Taff Awardee Recognized for Improving the Lives of People with Disabilities
At the 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fulfilling the Dream community celebration in January, the Honorable Steven Van Grack was honored with the F. Michael Taff Award.

In honor of the late F. Michael Taff, former chair of the Rockville Human Rights Commission and a dedicated human rights activist, this award recognizes the exemplary
efforts of individuals or groups in Rockville who act to reduce the barriers that restrain
the full participation of those with disabilities.

Van Grack was recognized for providing services for those whose rights have been ignored or unrecognized. He is directly responsible for opening up new opportunities for a number of MCPS student athletes with learning disabilities.

Van Grack was also instrumental in changing advertising employment opportunities for people with mental impairments, and in 2005, building sidewalks in a neighborhood where a blind woman was forced to walk her children to school in the streets.

As former Mayor of the City of Rockville, Mr. Van Grack had the opportunity to appoint F. Michael Taff as Chair of the Human Rights Commission and supported his efforts to create sensitivity and awareness training.

Two other individuals were nominated for the award. The nominees were:

• Sharon E. Friedman, LCSW-C: Friedman addresses our community’s needs through her work at the Rockville-based Montgomery County Mental Health Association (MHA).
   
• Marian Vessels: For the past 15 years Marian Vessels has been continuously
  assisting the City of Rockville through her events and training sessions.

Skate into Fun This Month
The ice skating rink in Rockville Town Square has proven popular with residents and visitors alike.

The largest outdoor ice skating rink between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and the largest in Montgomery County, the ice rink is open daily.

To learn more watch a short Channel 11 video about the rink at www.youtube.com/cityofrockville or visit www.rockvilletownsquare.com

Plan Your Next Party at the Climbing Gym
Birthday parties, scout and youth groups, and work teams will have fun, develop camaraderie and build teamwork when rock climbing at the indoor City of Rockville Climbing Gym, 860 Avery Road.

Two standard party packages are available and gym staff are happy to create a custom package to meet your needs.

• Regular Party Package- minimum of eight participants with a maximum of 15. Price includes a two-hour reservation, basic instruction, climbing, and all equipment needed to climb. Cost: $150 for eight participants for City residents; $200 for eight participants for non-residents; $20 for each additional participant.
   
• Non-Profit Party Package- minimum of eight participants with a maximum of 15. Price includes a two-hour reservation, basic instruction, climbing, and all equipment needed to climb. Cost: $125 for eight participants for nonprofits located in the City of Rockville; $175 for eight participants for nonprofits outside of the city limits; $15 for each additional participant.
  For additional information visit www.rockville md.gov/climbinggym or contact 240-314-8625 or climbing@rockvillemd.gov.

Read Rockville Reports Online
Newsletter Available in 10 Languages
Published ten times a year, Rockville Reports, the City’s newsletter for residents, is an important source of information about news, upcoming events and public meetings happening in the community.

The newsletter is also published on the City’s website, www.rockvillemd.gov/rockvillereports, and is available in 10 languages through a Google Translate tool on each web page.

To receive an electronic, emailed version of the newsletter, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/contacts/listservs.html, enter your email address and click Rockville Reports. Residents who sign up to receive the electronic version will continue to receive a print version via mail. The electronic version will arrive via email a few days earlier than the print version.

For more information contact the public information office at pio@rockvillemd.gov.

Take a Daytrip and Explore Maryland This Winter
The City of Rockville’s trips for adults can help you try something new and meet people with similar interests in February and March.

The following trips are now open for registration.

• Eastern Shore Winter Birding- Spend Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., exploring the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on this winter birding adventure. Blackwater is the home to wintering bald eagles, peregrine falcons and a host of other birds and animals. Bring a bag lunch, camera and binoculars. Register for course #37922.
   
• Brewery Tours- If you enjoy fine craft beer, come along as we tour a few of the Mid-Atlantic’s most interesting breweries, Saturday, March 10, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. We’ll go to Delaware and tour the small microbrewery, “16-Mile Brewery,” and then head over to “Dog Fish Head.” You’ll be ready for your first homebrew batch when this trip is over. Register for course #37920.
   
• Hike Maryland Heights- Like history? Like hiking?
  Then join us Saturday, March 24, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. for 6.5 miles of meandering trails around historic Civil War forts and artillery batteries over-looking Harpers Ferry. With a hidden waterfall, this is a scenic circuit trail but the first two miles are steep uphill. Register for course #37923.
  The cost of each trip is $30 for City of Rockville residents and $35 for nonresidents. The trips depart from and return to Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue. To register, visit www.rockvillemd.gov and click on Recreation Registration.