MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Del. Lesley Lopez Announces Expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Montgomery Village and Germantown

Published September 19, 2022 at 2:11PM

District 39 Delegate Lesley Lopez has announced the expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Montgomery Village and Germantown. “It’s finally happening! My lifelong dream of collaborating with Dolly Parton is happening… kind of. I’m excited to say that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is expanding to District 39, specifically Montgomery Village this month and in Germantown in November! I was thrilled to be contacted by the IL team and am so glad to partner with them to spread the word to the upcounty community! Residents with zip codes 20886 and 20876, and who have children aged 0-5, will be able to receive a new book every month to help build their library at home. Use this link to sign up and view information about the current program, which Dolly started in 1995 to honor her father who was illiterate.”

Per Imagination Library of Montgomery County: As an affiliate of of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we provide free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age 5. Each month a carefully selected, new book will arrive in the mail, allowing children to build their own personal libraries, regardless of family income. We aim to foster the parent-child connection through a love of books. When young children are read to by adults and start learning to read at an early age, they develop literacy skills that prepare them to succeed in school. Books have the power to engage the imagination and contribute to a brighter future!

Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks Celebrates Friends of Sligo Creek’s 20th Anniversary

By MCS Staff

Published September 19, 2022 at 1:55PM | Updated September 19, 2022 at 2:15PM

Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks recognizes the Friends of Sligo Creek — a non-profit community organization that has dedicated the past 20 years to protect the health of the eight-mile-long tributary, which feeds into the Anacostia River.

The group’s mission is to protect and steward the creek by monitoring water quality, informing the public about the creek’s health, educating communities about upcoming projects and documenting the creek’s natural history as well as wildlife. They also prioritize removing invasive plants from the creek’s gulley and nearby areas and restoring the creek with native plants afterward. “The Friends of Sligo Creek are simply leaders in what they do. Their stewardship consistently shows us what’s possible when a community with a clear goal in mind comes together and focuses on what’s literally in their back yard,” Lynn Vismara, senior volunteer services and partnerships coordinator, said.

MoCo

Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) Receives $2.2 Million Grant From Amazon Housing Equity Fund

By MCS Staff

Published September 19, 2022 at 7:36AM

MHP recently received a $2.2 million grant from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund to support the ground-up development of our Nebel Street property in North Bethesda, MD. This contribution will provide hard-to-find predevelopment costs for the project and will be reinvested into the property to write down rents so that at least 10% of the units can be affordable to families making no more than 30% of area median income.

The Nebel Street Development is a dynamic project that will be an asset to the community, providing affordable housing in a fast-growing, convenient area near transit in North Bethesda. The property in its current form is an undeveloped parcel of land. Once complete, it will contain 163 affordable units in addition to amenities such as a community center. “We’re excited to partner with Amazon and serve as an integral part of their plan to preserve existing affordable housing and create more inclusive housing developments across the greater DC metro region,” said Robert Goldman, President of MHP. “With Amazon’s generous donation, MHP is one step closer to the completion of our Nebel Street project, which will provide critically needed quality affordable housing in Montgomery County and bring greater stability and access to opportunities for low-income members of our community.”

Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg’s Lynn Board Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

By MCS Staff

Published September 19, 2022 at 7:18AM

Per the City of Gaithersburg: The Maryland Municipal Attorneys’ Association (MMAA) presented City Attorney Lynn Board a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes Board’s more than 30 years of exceptional service and counsel to the Maryland Municipal League, the MMAA, and municipalities across Maryland. The award was presented by MMAA President Todd Pounds during the Association’s spring meeting. It is only the second time in the MMAA’s history that the Association has presented a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Board was acknowledged for being a key leader in helping build the MMAA organization and for her lifelong mentoring of municipal attorneys for the betterment of the legal profession. Board has served as Gaithersburg’s City Attorney since 2008. She served as MMAA President from 2019 to 2022.

Gaithersburg

Community invited to Presentation of Recommendations on the Great Seneca Plan Area by Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel on September 21

By MCS Staff

Published September 19, 2022 at 7:13AM

The Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel (ULI TAP) will present recommendations on opportunities to retain, attract, and grow the life sciences industry in Montgomery County’s Life Sciences Center

Montgomery County Planning Department pursued a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) through ULI Washington to inform the Great Seneca Plan: Connecting Life and Science. The TAP will present its recommendations in person to Montgomery Planning and the public at 4:30 p.m. on September 21 at the Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Building at the Universities at Shady Grove (9631 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850). Registration is not required.

Montgomery Planning

Montgomery Planning Wins Two Awards From the American Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter

By MCS Staff

Published September 19, 2022 at 7:11AM

Per Montgomery Planning: Montgomery Planning is honored to receive two awards from the American Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (APA-NCAC). The APA-NCAC’s jury of experts selected Montgomery Planning’s work on equitable engagement for Thrive Montgomery 2050, the update to the county’s General Plan, for the Leadership in Planning Award for Community Outreach and Engagement in Honor of Harold Foster and selected Montgomery Planning Director Gwen Wright for the Leadership in Planning Award for a Professional Planner in Honor of Frederick Gutheim.

“We are so honored to be recognized by experts in planning and engagement in the region for our excellent work on equitably engaging Montgomery County’s diverse community throughout the Thrive Montgomery 2050 process,” said Planning Director Gwen Wright. “I am also humbled to be recognized for my over 30 years in planning as I set my sights on retirement at the end of the year.” Learn more about Gwen Wright’s Montgomery Planning career and accomplishments.

Education

Maryland Is 2022’s 9th Best State for Teachers, According to Study

By MCS Staff

Published September 19, 2022 at 7:08AM

With World Teachers’ Day around the corner but teachers making an average of $2,150 less per year than they did 10 years ago when adjusted for inflation, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Best & Worst States for Teachers. The state of Maryland was ranked as the 9th “Best State for Teachers.”

In order to help educators find the best opportunities and teaching environments in the U.S., WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key metrics, ranging from teachers’ income growth potential to the pupil-teacher ratio to whether the state has a digital learning plan.

Crime

Man Stabbed at Adult Soccer Game Outside of Argyle Middle School on Sunday Evening

By MCS Staff

Published September 18, 2022 at 9:29PM

A call went out at approximately 6:50 p.m. for a fight that occurred at an adult soccer game at Argyle Middle School. One adult male was stabbed and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a local trauma center.

Approximately 30 people were involved in this fight and we have been told that there were over a hundred people in attendance. There is no one in custody at this time and this is not an MCPS related incident. The investigation is ongoing.

MCFRS

Police Investigating Fatal Multi-Vehicle Crash In Montgomery County Sunday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published September 18, 2022 at 6:37PM

Per Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are investigating a multi-vehicle crash in which one person was killed early this morning in Montgomery County.

Shortly after 3:35 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack responded to northbound Interstate-270 south of Montrose Road, where two separate, but related crashes occurred. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2015 Tesla Model S and a 2007 Toyota Sienna were traveling north on I-270 when the Tesla struck the rear of the Toyota before both vehicles came to a stop on the interstate. The driver and two of the five other passengers of the Toyota remained in the vehicle following the crash.

Beyond MoCo

(Beyond MoCo) SECU Secures Naming Rights to UMD’s Football Stadium; Named Official Banking Partner of the Maryland Terrapins

By MCS Staff

Published September 18, 2022 at 10:46AM

Earlier this week, SECU, Maryland’s largest state-chartered credit union, continued its longstanding commitment to Maryland communities with an exclusive 10-year partnership with Maryland Athletics that includes the naming rights to Maryland’s football stadium. As “The Official Banking Partner of the Maryland Terrapins,” SECU will provide support for students and athletes through scholarships, financial education, and other wellness programs.

Per the press release: SECU will also secure the naming rights to University of Maryland’s (UMD) Big Ten football stadium, home of the Maryland Terrapins, which will be known as SECU Stadium. SECU Stadium will debut on October 1, 2022, as Maryland Football opens its Big Ten home opener against Michigan State.

Gaithersburg

Joint Message From Principals of Gaithersburg and Northwest High Schools Following Altercation at Football Game on Friday Night

By MCS Staff

Published September 17, 2022 at 2:57PM

The principals of Gaithersburg and Northwest high schools sent out a joint message to the community following the altercation that took place during the football game between the two schools. The full statement can be seen below:

“Dear Gaithersburg and Northwest High School Communities,