Montgomery County Council issues three October proclamations on breast cancer, fire prevention and pronoun awareness

The Montgomery County Council on Oct. 14 issued three proclamations recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Fire Prevention Month and International Pronoun Day, and heard brief remarks from council leaders, the county executive and several community organizations.

Councilmember Laurie Ann Sales, Council President Kate Stewart and Councilmember Marilyn Balcom led the Breast Cancer Awareness proclamation. Sales highlighted local disparities and screening programs and said Black women “are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than our white counterparts,” citing later-stage diagnosis and barriers to timely screening. Stewart and Balcom described personal and family experiences with cancer and urged early detection and regular mammograms.

The council next presented a Fire Prevention Month proclamation led by the Public Safety Committee and the County Executive, with County Executive Mark Elrich and Public Safety Committee members addressing risks from lithium‑ion batteries. Elrich said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service has “championed the prevention‑first mindset” and urged residents to use manufacturer chargers, avoid charging devices on bedding and to keep working smoke alarms. Committee members and fire officials described recent local incidents, curbside battery recycling options and home‑visit prevention work by MCFRS.

The council concluded the morning proclamations with recognition of International Pronoun Day. Council President Stewart, Councilmember Evan Glass and Councilmember Kristin Mink emphasized dignity, inclusion and practical steps such as including pronouns in email signatures and name badges. Representatives of local organizations, including Living Your Truth and the Rainbow Youth Alliance, described why sharing and respecting pronouns matters for safety and belonging.

Why this matters: The proclamations combine public education and local resources—breast and cervical cancer screening funding, fire‑safety guidance and community support for LGBTQ+ inclusion—that the council and county agencies say will be supported through outreach and existing programs. Speakers pointed residents to county resources (311 and MCFRS materials), local nonprofits and the county’s breast and cervical screening efforts for people unable to pay.

Council and community next steps: Council members encouraged residents to use screening programs, to recycle batteries through county and retail programs, and to adopt pronoun best practices at workplaces and schools. Several community organizations attending the pronoun proclamation offered in‑person services and resource materials.