An attempted carjacking took place on Wednesday, October 18, at 11:18 pm, on the 7100 block of Holly Avenue in Takoma Park, police say.
According to Takoma Park Police: “5-7 juvenile males approached the victim, who had just gotten out their vehicle. One male, described as a young-looking black male, wearing a red scarf over his face, pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded the victim’s car keys and cell phone. The victim complied and then ran inside to safety and called the police.
This year, El Nino is in place heading into winter for the first time in four years, driving the outlook for warmer-than-average temperatures for the northern tier of the continental United States, according to NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook released by the Climate Prediction Center — a division of the National Weather Service. Seasonal temperatures are predicted to be “Leaning Above” average with precipitation also “Leaning Above” average for the D.C. Metro area. NOAA’s seasonal outlooks provide the likelihood that temperatures and total precipitation amounts will be above-, near- or below-average (photos below). The outlook does not project seasonal snowfall accumulations as snow forecasts are generally not predictable more than a week in advance.
“These outlooks provide critical guidance on the upcoming season for many industries and sectors of our economy, from energy producers to commodities markets to agricultural interests to tourism,” said Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D., NOAA chief scientist. “With a strengthening El Nino and more potential climate extremes in an already record-breaking year, we’re lucky to have scientists like those at the Climate Prediction Center helping to build a Weather and Climate-Ready Nation by providing critical operational seasonal climate predictions.”
The Outdoor Education Program celebrated its 60th anniversary on Oct. 14 at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center in Rockville. The event included comments from Joe Howard, the founder of Outdoor Ed and from former students who chose environmentally focused careers.
Attendees also planted trees, learned about Maryland agriculture, and explored a variety of exhibits and activities to learn more about the natural world and environmental stewardship. A video of the event can be seen below.
With a little help from their friends at Chick-fil-A, students in Gaithersburg High School’s Advanced Business Management class delivered books and read to second graders at Gaithersburg Elementary School, according to MCPS.
The high school students are members of the Chick-fil-A Leaders Academy and chose to do an impactful project at their feeder school. Richard Munguia, a Gaithersburg High School and Montgomery College graduate, recently opened a Chick-fil-A in Gaithersburg. He donated 800 children’s books; the students bundled them into groups of five and wrote notes to the elementary students.
Boston Market has closed its last remaining Montgomery County location, as the restaurant at 3825 Aspen Hill Rd in Northgate Plaza (Aspen Hill) has closed permanently (photos below). Boston Market closed its Gaithersburg location back in April also closed its White Oak location in early 2020. The restaurant chain is dealing with various issues across the country, as detailed in this Finance Buzz article.
Last January we reported that Boston Market would be opening a new Rockville Pike location, according to signage that was put up at the old Katsu Go location in Towne Plaza (the shopping center that’s home to Navy Federal Credit Union and PM Pediatrics) at 12238 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852. In December, we spoke with a klnb representative who told us that Boston Market signed a lease, but had pulled out of the space. Boston Market was founded as Boston Chicken in 1985.
The full MCPS calendar, with additional information, can be seen here.
Prepare for an epic battle of Old School vs New School this Fall! The Teen Program in Takoma Park will be hosting a basketball game with 10 adults against 10 teens to determine the ultimate Old School vs New School match up! Who will take the crown?! The winning team is awarded a trip to a Washington Wizards basketball game! Teens (Grades 8-12) and adults wanted! If you would like to participate as a player and submit your team, please register on ActiveNet. PLAYERS MUST be registered by Wednesday, November 10th, no exceptions! Additional information below:
Register using your information and select a team number. Inform your teammates to register and select the SAME number as you. For example, if you selected “Team 1,” your teammate MUST also select the same team. Once all 3 (or 4) members have registered, you are all set!You have the option to have a 4th alternate teammate that you can switch with. This is optional and not required. No registration is required to attend the event as a spectator. Come out and have fun with a DJ, food, a 3-point contest, and raffle prizes! Registration/participation in this event is free.
Rockville voters will decide between two candidates for mayor and 12 candidates for six council seats in this fall’s vote-by-mail city election. The six council candidates with the most votes will win the six council seats. The Mayor and Council serve four-year terms. Every U.S. citizen living within Rockville city limits and over the age of 18 by Nov. 7, 2023 is eligible to vote in the city election. To be sure to receive a ballot, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/election to check your address, update your information and register online to vote.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters on or before Friday, Oct. 13. Return your postage-paid ballot to the city. All ballots must be received at City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave., by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 to be counted. Postmarks do not count. Completed ballots can also be dropped off anytime before 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at a secure ballot drop box. Two outdoor drop boxes are located at City Hall and Montrose Community Center. Four indoor drop boxes are located at the Rockville Senior Center, Lincoln Park Community Center, Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, and Thomas Farm Community Center and are accessible only during hours of operation. Completed ballots can also be dropped off from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 7 at the vote centers at City Hall or Thomas Farm Community Center. Same-day voter registration will be available at City Hall for eligible residents who are not yet registered. Those residents can register and cast their vote from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at City Hall.
Barbara Escobar, principal at Neelsville Middle School, received the Hispanic Educator of the Year award at the Hispanic Leadership Awards Gala. The award was presented by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County (HCCMC). Escobar was appointed as principal of Neelsville in June 2022.
Last month, during Hispanic Heritage Month, MCPS recognized Escobar with the following tweet, “Barbara Escobar is the Principal of Neelsville Middle School. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She believes education is important because it serves as the instrument that ignites curiosity, reinforces determination and unlocks limitless opportunities.” which shared the following quote from Escobar, “I take immense pride in my role of serving the wonderful Neelsville Middle School “comunidad” and setting an example of Latina leadership for my students“.
MCPS is hosting a series of forums to learn more about the process for the 2024–2025 operating budget. Join us for a discussion with MCPS leadership and an opportunity to engage in breakout sessions.
In June, Montgomery County Board of Education has unanimously adopted a $3.165 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, an increase of $245 million or 8.4 percent over the prior year. The adopted budget will allow Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to make investments to support enrollment growth and student academic needs, while providing staff wage increases to competitively hire and retain highly qualified teachers, administrators and support service workers. Events for the 2024-2025 operating budge will be held on the following dates:
This week, customers may notice doors opening faster on some Red Line trains when they stop at stations. On Wednesday, Metro will begin certifying operators who have been trained to use Metro’s Auto Doors function. The feature enables doors to open automatically when the train stops at the platform. Not only is it safer and more reliable, but it also eliminates the delay of operators manually opening the doors.
Currently, operators are required to open and close train doors manually. They’re instructed to stick their head out the window, take a few seconds to verify they are opening the doors on the correct side of the train, and then press a button to open the doors. The process can take up to 15 seconds and happens more than 20,000 times a day across the system.