Author: MCS Staff

Education

MCPS: Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence to be Launched in October

By MCS Staff

Per MCPS: Applications will open soon for the newly created Ruth and Norman Rales–Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence. These $10,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors were announced earlier this year by the Norman R. Rales and Ruth Rales Foundation to honor the lives and contributions of Ruth and Norman Rales and Patricia O’Neill, who died Sept. 14, 2021, after having served the longest tenure in the history of the Montgomery County Board of Education.

The Rales’ $10 million gift is the largest donation ever to the Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation.

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Gaithersburg

City of Gaithersburg Warns of Possible Commuter Rail Disruptions In the Event of a Strike

By MCS Staff

MTA recommends MARC passengers plan for alternate travel options in the event of a strike.  For Gaithersburg area MARC commuters, RideOn extRa travels state Route 355 during morning and evening rush hours. Frequent buses, limited stops and connections at three Metro stations make this route almost as convenient as MARC. Learn more at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-transit/RideOnExtra.html.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority also has online maps and schedules for their bus (including the ‘Montgomery County, Maryland, Frequent Service’) and rail systems at www.wmata.com/schedules/maps.

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Crime

Justice Department Announces COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams

By MCS Staff

Per the Office of the U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland: Today the Justice Department announced the establishment of three Strike Force teams created to enhance the Department’s existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related fraud.

“These Strike Force teams will build on the Department’s historic enforcement efforts to deter, detect, and disrupt pandemic fraud wherever it occurs,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since the start of this pandemic, the Justice Department has seized over $1.2 billion in relief funds that criminals were attempting to steal and charged over 1,500 defendants with crimes in federal districts across the country, but our work is far from over. The Department will continue to work relentlessly to combat pandemic fraud and hold accountable those who perpetrate it.”

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MoCo Police

Police Asking For Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing Woman

By MCS Staff

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Silver Spring Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing woman. 23-year-old Breasia Carey is believed to have been in the 8000 block of 13th St. in Silver Spring. Her last communication was on Saturday, September 10.

Carey is 5-feet, 1-inch tall and weighs 140 pounds. It is not known what she was wearing when she went missing. Police and family are concerned for her mental and physical welfare.

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Education

Revised Personal Mobile Device Policy in Place for MCPS Students

By MCS Staff

Per MCPS: The Montgomery County Board of Education has approved a revised regulation (COG-RA) concerning student possession and use of personal mobile devices on school property and during MCPS-sponsored activities. Approved in May, the regulation establishes procedures for possession and use of non-MCPS issued personal mobile devices that are used to send or receive data via voice, video or text, such as tablets, laptops, smart watches, tablets and cellphones by students who are on MCPS property or engaged in MCPS-sponsored activities. This update to the regulation aligns guidelines with current best practices and, importantly, was developed collaboratively by a workgroup composed of staff, students and community members.

The revised guidelines indicate that personal mobile devices may be used:

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Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks to Host Open House about New South Silver Spring Park

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, invites the public to an open house at Denizens Brewing Co. on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 6 – 8 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about a new park that will be located on the former site of the National Tire and Battery Company, near the intersection of East-West Highway and Georgia Avenue. The future South Silver Spring Park will serve as an active recreation space to complement the historic and contemplative setting of nearby Acorn Urban Park.

Parks staff will share information about the project and initial findings from a community survey about the future park and collect input from attendees about what type of amenities they would like in the park.

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Germantown

Detectives Investigate Armed Robbery of a Germantown Beer and Wine Store, Surveillance Footage Released

By MCS Staff

At approximately 7:30 p.m., 5th District officers responded to the location for the report of an armed robbery.

The investigation by detectives has determined that an unknown male suspect entered the store and walked behind the cashier counter, reaching around the employee to open the cash register. The suspect then pointed a gun at the employee’s neck and demanded that he open the cash registers. The employee complied with the suspect’s demands. The suspect removed the cash from both registers. A customer attempted to leave the store and the suspect redirected the gun to him, telling him not to move. The suspect then demanded Newport cigarettes, prior to leaving the store.

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North Bethesda

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Now Open in White Flint Station

By MCS Staff

Tropical Smoothie Cafe has opened its latest Montgomery County location with the addition of its newest store at White Flint Station– the shopping center, not to be confused with the Metro station that has recently changed its name to North Bethesda Metro Station. The store opened within the last month.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is located at 11620 Rockville Pike, next to Pho Eatery and two stores down from Ize’s Deli and Bagelry. Tropical Smoothie’s most recent MoCo location prior to this one opened in Germantown on December 26 and the company has additional locations in Aspen Hill , Bethesda, 2 in Gaithersburg, Travilah, and White Oak. Another new location is coming to the Woodmoor shopping center in Silver Spring.

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Maryland

Civil Penalty Waiver Grace Period For Video Tolls Ends November 30

By MCS Staff

In February, MDTA started a civil penalty waiver grace period for tolls paid in full and has ceased referring toll bills to the Central Collection Unit (CCU) and MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) temporarily. The grace period will end at 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2022, and the MDTA will resume referrals of unpaid toll bills and civil penalties to CCU and MDOT MVA on December 1.

If you have unpaid Video Tolls and/or Civil Penalties, the MDTA will waive the Civil Penalties if your toll balance is paid in full between Feb. 24 and 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2022. After the grace period ends, customers will remain responsible for all unpaid tolls and civil penalties and referrals will resume.

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Maryland

Maryland Attorney General Frosh Urges FTC to Strengthen Car Rules to Prevent Consumer Harm, Misrepresentations

By MCS Staff

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general calling on the Federal Trade Commission to adopt and strengthen guidance on automobile sales.

The comment letter, led by Maryland, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, expresses approval of the FTC’s proposed updates to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule related to the sale, financing, and leasing of motor vehicles by motor vehicle dealers. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on July 13, would provide a critical tool to address misrepresentations in sales, leasing and financing transactions, and increase pricing transparency in advertising.

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