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The Gazette
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POTOMAC | NORTH POTOMAC
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
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Marathoners from Potomac hit NYC streets with a mission Friendship Circle International works to create lifelong friendships for people with disabilities n
BY
PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER
Although she has run other marathons, Dana Ginsberg of Potomac said the New York City Marathon is special to her. This year she made it special for Friendship Circle of Montgomery County by using her run to raise funds for the organization. “Friendship Circle is for kids with special needs, giving them an ability to have social connections with kids who don’t have special needs,’ Ginsberg said. She and her running partner Rahel Schwartz and Rahel’s husband Jason Schwartz, also of Potomac, ran the marathon Sunday as members of
See MARATHON, Page A-12 TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Losing $11 in monthly food stamp benefits represents “three days’ worth of food,” says Byron Kelly, who lost his job in February and cares for his mother in their apartment in the Aspen Hill area of Silver Spring.
Food stamp cuts hit needy hard n
Federal stimulus program ended Friday BY
SYLVIA CARIGNAN STAFF WRITER
As federal stimulus money dries up, thousands of hungry Montgomery County residents are scrambling to make ends meet. An expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program meant to cover individuals and families during the recession expired Friday. In 2009, President Barack Obama’s stimulus package included a temporary increase in funding for food stamps. All households that receive federal food stamps will now see about a 5 percent cut this month.
The maximum amount of SNAP funding an individual could receive per month was $200. But as of Nov. 1, that maximum is $189. For a household of two people, the maximum funding level, $367, fell by $20. And for a family of eight, $65 is cut, leaving them with a maximum allowance of $1,137, according to Brian Schleter, spokesman for the state’s Department of Human Resources. Jenna Umbriac, a nutrition educator at Manna Food Center, said the cuts in SNAP funding mean participants will have to make difficult decisions about their food budget. Since protein is often the most expensive food item on a shopping list, meats like chicken and beef are going to be the first items a cash-strapped resident will cut out of their diet.
“It just means a bigger pot of rice and beans on the stove, or something else that lasts longer,” Umbriac said. Individuals and families tend to show up at Manna for food assistance toward the end of the month as their SNAP funding and other resources begin to run dry. About 70,500 people are participating in the SNAP program in Montgomery County as of September, Schleter said. In 2007, that number was less than 25,000. SNAP participants must meet income and deduction requirements to be eligible for the program. Across the state, 795,795 Maryland residents have enrolled in the food stamp program as of
See CUTS, Page A-12
Bill would require affordable health insurance n
Plan would apply to new contracts and renewals in Montgomery County BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
After talking with workers during recent strikes at two garbage-collection companies, Montgomery County Council President Nancy Navarro is preparing a bill requiring many county contractors to provide affordable health insur-
NEWS
RECIPE FOR CHANGE Forum focuses on healthful food in Montgomery County Public Schools.
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ance to their employees. Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring sent a memorandum to other council members on Oct. 30 asking them to consider signing on as co-sponsors. The bill would amend the county’s living wage law that requires companies that have contracts with the county to pay at least $13.95 an hour. The change would require county contractors to provide affordable health insurance for employees who work on county contracts for more than 30 hours
per week and who make less than twice the living wage. Navarro is also looking at possible legislation to grant preferences to companies bidding on a county contract if they already provide affordable benefits to their employees. Both bills would apply to new contracts, as well as existing contracts that are renewed, according to the letter. Workers at Potomac Disposal in Gaithersburg reached an agreement with the company on Oct. 28 after a 10-day strike.
SPORTS
THIS YEAR, IT’S ABOUT THE RUNNERS Saturday’s state crosscountry meet focuses on runners, not hills.
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PHOTO FROM DANA GINSBURG
Jason Schwartz, Rahel Schwartz (center) and Dana Ginsburg of Potomac wait on Staten Island for the start of Sunday’s New York City Marathon. The three ran the race as a fundraiser for the Montgomery County chapter of Friendship Circle International.
Potomacschools on waiting list for renovations Community can comment on proposal Monday, Nov. 14 n
The agreement provides a pay increase, one holiday, and paid sick and vacation days for workers. The two sides weren’t able to agree on a plan for affordable health insurance. Workers at Unity Disposal, based in Laurel, also returned to work after an 11-day strike that began after about 70 workers were terminated. The employees had refused to go to work to protest the firing of a co-worker who criticized
When Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr announced his recommendations for a $1.55 billion, six-year plan to add hundreds of elementary school classrooms to ease school crowding, three Potomac schools learned that their expansion/renovation projects would be put on hold. Potomac, Wayside and Cold Spring elementary schools had planned projects postponed
See INSURANCE, Page A-12
See SCHOOLS, Page A-12
Around the County Automotive Business Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion School News Sports Please
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BY
PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER
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