Hucker to introduce bill to ban teens, children from using tanning beds
The local bill proposed by Montgomery County Council member Tom Hucker would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from using a tanning device. It would also prohibit individuals from using tanning devices more than once every 24 hours and require tanning facilities to sanitize tanning devices after each use. The legislation, scheduled to be introduce Tuesday, comes after the Food and Drug Administration in December proposed banning minors from using tanning salons and also called for new rules that would require tanning businesses to notify customers over the age of 18 about the risk of cancer and severe burns from using tanning equipment.
County Council committee to discuss Westbard Sector Plan
The council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee will consider the controversial Westbard neighborhood land use plan for the first time Monday afternoon. The committee is scheduled to discuss transportation and education issues related to the plan during the 2:30 p.m. meeting at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Council staff has concluded that there are sufficient opportunities to add school capacity in the area to accommodate new students, even if all the proposed housing in the Westbard Plan is built.
Montgomery County Board of Education candidates to appear at forum Monday night
The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County is hosting the forum that will likely feature the nine candidates running for the three school board seats up for election this year. At-large board member Phil Kauffman is facing four challengers for his seat, including former student board member Sebastian Johnson, Montgomery Village resident Mike Ibanez, longtime D.C. education official Gwendolyn Love Kimbrough and former MCPS principal Jeanette Dixon. Incumbent Rebecca Smondrowski is being challenged by Bethesda resident Brandon Rippeon in District 2 and in Silver Spring’s District 4, Shebra Evans and Anjali Phukan are vying for retiring board member Christopher Barclay’s seat. The 6:30 p.m. forum takes place at the Carver Educational Services Center Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville.
Planning Board public hearing scheduled to discuss updated countywide trails plan
Residents are invited to offer their opinions on the Countywide Park Trails Plan, a system of trails dubbed “Loops and Links” that’s designed to connect several popular trails in the county. This will be the public’s final opportunity to comment on the plan, which guides trail planning in the county, before the board begins its work sessions to examine it. The public hearing is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Thursday in the board’s auditorium at 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring.
Warmer temperatures expected
The early part of this week should be seasonably warm, with high temperatures reaching 65 degrees Monday, 59 degrees Tuesday and 54 degrees Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Showers are likely Wednesday and then temperatures are expected to cool, with a nighttime low dropping to 29 degrees. Thursday is expected to be sunny with a high of 43 degrees. Then there’s a chance of snow Thursday night into Friday when temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-30s.
