village officers will be on the scene keeping the peace and ensuring traffic and pedestrian safety.

The images on the signs can be upsetting to some, and young children may not understand them. Also, traffic tends to back up on northbound Connecticut Avenue during the hours of the demonstration. If you typically use northbound Connecticut Avenue in your travels, you may want to consider an alternative route on July 26 between 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm.

Montgomery Parks Public Notification - 2017 PROS Plan Update

Montgomery Parks staff is scheduled to present the Outline, Outreach Strategy and Schedule for the 2017 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan Update to the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, July 28, 2016. Parks and open spaces are essential to the high quality of life for Montgomery County residents. In the future, one of the greatest challenges will be to balance recreation facilities needed for the active lifestyles of a growing population with the stewardship of our park system’s sensitive environmental and cultural resources. The 2017 PROS Plan predicts future needs and determines how to put the right parks in the right places and steward our natural and cultural resources. The PROS Plan will be a guide to meeting this challenge. There will be several outreach opportunities over the next 10 months. Additional information can be found at ParkPlanning.org.

We are asking for your assistance on further distribution of the following announcement. Please forward the following public notice to all public outreach programs and associated community groups accordingly. Any questions, please contact the M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks Office of Public Affairs and Community Partnerships.

Click here for additional information.

Video Recording Available of Planning Departments Short Term Rental Information Meeting

The Planning Department held a 2 ½ hour-long information meeting on Monday, July 18 with speakers from Air B&B and the Travel Technology Association, the trade organization that represents many of the short term-rental online companies such as Air B&B, HomeAway, VRBO, etc. The meeting also included Q&A with an audience of approximately 60 residents whose positions on short-term (less than 30 days) residential rentals varied with several in support and in opposition to the pending legislation under consideration by the County Council. The pending legislation seeks to liberalize the regulations for short-term rentals.

A recording of the meeting can be viewed here:
http://mncppc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1528.

The Planning Department will hold a second meeting in September (date TBD) to discuss legislative options.

For more information, visit: www.montgomeryplanning.org/shorttermrentals or contact Planning Department Staffer Gregory Russ at Gregory.Russ@montgomeryplanning.org.

The Week Ahead: July 24 - 30

Thursday, July 28, 2016:

Time to be Determined - Montgomery Parks staff is scheduled to present the Outline, Outreach Strategy and Schedule for the 2017 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan Update to the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, July 28, 2016. Parks and open spaces are essential to the high quality of life for Montgomery County residents. In the future, one of the greatest challenges will be to balance recreation facilities needed for the active lifestyles of a growing population with the stewardship of our park system’s sensitive environmental and cultural resources. The 2017 PROS Plan predicts future needs and determines how to put the right parks in the right places and steward our natural and cultural resources. The PROS Plan will be a guide to meeting this challenge. There will be several outreach opportunities over the next 10 months. Additional information can be found at ParkPlanning.org.

2016 Resident Directories Now Available

The new 2016 Resident Directories are available for pick-up at the Village office; limit one per household, please.

Residents can now view directory listings on the Village's website. by clicking here.

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