Author: MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks

Update: Hillwood Manor Park Celebration Postponed Again Until Sunday, April 1

By MCS Staff

Update: The event has been rescheduled again and will take place on Sunday, April 2, 2023, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at 1301 Elson Street, Takoma Park, Md., 20912

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is postponing the celebration of the newly renovated Hillwood Manor Neighborhood Park playground, due to inclement weather expected Saturday, March 25.  Instead, the event will be held next week, on the pre-scheduled rain date, Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Hillwood Manor Neighborhood Park 1301 Elson Street, Takoma Park, MD 20912 (speaking program begins at 2:15 p.m.).

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Crime

Loaded and Cocked Handgun Found During Traffic Stop in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Per Gaithersburg Police: On March 22, 2023 at 2:23 a.m., a Gaithersburg Police Department patrol officer observed a vehicle traveling on S. Frederick Avenue without the vehicle headlights on. A traffic stop was initiated and approached the vehicle, immediately smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. The officer requested the driver’s drivers license and vehicle registration card, at which point the driver opened the glove box and inadvertently revealed a handgun.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the handgun was loaded with one round in the chamber and the external hammer cocked. Additionally, there were large amounts of fresh marijuana loose throughout the vehicle. Based on the numerous violations, the driver, 22-years-old, male from Gaithersburg, MD was arrested and issued traffic citations and charged with firearms violations.

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Education

MCPS Student-Run Café Edison Open for Breakfast and Lunch Through May 19

By MCS Staff

Café Edison, an in-school, student-run restaurant at Thomas Edison High School of Technology, is now open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays through Friday, May 19. The restaurant will be closed through spring break, but will reopen on Wednesday, April 12.

Breakfast is served at 8:40 and 9 a.m., and lunch at 12:05 p.m. and 12:20 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 240-740-2024 or emailing Hospitality and Tourism teacher Jason Potyk. Cash or check payments are acceptable. The menu is available on the flyer, available on the school website (via QR code). Café Edison gives students an opportunity to gain valuable, real-world skills in a working restaurant. Students greet and seat guests. They also cook and serve the meals, bus the tables and handle restaurant clean up. Edison High School is located at 12501 Dalewood Dr. in Silver Spring.

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Downtown Crown

Downtown Crown Restaurant Week Begins Sunday, March 26

By MCS Staff

Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg has announced a “Restaurant Week” scheduled to begin on March 26 and run through April 2. According to Downtown Crown, diners can “enjoy prix fixe menus, specialty food and drink items, exclusive offers and more at participating eateries! Gather with friends, family, and coworkers to indulge in delicious bites on each of our festive theme days. As you treat yourselves, let’s treat our community by bringing packaged or canned goods to participating eateries. All donations will go to Gaithersburg HELP, Inc.” Theme Days can be seen below:

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I-270

Naked Man Jumps on Moving Fire Truck After Collison on I-270 Friday Morning

By MCS Staff

I-270 was closed in both directions between Montrose Road and the I-270 split (Old Georgetown Rd/Democracy Blvd) due to a collision and police activity on Friday morning. According to Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Pete Piringer, “units responded for a personal injury collision in the northbound lanes of 270 between the split and Montrose Rd. They came across an unattended vehicle… but it turns out the alleged driver of the vehicle disrobed, dropped all of his clothes in the middle of the road, and attempted to get into several vehicles… as truck 10 from Cabin John was heading southbound, the man jumped onto the truck and was attempting to get into the moving vehicle. They slowed down so the man would have to hold on. The doors were locked ”

It appeares as though the person was suffering from “excited delirium” and has been secured and transported to the hospital for evaluation. All lanes have reopened.

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Education

Three MCPS Students Named Carson Scholars

By MCS Staff

Three MCPS students have been named Carson Scholars, earning $1,000 college scholarships. Carson Scholars are students who excel academically and donate their time and talents to others. students in grades 4 –11 who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and humanitarian qualities. MCPS students who are first-time scholarship recipients are:

Six additional MCPS students also reaffirmed their status as Carson Scholars for maintaining a 3.75 grade point average, and continuing to do volunteer work. They are:

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Germantown

Hundreds of Students Participated in the 12th Annual Minority Scholars Retreat

By MCS Staff

The Minority Scholars Program (MSP), a student-led initiative, held its 12th annual retreat at Northwest High School on March 18. The event included elementary, middle and high school workshops on racism, anti-racism, community building through community circles, and dismantling stereotypes. There was also talks from four seniors about why they got involved with MCPS and a talent show, with dance, song and spoken word performances.

Per MCPS: Seventeen years ago, MSP began as a student-driven initiative aimed at tackling the opportunity gap. Through student leadership and activism, it has served as a vehicle and a blueprint for creating change. Since its inception, MSP has worked to change the conversation around race, equity and the opportunity gap. MSP has been growing steadily and now has chapters in every MCPS high school, 24 middle schools and six elementary schools. Student leaders have spoken at county, state and national events, spreading the MSP model across the state and nation.

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Education

MCPS Message Regarding the Use of Inclusive Texts

By MCS Staff

Per Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS): MCPS expects all classrooms to be inclusive and safe spaces for students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have family members in the LGBTQ+ community. A broad representation of personal characteristics within curricular or instructional materials promotes this desired outcome. Therefore, as with all curriculum resources, there is an expectation that teachers utilize these inclusive lessons and texts with all students.

As is standard practice, when planning for instruction teachers/schools are encouraged to utilize a variety of resources to continue to promote an inclusive environment as outlined in the MCPS Core Values and Board Policy. Students and families may not choose to opt out of engaging with any instructional materials, other than “Family Life and Human Sexuality Unit of Instruction” which is specifically permitted by Maryland law. As such, teachers will not send home letters to inform families when inclusive books are read in the future.

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Arts

AFI Silver Theatre’s Ray Barry to Retire After 50 Years at AFI

By MCS Staff

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced that Ray Barry, Director of the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, will retire this month after nearly 50 years at AFI. Silver Theatre Director of Programming and Associate Director of the Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, Todd Hitchcock has been named as Barry’s replacement. Additional information below, per AFI’s press release:

Ray Barry has been a fixture at AFI for nearly 50 years, serving as the Director of the AFI Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center, and later spearheading AFI’s initiative to restore the historic Silver Theatre and transform it into the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center—a state-of-the-art center for the moving image. He was also instrumental in the launch of many of AFI’s national programs over the years, including AFI FEST in Los Angeles and the AFI/Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Film Festival, the annual AFI European Union Film Showcase and AFI Latin American Film Festival in Washington, DC, as well as having developed a wide variety of special exhibition projects for presentation both in the United States and overseas.

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Restaurants

Cuppa Tea, Offering Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea and Taiwanese Food, Now Open in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Cuppa Tea has opened a Rockville location at 1112 Taft Street. The shop offers Hong Kong-style milk tea and is a popular brand with over 800 locations worldwide. Cuppa Tea made its U.S. debut when it opened in late 2021 in New York’s Flushing and Queens and Prince George’s County’s College Park.

In addition to Hong Kong-style milk tea, Cuppa Tea offers Taiwanese food like bento boxes, egg waffles, curry balls, and more. To order at the Rockville location, you can download Cuppa Tea app where you are accumulate reward points (for free drinks and more) or visit the Cuppa Tea website, select the Rockville location, and place your order. You can also order on delivery plate forms such as Chowbus and Fantuan (UberEats and DoorDash will be available soon). Cuppa Tea is currently offering Buy 3 get 1 drink free on its app. Currently, the shop is only accepting online phone orders only (no walk-ins). Their phone number is 301-201-5777, and business hours are Mon – Sun 11am until 7pm (closed on Tuesday).

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Bethesda

Swastika Found Carved Into Wooden Stool at Walt Whitman High School

By MCS Staff

Earlier today, two Walt Whitman High School students found a swastika that had been carved into a wooden stool in the school’s science lab. Back in December, the words “Jews Not Welcome” were written on Walt Whitman’s sign and multiple Whitman staff members received antisemitic emails. Incidents of anti semitic graffiti have been found this year at several other MCPS schools, prompting the school system to release a community message asking parents for help with the ongoing problem. Whitman High School principal Robert Dodd wrote the following in a message to the Whitman community:

Yet again, I have to write and let our community know about another instance of behavior that is antisemitic. We have done so much as a school community to call out this type of activity and to educate our students while still addressing and healing from past incidents of antisemitism. Subsequently, having to write another letter is very distressing for me and profoundly upsetting for our Jewish community. While it feels like a gut punch to find another example of antisemitic hate, we remain undeterred and will forge ahead with our efforts. Unfortunately, the increase in incidents we’ve experienced at Whitman are on par with a disturbing trend in Maryland. An audit released today by ADL shows a 98% increase in antisemitic incidents in Maryland in 2022.

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