Bethesda

Fifth grade MCPS student Ava Gerson is the 2023 Who Was? History Bee Champion for the Northeast Region!

In January, more than 200 third, fourth and fifth graders at Seven Locks Elementary School competed in the first round of multiple-choice questions on people and events from the Penguin Press’ “Who Was?” history series. The top two students in each class then competed in a formal bee assembly. Ava beat 17 students and moved on to the individual essay competition. Her work was selected as the winner for the Northeast region.


Business

James G. Davis Construction Corporation (DAVIS) partnered with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland to hold a Playhouse building competition. Since April, DAVIS employees have been hard at work building nine children’s outdoor playhouses. All nine were completed this week, and have officially been donated to Habitat. The playhouses were based on original designs from DAVIS—from a hospital-inspired house to a makeshift café complete with a table and fireplace, the contest sparked many creative ideas. These construction professionals took playhouse building to the next level, creating complex, appealing, and safe structures! 

Habitat leaders, including President + CEO Jeff Dee and Paige Beyer, Director of Development, arrived at DAVIS’ Rockville headquarters on Thursday, May 18 to judge each playhouse and choose a winner. The winning playhouse, called “Skidsteer,” is based on a Bobcat skid steer loader and is made using pine and cedar wood. Dee spoke on the importance of donations and initiatives to the community. “When their family buys a home through Habitat, it’s often the kids’ first stable home. Having a playhouse is their first opportunity to have their own place to go to after school,” Dee said. “This is a great example of how we can come together and support affordable housing.”


Rockville

The Mayor and Council welcome community members to join them as they honor former Del. Kumar P. Barve and Kenneth Reichard, former assistant to Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, on Monday, June 12 at City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave. There will be a reception at 5:30 p.m. and a presentation at 6 p.m. recognizing Barve and Reichard for their many years of service to Rockville. A regular meeting of the Mayor and Council begins at 7 p.m.

Barve announced his resignation from the Maryland House of Delegates in April after Gov. Wes Moore appointed him to the state’s Public Service Commission. Barve had represented District 17, including the City of Rockville, in the House since 1991 and had served as chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee since 2015.


Montgomery Parks

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival organizer LaTisha Gasaway-Paul discusses the struggles and triumphs of the county’s original African American settlements: Montgomery Parks is hosting its May Speaker Series on Montgomery County’s first African American owned community and the upcoming Juneteenth federal holiday.

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival Chairperson LaTisha Gasaway-Paul will discuss the triumphs of this historic community, the challenges residents face in the present, and their hopes for the future. Gasaway Paul, is a fifth-generation resident of Scotland, a Potomac neighborhood that is the first community where African Americans owned land in Montgomery County.  


Education

More than 279 students, the largest number in the state, were honored in a dual-enrollment recognition ceremony earlier this week at the Universities at Shady Grove. These students are dually enrolled at MCPS and Montgomery College. The majority of the students will receive associate degrees from Montgomery College (full list of students recognized below).

Dual Enrollment opportunities allow MCPS college-ready high school students to take college courses during the academic school year.  High school students who enroll and take a college course at any Maryland public college or university are able to do so at a reduced cost. If students select to take courses at MC, and meet qualifications for and separately apply for the MC High School Grant, they may be able to take college courses at no tuition cost.  Students are able to take college courses offered on the high school campus (at select high schools), on a college campus, or online during the fall, winter and spring college terms of their junior and/or senior year.  All college courses on approved list that are successfully completed will receive dual credit by counting toward college and high school credit.  The courses will appear on the high school transcript unless requested that it not during the enrollment process.


Education

1. MCPS Implements New Regulation Allowing Students to Carry Narcan at School: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced new guidance for responding to medical emergencies in schools for suspected opioid overdoses.

The new regulation includes detailed guidance on naloxone (also known by its brand name, Narcan), its use and access in MCPS schools. Narcan is a potentially life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. The new guidance allows students to carry Narcan in schools and during school-sponsored activities without fear of disciplinary action. Students should continue to seek assistance from school or health room staff in the event of a medical emergency on campus.


DMV

The new Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station opens Friday at 5 a.m., connecting one of Alexandria’s fastest growing communities to the region. Less than 15 minutes to the nation’s capital, Potomac Yard-VT, on the Blue and Yellow lines, is the 98th station in the Metrorail system. 

Per the press release: Metro and the City of Alexandria first announced the opening date last month, following more than three years of construction. A team of Metro staff will be on hand throughout the day to welcome customers to Potomac Yard -VT Station for the first time and will be giving away commemorative opening day pennants while supplies last. The station’s fare vending machines will also be stocked with limited-edition Potomac Yard SmarTrip cards in honor or Metro’s newest station.


Gaithersburg

As part of the Retool Gaithersburg effort, the City is hosting two virtual public forums on the Zoning Diagnostic Report, which analyzes the current zoning code and evaluates how it helps to achieve or impede the stated objectives and goals of the City and the community’s vision. This comprehensive analysis report was developed by the City’s consultant, ZoneCo. Read the draft report here.

The virtual public forums take place on June 1 from noon to 1 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. The meetings will include English and Spanish real-time closed captioning options. ZoneCo will discuss the contents of its comprehensive analysis report and, time permitting, will answer questions from attendees. Both meetings will include the same information. No registration is required. Join the meetings using the links below.


Olney

The wait is almost over as the highly anticipated Salt & Vine has let us know that the restaurant will officially be open for reservations starting Friday, May 26th. Salt & Vine has taken over the Olney House, which was previously the home of Ricciuti’s at 3308 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd. Initially, things didn’t move as quickly as anticipated due to Covid delays. Then the permitting process moved at a slower pace due to the historical significance of the building, but the restaurant is now ready to open.

Owner and head chef Thomas Zippelli is a Howard County native, having grown up in the county during his childhood and attending River Hill High School. He is passionately sharing his message “EAT LOCAL!” Since his return to the area, Thomas has worked on building his relationships with the local farmers and farmer markets. His morning wouldn’t be complete without taking his truck around to pick up some local produce to add to the menu each night. Zippelli has worked at some of the most notable restaurants in the country, including Michelin three-star restaurants Eleven Madison Park in New York and The French Laundry in California.


MCDOT

Bike to Work Day is held annually across the nation on the third Friday of May to celebrate bicycling as a fun, healthy and climate friendly way to get to work. MCDOT will sponsor seven pit stops with refreshments, music and local vendor displays at varying times throughout the morning of May 19. There will be free raffle prizes and a grand prize raffle of a new bike at each of the MCDOT-sponsored pit stops. Residents biking to work, as well as leisure riders, are encouraged to participate.

In addition to the seven pit stops sponsored by MCDOT, there will be more Bike to Work Day pit stops in the County operated by other organizations. PIT STOPS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY:


Bethesda

Montgomery Parks(opens in a new tab), is closing Caroline Freeland Urban Park(opens in a new tab) in downtown Bethesda for renovations, beginning in early June 2023.   The one-acre park sits at 7200 Arlington Road, between Hampden Lane and Elm Street.  It will be closed for the remainder of this year.

Once completed, the renovated park will feature a new central lawn and a large seating terrace. Accessible pathways will provide easy access to new amenities, including a larger playground, bench swings, and bicycle parking.  The lighting and the entire streetscape fronting the park will be improved, including a new entry plaza. Hampden Lane will be renovated into a more pedestrian-oriented plaza, while maintaining required emergency vehicle access through the park.


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