The featured guests on this week’s En Sintonía con el Concejo del Condado de Montgomery (In Tune with the Montgomery County Council) will include Carlos Cortes-Vazquez, Montgomery County police officer; Ana Samuels, community health nurse at Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Disease Control and Immunization Program; Edith Lozada, Spanish communications specialist and Spanish language public information officer at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); and Rina Aranda, member of Comunidades Transnacionales Salvadoreñas (COTSA).  The show will air on Friday, Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. on Radio America (WILC 900AM) and is streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. 

The radio program will start with a discussion of the 2024 National Night Out, an annual event celebrated by millions of people across the U.S. that focuses on enhancing the relationship between law enforcement and communities. Officer Cortes will share the details of the festivities that will take place throughout Montgomery County on Aug. 6. Additionally, this interview will feature all the details about the Montgomery County Police Department’s (MCPD) efforts to combat auto thefts. Starting on Friday, Aug. 2 until Sunday, Aug. 4, MCPD will distribute free steering wheel locks to Hyundai owners from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville. 

The Back-to-School vaccination clinics offered by DHHS will be the focus of the second half of the show. These clinics are available to school-aged children (from pre-K through high school) at various locations throughout the County until the end of September. A parent must be present and bring an ID and immunization record if available. The vaccines offered include Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), meningococcal (MCV4), meningococcal B, human papillomavirus (HPV), varicella (chickenpox), and COVID-19. 

The household application for Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) for the 2024-2025 school year is now open for MCPS families, as the start of the school year approaches. Online applications are available for FARMS. It is important to note that meal benefit eligibility from last school year will remain current only through the first 30 scheduled school days or until a 2024-2025 application is processed. Montgomery County schools serve breakfast and lunch every school day. Ms. Lozada will provide further details. 

The radio broadcast will conclude by providing details about the 13th Salvadoran American Festival, scheduled to take place on Sunday, Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This annual, free event will be held at Montgomery College in Rockville. The festivities will include family-oriented entertainment, live music performances, traditional Salvadoran cuisine, raffles, and more. Ms. Aranda will share all the exciting details. 

The Montgomery County Council and Radio America have entered a partnership that provides the Latino community with key information on issues and programs. The partnership also provides a forum for residents to express their views and ask questions. The partnership includes the weekly one-hour show each Friday on the Washington metropolitan area’s most popular Spanish language station. 

Each week, the show features host Marcela Rodriguez, Council program manager and public information officer, and guests talking about important issues before the Council and provides information about programs offered by the County to help residents.

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