Author: MCS Staff

MoCo Police

Attempted Traffic Stop Leads to Police Pursuit For Stolen Vehicle Early Saturday Morning

By MCS Staff

Per Montgomery County Police: At approximately 12:20 a.m., officers observed a vehicle complete a traffic violation and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and instead fled the scene. The vehicle was determined to be stolen and a pursuit ensued. 

The driver stopped the vehicle and all occupants, including the driver, ran away from the scene in the area of River Road and Edwards Ferry near Poolesville. No injuries have been reported and there are no suspects in custody. This is an ongoing investigation. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

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Gaithersburg

Maria Membreno and Opioid Abatement Team Honored with Employee Awards by City of Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

At the Mayor and City Council meeting on Monday, July 3, 2023, Custodian/Maintenance Worker Maria (Chilo) Membreno and the Opioid Abatement Team will be recognized with EmployeeRecognition Awards for the first quarter of calendar year 2023.

Made up of peers from each department, Gaithersburg’s Employee Recognition Committee (ERC) reviews nominations for individuals and teams on a quarterly basis. Each individual and team has been nominated by their peers based on criteria reflecting the City’s five values under the strategic plan – accountability, caring, excellence, integrity, and teamwork, or “ACE IT!.” These winners are then eligible for the annual Employee and Team of the Year Awards.

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MCFRS

Daughter Saves Her Mother in Fire That Causes ~125K in Damage and Displaces 10

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a fire at a Cape Cod style (low, broad, single or double-story frame building with a moderately-steep-pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney) single family home on the 9700 block of Dilston Rd, off of Moffet Rd., in Silver Spring on Friday morning.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the fire was discovered by a woman who re-entered the home to retrieve cats (was not successful in doing so) and then pulled her mother out of a basement window before firefighters arrived. The daughter was described as “pretty motivated” by Piringer.

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Education

Watkins Mill Principal Carol Goddard Retires After Almost 50 Years in Education

By MCS Staff

This article was written by Ashley Huynh, Editor-in-Chief of Watkins Mill’s student newspaper The Current

Watkins Mill High School principal Carol Goddard has completed the 2022-23 school year– officially retiring after spending almost 50 years working in education and 30 years in Montgomery County Public Schools. Goddard’s retirement comes with mixed emotions for the community, including herself.  “I love this place.  Love the kids.  Love what I do,” Goddard said.  She will miss the kids and staff, and “all the tight, tight friendships I’ve made in the professional world.” “I am happy for Ms. Goddard to retire,” social studies teacher Lauren Squier said.  “I’m sure it was a very difficult choice for her to ‘hang up her pencils,’ but I’m excited for her to enjoy a new chapter in her life.”

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Damascus

Vehicle Fire on Ridge Rd Sends One Adult to Burn Center

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a call for a vehicle fire that occurred on Ridge Rd. on Friday afternoon. The fire extended to the home the vehicle was parked at. According to Battalion Chief Jason Blake, one adult was was burned and taken to the burn center. Though there was damage to the home, no residents were displaced.

Ridge Rd (Gaithersburg) vehicle fire with exposure to a home. One adult burned, transported to the Burn Center. No residents displaced. PE728, PE732, PAT708, M708 & BC705. @mcfrsPIO pic.twitter.com/jlfbzaesXQ

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MCFRS

Situational Awareness: Private Fireworks Displays in Three Different Areas Tonight in MoCo

By MCS Staff

Three private fireworks displays will take place in Montgomery County tonight (Friday, June 30th). The events will take place at at Manor Country Club (located at 14901 Carrolton Road in Rockville), Argyle Country Club (located at 14600 Argyle Club Rd in Silver Spring), and Norbeck Country Club (17200 Cashell Rd in Rockville, near Olney).

According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the clubs are hosting a ‘private/permitted event’ which will include a fireworks display & aerial explosions. The events are scheduled to start between 9pm and 9:30pm and last between 15 and 30 minutes. While the events are private, the fireworks will be visible in the surrounding areas.

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Education

MCPS: “Students and families may not choose to opt out of engaging with any instructional materials other than certain units within the state-mandated health curriculum as specifically permitted by Maryland law”; New Document With FAQs on Inclusive Texts Published By School System

By MCS Staff

We value the partnership we share with our parents, caregivers, community members, and stakeholders in providing our students with the best possible education, so that they emerge from MCPS college, career, and community ready. MCPS follows all Maryland and federal Department of Education laws and uses a process that aligns with the school system’s core values when choosing supplemental curriculum materials for students in all grades. We encourage all interested stakeholders to read the information provided here about the LGBTQ+ inclusive books that have been introduced as supplementary material for grade level standards instruction.

-Montgomery County Public Schools”

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Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks Honored For Commitment to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks Program Access Office has received a Community Inclusion Award from the ARC of Montgomery County, in recognition of its commitment to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The ARC is the largest organization in the world for people with IDD and their families. Each year the Montgomery County chapter holds a Community, Volunteer and Employee Awards Ceremony to honor those who show a strong commitment to connecting people of all ages and abilities with their communities.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our efforts to support people of all abilities in building active and fulfilling lives,” said Montgomery Parks Director Mike Riley. “Our Program Access Office is a dedicated team of inclusion specialists working hard to make parks and programs easily accessible for everyone.” Montgomery Parks’ Program Access office ensures that individuals with disabilities are welcomed to participate in enjoyable leisure-time activities in accessible places and programs. They accomplish this by offering enhanced staff-to-participant ratio at programs, providing inclusion and disability training for staff, providing adaptive equipment at various park locations, and working with event planners to ensure events are accessible to the public.

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Crime

MCPS Transportation Employees Enter Guilty Pleas for Misconduct in Office and Theft Scheme

By MCS Staff

From the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Michael McAuliffe, defendant, Todd Michael Watkins, 56, of Jefferson, MD, pleaded guilty to one count of the misdemeanor charge of misconduct in office. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 11th, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

The defendant, Watkins, was appointed Director of the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation in 2009. Beginning in at least 2016 and continuing into September 2021, the defendant failed to properly manage the contract for the purchases of school buses and the use of purchasing cards in his department such that Charles Ewald, the Assistant Director of the Department of Transportation, was able to steal over $320,000.

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Events

Laytonsville Independence Day Celebration With View of Fireworks on July 3rd

By MCS Staff

The Family Room Laytonsville will be hosting “The Fourth at the Family Room”’on Monday, July 3rd. Nearby Montgomery Country Club will be setting off their fireworks on Monday, July 3rd and the display can be seen from the parking lot of The Family Room (6820 Olney Laytonsville Rd), featuring “The Best Burger in the DMV” Steeze Burger.

The fireworks display begins at 9:15pm, but it is advised to arrive early to secure your spot. Per The Family Room: “We will be open late on July 3rd for ice cream, Steezeburgers and local fireworks. @steeze.burger will be serving burgers starting at 5p until they sellout! 🍔 We will also have live music from local artist @katekeeleymusic starting at 6:30p! Grab dinner, dessert and enjoy live music and fireworks with us at The Family Room!” Additional events across the county that include fireworks can be seen here.

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