MoComCon is back and it’s an all day, all ages event celebrating all things comics, graphic novels, and fandoms. MoComCon 2023 will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Germantown Library. Additional information available below:
On-going between 11:00 – 3:30pm: Life Sized Candy Land, FOLMC Book Sale, Beat Saber VR Stations, Coloring Stations, Scavenger Hunt, Button Making, Selfie Station, Take & Make Kits (while supplies lasts), and more!
On Oct. 25, the Board of Education adopted a resolution to make modifications to the 2022–2023 school year calendars that include additional systemwide closure days during the winter and spring breaks. The following modifications have been made to the Traditional and Innovative School Year Calendars:
Amended calendar can be seen here. Memorandum to the board can be seen below:
Montgomery Parks announces the opening of this year’s Brookside Gardens’ annual Garden of Lights outdoor, walk-through winter light display on Friday, November 18 (preview photos and video available below). Garden of Lights features glimmering one-of-a-kind displays adorning the flowerbeds and pathways throughout Brookside Gardens. New features this year include a winter wonderland scene with tall ice-like formations and falling snow in the Rose Garden and oversized colorful flower forms throughout the Formal Gardens. All new displays were handcrafted by Montgomery Parks staff
Pedestrians and cyclists can enter the seasonal light display at the pedestrian gate at 1800 Glenallan Avenue or via a half-mile path beginning at 2000 Shorefield Road, near the Wheaton Regional Park Adventure Playground.Visitors can buy unique, seasonal gifts at the gift shop and hot chocolate and snacks will also be available for purchase.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) we’re called to the scene of a collision on southbound I-270 on Thursday morning at approximately 7am, according to MCFRS public information officer Pete Piringer.
The collision blocked two lanes and was the cause of some traffic during the morning rush, but has since been cleared, with all lanes now open. One patient was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries believed to be minor at this time.
The Network Operations program of the Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation, Inc. (ITF) will present a computer lab to American Minority Veterans Research Project (AMVRP) on Nov. 17. ITF students at Clarksburg High School reconditioned six computers with operating systems and prepared monitors, keyboards, mice and a printer. This project provides an opportunity for the ITF students to put into practice their computer maintenance skills, earn student service learning hours, and develop a deeper appreciation for charity and community involvement.
This year’s recipient, AMVRP, is an organization focused on providing research data, referral services, long- and short-term housing benefits, and referrals to veterans and their families throughout Montgomery County. The organization will be able to support MCPS students and families of veterans by offering equitable access to technology. By having students engaged in collaborative educational experiences, AMVRP hopes to strengthen community connections between veterans and students.
About 50 students in the restaurant management and culinary arts program at Thomas Edison High School of Technology participated their annual holiday bake sale. The students bake, and package assorted goodies for their sale, including 109 pies, 120 cheesecakes, 100 dozen oatmeal, cranberry and gluten-free cookies, 100 dozen macaroons, 45 pounds of peppermint bark, along with pints of cranberry sauce and cranberry orange relish. Proceeds from the sale are invested back into the program. See photos of the bake sale preparation.
More about the program: The Restaurant Management/Culinary Arts program offers students the opportunity to explore the food service industry and acquire the knowledge and skills needed to pursue postsecondary education and careers. This program is certified by the American Culinary Federation, a professional organization that works to enhance professional growth for chefs and cooks. In a professional kitchen, students study and practice food safety and sanitation principles, professional food-handling and preparation techniques, and quantity preparation. Students participate in various entrepreneurial ventures through the operation of an in-school café, catering in-school events, and a production bake sale. Students have opportunities to earn an American Culinary Federation Certified Fundamentals Cook Certification (ACF-CFC), ServSafe Food Protection Manager’s Certification, ServSafe Allergens Certification, and Montgomery County Food Handlers License.
Attain Sports and Entertainment, the same group that also owns the Frederick Keys (a collegiate summer baseball team in the MLB Draft League) and the Bowie Baysox (the AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles), will have a new Frederick baseball team playing in the Atlantic League this upcoming season. In a corresponding move, Atlantic League officials announced their 10-team, 126-game 2023 regular season schedule, with Frederick on the slate.
Led by owners Greg Baroni, Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner, and Richard Roberts, President and General Partner, Attain Sports and Entertainment also owns the Bowie Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and the Frederick Keys, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. The organization’s mission is to present baseball as affordable family entertainment with a commitment to expanding community engagement, focusing on outstanding customer service, driving innovation, investing in the professional development of its employees, and improving the game-day experience for fans. The new Frederick Atlantic League team will play alongside the Frederick MLB Draft League team at Harry Grove Stadium for the 2023 season. An announcement on the team name, manager, and coaching staff will be shortly forthcoming.
The Family Room Laytonsville is holding a Holiday Market with over 35 local vendors on Saturday, November 19 from 9am until 2pm at 6820 Olney-Laytonsville Road in Laytonsville.
“We are thrilled to welcome back 35 local Maryland Makers for our Holiday Market Day! Our vendors will be sharing a variety of goods and trades with our community. Grab a bite to eat from our local food vendors, shop locally made goods from our makers & crafters, enjoy Christmas Carolers and participate in a canned food drive for Olney Help!”
After setting an opening date of Friday, November 18th last week, La Catrina Bar & Lounge , located at 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, recently posted on its social media that “for reasons beyond our control, we’ve had to postpone our opening date. We’ll be announcing a new date soon.”
Back in August we let you know that La Catrina Bar & Lounge is coming to 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, taking over the location that was formerly home to George’s Chophouse, 4935 Bar & Kitchen, The Loft at 4935, Tragara’s, and others.
Winter Lights: Saunter through dazzling displays of more than one million lights at Brookside Gardens’ Garden of Lights(opens in a new tab). The winter light exhibition opens this Friday, November 18, to Sunday, November 20, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. All visitors five and older must have advanced tickets.
Animals: Join the community science Project FeederWatch(opens in a new tab)at Locust Grove Nature Center on Friday, November 18, 11 am, and help staff count birds at their feeders. What do Brookside Nature Center’s animal ambassadors eat for lunch? Find out on Sunday, November 20, 1:30 pm, during Feed Me! Feed Me!(opens in a new tab)
Three MCPS teachers have won Teacher of the Year honors from the Society of Health and Physical EducatorsMaryland (SHAPE MD). The trio—Cecilia Chivers, resource teacher at Paint Branch High School; Amanda Quay, teacher at Damascus High School and Jeffrey Watkins, adapted physical education teacher at Longview School—were recognized during the state convention on Nov. 11–12 in Ocean City. More details on each are below:
Cecilia Chivers was named SHAPE MD Health Teacher of the Year. In her 14th year teaching health education at Paint Branch, Chivers teaches inclusion health education classes with special education and general education students. “I want my students to see themselves in the curriculum and be able to integrate healthy habits into their lives immediately,” she said. To accomplish this, she brings in a variety of teaching strategies, creates a warm classroom environment and builds strong relationships with students. She leads students through 10 minutes of mindfulness every Monday and brings in guest speakers to reinforce classroom learning.