Celebrating 10 Years of the Online Death Indexes Website

This is the story of how a small list of online death indexes became a website...

My grandfather is missing. He's been missing since 1948, years before I was born. When I first started doing genealogy, finding what happened to him became a priority. In the late 1990s, when he would have been in his mid-90s and likely deceased, I began looking for online death indexes to see if I could find him. There weren't many death indexes on the Internet then. The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) was online, but he's not listed there. I had already checked it numerous times on microfiche at LDS Family History Centers. So I started looking for other death indexes. I believe the first full state index to go online was the Kentucky death index (1911-1992), provided by the University of Kentucky. At the time I wondered who else would put up death indexes. I was hoping for a lot them.

As I went along I made a list of the death indexes I had searched and saved this as a text file on my computer. In June 2000 I converted the list to HTML and added it as a single webpage to my German Roots genealogy website, which first went online in 1998. It quickly became the most popular webpage on the site. It seems a lot of living people are looking for dead people.

The original webpage had about a dozen links to death indexes. By late 2000 Rootsweb had put up death indexes for California, Maine and Texas (plus Kentucky). Michigan and Virginia had historical indexes. I also had links to the SSDI, Find-A-Grave and other resources. And I kept looking for more.

By 2003 the original death indexes webpage was getting really long so I divided it into two pages: Arizona to Mississippi and Missouri to Wyoming. I soon realized I would probably need three pages, then four, so why not fifty? So I decided to develop what was once a small text file of online death indexes into an entire website. I set up deathindexes.com in November of 2003 and made a separate webpage for each state. Then two people emailed me asking for a District of Columbia page, so that got added too. Since then I've gotten a lot of email comments, suggestions for additions, and encouragement from people who use the website, which is nice. I also seek out more death indexes as I work on various genealogy projects. And sometimes I just go bounding around looking for them. I use the death indexes website myself all the time. It think it's quite useful :)

The website includes links to death records indexes, newspaper obituaries, cemetery burials and probate records. A few states and some individual counties now have online digitized death certificates that can be downloaded. Links to these are also listed. Updates to the website are posted right here in this blog, which you can subscribe to using a feed reader or by email -- see the subscription options over on the right side or at the end of this post.

I still haven't found my grandfather. I have searched for him in every index listed on the website. Even the earlier ones I know he wouldn't be in. I test and evaluate each link before it gets added to the website. I might as well use him as my guide. This journey began in 1948, before I was born. It began for me in the late 1980s. And it still continues... Do our ancestors, even the ones we never knew, influence us? I think so. Actually I think their influence is huge. Which is probably why we spend so much time looking for them.

You can find the death indexes website at: Online Searchable Death Indexes, Records, Cemetery Burials and Obituaries. This month (November 2013) marks the website's 10th anniversary.

Celebrating 15 Years of German Roots

This month marks the 15th anniversary of my German Roots genealogy website, which was launched in October 1998. The original idea was to have some useful tips and online resources for Americans with German ancestors, including suggestions for researching back to a person's German immigrant, how to find the immigrant's German hometown, and what to do next. Many directories of online genealogy records got added along the way. Those are probably what the German Roots website is best known for.

Directories of Online Genealogy Records
In 2000 I added a new webpage of online US death indexes and it quickly became the most popular page on the German Roots website. Three years later that webpage became quite large so I divided it in half, and then decided to spin it off into its own website with a page for each state. That single webpage on the German Roots website became the Online Searchable Death Indexes and Records website, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next month.

Similar directories of online genealogy indexes were added to the German Roots website, for both U.S. and German records. Here are some of the most popular:

Online Birth and Marriage Records and Indexes (USA)

Ship Passenger Lists and Records on the Internet

Online Searchable Naturalization Records and Indexes (USA)

Online German Genealogy Records and Databases

The military indexes page was spun off into its own website in 2004. See: Online Military Indexes and Records

Wee Monster Genealogy
As some of you may remember, the German Roots website originally had this URL: http://home.att.net/~wee-monster. AT&T Worldnet was my ISP at the time and Monster was the name of my dog, who was wee in stature. That changed in 2010 when Worldnet closed down their personal webpages. Now the German Roots website is at http://www.germanroots.com/. If you still have links that use any of the old "wee-monster" URLs, they will no longer work. But you can find a handy guide with updated URLs of the most popular "wee-monster" webpages here: Wee-Monster Genealogy Webpages

As the German Roots website celebrates its 15th anniversary I hope it has been a useful tool for some in finding their ancestors.

Online Indexes for Cemeteries, Obituaries and Death Records - Latest Additions

The Online Death Indexes and Records website has been updated with links to the following items...

Arizona
 - Arizona Death Records 1844-1962 & Birth Records 1855-1937 (update: year 1962 added to death records and year 1937 added to births)

California
 - Los Angeles County: Downey Cemetery District Records (from the City of Downey, California); See: Online Los Angeles, California Death Records and Indexes
 - San Mateo County: Union Cemetery Burials (in Redwood City, California)
 - Santa Clara County: Los Gatos Death Certificates 1868-1930 (update: more years added)

Colorado
 - Foothills Genealogical Society: Genealogy Indexes (assorted indexes for Clear Creek County, Gilpin County, Jefferson County and Park County, including cemetery listings for the first 3 of those counties)

Connecticut
 - New Haven County: Waterbury Cemeteries

Delaware
 - Delaware Death Records and Index 1855-1961 at FamilySearch (update: more years added)

Florida
 - St. Johns County Deaths 1800-2011 (also has other genealogy indexes; from the St. Augustine Genealogical Society)

Georgia
 - Cobb County: Marietta City Cemeteries (includes burial listings for Marietta City Cemetery and the Marietta Confederate Cemetery)
 - Lumpkin County: Chestatee Regional Library System Genealogy Indexes (includes some obituary indexes for Dawson County and Lumpkin County)

Illinois
 - Cook County: Maywood Herald Obituary Card Index, 1885-2002 from FamilySearch
See: Online Chicago and Cook County Death Records and Indexes
 - Rock Island County Historical Society Obituaries Index
 - Rock Island County Genealogical Society Indexes (includes recent obituaries and funeral memorial cards)
 - Tazewell County: Pekin Times Obituary Search
 - Southern Illinois Obituaries (Alexander, Pulaski and Union Counties; includes obituaries and death notices from: Cairo, Illinois Newspapers 1848-1905; Pulaski County Newspapers 1905-1925; and the Jonesboro Gazette 1858-1939)

Indiana
 - Henry County: Banner Newspaper Obituary Index 1908-2000 (Knightstown, Indiana)
 - Lake County: Hammond Times Obituaries Index 1939-1991 and 1998-2012 (update: more years added)
 - Rush County Genealogical Society Obituary Index (from the Rushville Republican Newspaper)
 - Indiana Resources from the Allen Public Library Genealogy Center (update: more counties added)

Kentucky
 - Hardin County: Elizabethtown Cemetery Database
 - Henderson County Public Library Obituary Finder 1963-present (update: more years added)

Maine
 - Maine Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918 from FamilySearch
 - Waldo County: Grove Cemetery Burials (Belfast, Maine)

Michigan
 - See: Recently Added Michigan Death Records and Obituaries Indexes

Missouri
 - See: Recently Added Missouri Death Records and Obituaries Indexes

Nebraska
 - Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society Index (indexes probate, mortuary and marriage records, and other items for assorted years)
 - Lincoln County: North Platte City Cemetery Burials
 - Washington County Genealogical Society Indexes (includes obituaries and marriages)

New Mexico
 - Taos County Genealogy Indexes (includes indexes for deaths, cemeteries, obituaries and other items)

New Jersey
 - Middlesex County: Willow Grove Cemetery Burials (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

New York
 - New York State Genealogical Research Death Index 1957-early 1963 -- does not include New York City (update: entries for early 1963 added; ability to search online added)
 - Bronx County: Hart Island Cemetery - NYC's Public Burial Ground Database (for deaths 1977 and later); See: Online New York City Death Records Indexes and Obituaries
 - Erie County: Deaths and Obituary Indexes from the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library

North Carolina
 - County Records in the North Carolina State Archives: Estate and Wills Indexes (update: more counties added)
 - Onslow County Genealogy Indexes (includes Onslow County Cemetery Index, and many other items)

Ohio
 - Cuyahoga County: Cleveland Cemetery Interment Records, 1824-2001 (from FamilySearch)
 - Cleveland Jewish Cemeteries Database
 - For the above two items see: Online Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, Ohio Death Records Indexes
 - Scioto County: Portsmouth Public Library Genealogy Indexes (includes a cemetery search, plus indexes for early deaths, marriages and wills, and other items)

Oklahoma
 - Oklahoma County: Obituaries Index, Death Registers and Other Genealogy Indexes (update: more indexes added)

Oregon
 - Clackamas County: Northwest Heritage Obituaries Index (indexes over 16,000 obituaries from over 100 years of Canby, Oregon newspapers)
 - Tillamook County Obituaries Index 1955-2012 (update: more years added)

Pennsylvania
 - Pennsylvania Death Records Indexes 1906-1962 (update: year 1962 added)
 - York County: Bethlehem Steltz Reformed Church Cemetery Burials (in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania)

South Carolina
 - South Carolina Death Index 1915-1961 (update: years 1960 and 1961 added)

Tennessee
 - Tennessee Valley Authority Cemetery Relocation Database (a list of more than 20,000 TN graves removed from areas that were to be flooded or from isolated sites to nearby burial places)

Texas
 - Bexar County: San Antonio's Eastside City Cemeteries - Burials
 - Collin County: Plano Star Courier Name Indexes 1918-1923 and June 2003-December 2011 (update: more years added)
 - Harris County: Baytown Sun Newspaper Index and Hill of Rest Cemetery Burials (Baytown Sun Newspaper Index includes obituaries 1931-present)
 - Harris County: Kingwood Observer Obituary File Index 1993-2008
 - Montgomery County Memorial Library System Obituary Search

Utah
 - Utah Death Certificates Index 1904-1961 (update: year 1961 now indexed)
 - Veterans with Federal Service Buried in Utah, 1847-1966 from FamilySearch

Washington
 - Kitsap County: Puget Sound Genealogical Society Obituaries Index (also has some cemetery indexes)

Wisconsin
 - Wisconsin Cemeteries Database for Marinette, Oconto and Shawano Counties

This is a list of the most recent additions. There are many more links for death records indexes at: Online Searchable Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemetery Burials

Missouri Cemetery, Obituary and Death Records Indexes - New Additions

Links to the items listed below were recently updated or added to: Online Missouri Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries ...

Missouri Death Indexes - Newest Additions
- Missouri Death Certificates Index and Images 1910-1962 (update: year 1962 added)
- Franklin County Probate Index (c. 1818-1860s)
- Marion County: Grand View Burial Park Cemetery Index (in Hannibal, MO)
- Moniteau County Cemetery Burials and Death Indexes
- Newton County: Neosho Library Obituary Database
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch Obituary Index (covers 1880-1930, 1942-1945, 1960-1970, and 1992-2011) update: year 1970 added; See: Online St. Louis, Missouri Death Records, Indexes and Obituaries

Michigan Death Records and Obituaries Indexes - New Additions

Links to the items listed below were recently updated or added to: Online Michigan Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries ...

Michigan Death Indexes - Newest Additions
- Michigan Death Certificates Index 1921-1952 at FamilySearch
- Clinton County Death Records Search 1934-present
- Grand Traverse County: Traverse City Record-Eagle Index (the index includes birth, marriage and death announcements from the Traverse City area from 1868 to approximately 1985)
- Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society - Genealogy Index (includes cemeteries, obituaries, funeral home records and more)
- Kalamazoo County Clerk Vital Records Search (includes death certificates and marriage licenses)
- Livingston County: Brighton District Library Genealogy Indexes (includes: Brighton Press and Argus Obituary Index, and indexes for death notices, cemetery burials and marriages) this is an updated listing with additional databases
- Shiawassee County: Owosso Argus-Press Obituary Index 1862-2011

Online Naturalization Records Indexes (USA) - Latest Additions

The Online Naturalization Records and Indexes Directory has been updated with the following links...

Alaska
 - Alaska Naturalization Records Index (large PDF file) from courts of Juneau, Petersburg, Skagway, Wrangell, Nome and Cordova - circa early to mid-20th Century

California
 - San Luis Obispo County Naturalization Records Index
See: Online California Naturalization Records and Indexes

Colorado
 - Clear Creek County Naturalization Index 1867-1906
 - Denver and Pueblo Federal District Courts Naturalization Records Indexes 1877-1952 (coverage varies by place and type of record)
 - Las Animas County Naturalization Index 1878-1906

Indiana
 - Indiana Naturalization Records Indexes (for about 30 counties)
 - Lake County Naturalizations Index

Michigan
 - Sanilac County: Sandusky District Library Naturalization Records Index

New Hampshire
 - Hillsborough County: Manchester Naturalizations and Declarations of Intention Index 1863-1888

New Jersey
 - Burlington County: Trenton Naturalizations Index 1838-1967
 - Camden Naturalizations Index (for the Camden, New Jersey Federal Court, which covers these counties: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic; indexes petitions 1932-1981 and declarations of intent 1933-1964)

New Mexico
 - New Mexico: Last Name Index to Naturalization Records 1860-1963 (U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico)

New York
 - Essex County Naturalization Records Index 1836-1906 (update: more years added)
 - Madison County Naturalization Records 1819-1953
 - Richmond County Naturalization Database 1883-1959 (coverage varies by type of document)
 - Westchester County Archives Naturalization Records Index 1808-1955 (update: more years added)
See: Online New York Naturalization Records and Indexes includes New York City and State

Pennsylvania
 - Delaware County: Naturalization Records Index 1795-1990
 - Westmoreland County Naturalization Records 1906-1982 (includes digitized images of the documents)
See: Online Pennsylvania Naturalization Records and Indexes

West Virginia
 - West Virginia Naturalization Records, 1814-1991 at FamilySearch (includes a variety of naturalization records for 32 of West Virginia's 55 counties; coverage varies by county)

Wisconsin
 - Green Bay Area Research Center Genealogy Indexes (includes: Brown County Citizenship Records, 1829-1984; Calumet County Citizenship Records, 1850-1955; Kewaunee County Citizenship Records, 1850-1950; Manitowoc County Citizenship Records, 1848-1955; Outagamie County Citizenship Records, 1852-1963)
 - Oshkosh Area Research Center: Naturalization Records Index (naturalization indexes from c. 1840s-1970s for Dodge County, Green Lake County, Marquette County, Oshkosh City, and Winnebago County)

See: Online Naturalization Records and Indexes - USA

State of the County Speech

The public is invited to attend County Executive Ike Leggett�s �State of the County� speech on Wednesday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m., at the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring.

Leggett will reflect on the County�s accomplishments and on challenges and opportunities ahead in the coming year and beyond. 

Attendees should arrive no later than 7:15 p.m. to be seated in time for the live broadcast which will begin at 7:30. Light refreshments will be served following the speech.

Get more details about the event.

The speech also will be carried live on County Cable Montgomery (Channel 6 for Comcast and RCN customers and Channel 30 for Verizon customers) and will be video streamed on www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccm.

For more information, call the Office of Public Information at 240-777-6507.

Council Approves Smoking Ban on County Property

Under a bill passed unanimously by the County Council, smoking will be banned on most County-owned or -leased properties, including bus stops and bus shelters.

The County�s director of Health and Human Services will be allowed to designate outdoor smoking areas on certain County properties. This change was made with concerns on the impact Bill 33-12 could have on County-owned and -leased facilities that house programs used to treat people with addictions. It was pointed out that prohibiting smoking in these types of facilities could negatively impact the treatment of people who are stepping down from hard drugs.

The Health and Human Services Committee recommended that smoking should not be prohibited on County-owned golf courses. The only public course that would be currently impacted is the Falls Road course in Potomac.

• Read more in news release.
• Read the law.

County�s Nonprofit Sector -- Nearly $4 Billion in Purchasing Power, Employs 43,000

A new report just released by County officials reveals that 10% of the County�s workforce is employed by nonprofits, with total wages of $2.2 billion.

Entitled Beyond Charity: Nonprofit Business in Montgomery County, the report looks at nonprofits from several economic vantage points, starting with the fact that nonprofit businesses, like their for-profit counterparts, are employers and purchasers of goods and services.

Supporting data include:

• Montgomery County�s 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits paid $2.2 billion to 43,371 employees in 2011 and have nearly $4 billion in combined purchasing power.
• Nonprofits employ one in 10 workers in the County.
• Nonprofit employment in the County grew 9.1% between 2007 and 2011, while overall employment in the County decreased by 2.5%.

The report was funded by the departments of Economic Development and Health and Human Services.

Read more about the report.

Nominations Open for Montgomery Serves Awards

Nominations are being accepted for the Montgomery Serves Awards and the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Awards that recognize some of the County�s most outstanding community leaders and dedicated volunteers. All nominations must be received by February 25 at 5 p.m.

The awards, along with the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award, will be presented on April 29 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda at an event organized by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, Fund for Montgomery and the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County.

• Neal Potter Path of Achievement Awards � presented in partnership with the Commission on Aging and �The Beacon� newspaper to two residents, aged 60 and above, for their lifetimes of volunteer service to the County.
• 2012 Montgomery Serves Awards � given in recognition of special volunteer accomplishments during the calendar year 2012 in three categories: Youth Service (individuals 18 years and under and/or youth groups); Business Service (businesses or corporations that engage employees as community volunteers); and Community Service (exemplary volunteer service by individuals or community organizations).

Additional information and nomination forms are found at www.montgomeryserves.org or by calling the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Pre-register at www.montgomeryserves.org.

County�s Share of Hotel/Motel Tax to Increase; Will Allow for Wider Promotion of Local Assets, Attractions

Thanks to a bill just passed by the County Council, there will be additional money to promote the County as a good place for business travelers, for tourists to stay while they enjoy the Capital Region and for visitors and residents to enjoy the many exciting events and amenities the County has to offer.

Bill 36-12 increases the amount of the hotel/motel tax collected by the County and directed to the County�s Conference and Visitors Bureau from 3.5 to 7%.

Public testimony about the bill revealed that Montgomery County spends less overall on promotions than all neighboring jurisdictions other than Arlington County in Virginia.

Looking ahead, it was noted that the County must be ready to more aggressively compete for tourism and conventions with Prince George�s County and other Maryland jurisdictions that have, or will have, casinos.

Read more in news release.

Holiday Schedule for Presidents� Day

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Presidents� Day on Monday, February 18:

• County Offices � closed
• Public Libraries � closed
• County liquor stores � closed
• Recreation � aquatics programs open, aquatic facilities and community centers open; all other classes and programs canceled; administrative office and senior centers closed
• Montgomery Parks � for holiday operating schedule on Parks� facilities, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks, tennis centers, trains and carousels, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
• Ride On � Special modified holiday schedule
• Metrobus � Saturday schedule with supplemental service
• Metrorail � Saturday Holiday schedule
• TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) � closed
• Refuse/recycling pickup � no collection*
• Transfer Station � open
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters � free 
• MCPS Administrative Offices � closed
• State offices & courts � closed

*Collection provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday).

Check County's Calendar for more information.

Creating a Safer Maryland Together

In early February, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown joined with County Executive Ike Leggett, Council President Nancy Navarro and the County Council at a town hall meeting in Rockville designed to connect with community members about the O'Malley-Brown Administration's proposed public safety legislation, answer questions and hear ideas for continuing to build a safer Maryland together.

The Montgomery County event was part of a series of town hall meetings scheduled around the state to promote discussions on improving public safety and protecting Maryland families. The lieutenant governor was joined by a panel made up of State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus Brown, State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lillian Lowery and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein. Community members, advocates, public safety officials, faith leaders, and other state and local officials also participated.

Watch the town hall meeting.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Ride On Moving from Paper Passes to Electronic SmarTrip Card

Ride On passengers are now able to load monthly passes onto their SmarTrip� cards. The $45 monthly pass provides customers unlimited rides on Ride On buses for an entire calendar month.  Monthly passes can be loaded onto SmarTrip� cards either in person or online.  When adding value online, customers have the option to purchase monthly passes automatically.  The monthly pass value is then added automatically to a purchaser�s card seven days before the end of each month.

Customers who prefer to add the monthly pass value to a SmarTrip� card in person, may do so at transit stores in Silver Spring and Friendship Heights, at County offices in downtown Rockville, or at various retail stores.

Paper passes, including the YouthCruiserPass, are being phased out.  Passengers can still pay fares with cash, but the Ride On monthly pass saves more than 40% over paying cash fares on regular Ride On routes.

For information, go to the Division of Transit Services' website or call 311 (TTY, call 301-251-4850) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

New Policy Changes at Public Libraries = More Access to More Materials

To help ensure that Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) customers have increased access to the materials/items they need from the system�s collection, four policy changes take effect on Sunday, February 17.

The changes will enable customers to:

1. increase the number of checkouts on their account from 50 items to 100 items;
2. place 30 holds, rather than 15; 
3. check out 20 DVDs (increased from 10); and
4. renew items three times (rather than twice), as long as there is not another customer waiting for the item.

Help Others Learn to Read � Be an Adult Literacy Volunteer 

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will hold an information session for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write, or speak English on Wednesday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library.

Once volunteers have completed the information session, they can select a two-part training session that fits their schedules.

Call 301-610-0030, email info@literacycouncilmcmd.org or visit www.literacycouncilmcmd.org.

Polar Bear Swim for Individuals with Disabilties 



Individuals with disabilities and their families and friends can have fun together on Saturday, March 2 at the Polar Bear Family Swimming Pool Party at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center n the South Germantown Recreational Park, 18000 Central Park Circle, Boyds, beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Pick up time is 9:30 p.m.

Swim a few laps, streak down the water slides, shoot baskets or relax in the leisure pool/hot tub. $4 per person; $6 for non-residents, bring swimsuit, towel and backpack to store your belongings while swimming.

Anyone attending must register � under course #344096 -- and come in swim attire.

For more information, call 240-777-6870.

�Virtual Tours� of Montgomery County Sites from Heritage Montgomery  

It may be cold and blustery outside � so fire up your computer and enjoy a little trip around the County from the comfort of your own home, courtesy of  Heritage Montgomery.

Short �travelogues� -- video clips running from two to six minutes -- were originally part of the Paths to the Present series, which ran on County Cable Montgomery.  The first five installments feature:

The C&O Canal and Monocacy
Aqueduct in Dickerson 

The C&O Canal and Monocacy Aqueduct in Dickerson � view scenes along the canal; hear about construction of the magnificent aqueduct completed in 1833.

White�s Ferry in Poolesville

White�s Ferry in Poolesville � learn about the cable ferry that has transported vehicles and walk-on passengers across the Potomac since 1828.

Madison House in Brookeville

Madison House in Brookeville � discover the now beautifully restored 1790 home that provided refuge for President James Madison when he fled the British attack on the White House during the War of 1812.

Clara Barton House in Glen Echo

Clara Barton House in Glen Echo � take a look at the life of the founder of the American Red Cross and her home which served as the organization�s first headquarters.

Jeb Stuart Visits Rockville

Jeb Stuart Visits Rockville � re-live General Jeb Stuart�s four-hour stop in Rockville on his way to meet General Robert E. Lee in Gettysburg in 1863.

For more information about Heritage Montgomery, visit  http://heritagemontgomery.org.

Apply for Projects that Reduce Stormwater Runoff; Higher RainScapes Rewards Rebates Available

The Department of Environmental Protection�s RainScapes Rewards program has increased its rebate limits to $2,500 for residential properties and $10,000 for institutional, homeowner association common areas and commercial properties.

Residents currently working on a project will be eligible for the higher level rebate.  Residents who have already completed a project may be eligible for the higher rebates for new projects.

Most rainfall on urban surfaces -- such as roofs, driveways, roads, parking lots and patios -- ends up as stormwater runoff, which can carry pollutants into streams and damage stream banks and habitats. RainScapes techniques include rain gardens, conservation landscapes, canopy trees, green roofs, permeable pavements, rain barrels, cisterns and dry wells that allow rainfall to soak into the ground where it can replenish groundwater and recharge streams.


Honor Roll Students Skate Free



Not only do good grades count, they can save you money, as well. Now through March 8, Honor Roll students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) can skate free at the Silver Spring Skating Rink at Veterans Plaza (corner of Fenton St. and Ellsworth Dr.)

Bring your MCPS report card and student ID and receive one free skating pass, with skates.

Questions? Call 301-588-1221.

Public-Private Partnership Helps Build Hope for Animals

Thanks to a public-private partnership between the County and private-sector non-profit mcpaw (Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being), the new state-of-the art Animal Shelter and Adoption Center is taking shape at the intersection of Muncaster Mill and Airpark roads in Derwood.

Mcpaw, is an independent non-profit created to provide financial support for the center. Funds raised by mcpaw will provide enhanced facilities and meet future equipment needs of the Animal Services and Adoption Center.

The 49,160 square-foot Animal Services and Adoption Center is expected to open in the summer of 2013.

Learn more about the animal shelter project and the mcpaw partnership.

MAKING NEWS

Montgomery Named Among 2013 Best Intergenerational Communities

Intergenerational Communities are places that folks of all ages proudly call home, because they recognize the benefits of intergenerational programs, practices, policies and services. And, Montgomery County has been selected as one of the 2013 MetLife Foundation/Generations United Best Intergenerational Communities Award recipients, according to a report in the February 6 Generations This Week.

Other communities receiving the 2013 award were: Dunedin, FL, Itta Bena, MS and Westchester County, NY. More details about each award-winning community and the award presentations are forthcoming from Generations United.

The organization�s website says Generations United is �the national membership organization focused solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies.�

Read more about intergenerational communities and previous winners.

Consumer Protection Director Discusses Credit Score Errors on Fox 5 News 

Errors in credit scores have been making the news lately and Fox 5 News interviewed Office of Consumer Protection Director Eric Friedman about how to check your score, what kind of errors to look for and the role of credit bureaus.

 Watch the five-minute interview.

County Executive Staffer Profiled in Bethesda Magazine

Lily Qi, Special Projects manager for County Executive Ike Leggett, and her husband, Phil Peng, are featured in the January/February issue of Bethesda Magazine as members of the �sacrifice generation.� 
According to author Steve Roberts, those are people �who leave home and settle in a new land�.� However, he adds that they �will never feel fully part of their adopted country. Only their children will.�

The article details the circumstances under which Qi and her husband left China and the struggles they overcame to forge a life for themselves and their children in the United States.

Read �Meet the Sacrifice Generation.�

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Saturday, March 2 -- Public hearing on Legislative Redistricting and Proposed Precinct Modifications. Board of Elections, 18753 N. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. 10 a.m. � noon..  Persons interested in speaking should visit  http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Elections/BoardInformation/PublicParticipation.html - for information and preparation guidelines.  A detailed matrix of the proposed modifications will be posted at www.777vote.org  approximately five days prior to the public hearing. If unable to attend the hearing, public comments will be received by the Montgomery County Board of Elections through 5 p.m. on March 6.  Persons interested in providing a response related to the proposed modifications should submit their comments to elections@montgomerycountymd.gov.


Thursday, March 7 -- Seminar on the Legal Process of Separation and Divorce in Montgomery County.  Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Suite 330. 7-9 p.m. Presented by attorney Chandra Walker Holloway. The seminar will also be offered in Spanish at the same time, presented by attorney Nelson Garcia. Topics will include financial, property and practical issues both wife and husband must consider.  Pre-registration for either session is $10 at  http://divorcelawseminar3.eventbrite.com/; admission at the door is $15, cash or check, only.  Call 240-777-8300.

March 25 - March 30. Civil Rights Historic Bus Tour.  Retrace the steps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights heroes. Tour stops will be: Greensboro, NC; Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, and Tuskegee, AL; Cincinnati, OH and Memphis, TN. Hosted by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, in collaboration with Montgomery County Public Libraries, the African American Employees Association, the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. $495 per person for the six-day tour for a group of four, including hotel, transportation, some meals and snacks and all museum/tour fees. Slightly higher for smaller groups. A deposit for half the tour fee is due as soon as possible. Contact Beverly Marshall in the Office of Human Rights at Beverly.marshall@montgomerycountymd.gov. More information at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/humanrights.

Check County Calendar for information on other County events/programs.

Online Vital Records News for AZ, IL, MO and PA

Arizona and Missouri Online Death Certificates
The Arizona Department of Health and the Missouri State Archives have both added the year 1962 to their online collections of death certificates. The year 1937 has also been added for Arizona births. See...

Arizona Deaths 1844-1962 and Births 1855-1937 from the Arizona Department of Health; early years may be spotty

Missouri Death Certificates 1910-1962 from the Missouri State Archives

For a list of more online death certificates see:
Online Death Certificates and Records

Pennsylvania Death Certificates Are Being Digitized
Ancestry and the Pennsylvania State Archives have a partnership to digitize and index Pennsylvania death certificates (1906-1963).

April 2014 Update: Ancestry has now begun putting scanned Pennsylvania death certificates online (fee required). For details see:

Online Pennsylvania Death Records, Indexes and Obituaries

Illinois: Cook County and Chicago Online Images Removed
Unfortunately, FamilySearch has removed digitized images for Cook County, Illinois birth, marriage and death records from their website. However, their online indexes for these records remain. The images were removed for: Cook County Birth Certificates, 1878-1922; Birth Registers, 1871-1915; Deaths, 1878-1922; and Marriages, 1871-1920. For more information see this entry at the FamilySearch wiki: Cook County Death Records

Copies of these records can still be obtained online for a fee from the Cook County Clerk. And the indexes for these records (and for some later years) are still available online. See: Chicago Genealogy Records and Sources on the Internet

Online Death Records, Indexes and Obituaries - Latest Additions and Updates

The Online Death Records Indexes and Obituaries website has been updated with links to the following items...

Arkansas
 - Arkansas Death Certificate Search 1935-1961
 - Washington County: Fayetteville Public Library Obituary Records Index 1868-2010

California
 - Los Angeles County: Pacific Crest Cemetery Burials (Redondo Beach, CA)
 - Los Angeles County: Harbor View Memorial Cemetery Burials (San Pedro, CA)
See: Online Los Angeles, California Death Records & Indexes

Colorado
 - La Plata County: Animas City Cemetery Burials (includes photographs of the grave markers)
 - La Plata County: Greenmount and Animas City Cemeteries - Burials Map (Durango, CO)
 - La Plata County Coroner Records, early 1893-early 1914
 - Logan County: Riverside Cemetery Burials (Sterling, Colorado)
 - San Juan County: Hillside Cemetery Burials (Silverton, CO)

Idaho
 - Idaho Death Certificates, 1911-1937 from FamilySearch
 - Gooding County Obituary Index 1946-1947, 1980-1991 and 1993-2011

Illinois
 - Kankakee County Clerk Genealogy Online (for Birth Certificates 75 years or older; Marriage Licenses 50 years or older; and Death Certificates 20 years or older)
 - McDonough County Probate Case Files Index 1833-1925
 - Vermilion County: Danville Jewish Community Obituaries

Indiana
See: Recently Added Indiana Death Records and Obituaries Indexes

Iowa
 - Des Moines County: Burlington Public Library Genealogy Index (indexes birth and marriage announcements, and obituaries in local newspapers from the 1830s-1897)

Kansas
See: Kansas Death Records and Obituaries Indexes - Newest Additions and Updates

Kentucky
 - Boone County Cemetery Registers

Louisiana
 - St. Tammany Parish Library Obituary Records Search

Maine
 - Maine Vital Records, 1670-1907 from FamilySearch (birth, marriage and death returns; currently indexed from 1892-1907)
 - Oxford County: Town of Dixfield Cemeteries
 - Penobscot County: City of Brewer Cemetery Records (includes North Brewer Cemetery, Oak Hill Cemetery, and Woodlawn Cemetery)

Maryland
 - Washington County Obituary Locator 1790-2011 (update: more years added)

Michigan
 - Calhoun County: Albion Area Obituaries Index and Riverside Cemetery Records 1830s-present (update: more years added)

Minnesota
 - Wadena County Death Index 1880-February 1994

Mississippi
 - Jones County Cemeteries

Nevada
 - Carson City Recorder Genealogy Indexes: includes birth records index 1867-1957; death records index 1887-1957; and burial indexes for Lone Mountain Cemetery and Empire Cemetery (update: more indexes added)

New Mexico
 - Rio Abajo Area of Central New Mexico - Burial Records (downloadable research papers - 3 volumes) for the villages of Tom�, San Fernando, Los Enlames, Valencia, Peralta, Casa Colorada and Manzano, 1793-1956

New Jersey
 - Warren County: Belvidere Apollo Obituary Index 1826-1914 (update: more years added)

New York
See: New York Death Records and Cemetery Indexes - New Additions

North Carolina
 - Craven County: New Bern Obituaries and Death Notices Index 1751-1927 and 1968-Recent (update: more years added)

North Dakota
 - North Dakota Gravestone Photos (ongoing project)

Ohio
See: Ohio Death Records and Obituaries Indexes - New Additions

Pennsylvania
 - Butler County: Butler Area Public Library Online Obituary Database 1818-2012 (update: more years added)
 - Montgomery County: Lower Merion Historical Society Burial Records Search
 - Philadelphia: Christ Church Philadelphia Genealogy Search (includes Baptisms 1709-1900, Marriages 1709-1913, and Burials 1709-1900)
 - Westmoreland County Estate and Marriage License Search

South Carolina
 - South Carolina Death Index 1915-1961 (update: years 1960 and 1961 added)

South Dakota
 - Pennington County: Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research - Online Indexes (includes: Rapid City Journal Obituaries Index 1970-2010 and Behrens' Mortuary Indexes 1879-1971)

Tennessee
 - Shelby County: Zion Christian Cemetery Burials (African American cemetery in Memphis)
 - Sumner County Genealogy Indexes (includes cemeteries and funeral home records)

Texas
 - Texas Death Records 1977-1986 from FamilySearch (not yet fully indexed; includes digitized copies of the death certificates)
 - Lamar County Death and Cemetery Records Database (update: more entries added)

Vermont
 - Bennington County: Pownal Historical Society (includes cemetery burials, deaths 1921-1980 and other items)

Virginia
 - Arlington County: Arlington National Cemetery Burials (from the official website of Arlington National Cemetery)
 - Fairfax County: Civil War Veterans Buried in Fairfax County, Virginia

Wisconsin
 - Forest County: Crandon Public Library Local History Obituary Index 1890-1925, 1992-1994, 2001-2003 and 2005-recent (update: more years added)
 - Green Bay Area Research Center Genealogy Indexes; includes: Brown County Wills and Probate Case Files, 1821-1976; Oconto County Wills and Probate Case Files, 1857-1952; Outagamie County Probate Case Files, 1853-1958 (listed in the Brown County section)
 - La Crosse Public Library Genealogy Index; indexes obituaries 1904-1960, 1968-1969, and 1983-present; also has indexes for birth, marriage, divorce and cemetery records (update: more years added)
 - Langlade County Genealogical Society Cemeteries Index
 - Walworth County: Lake Geneva Public Library Obituary and Birth Announcement Indexes

This is a list of the most recent additions. There are many more links for death records indexes at: Online Death Records Indexes and Obituaries

County Executive to Present State of the County Address

The public is invited to attend County Executive Ike Leggett�s State of the County Speech which will be held on February 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Silver Spring Civic Building, Fenton St. and Ellsworth Dr.

The Civic Building in Downtown Silver Spring is just a few blocks off the Metro Red Line and is accessible to Ride On and Metrobus stops and public parking garages.

For more information, including information about public transit and parking, call 311 (outside of County 240-777-0311) or register online.

Tribute Event and Day of Service Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.�s Life

Montgomery County will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Tribute and Musical Celebration on Sunday, January 20, at 3 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Although tickets have been sold out, persons who have been unable to acquire tickets may come to the stand-by line at 2 p.m. on Sunday at a designated spot outside the Music Center. At 2:45, all tickets are null and void and patrons in the stand-by line will be allowed entry subject to available seating. Individuals who have tickets that will not be used are asked to return them to the Strathmore Ticket Office in advance of the performance so they can be redistributed.

The Day of Service activities on Monday, January 21, include the annual program held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center from 9 to 11 a.m. and at the Silver Spring Civic Building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a countywide food drive to benefit the Manna Food Center the weekend preceding MLK Day.

See details of events.

Holiday Schedule for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.�s Birthday

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.�s birthday on Monday, January 21:

• County Offices � closed 
• Libraries � closed
• County liquor stores � closed
• Recreation � aquatics programs and facilities open, all other classes and programs canceled;
  administrative office, senior centers, and community centers are closed
• Ride On � Special modified holiday schedule (check schedules at www.Rideonbus.com)
• Metrobus � Weekday schedule
• Metrorail � Special schedule (peak service all day with peak fares; regular weekday fares
  at Metro parking lots)
• TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) � closed
• Refuse/recycling pickup � no collection*
• Transfer Station � closed
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters � free
• MCPS Administrative Offices � closed
• State offices & courts � closed

*Collection provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday).

Public Forums on the FY14 Operating Budget

So residents can provide input to officials about fiscal year 2014 operating budget priorities, County Executive Ike Leggett is sponsoring budget forums during January and February. All forums are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on the following dates:

• January 24, BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown;
• January 28, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center, 4805 Edgemoor La., Bethesda;
• January 29, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring; and
• February 4, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Rd. Silver Spring.

Sign language interpreter services will be provided only upon request with notice as far in advance as possible, but no less than 72 hours prior to the event.  If these or other services or aids are needed to participate in this activity, call 240-777-6507, TTY 240-777-6505 or email a request to karen.falcon@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The County Executive will announce his recommended fiscal year 2014 operating budget on March 15.  The County Council approves the operating budget at the end of May.

Inauguration Information

Information about activities related to the upcoming presidential inauguration can be found on the County�s homepage. Look for the US Capitol icon.

�Godmother of Title IX� to Speak at Commission for Women�s Annual Legislative Briefing

Dr. Bernice Sandler, known as the �Godmother of Title IX� for her struggle that led to the enactment of the landmark educational equity legislation, will present the keynote address at the 2013 Women�s Legislative Briefing to be held Sunday, January 27 from noon to 6 p.m. at The Universities at Shady Grove, Building II, 9630 Gudelsky Dr., Rockville.

Following the opening ceremonies and keynote address, there will be a panel discussion on Women�s Issues in Congress and seminars on legislation in this year�s General Assembly. The event will conclude with a reception where attendees can talk with local elected officials and advocates, and representatives from local and national women�s organizations.

The annual event is sponsored by the County�s Commission for Women and numerous women�s organizations in addition to Kaiser Permanente and AARP.

The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Online registration is available at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw or download a mail-in registration form at

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw/Resources/Files/WLB2013RegistrationForm.pdf. For more information, call 240-777-8333.

Sign language interpretation will be provided upon request as far in advance as possible, but no less than 72 hours prior to the event. To request this or other services or aides needed to participate in this program, call 240-777-8207 or email richard.bingham@montgomerycountymd.gov.

A Busy Parent Multi-Tasks at the Music Center at Strathmore

As many parents can attest, successfully balancing professional and personal schedules requires multi-tasking to the �n-th� degree. This is especially true when one parent happens to be President of the United States.

Case in point: In mid-December, during a break in a dress rehearsal at the Music Center at Strathmore of the Moscow Ballet's �Great Russian Nutcracker,� in which daughter Sasha portrayed a mouse, President Barack Obama worked on the remarks he gave later that day at a vigil for the shooting victims in Newtown,

CT. Photo by Pete Souza/The White House, from Time LightBox.

Executive Speaks Out about Newtown Tragedy

County Executive Ike Leggett recently spoke about the fatal shootings in Newtown, CN and the need for stronger gun control, with Bruce DePuyt. Host of News Channel 8�s �News Talk.�

Watch the video.

Tips for Safe Disposal of Ashes from Fireplaces and Woodstoves

Now that winter is officially here, residents are reminded that fireplace and woodstove ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days after a fire. The rule to remember is: never put ashes in a paper or plastic bag, cardboard box or plastic bucket.

The Division of Solid Waste Services (Dept. of Environmental Protection) joins the Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service in reminding residents of how to safely dispose of ashes. For example, never put out ashes from fireplaces for collection with regular household trash unless they have been thoroughly soaked with water in a metal ash bucket with a tight fitting metal lid (designed for that purpose), or held in place for at least a week to ensure there are no residual embers.

Store any container holding ash outside, away from structures, decks, fences, wood piles or other combustible materials. Ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials even several days after a fire.

Cooled ashes may be brought to the Shady Grove Road Processing Facility and Transfer Station for disposal in specifically-designated ash containers. The Transfer Station is located at 16101 Frederick Rd., Derwood (off Rt. 355 at Shady Grove Rd.).

Learn more about how to safely dispose of ashes.

Are You Ready?

Severe winter weather could hit our area at any time and the key to getting through winter weather emergencies is to be prepared. And, that�s the message the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) wants residents to remember.

To make it easier for residents to remember what to do, OEMHS has produced a series of five new guides for families, seniors, kids, pets and businesses that ask the question: �Are You Ready?� The family preparedness guides are also available in Spanish and Chinese.

See the brochures.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Executive Commends Council Endorsement of Senior Agenda

The Maryland Department of Planning projects that between 2000 and 2020 the senior population (age 60 and over) of Montgomery County will increase by 74 percent. As a group, seniors are growing at a rate more than seven times faster than non-seniors.

This is why County Executive Ike Leggett recently applauded the County Council resolution, passed December 4, in support of the County�s Senior Agenda. The Council endorsement called the agenda �a blueprint for planning for the growth of the senior population and making �Montgomery County a Community for a Lifetime.�"

Earlier this year, Leggett sent the Council his endorsement of the vision spelled out in the agenda. The County�s Commission on Aging drafted the Senior Agenda to advise the County on its policies and planning for older adults and provide a vision that �Montgomery County will be a Community for a Lifetime -- place for older adults to live safe, healthy and vital lives.�

The agenda calls for action steps in transportation, housing, socialization and leisure, health and wellness, communications, employment, and security and safety.

See the Council resolution and the Senior Agenda.

Read news release.

Go Green in �13 � Recycle Christmas Trees and Greens

The Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services (DSWS) in the Department of Environmental Protection reminds residents that they may recycle their Christmas trees by placing the entire tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on their recycling collection day, as part of the County�s curbside yard trim recycling collection program.

After Christmas trees are collected for recycling, they are shredded into mulch that will be available in January and February for residents to take at County-operated Neighborhood Mulch Preserves located at the following locations: Montgomery County Recycling Center, 16105 Frederick Rd. in the Derwood/Rockville/Gaithersburg area; and at E.E. Halmos Park (use the Bodmer Ave. entrance) in Poolesville. The mulch is free but must be loaded and transported by the user.

Get more information about Christmas tree recycling, the Neighborhood Mulch Preserves and/or using mulch or call Montgomery County's Customer Service Center at 311 (out-of-County, 240-777-0311, TTY:301-251-4850).

Guide Released on Procedures, Decisions Affecting Common Ownership Communities

The Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC) has released its �Guide to the Procedures and Decisions of the Commission on Common Ownership Communities.� The publication provides valuable information to County residents on laws affecting homeowners and condominium and cooperative living associations.

The guide is online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccoc. Print versions are available at $15 each by calling the County�s Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636.

For more information, contact the Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636.

MAKING NEWS

County�s Innovation-Related Economy Helps Maryland to a Top Five Ranking in Nation

�Locally led innovation is the key to meeting the challenge of restructuring the American economy,� according to the Next Economy Partnership Project, of NDN, a leading think tank and advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, and the New Policy Institute.

Highlighting the importance of the relationship between local innovation and economic recovery for the country, the 2012 State New Economy Index ranks the 50 states according to their adoption of an innovation fueled economy.

In the index released by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Maryland ranks fifth in the country. Massachusetts holds the top spot, followed by Delaware, Washington and California.
The report states, �Maryland occupies fifth place and Virginia sixth. Their high rankings are due primarily to high concentrations of knowledge workers, many employed with the federal government or related contractors in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.�

The report builds on prior State New Economy Indexes published in 1999, 2002, 2007, 2008 and 2010. Overall, the report uses 26 indicators, divided into five key areas that best capture what is new about the New Economy:  knowledge jobs, globalization, economic dynamism, the digital economy and innovation capacity.

See the 2012 State New Economy Index.

Montgomery County is Only U.S. Representative at International Conference in Taiwan; Environmental Protection Director Gives Recycling Presentation 

Photo caption: CountyDEP Director Bob Hoyt (far left) joins representatives from the other countries that participated in the 2012 International Conference on Resource Recycling in Taipei City, Taiwan.  While many local residents were making plans for Thanksgiving travels, dinner or entertaining, Department of Environmental Protection Director Bob Hoyt was half way around the world talking to an international audience about the County�s recycling program.

Other than host Taipei City, Montgomery County was the only local government invited to participate in the �International Conference on Resource Recycling 2012� and the sole representative from the United States. The focus of the four-day conference was zero waste generation. The County was invited to participate based on a recommendation from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and all expenses were paid by the Taiwan EPA.

Hoyt�s presentation described how the County�s recycling program operates, including our newly established recycling goal of 70%, one of the highest in the country. He provided information on our waste reduction efforts, including the bag law, how our collections are handled, and how outreach and education are major parts of our overall program.

The attendees visited recycling centers in Taipei and learned about the system that rewards residents for dropping off recyclables. (There are no curbside collections.)  When residents bring in their materials and based on the weight of their recyclables, customers receive �gift� credits. With the credits, residents can purchase basic food and household items.

Hoyt said that, for him, one of the most vivid impressions of the conference was that �once the other countries heard about our recycling program, it became clear that we could hold our own with any of them.�   Although he picked up on some ways we might be able to improve, the DEP director said, �As a whole system, there is no one better [than ours].�

Presentations were also given by representatives from Brazil, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Sweden.

Local Diver�s Story Featured on NBC-News 4

The Recreation Department recently worked with NBC 4 to share the story of Melissa Novak a 14-year old National Dive Team member who has overcome significant challenges to dive competitively at the national level and will likely be a top competitor in the 2016 Olympic trials.

The interview was taped in December at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center in North Bethesda where Melissa trains.

Melissa lives in Frederick and is driven by her mother each weekday to the center in Bethesda.  This speaks volumes not only about the teen�s dedication to diving but to the quality of the programs, staff and facilities � such as the Shriver and Germantown centers  -- that are available through the County�s Recreation Department and are attracting out-of-county swimmers and divers.

See and hear Melissa�s story.

Various Media Find a Good Story in the Inmate/Library Book Repair Program

The story of the inmate library book repair program at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) in Clarksburg has spread even farther afield thanks to coverage from various media outlets over the past few months.

Back in October, Germantown Patch featured a piece by editor Tiffany Arnold entitled �Inmates in Boyds Fix Broken Books for �Good Time Credit.�

The University of Maryland�s Capital News Service also picked up on the story in October with reporter Lyndsey Wallen�s �Inmate Bindings � Inmates Work to Give Old Book New Life.�
The program at MCCF appeared on the Post Local �Rosenwald, Md.� blog in November.

That same month, Voice of America writer/producer Julia Taboh visited the MCCF for more than two hours getting footage and interviewing both the inmates repairing books and Warden Rob Green. Read the VOA piece that was published in December.

Good works getting good coverage.

Office of Consumer Protection Part of ABC News Report on Towing

The Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) was included in a recent ABC News feature on the towing industry entitled: �On the Hook: Confessions from the Tow Yard.�

OCP Director Eric Friedman is interviewed about the activity used by some towers of luring unsuspecting drivers to park in no-parking areas, then towing them. There is also a scene shot at a local site detailing that a car can be hooked up and towed within 20 seconds.

openMontgomery Web Portal featured in �Government Technology�

The County�s new openMontgomery site is featured in this month�s �Government Technology�s,� govtech.com online news service.

Chief Information Officer, Sonny Segal said the open government platform has been well received since it was launched in December 2012.

Kansas Death Records and Obituaries Indexes - Newest Additions and Updates

Links to the items listed below were recently updated or added to:
Online Kansas Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries ...

Kansas Death Indexes - Newest Additions
 - Douglas County: City of Lawrence Cemetery Records Search (includes Maple Grove Cemetery, Memorial Park Cemetery, Oak Hill Cemetery, and Memorial Park Mausoleum)
 - Franklin County: Wellsville Cemetery Records (includes Wellsville Cemetery, Rock Creek Cemetery and Walnut Creek Cemetery)
 - McPherson County: McPherson City Cemetery Burials
 - Sedgwick County: Wichita Eagle & Beacon Obituary Index 1955-2011 (update: more years added)
 - Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Obituaries Index 1906-present (update: more years added)

New York Death Records and Cemetery Indexes - New Additions

Links to the items listed below were recently added to:
Online New York Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries

New York Death Indexes - Latest Additions
 - New York State Deaths 1957-1962 (free downloadable data file; not searchable online; does not include New York City)
 - New York Gravestone Photos (ongoing project)
 - Monroe County: Rochester Genealogical Society Church Records (includes: "Index to Episcopal Church Records of Rochester 1820-1851," and scanned images for some other church records)
 - Queens: Cedar Grove Cemetery Burials (Flushing, NY)
 - Queens: Prospect Cemetery Burials (at York College Campus, Jamaica, Long Island, New York)
 - For the above two items (Queens) see: Online New York City Death Records and Indexes

Ohio Death Records and Obituaries Indexes - New Additions

Links to the items listed below were recently updated or added to:
Online Ohio Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries ...

Ohio Death Indexes - Newest Additions
 - Belmont County Death Index 1867-1908
 - Columbiana County: Salem News Obituaries Index 1955-2012, and Grandview Cemetery Association Burial Database (update: more years added to the obituaries index)
 - Geauga County Births and Deaths 1867-1908
 - Henry County Genealogical Society Databases (includes estate records, veterans graves, early obituaries and more)
 - Lorain County: Probate Court Early Birth and Death Records 1867-1908
 - Stark County: Alliance Review Obituaries Index; coverage is spotty 1871-1948; full coverage from 1949-present (update: more years added)
 - Summit County: Barberton Public Library Obituaries Indexes
 - Trumbull County: Warren-Trumbull County Public Library Obituaries Index, 1900-1949, 1970, part of 1980, 1981 & 1987-2009 (update: more years added)

Recently Added Indiana Death Records and Obituaries Indexes

Links to the items listed below were recently added to:
Online Indiana Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries ...

Indiana Death Indexes - Newest Additions
 - Adams County: Berne Public Library Obituary Index from Local Newspapers 2000-2005
 - Fayette County Public Library Obituary Finder
 - Franklin County WPA Death Records Index 1882-1920
 - Hancock County WPA Death Index 1882-1920
 - Knox County: Early Vincennes 1732-1835 (includes some digitized probate records 1790-1820s)
 - Kosciusko County: Countywide Cemetery Preservation Digital Photo Project (ongoing project; currently has photos and text from 66 cemeteries)
 - Kosciusko County USGenWeb Genealogy Indexes (includes WPA Death Records Transcription 1882-1920, Wills, Obituaries and other items)
 - Kosciusko County: North Webster Community Public Library Cemetery and Obituary Indexes