Press Releases - County Council

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 Oscar Méndez, program manager with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS); Dr. Gilberto Zelaya, community engagement and public information officer at the Montgomery County Board of Elections, and Febe Huezo, outreach services specialist with Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). The show will air on Friday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. on Radio America (WILC 900AM) and is streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. 

This week’s edition of En Sintonía spotlights Fire Prevention Month and highlights the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service’s (MCFRS) ongoing efforts to educate our community about fire safety, especially focusing on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries.  

Mr. Méndez will share details about the national campaign, “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,” which aims to raise awareness about the proper handling of these common household power sources. The campaign emphasizes three key actions: buy, charge, and recycle safely. 

As part of Fire Prevention Month, MCFRS has also launched “Take 10 Minutes on 10/10,” a community-driven initiative encouraging Montgomery County residents to spend just 10 minutes on Oct. 10 completing important fire safety tasks. These include: 

• Testing smoke alarms; 

• Reviewing or creating a home fire escape plan; and 

• Refreshing their emergency supply kit. 

The goal is to help foster a culture of fire prevention and preparedness in every household. Additionally, MCFRS invites residents to call 311 to schedule a free home safety check. 

The show will continue to highlight important county events, including the Montgomery County Board of Elections Open House on Monday, Oct. 13 at 18753 N. Frederick Ave. (Suite 210) in Gaithersburg. Tours will depart at the top of each hour from 1 to 4 p.m., featuring presentations on voter services, ballot processing, outreach, IT operations, and the new training and canvass center. This event is being held in preparation for the upcoming primary elections, offering the public a behind‑the‑scenes look at how elections are organized and operated in Montgomery County. 

The show will conclude by highlighting Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. MCPL will host a variety of events throughout the month, including Spanish story times, live performances, and traditional Cuban music and Latin jazz dance showcases. Visit the MCPL calendar of events to learn more. 

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.