Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, recorded the video below for MCPS students and staff sharing appreciation for their service, acknowledging the challenges of the past few years, and encouraging acts of service and expressions of gratitude:
According to a report by WTOP, Pepco stated “it completed repairs on the tower and overhead lines on Feb. 3, 68 days after the shocking plane crash and rescue of the two inside. Pepco added that the Gaithersburg transmission tower is back to working normally.” Repairs on the transmission tower and power lines that were damaged after a private plane crashed into them on November 27 began on Monday, January 16. The crash occurred near the intersection of Goshen Road and Rothbury Drive in Montgomery Village and resulted in an outage to approximately 85,000 customers across the county. The pilot and passenger of the plane suffered non-life threatening injuries. On December 6, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the incident.
Montgomery Parks’ recognized Park Manager Tom Baker at a Montgomery County Planning Board meeting for his heroic efforts in helping the people involved in the plane crash. Baker, who has worked for Montgomery Parks for over 18 years and manages 29 parks in the Rock Creek region of the county, was presented with a certificate of appreciation. He was dispatched to the scene the evening of the crash and was put in charge of communications with the pilot, to keep him calm and informed of the recovery efforts. “This went on for approximately seven hours until they were rescued,” said Baker, “I was relaying information about their status to the medical command officer so he could keep the paramedics informed. In all my 27 active years as a volunteer, I have never responded to such a call. This is in fact a once in a lifetime incident.” The pilot and passenger were both rescued and are recovering.
Katie Mendelson, school counselor at Kingsview Middle School, has been named Maryland State Middle School Counselor of the Year. She was surprised with the news during an announcement at the school on Feb. 6. Middle school requires a delicate blend of skills to carefully use “push and pull;” two opposing forces to ensure the success of all students,” Kingsview Principal Dyan Harrison wrote in her recommendation letter. “Katie Mendelson masterfully exemplifies these skills in her role as school counselor (video of the surprise announcement available below).
“As you enter Ms. Mendelson’s office it is clear to see how much she values students and recognizes the importance of her impact as a school counselor. Deemed “a safe space” by students, the office is intentionally filled with positive messages, soft lighting and a comfortable couch. There is no doubt that you have entered a safe-haven free of judgment and full of love,” Harrison wrote.
The City has launched Retool Gaithersburg, a comprehensive initiative to update the City’s Zoning Code. The update aims to modernize the zoning ordinance to better reflect the needs of the community today & ensure that zoning regulations accommodate & implement the City’s vision & goals of a vibrant & innovative Gaithersburg. A new website dedicated to the project can be found at www.RetoolGaithersburg.com. The first stage of the zoning update process consists of two virtual kick-off meetings on February 23, 2023, at Noon & 7 p.m. to introduce the project. All members of the public are invited to attend. The presentation will outline the scope of the project & timeline, and will give participants the ability to ask questions about the initiative. Sign up to participate here.
Per the City of Gaithersburg: Why Retool Gaithersburg? The last comprehensive update to the City’s Zoning Code was in 1965, a time when Gaithersburg was mostly agricultural. Since then, the types of businesses, housing, and industrial uses have changed. Updating the zoning rules will support policies to improve quality of life, prepare for new and innovative businesses and construction methods, and address the future demands of the City. Retool Gaithersburg also seeks to enhance usability for residents so the Zoning Code is easier to navigate & understand. Retool Gaithersburg is expected to take up to 18 months to complete in order to offer as much engagement & public input as possible. For project updates, timeline, background information, and public engagement opportunities visit www.RetoolGaithersburg.com.
Three teachers have been named finalists for the 2023–2024 MCPS Teacher of the Year. They are: Megan Anderson, fifth grade teacher at Chevy Chase Elementary School; Eunju (April) Moon, sixth grade English teacher at Ridgeview Middle School; and Shannon McKenzie, child development teacher at Clarksburg High School. Read more about the finalists:
Megan Anderson is a fifth grade teacher and team leader at Chevy Chase Elementary School. She is National Board Certified, holds a master’s degree in elementary education and is dually certified in bilingual special education. An educator for 23 years, 16 of them in MCPS, Anderson instills a belief in her students that with a growth mindset and hard work, they can accomplish anything. Backed by her dual certification, she is skilled in modifying, accommodating and differentiating learning, while teaching students to become independent, critical thinkers. As a result, her students become risk takers, confident readers and high achievers.
“Reunite with neighbors at Hometown Holidays: A Community Gathering.” For the second consecutive year, this free festival, which features local flavor including two stages of entertainment by local acts, and activities for kids, will take place at Redgate Park (14500 Avery Road). The event will take place on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28, 2023 from 11am until 7pm each day. It was previously held in Rockville Town Square for many years (video from last year’s event available below).
The Taste of Rockville at Hometown Holidays is presented by and benefits the Rockville Chamber of Commerce and Community Reach of Montgomery County. The Taste of Rockville is open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy food, specialty beverages and desserts from some of Rockville’s best restaurants. Tickets can be purchased at a Taste of Rockville ticket booth. Taste tickets cannot be used at beverage booths or for the kids amusements. Restaurants and menus are subject to change and will be available closer to the event.
Back in April we let you know of the impending arrival of Laperaux, the Journeymanchef’s Bistro, the new restaurant coming to 18056 Mateny Rd in Germantown- the former home of Gumbo Ya Ya, Dickie’s BBQ Pit, and Cafe Mileto (located in the Cloppers Mill shopping center, in the same strip as Shoppers). The French bistro is now open and taking reservations. For now, the restaurant is open for dinner service starting at 5pm (Tuesday-Saturday) with brunch to follow shortly.
Chef and owner Gregory Webb, who has earned such accolades and awards as “Chef of the Year 1998” in Houston, Texas, “Winner all Categories” at the Texas Open Wild Game Cookoff, “Top Chefs of Mexico City” and many others, will be bringing a French bistro to the location (menu available below). The restaurant will offer high casual cuisine created by Webb, who has competed against Bobby Flay on The Food Network, and won numerous ‘chopped style’ competitions put on for various local charity and fund raising events, including DC Central Kitchen’s Chefs Cook Off.
Exterior construction nears completion at the Fairchild Property on Century Blvd in Germantown in the area surrounded by what is mainly comprised of one-story pad-site restaurant uses (IHOP, Red Robin, Señor Tequilas), and surface parking lots. Our featured image, taken on Monday night, shows the progress made at the upcoming apartment building.
The Fairchild Apartments will feature 6 stories of multifamily residential when completed. The 209,185 sf building will consist of 212 units and 3 levels of parking. The building will also feature amenities such as a Club Room with kitchen, a fitness and yoga room, a business center, a card room, and a courtyard with a pool. The new building will share the block with the Fairfield Marriot Hotel, and LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant. The entire block is developed as one interconnected network of pedestrian and vehicle circulation and parking, including shared use and access agreements, per planning documents. There is currently one direct point of access to Century Boulevard centered on the block, and there is a second shared access location on the Top Golf site located east of the hotel. Other than trees and grass in parking lot islands, there was little existing vegetation and no identifiable environmental resources on the Fairchild Property.
On February 7, at approximately 6:40 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 7000 block of Carroll Avenue for the report of a stolen auto. The victim was delivering food when his vehicle was stolen. The outstanding stolen vehicle is described as a 2019 gray Honda Civic, VA Tag #TTU1834. Case #230006278.
Per Takoma Park Police: The outstanding vehicle has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) stolen vehicle database. Investigation continues. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100
A development plan that proposes 72 stacked townhouse (2-over-2) units along with green amenity space at the intersection of Central Avenue with South Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg was approved by the Gaithersburg City Council on Monday. Additional information below from our previous report:
One Central LLC has submitted a schematic development plan that proposes 72 stacked townhouse (2-over-2) units along with green amenity space in Gaithersburg. Per the plans submitted to the City of Gaithersburg, the Property is located at the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Central Avenue with South Frederick Avenue. Nearby and vicinal uses (on the north) include the Devol Funeral Home and surface parking lot; (on the west) South Frederick Avenue; (on the south) single family housing structures believed occupied by office/employment use;, and (on the east) Unity of Gaithersburg Church, Rockville Evangelical Church, and single family residential.
With 17 state capitals being the most populated cities in their states, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best State Capitals for Safety & More, and Annapolis comes in at #17. To identify the most livable seats of state government, WalletHub compared all 50 state capitals across 49 key metrics, ranging from the cost of living to K–12 school-system quality to the share of residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Best vs. Worst