Author: MCS Staff

MoCo Government

County Council to Interview and Vote on Appointment of Dr. Kisha Davis as County Health Officer

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Council will will meet on Tuesday, November 15 at 9am and will interview Dr. Kisha Davis for the County Health Officer position and is expected to hold a vote on the appointment. County Executive Marc Elrich nominated Dr. David last month for the position. “Montgomery County has led the nation in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic thanks in large part to the leadership at our Department of Health and Human Services,” said County Executive Elrich. “With the nomination of Dr. Kisha Davis as our County’s next health officer, we have found a health expert and leader committed to innovation, equity, and access to healthcare. I want to thank Dr. Davis for accepting this position and I look forward to working with her, listening to her advice and following her guidance regarding the health issues and challenges facing Montgomery County.”

The health officer is responsible for continuing the County’s efforts on disease control and prevention, eliminating health inequities and promoting county-wide inclusion of health in all policies. If appointed, Dr. Davis will oversee all public health services within Montgomery County and work with the Maryland Department of Health to coordinate disease control and collaborate on state health policies.

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MoCo Government

County Council Expected to Vote Today on Weapons-Firearms in or Near Places of Public Assembly

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Council will will meet on Tuesday, November 15 at 9am and is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 21-22, Weapons – Firearms in or Near Places of Public Assembly, which would prohibit the possession of firearms in or near places of public assembly, with certain exemptions. In addition, the bill would remove an exemption that allows individuals with certain handgun permits to possess handguns within 100 yards of a place of public assembly.

Per the Montgomery Council press release: The goal of this bill is to reduce gun violence in Montgomery County. The lead sponsor is Council President Albornoz. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors. In the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision of New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. v. Bruen, Superintendent of new York State Police, the Supreme Court overturned a requirement of New York’s handgun carry law. The New York law had required an applicant for a handgun carry license to show proper cause for the license, and the Supreme Court held that the requirement violated the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. The Court explained, however, that longstanding laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places, such as schools and government buildings, are constitutionally permissible.

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MoCo History

Sandy Spring Slave Museum and Former NFL Player Richie Anderson Establish the Richie Anderson Project Youth Advisory Committee

By MCS Staff

Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery (SSSM), Inc has announced that they, along with former NFL player and MoCo native Richie Anderson, have established the Richie Anderson Project Youth Advisory Committee.

Richard “Richie” Anderson grew up in the Sandy Spring community and attended Sherwood High School where he excelled as a student-athlete in Football, Basketball, and Track-and-Field. His excellence in athletics allowed him the privilege to be a 2010 Sherwood Hall of Fame member. After high school, Anderson played for Penn State University football on a scholarship, leading him to be drafted into the NFL by the New York Jets in the 1993 NFL draft.

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Maryland

Maryland House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke of Montgomery County Named Governor-Elect Wes Moore’s Chief Legislative Officer

By MCS Staff

Governor-Elect Wes Moore has named Maryland House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke of Montgomery County as his chief legislative officer. Eric Luedtke was first elected in 2010 to the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 14 in Montgomery County, which includes parts of Burtonsville, Silver Spring, Olney, Sandy Spring, Brookeville, and Damascus. Luedtke currently serves as the House Majority Leader, as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and as Chair of the Revenues Subcommittee.

Luedtke was born in DC and raised in Montgomery County, graduating from Wootton High School in Rockville. He worked as a middle school social studies teacher for MCPS from 2004-15. After becoming a teacher, he became involved with the Montgomery County Education Association, where he served on the Board of Directors.

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Gaithersburg

Scratch Kitchen Olney to Provide Thanksgiving Meals to 130 Multilingual Learners at Gaithersburg High School

By MCS Staff

Scratch Kitchen opened it’s doors in Olney just a couple months back and the restaurant is already giving back to the community, generously providing a “true Thanksgiving meal”  for 130 new multilingual learners at Gaithersburg High School next week.

On Tuesday, November 22nd, Gaithersburg High School will host it’s annual Thanksgiving Lunch to the school’s newcomer multilingual learners. Per a community message sent out by Gaithersburg High School, “Every year, we invite our newcomer students to experience the true Thanksgiving meal during lunch on the day before our Thanksgiving break. This luncheon typically includes all of the newcomer students, our administrative team, our counseling team, and our English Language Development teachers. The goal is always to help our students feel comfortable breaking bread with school staff, and to help them experience an American tradition. It is typically the first time our students have tasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie.”

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MoCo Government

Hypothermia Alert Issued for Monday Night Until Tuesday Morning

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County has issued a Hypothermia Alert for 11:00 pm Mon. 11/14 – 9:00 am Tues. 11/15. Expect the wind chill to be at or below 32 degrees. Wear layers and take extra precautions if you spend significant time outdoors during that time. A Hypothermia Alert is issued for the County when forecasted temperatures, and/or wind chill, in at least part of the County fall below 32 degrees creating a hazardous situation in which hypothermia and frostbite are likely.

There is always particular concern for children, seniors, homeless individuals and animals during periods of extreme cold.

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Bethesda

Beyond MoCo: Medium Rare (DC) Will Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey for FREE

By MCS Staff

Turkeys famously can’t fly, but they sure can fry. This Thanksgiving, the public is once again invited to fly, drive, metro or just walk on over to Medium Rare restaurant in Cleveland Park for the 15th Annual Free Turkey Fry. The event has become a much-anticipated  DC Thanksgiving Day tradition. This year, Medium Rare co-owner Mark Bucher estimates they’ll fry up to 600 turkeys. It’s for anyone who brings a thawed, eight- to 12-pound bird with them. A dozen fryers filled with almost 500 gallons of oil will be red hot and ready to fry up 96 birds an hour.

Bucher, who has been at the forefront of ending hunger in the DMV, started the event in 2008  for those who wanted to avoid the hassles and potential danger of turkey frying.  Many who take advantage of the annual event are recipients of free turkeys but lack the skill, confidence or tools to cook them. In recent years, it’s also become a fundraiser for Feed the Fridge, the non-profit Bucher started to provide free, nutritious, restaurant-prepared meals to those who need them. Since its launch at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Feed the Fridge has provided more than 700,000 meals and has paid local restaurants $3.5 million in donated funds to prepare them. Medium Rare will fry your turkey for free, but asks those can to make a small donation to Feed the Fridge.

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg Police Warns of Phone Scam

By MCS Staff

Per the Gaithersburg PD: The Gaithersburg Police Department has recently received complaints about a phone scam in which the caller identifies themselves as an officer(s) with the Gaithersburg Police Department. During the calls, the scammer tells the victim that they have a warrant for their arrest and to avoid arrest, they should make payment using a gift card.

We would like to remind our community that this is a PHONE SCAM and that you should never give any personal information to the caller. In addition, the Gaithersburg Police Department does not call residents regarding arrest warrants and will never ask for payments to avoid an arrest. If you receive one of these scam phone calls, hang up immediately!

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Education

MCPS to Celebrate Longtime MoCo Board of Education Member and Teacher/Administrator, Dr. Judith Docca

By MCS Staff

A retirement celebration for Dr. Judith Docca, longtime Montgomery County Board of Education member who also spent 38 years as a teacher and administrator with MCPS, will be held at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Doors open at 5 p.m.; the program begins at 6 p.m. Individual tickets are available for $45; tickets are available here. Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to create an MCPS Educational Foundation scholarship in her name.

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Events

Rockville Town Square Tree Lighting Event to Take Place on Friday, November 18

By MCS Staff

Rockville Town Square will “light up the night” with its annual tree lighting event on Friday, November 18th from 6pm to 8pm. The event will feature a variety of activities, like live music, crafts, ice skating, and food & drink.

The retail portion of Rockville Town Square was recently acquired by Morguard for $33 million after purchasing the Fenestra apartments back in 2017. Rockville Town Square at 30 Maryland Avenue encompasses 183,000 square feet of retail, dining, and municipal and financial services. The mixed-use pedestrian-friendly location offers public gathering areas, entertainment events, and has served as a neighborhood hub.

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Restaurants

Brazilian BBQ Food Truck Now Open in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Fire Pit Brazilian Barbecue, a new food truck, is now open at 804 Rockville Pike in the Golden Arcade shopping center (across from the Ritchie Center/IHOP) in Rockville. Sneak peek video available below.

The food truck is open from 11am until 7pm from Tuesday through Saturday and specializes in Brazilian BBQ, offering meats like picanha, beef ribs, pork ribs, and chicken, often served with two sides that could include rice, potato salad, farofa, black beans, or a vinaigrette salad. A variety of drinks, including bottled juice, are also available. Full menu here. The food truck officially opened on Halloween and has been operating in its location on Rockville Pike for the last two weeks.

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