Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest
The Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest is one of the most popular races each summer in the Washington, D.C. area. The event consists of the 8-kilometer race (including a wheelchair division) through neighborhood streets and around the Montgomery College campus, and a 1K fun run followed by music, refreshments, and an overall rockin’ good evening. The festival for the 21st running of Rockville’s summer night block party begins on Saturday, July 15 at 7 p.m. Proceeds go to support the Rockville Youth Recreation Fund. Register online through July 14 for $27 at www.mcrrc .org, or on Saturday for $30 before 4 p.m., or $35 after 4 p.m., if space allows.
Whitewater Festival Returns
The Potomac Whitewater Festival returns to the Great Falls portion of the Potomac River on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16. The event features paddle clinics and demos, and races featuring both local paddlers and professional boaters who tour nationally. See www.potomacfest.com for a schedule and list of events.
Canal Boat Benefit at Toll Brothers
The Potomac Chamber of Commerce has a canal boat fundraising event tentatively scheduled for Thursday, July 27, from 7-10 p.m., when the Toll Brothers will host a Red Carpet Gala and Casino Night. All proceeds from the event will go to the Canal Boat Fund, which will bring a double-decker 18th-century-style passenger boat to the C&O Canal at Great Falls in late August or early September.
See www.BuildACanalBoat.com.
County Animal Shelter Begins New Operating Hours
The Montgomery County Animal Shelter has changed the hours of operation open to the public. The shelter, previously closed on Sundays, is now open on Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The shelter is now closed on Wednesdays; its adoption visiting hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are now from 12-7 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday 12-5 p.m. "With the new Sunday hours, we are hopeful that more families will visit the shelter to view the animals available for adoption and save a life, rather than purchase an animal from a store or breeder," said a press release from Montgomery County’s media service division.
County Approves 'Clean Energy Rewards' Plan
The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an executive regulation designed to implement a county "Clean Energy Rewards" program to give incentives to residents who use clean, renewable energy. The Council also amended the county’s energy policy to double the county government’s purchase of renewable energy from 10 percent now to 20 percent by 2011.
The Council estimate is that up to 6000 county residents could be eligible for the awards program and would receive either a direct county payment of up to $60 per year or the same amount credited against their utility bills. Wind power, energy from landfill gas, and solar energy are among the energy sources that would be eligible for the rewards program. Businesses are also eligible for the program.
Utilities and environmentalists have voiced support for the initiative, which is the first such legislation in the nation. The projected start date for the program, which will be administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, is March 2007.
Businesses and individuals can sign up to buy clean energy through the following vendors:
* PEPCO Energy Services
www.pepcoenergy.com
* Washington Gas Energy Services
www.wges.com
* The Clean Energy Partnership
301-754-0430
www.cleanenergypartnership.org