MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight, Writes Letter to Farquhar Middle School Community Regarding Allegations Made Against The School’s Former Principal

Published August 14, 2023 at 9:17PM

On Friday, August 11, the Washington Post released an article alleging that Paint Branch High School principal (previously Farquhar Middle School principal) Dr. Joel Beidleman had been reported to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) 18 times in seven years and detailed alleged sexual harassment, workplace bullying, and other inappropriate conduct at multiple schools, spanning over a decade. The article states that Beidleman was placed on leave by MCPS and that the school system will launch an “independent, external investigation.” Earlier today, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight sent a letter to the Farquhar Middle School community. The letter can be seen in full below:

Dear Farquhar Middle School Staff, Students and Families,

Education

MCEA President Responds to Allegations Made Against MCPS Principal

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 6:29PM

The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) President, Jennifer Martin, has released a statement in response to the allegations made against an MCPS principal. The full statement by the head of the teacher’s union can be seen below:

“The recent exposure of allegations against a principal in MCPS shines a light on the school system’s failure to fulfill its fundamental duty of protecting staff, students, and the school community from bullying and harassment. When members raised their concerns to us, I met with them, and provided guidance and assistance from union staff to again bring their complaints to MCPS management’s attention.

MCFRS

Driver Crashes Into House in Montgomery Village

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 5:37PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 19000 block of Crested Iris Way in Montgomery Village for the report of a vehicle driven into a townhome. The incident occurred around 5pm on Monday, August 14. There were no injuries reported and no patients were transported. Montgomery County Police are currently on scene.

Ashton

Fatal House Fire in North Carolina Kills Two Adults and One Teenager From Montgomery County; Three Others Injured

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 5:03PM

At approximately 2:25am early Friday morning, The Kill Devil Hills Fire Department in North Carolina responded to a report of a structure fire. According to the city’s public information officer, Rachel Tackett, crews contained and extinguished the blaze, which had fully engulfed an Outer Banks rental home and damaged two neighboring properties. Unfortunately, three people were killed and three others were injured due to the fire.

The deceased were identified on Monday as 64-year-old Colleen Cohan and her husband William Deeg, 68, of Ashton, Maryland, and 13-year-old Sienna Farr of Silver Spring, Maryland. The three people injured were 48-year-old Laura Volk, 16-year-old Sadie Farr and 55-year-old David Brewer, all of Silver Spring. Volk is Sienna and Sadie’s mother, and the girlfriend of Brewer, per Kill Devil Hills officials. Various reports state that Volk and Brewer remain hospitalized in the burn unit, while Farr has been released. According to wric.com, “A family member’s social media post indicated that recovery for Volk and Brewer could take several months, and they will eventually be transferred to a hospital closer to their home in the suburbs of Washington.” More, per the Town of Kill Devil Hills below:

Education

Thousands Donated to Local Teachers Through the Adopt-A-Teacher Facebook Group

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 3:29PM

In 2022, after seeing a similar Facebook group in Frederick County reach over 3,000 members, MCPS teachers Jennifer Wilson and Kate Stone decided to create a Montgomery County version that allows community members to “adopt” an MCPS teacher and support them buy purchasing items for the teacher off of the teacher’s Amazon wishlist. “People have always want to donate to teachers, so we just wanted to make it easier for them to be able to do it.” Wilson told us. In less than three days, the Facebook group had over 1,000 members. The group is still going strong with almost 4,000 members and thousands of dollars in donations to local teachers.

Here’s how it works: Teachers create and share their public wishlist in a post, making sure to include the wishlist link in a post. Teachers are encouraged to include information about themselves and the school they teach at. Community members then have the option to purchase one or more items from any wishlist they choose to support. Community members are encouraged to let the teacher know they purchased something from the wishlist. If they choose to, multiple people can adopt one teacher and one person can adopt multiple teachers. Everyone is encouraged to be nice to each other.

MoCo

Two New Parks Added to Annual Deer Population Management Operations in Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 2:51PM

Montgomery Parks‘ annual deer population management program will take place from September 2023 into March 2024, across 48 parks. Two new park locations are being added to the deer management efforts this year. Montgomery Parks will notify residents adjacent to newly added/adjusted park locations by mail, signage, and other electronic forms of communication such as email and social media posts. A complete schedule of program dates and locations is available online. This year, archery-managed hunts are being added to the following park locations:

In addition to these expansions, one deer population management park location (3 park units) will also see an adjustment to the strategy. North Germantown Greenway Stream Valley Park (Brink Rd. & Wildcat Rd. southeast)/Great Seneca Stream Valley Park Unit 2/Blunt Rd. Local Park will transition from firearms-managed hunting to archery-managed hunting. Initiated 27 years ago, the program addresses deer populations in many areas of the county that result in deer-automobile accidents, excessive damage to the environment, private landscapes, and agriculture and concerns over disease. Once programming is implemented and established in these areas, routine maintenance is required to balance deer with available habitat and human land uses.

North Bethesda

Paul Mitchell Partner School, Hair Expressions, is Closing its Rockville Campus After 38 Years

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 12:41PM

After 38 years, Hair Expressions, A Paul Mitchell Partner School has announced that it will be closing its Rockville campus (12450 Parklawn Drive). They will continue to offer their educational programs at their Jessup Campus (near Columbia, MD).

Hair Expressions – Paul Mitchell Partner School, has made its home in an 11,500-square-foot facility in Montgomery County since the the mid 80s. The school has been located just across the street from the Twinbrook Metro station, and is known for its “breathtaking monuments, free attractions, and endless calendar of special events.” Through team meetings, public outreach, and fundraising events, their Future Professionals have had the opportunity to socialize with like-minded students, make a positive impact on the Rockville community, and build leadership and teamwork skills that will help prepare them for a successful career in the beauty industry…all while offering discounted services to the community.

Maryland

Maryland is Middle of The Pack in 2023 ‘Best States to Live In’ List

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 9:02AM

With around 8.6% of Americans having moved last year, slightly more than the previous year, but still below pre-pandemic levels, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best States to Live in, with Maryland coming in 27th between Connecticut (26) and Washington (28). Maryland’s highest ratings came in the Safety (14th) and Education & Health (18th) categories, with its lowest ranking coming in the Affordability category (38th).

To help Americans settle down in the best and most affordable place possible, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 51 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and income growth to the education rate and quality of hospitals:

Gaithersburg

MCFRS Respond to House Fire in Laytonsville Area Sunday Night

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 8:28AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a house fire at approximately 9:30pm on the 7600 block of Hawkins Creamery Rd near Laytonsville on Sunday night.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer and Assistant Chiefs James Carpenter and David Pazos, crews from Montgomery and Howard County responded last night for an outside fire that extended to the roof of the single family home, before crews were able to extinguish it. A family of five (two adults and three children) along with two dogs and a cat have been displaced, but were uninjured. One firefighter was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

DMV

Severe Storms Possible Today (Monday, August 14th) in DC Region; “Damaging Winds, Large Hail, Isolated Tornado All Possible Threats”

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 7:58AM

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), “Hot and humid air paired with an approaching warm front will result in thunderstorms later today. Some storms may become severe, with damaging winds, large hail, and an isolated tornado all possible threats.”

Temperatures are expected to approach 90° and feel warmer due to humidity. Chance for rain and/or thunderstorms increases in the afternoon and into the evening hours. Per the NWS, all of Maryland and Northern VA are in the ‘Slight Risk’ category for severe weather. Featured photo courtesy of the National Weather Service.

MCFRS

FEMA Activates Two MCFRS Canine Handler Teams To Maui

By MCS Staff

Published August 13, 2023 at 10:30PM

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has activated two Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) canine handler teams to Maui on Sunday to aid in recovery, according to Assistant Chief David Pazos. The two teams are Alan Rossi with his dog Phirst and John Gilkey with his dog Piper. They arrived in Hawaii on Sunday night.

The death toll in the Maui fires climbed to at least 93 on Saturday, which makes this Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster and the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history. According to Firehouse.com, the economic losses suffered due to the fire has approached $6 billion. “FEMA said on social media Saturday that than 150 people were working on search and rescue crews with more on the way as they continued this weekend to comb through the wreckage on the western shore of Maui, primarily in the devastated city of Lahaina, as well as in the Kihei area and the island’s upcountry hills around Kula.”