Fresh quality produce will be available again soon in Montgomery Village. Once again, the first Saturday of June is arriving, and this means one thing—the Montgomery Village Farmers’ Market, located at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 9801 Centerway Road, is back and ready to open! On Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., come enjoy this unique market feel while supporting our local vendors.

Make an early appearance to hear Montgomery Village Foundation President Pete Young’s opening announcement, as well as hearing classic farm tunes performed by the Montgomery Village Community Band. If that isn’t enough, market visitors can claim a free limited edition 50th Anniversary Farmers’ Market grocery bag (limited quantities available).

For the sixth season, the Montgomery Village Farmers’ Market will feature local vendors ranging from produce to chocolate and everything in between, as well as special brewery and winery dates. Visit returning vendors Valencia’s Produce, Pleitez Produce, Fetters Fruit Farm, The JK Farm, Rights of Man Farm, Barley Field Orchard, Canela Bakery, The Crêpe Shoppe (formerly Holy Crêpes Food Truck), Killdeer Valley Cookies, Carolina Squeeze, Allen’s Apiary, Bushdogs, Master Freeman’s, Only Nuts, Elk Run Vineyards and Great Shoals Winery. New vendors this season include: Sugar and Salt, Brewing Good Coffee Company, Ecoblossoms Farm, Hidden Ridge Farm and Herbs, Midsommar Farm, LLC, Mom’s Beauty Secrets, Tierra Blooms, Romano Winery, Denizens Brewing Co., Mully’s Brewery and Ocean City Brewing Co.

So, come out on Saturday, June 4 and support the community and our local economy as you enjoy one of many sights and sounds that help Montgomery Village flourish. For more information, visit www.mvfarmersmarket.com.

Even though we’ve had some unseasonably cool temperatures lately, it’s that time of year again—pool season is upon us! And what better way to beat cooler air temperatures than getting a swim in a heated pool? Stedwick Pool, 10401 Stedwick Road, will open on Saturday, May 21, before the other Village pools open. Stedwick will be open weekdays from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. (closed Thursday) and on the weekend from 2 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28 at noon, is one of the most anticipated events in Montgomery Village all year—the opening of MVF-owned pools and what many see as the beginning of summer in the Village.

Apple Ridge, Lake Marion, North Creek, Stedwick and Whetstone pools will be open Memorial Day weekend. Watkins Mill and Hurley Park pools will open on Tuesday, June 21. Each of the seven Montgomery Village Foundation pools will be open six days a week and closed one day, on a rotating basis, for maintenance. Each has weekend and weekday hours; the 2016 Pool Schedule is available online at www.montgomeryvillage.com, and is posted at each of the pools.

Lake Marion, Stedwick and Whetstone pools will remain open through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5; the other four pools will close earlier in August—check your pool schedule for details. Stedwick Pool will remain open through Sunday, Sept. 25—the advantage of the heated pool is opening earlier and staying open later each season.

Residents are reminded to get their activity cards early in order to enjoy the pools. The MVF Office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road, is open until 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings and from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays through July 9. Get your cards or updated stickers and enjoy the pools this season!

by Mike Conroy

One of the best ways to build and maintain community ties is through consistent and steady leadership, where all parties understand the dynamics of the community and can work together on solutions and advancement. In Montgomery Village, one of those important ties is with local law enforcement. For several years, we were fortunate to have consistency with former 6th District Commander Willie Parker-Loan; however, in October 2015, Parker received an assignment change, and new commander Dinesh Patil was ushered in.

Patil brings to the position years of experience in many facets of Montgomery County law enforcement, combined with a willingness to learn and work with the community. For the last 7 months, Patil has been getting the “lay of the land,” understanding the challenges of the 6th District and making adjustments to daily routines to maximize police efforts in our area. This ability to look at all levels of interaction comes from his 23 years of experience in Montgomery County, a length of service he is very proud of.
From an early age, Patil was interested in law enforcement. He says he watched shows like “Starsky & Hutch” and “CHiPs” as a kid, but the sensationalism turned into a real interest and ultimately, a career for this Montgomery County native. At the suggestion of a friend’s father who was a Montgomery County lieutenant, Patil was turned on to the idea of becoming a Police Explorer. He says, “I liked the structure. I got to be in the community at events, in the classroom learning and doing ride-alongs. I saw the ‘real’ side of being an officer, and it interested me a lot.” He notes that being an officer presents unique challenges and pressure, but that’s what makes it interesting.

Once he was hooked on law enforcement as a career, Patil wanted nothing more than to serve where he was raised—Montgomery County; it was only at the advice of a mentor that he even considered applying elsewhere. Fortunately for Patil, he landed a job in the 3rd District and has been gaining confidence, credibility, ability and knowledge ever since. As a problem solver, he would often analyze the success of assignments.  As he rose in rank, he was able to address some of those issues and foster changes and efficiencies that made it easier for officers to do their jobs. As an avid “techie,” he combined his knowledge and skills, taking the lead on bringing the officer video system to the county.

Through various positions and specialized units in three of the county’s six districts, Patil acquired the knowledge and the skills to run a successful operation. When the time came for him to make a decision to move to the administrative side of things, it was a transition that allowed him to spend time with family and help cultivate officers. While he prefers fieldwork and running calls, the administrative side allows him to properly address and dedicate time to issues that can make for better officers and safer streets.
Patil is also a proponent of supporting and respecting others, with an aim of helping to keep crime down while supporting growth. He sees the revitalization efforts in the Village and around the county. “There’s action again in Montgomery County,” he says. “We need to support the growth, and then help secure it. This will help make these areas successful once again.” Patil says, “It’s a great feeling when you drive past something and you know ‘I helped create that.’ I like to be active in the community—I want people to know that I care because I live here too.”

Crime in the Village
“Wherever there is a concentration of population, there’s bound to be a higher number of crimes committed,” says Patil. Montgomery Village ranks third in the number of service calls received in the county, out of the six total districts. He says that given the diversity and socioeconomics of the area, this is not surprising. And, most of the calls can be traced to a few key areas of the Village, where crimes of opportunity are among the most frequent calls. Patil notes that the proximity to Lakeforest Mall and other shopping centers makes for many shoplifting calls, as well as the convenience for criminals to break into cars in parking lots at these centers. He says that because most of these calls are also near a major transportation hub, it makes it easy for transient crime, and more difficult to catch offenders.

Patil does not deny that there is crime in Montgomery Village, but he notes the importance of not letting misconceptions “go viral.” He remarks that once this happens, it’s easy to ignore the facts and not even question the validity of the claims. This is not to turn a blind eye to recent major crimes—including 2 homicides in 2015 and a third earlier this year—but to keep an open mind when considering what you hear. While it is important to note these crimes are not acceptable by any means, they are also not a threat to the general population.

Working Together
To help fight the misconceptions about crime in our area, Patil says that showing and promoting ownership and pride in the community works wonders. He is encouraged by the involvement that the residents he has met show in the community, and urges others to become involved as well. He also says it’s good to be proactive to prevent crime, not reactive to crime situations. For example, Patil lists some good habits to get into: locking car and house doors and windows; becoming more aware of your surroundings; getting to know your neighbors; looking out for one another; and attending community meetings when they are held.

He is always happy to talk to residents and help them understand why the police are working in a certain manner (and not necessarily the way you may see them operate on television). He stresses the importance of providing information, referencing the “See Something, Say Something” campaign, but also understanding that police have a job to do, and knowing your role in their scope of work.

Patil is working hard with his officers to change perceptions and the number of crimes committed in Montgomery Village. He says, “I’m excited to be here and be a part of the community. I’m encouraged by the involvement of residents I see in the Village, and given all the recent positive activity I see, it’s a great time to be here to help make a difference.” He hopes to share his experiences to continue to grow good personnel that will continue to make a difference. “I want to be able to look back and see the changes.”

The 6th District Police Station is located at 45 West Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg. For non-emergencies, call 240-773-5700, for emergencies dial 911.

by Mike Conroy

Senator Nancy King and District 39 Delegates Charles Barkley and Shane Robinson attended the Montgomery Village Foundation May Board Meeting to update the Board and residents on this year’s legislative session. The District 39 team noted that this year was different, as there wasn’t much room to add much to the budget.

Senator King said that due to a mandate added last year, public education was fully funded for 2017, and that was a great step in the process. She also noted her involvement in the Commission on School Construction, which is looking at how to build new facilities more economically; a report from the committee should be available in December. Regarding transportation, King said the I-270 interchange at Watkins Mill Road was approved, though the project will have two exit ramps and only one on ramp.
King, who is also on the Capital Budget Committee, was able to secure funding for a fourth bio-med building at the Universities at Shady Grove. She also noted that Noah’s law was recently passed, as well as many other bills; King was happy with the work put into the session, and the results afterward.

Delegate Charles Barkley relayed that $51 million was secured from the capital budget for school construction and $17 million for Montgomery College projects. On the transportation front, Barkley said a bill was passed to rank transportation projects, giving a priority list to the Governor.

Barkley said progress was made on the returning sick leave bill, but it did not pass the senate, as well as a bill on limits on testing in schools, which also did not pass the senate. Barkley was more successful with Maryland Small Business Retirement Savings Program and Trust, which requires small businesses to set up a retirement savings plan for employees, enabling employees to save money for retirement.

Delegate Shane Robinson worked on environmental bills, including the Pollinator Protection Act which decreases the use of neonicotinoids in the state. Consumers will no longer be able to purchase products with neonicotinoid insecticides at retail stores, to help with the decline of the bee population.

Robinson also worked on the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Act renewal, to get the state to commit to lowering emissions over time. This is in line with Clean Energy Jobs and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS), which defines the tiers of renewable energy. Changes in the emission reduction act aim to have 25% of renewable energy coming from the Tier 1 category by 2025. Further changes will also redefine the types of energy in each tier.

Senator King and Delegate Kirill Reznik sponsored SB591 and HB970 bills respectively, at MVF’s suggestion. These bills will common interest communities, including Montgomery Village, in collecting delinquent assessments. They establish statutory liability for Tax Sale purchasers to pay homeowners association assessments as of the date that the defaulting owner loses the right to get the property back. The bills help homeowners associations reclaim lost fees, which is something that affects all homeowners in the association.

For more information on the FY2017 Budget or legislation passed during the 2016 Legislative Session, visit http://mgaleg.maryland.gov; click “Publications” and then “The 90 Day Report, A review of the 2016 Legislative Session.”