The Town of Poolesville will be replacing several water main valves throughout the distribution system. The work is scheduled to begin May 22 and last at least two weeks. The water system will be shut down intermittingly during the replacement process.
Not all residents will be impacted. Once the water service is restored, residents should bleed any air in the lines by running a bathtub for a few minutes. Per the Town of Poolesville, “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Per the City of Gaithersburg: An official proclamation designating June as Pride Month in the City of Gaithersburg will be presented at the Mayor and City Council meeting on Monday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend the meeting, watch it live on YouTube or watch it via Zoom by registering here.
Accepting the proclamation is Emily McDermott, a social studies teacher and sponsor of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at Northwest High School. Emily encourages students to take what they learn in the classroom and use it to create a positive change in their community. Some examples of projects that students have initiated include starting a rainbow library, implementing gender neutral bathrooms, participation in Diversity Night, holding a Pronoun Day, and working with the MCPS Bridge to Wellness Program.
Per the Office of the U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Daniel Morozewicz, age 38, of Frederick, Maryland, to 42 months in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for possession of child pornography. Judge Gallagher also ordered that Morozewicz must pay $14,000 in restitution.
According to his guilty plea, from September 2020 to January 2021, while employed as a Rockville Police Officer and an Army National Guardsman, Morozewicz received, possessed, and distributed child pornography on the BitTorrent file sharing network. Morozewicz also used multiple electronic devices to download and distribute child pornography involving prepubescent minors.
Gaithersburg High School hosted its annual Special Education Prom on Thursday, May 18 from 4-6pm. SGA sponsor Nilda Keres told us the event was founded in 2018 when the school noticed that many students with special needs weren’t attending general prom. “This was a chance to have a prom where students can just be themselves.” Keres said (photos below).
“This is my favorite time of year and event to plan. The students have such a great time and that’s what this is all about.” Keres told us. Students attending the prom were able to get ready during the day, with other students from the school’s cosmetology program doing their hair and makeup during the school day. There was no cost to any of the students and this year, Gaithersburg invited students from nearby Watkins Mill High School, providing a bus for Watkins Mill to get to GHS. The funding for the event was provided by the Gaithersburg SGA.
Back in March we let you know that Peri Peri Original signed on to move into the space that was previously home to Pollo Mex at 13436 New Hampshire Ave in the Colesville Center. Pollo Mex closed last summer after 12 years in the location. We have since learned that Kallisto Steakhouse, a concept by the owners of Peri Peri Original, will be joining Peri Peri in the restaurant space. Signage is now up for both courtesy of @ahmad.rifaimd (photo below).
Peri Peri Original is an international chain that has over ten locations in Virginia and Maryland, as well as an additional location coming to Rockville (location not yet available). “Peri Peri chicken is marinated for 24hrs in our unique Portuguese Peri Peri sauce flamed grilled for serving from the spice selection of your choice.” The first United States location was opened in 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. Kallisto Steakhouse was launched in 2020 in Herndon, VA. “Impatient and unsatisfied from the unavailability of true steak parlors and appropriate cuts under Halal sector, company leaders took a daunting and brave step to take the reins in their hands and inaugurated the operations with the deep vision on providing excellence around the principles of 3Ps – people, process and product. Kallisto Steakhouse incepted with only one goal and that is to bring premium cut and best in class Halal Steaks to its loyal and respected steak connoisseurs, Kallisto Steak house company is proud of being a first mover in the steak industry while offering the unique products to its esteemed patrons. The founders bring deep enthusiasm towards ensuring the sophistication in ultimate product delivery to the end consumers with pride and excellence. Furthermore, finding passion and zeal in delivering mouthwatering steaks that are flavored and grilled to perfection to serve the perfect taste and fulfill the appetite.” An opening date is not yet available. Featured photo courtesy of @kallistosteakhouse on instagram.
With May being Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day approaching, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees, along with its Memorial Day Facts and Maryland has been ranked 2023’s “7th Best State For Military Retirees”.
To help our troops plan their years after service, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key indicators of retirement-friendliness toward veterans. The data set ranges from job opportunities for veterans to housing affordability to quality of VA hospitals. Military Retirement in Maryland (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
The MBW and Haris Design and Construction Co. Concept Site Plan application (SP-9149-2021) that was submitted on December 16, 2021, has been approved by the City of Gaithersburg’s Planning Commission. The plan is to demolish the buildings located at 9, 11, and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue in anticipation of redevelopment into a pair of four-story multifamily buildings totaling 151 units with 182 parking spaces. A commercial service road will bisect the property. A preliminary/final site plan application has not been submitted for the project (map available below).
History: The Historic District Commission initially reviewed SP-9149-2021 at its June 22, 2022 meeting for potential historic or architectural significance. The application was deferred to its next meeting so the HDC could receive more historical information on the properties. At its July 27 meeting, the HDC determined there was reasonable probability 9, 11, 13, and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue could be locally designated as an historic district, or, in the alternative, 9 and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue could be locally designated as individual sites. The HDC directed Staff to prepare a petition resolution to the Mayor and City Council, and the HDC approved the resolution at its August 24 meeting. At its October 3 meeting, the City Council voted not to accept the HDC’s petition to designate the properties as historic. The HDC provided a nonbinding courtesy review of the Concept Site Plan (SP-9149-2021) at its October 26 meeting.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRA) were called to the scene of a collision on between Colesville Rd and New Hampshire Ave on the inner loop of I-495 at approximately 4:30am Monday morning.
According to a 6:15am update by Maryland State Police, “Shortly after 4:30 a.m. a trooper inside of his marked SUV was rear ended while working in a work zone area. He was transported to Shock Trauma. Maryland State Police Crash Team is on the scene. Lanes 1, 2, 3, 4 closed for the investigation. Motorists urged to find alternate routes.” According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, at least two adults were transported to the hospital, including the trooper, one with Pri 2 trauma (non-life-threatening) and one with Pri 3 trauma (non-life-threatening).
Applications are now being accepted for this FY24 grant. The application deadline is 4 p.m. on May 31: The City of Gaithersburg has announced the availability of Fiscal Year 2024 Mental Health Support Services for Youth Grants that address holistic, professional, and culturally competent Mental Health Supportive and Direct Services and provide quality, accessible, and equitable services for City students.
Applications are now being accepted for this FY24 grant. All applications must be submitted through an automated grant portal, accessible here. The application deadline is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. The portal will be closed after that date and time. The City of Gaithersburg is seeking not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) agencies in the Gaithersburg area to apply for FY24 Mental Health Support for Youth Grant. The design of this program funds support to qualifying agencies that provide youth mental health services to City youth.
Per Takoma Park Police: On May 20 at approximately 11:28 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 1300 block of University Blvd. (7-Eleven) for a theft in progress. Upon arrival, the suspect was still in the establishment and was arrested without incident. The suspect was handcuffed and placed in the officer’s cruiser. While the officer continued to investigate the incident, the suspect was able to escape from the marked patrol vehicle and flee on foot.
An arrest warrant was obtained. An attempt to serve the warrant at the suspect’s residence was unsuccessful. The investigation is ongoing. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.
The City of Hyattsville and The Jim Henson Legacy celebrated Jim Henson’s connection to Hyattsville with a special community event this past Friday and Saturday at the Jim Henson Courtyard in Hyattsville’s Driskell Park. The event featured a sing-a-long to The Muppet Movie (1979), puppet- making crafts, and the unveiling of new informational signage in the courtyard.
Per the City of Hyattsville: Jim Henson (1936-1990), the visionary artist and inventor of The Muppets, moved to the Hyattsville area as a child and was a student at Hyattsville’s Northwestern High School and nearby University of Maryland, College Park. He began developing prototypes for the Muppets while in high school and in 1955 debuted a nightly five-minute show on local cable station WRC-TV-4 called Sam and Friends. The show set the stage for Henson’s career and the eventual development of The Muppet Show.