The Silver Spring Penguin

I have to question the wisdom of holding civic meetings only a few days before a holiday. Kudos to those with the drive to attend, but I’ll be straight up: The Penguin staff will be too busy mainlining eggnog to show up.

It’s not that we don’t care. We do, sorta. But after eleven and a half months of big-wig media events, county council meetings, pounding the downtown pavement, and squeezing into the Silver Spring regional center’s shoe box of a conference room, we need a damn break.

Knock yourselves out with this week’s calendar of events:

Monday

7:00 p.m. Silver Spring’s neighborhoods committee holds its monthly meeting at the Silver Spring Regional Center (8435 Georgia Ave). This free event is open to the public.

Tuesday

7:00 p.m. County council member Valerie Ervin (D-District 5) holds a town-hall meeting to discuss public-safety concerns. This free event takes place inside the planning board auditorium (8787 Georgia Ave) and is open to the public.

Wednesday

Curse your employer for not giving you the week off. Thank your employer for keeping the paychecks coming.

Thursday

Ditch work early to beat the crowds at the Colesville Road liquor depot — that joint is closed on Christmas Day.