MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Emergency Sinkhole Repair to Cause Major Delays on Southbound I-270, Per State Highway Administration

Published June 16, 2022 at 7:35AM

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) continues to remind the public of emergency road work closing the two right lanes on southbound I-270, just prior to I-370, due to a sinkhole. Motorists are to expect “major delays” and are asked to use 355 as an alternate route. You can see live traffic updates here.

According to WTOP, the sinkhole was the result of a broken 6-foot drainage pipe that runs underneath I-270 before Interstate 370. “Part of that pipe, it’s corrugated pipe, has become compromised, so we had to close two right lanes at this time, so we can get in there and assess what’s going on,” Gischlar said.

Beyond MoCo

MCPS Chief of Staff, James D’Andrea, to Become Principal at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 10:29PM

Current MCPS Chief of Staff, James D’Andrea, has been announced as principal of Cheltenham High School, effective Friday, July 1, 2022. D’Andrea, who is still listed on the MCPS website as Chief of Staff, was appointed to the position on June 10th, 2021, but did not begin to serve in the position until July 1, 2021. Cheltenham High School is located in Wyncote, PA, which is coincidentally in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The full press release from the school district can be seen below:

“After an extensive search and interview process, Mr. James D’Andrea has been appointed as the principal of Cheltenham High School, effective Friday, July 1, 2022. The board voted to approve his appointment at the Tuesday, June 14 legislative board meeting.

Traffic

Sinkhole to Close Two Lanes on Southbound I-270 for 24 Hours or More

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 10:02PM

Press release from Maryland State Police: “At this time, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is out with a large sinkhole in the right lane of I-270 southbound prior to Exit 9 I-370 in Montgomery County.

SHA has been notified and they have a representative on scene, and are waiting for more crews to come out. The sinkhole is the result of a broken 6ft drainage pipe and SHA is trying to get contractors to come out and repair. Per SHA this could be an extended closure of 24 hours or more, and may end up closing the 2 right lanes.”

Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: George Washington University to Drop the ‘Colonials’ Moniker

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 9:34PM

George Washington University has made the decision to change the Colonials moniker. The new moniker will be announced by the 2023-24 academic year, and Colonials will continue to be used until a new moniker is introduced.

According to the George Washington University website, the decision to change the Colonials moniker was the result of a thoughtful, deliberate process that spanned many years. “This decision was not taken lightly. Ultimately, both the Special Committee on the Colonials Monikerand the Board of Trustees determined that the university would be better served by a new moniker that will help unify the GW community and increase pride in the institution. In the end, we all want to ensure that the university’s moniker accurately reflects the values, strengths and diversity of the George Washington University.”

Rockville

Statement on the Departure of Deputy City Manager Angela Judge by the City of Rockville

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 5:34PM

Angela Judge, who was an assistant city manager with Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and formerly with the City of Atlanta, Georgia, was named Rockville’s deputy city manager in May of 2021, with her official duties in the position beginning on Monday, June 14. Approximately one year later, the City of Rockville announced her departure, effective today, Wednesday, June 15.

Per the City of Rockville: Deputy City Manager Angela Judge is departing the City of Rockville as of today, Wednesday, June 15. She will be joining her husband, Warren, who will be assuming command of United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey. “I want to express my sincerest appreciation, on behalf of all of us, to Deputy City Manager Angela Judge for the outstanding work she has performed in the past year for our organization and community,” City Manager Rob DiSpirito said.

Bethesda

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of NIAID, Tests Positive for COVID-19

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 3:12PM

NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide — to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing, and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

MCPS

MCPS Releases Statement on the Passing of Former Board of Education Member, Mr. Reginald Felton

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 2:32PM

The Montgomery County Board of Education and MCPS mourn the passing of Mr. Reginald “Reggie” Felton. Elected to the Board in 1994, Mr. Felton served until 2004. He served three terms as president and twice as vice president and sat on many Board committees. His personal and professional commitment to the students and staff of MCPS continues to have a lasting impact. Mr. Felton went on to serve as a member of the Montgomery College Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2015 and on the Board of Directors for the George B. Thomas Learning Academy.

“On behalf of the Board, we are all deeply saddened by the loss of Reggie Felton,” said Board President Brenda Wolff. “He was an exemplary Board member. Passionate, collegial and committed. Reggie worked hard to improve educational opportunities for all students, and advocated for high-quality professional development for staff, and safe and modern school facilities. He will be remembered as a leader not only for the public schools, but as a fierce advocate for education in Montgomery County”

MoCo Recreation

Water Proofing Test Takes Place at 120,000 SF Recreation and Aquatic Center Set to Open Next Year in Downtown Silver Spring

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 9:32AM

According to a social media post by Montgomery County Recreation on Wednesday morning, a water proofing test took place for the main pool at the building site of the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center this week. Construction on the South County Regional Recreation and Aquatic Center that is located at 1315 Apple Ave began in 2019.

The new facility will be located in Downtown Silver Spring, in the ‘Central Business District’ of Silver Spring as part of a Public-Private Partnership undertaken with the Housing Opportunity Commission and the Lee Development Group. According to a recent report by Source of the Spring, “This is not just a pool, it’s a monster… It combines an aquatic facility and a large recreation center. We do not have this kind of space down county.”

Celebrities

Actor Michael Ealy in His White Oak Wildcat Days

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 7:55AM | Updated June 15, 2022 at 8:16AM

Actor Michael Ealy has recently made a splash in his recurring role on ‘Bel Air’, the reimagined version of popular 90s sitcoms ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ which started Will Smith. We’ve mentioned several times that Michael Ealy, then known as Michael Brown, graduated from Springbrook High School and grew up in Silver Spring (later attending the University of Maryland).

Earlier this week, reader Mekhi Leftwich, sent in some photos of Ealy from his time at White Oak Intermediate School (now White Oak Middle School) on 12201 New Hampshire Avenue, back in 1986, where he attended school prior to moving on to Springbrook.

Beyond MoCo

Lizandro Claros, Quince Orchard Alumnus Who Was Deported From The United States in 2017, Played Against the USMNT On Tuesday Night

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 6:37AM

On Tuesday night, the United States came from behind to tie El Salvador 1-1 in the CONCACAF Nations League at Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador. Lizandro Claros entered the game in the 87th minute, to play against the USMNT for the first time. Claros came to the United States with his brother Diego in 2009, after fleeing violence in their native El Salvador. He attended Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown and then Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, where he graduated in 2017. Lizandro’s athletic ability earned him a scholarship to Louisberg College in North Carolina, where he planned to attend in the fall of 2017.

According to a report on Elfaro.net, “In August 2017, Claros was deported alongside Diego, one of his three siblings. They entered the U.S. in 2009, at the ages of 10 and 12, respectively, to reunite with their parents. Their relatives provided fake passports, and immigration officers had their sights on their case ever since, mandating routine check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It was during one of these visits that Claros informed authorities he had earned a sports scholarship to go to college. That tipped the scale. ICE concluded that he had no intention of leaving the country, even though they had been issued final removal orders in 2012. “I never thought they were going to deport me for wanting to go to college,” Claros said.”

Education

READY Institute, Building Pathways for Students to Successful Careers, to Launch With Start-Up Funding Approved By County Council

By MCS Staff

Published June 15, 2022 at 6:10AM

County Council-funded Initiative Will Build, Enhance Joint Efforts of MCPS, MC, USG

Montgomery County’s public education partners – Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College (MC) and the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) – will deepen their collective efforts to build and/or enhance successful pathways that lead students into college degree or training programs and ultimately to impactful careers, through the creation of the new “READY Institute.” The initiative is being launched with start-up funding approved by the County Council in the fiscal year 2023 operating budget.