Below is a list of businesses that are new or coming soon to the Montgomery Village Shopping Center: Now Open: Antojitos Salvadorenos Isabel Antojitos Salvadoreños Isabel at 19114 Montgomery Village […]
Author: Patrick Herron
On that first day, we had no idea that the next 15 months would present us with the opportunity to help a little girl with so many different needs. All we initially knew is that this little girl needed experiences outside of living in a car and sometimes a motel room – which is how she and her 2 siblings had spent the previous 10 months. We quickly learned that she needed new clothes, needed toys, and needed love and attention. Add to that, the need to learn how to swim and run, a need for 3 significant surgeries, therapy, and a need to repeat first grade since she had not been in school for 8 months. The community we live in enveloped her and brought her gifts, clothes and included her in everything.
Our family doesn’t know moderation – when we get involved, we go “all in” and that is exactly what we did with our first foster placement. We embraced her and integrated her into the lives of our three other daughters. She did everything our own children did. We will never forget on day 2 when she was walking the 50 yards to the bus stop, she complained of being tired because it was too far away. Our response was, “If you’re going to be part of this family, we will need to build your stamina”. And so we did – soccer, gymnastics, track and field, swim lessons and then swim team, parties, family events, sleep overs, play dates and family trips. She did it all. And all of this on top of the doctors, dentists, specialists, therapists, court-ordered visits with siblings and birth parents… the child was busy for sure! It was so rewarding to see her RUNNING to and from the bus stop this past school year and to see her laughing and playing with her friends day in and day out.
“Hitting our goals will help us defend against the consequences of climate change. But I’m not here to just talk about avoiding tragedy – I’m here to talk about helping people find greater opportunity.”
“Our communities of color – our working parents – our middle-class families: They are the ones who stand to benefit most from our aggressive climate goals. Those are the hands that will install new solar panels at the local rec center. Those are the minds that will invent next-generation wind turbines that power millions of homes. Those are the hearts that will shape a stronger America, where we aren’t just building pathways to sustainability – we’re also building pathways to work, wages, and wealth.”
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Per MCPD: John Anthony Vigna, a former Montgomery County elementary school teacher who was convicted in 2017 for sexual abuse of students, has been released from prison.
In July 2023 the conviction of Vigna, now 58-years-old, was overturned and he was released on bond as he awaits a new trial. Since his initial conviction, additional victims have come forward. Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division believe that there may be more. Detectives would like to speak with any potential victims and urge them to call 240-773-5050.
Per Montgomery County: The tenth annual Montgomery County “Friendship Picnic” will again bring people of diverse cultures and faiths together to make new friends and discuss ways to build a stronger community. The free picnic will be held from noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, at Wheaton Regional Park. Wheaton Regional Park is located at located at 2000 Shorefield Rd. in Wheaton. A free satellite parking shuttle service to and from the Wheaton Ice Rink and athletic fields will be available.
ActiveMONTGOMERY is the registration and reservation system used to request permits, register for activities, reserve public spaces, and pay online for various classes, camps, and facility rentals throughout the county. While many athletic fields can be reserved online through ActiveMONTGOMER Y, synthetic turf fields can only be reserved by direct communication with a Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF) or Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission – Montgomery Parks (Parks) employee. Once a synthetic turf field reservation has been processed by a CUPF or Parks employee, the reservation and permit are listed under the applicable ActiveMONTGOMERY account.
The investigation revealed that in 2022 and 2023, the subject employee intentionally misled staff from CUPF and Parks to believe they were requesting reservations for athletic fields on the Council’s behalf when in fact they were doing so for the benefit of their spouse. In total, field use permits in the amount of $19,190 ($11,490 of which was reserved under the council’s ActiveMONTGOMERY account) were obtained by the employee and never paid for. Attempts by Parks staff to obtain outstanding payments were ignored, and at times the employee made reference to their position at the County Council. During the investigation, the employee also intentionally made false statements to OIG investigators in an effort to conceal their misconduct.
Per MCDOT: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) today announced a “fare-free day” in support of Car Free Day on Friday, Sept. 22. All Ride On buses will waive the one-dollar fare to encourage the use of public transportation. The announcement was made in coordination with the Maryland Transit Authority, which is offering free fare throughout the weekend on all MTA-operated transit. Regular fares will be required on Metrobus.
Residents can also take the regional pledge online to participate in Car-Free Day and be entered into a raffle for prizes such as gift cards, an annual Capital Bikeshare membership and a pre-funded SmartTrip card. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Participants can take the pledge at carfreemetrodc.org/pledge-page.
Per Montgomery County (9.14.23) A new COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available. Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new vaccine and the advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control recommended that anyone age 6 months and older get vaccinated. The new vaccines are a much closer match to currently circulating variants. They are updated versions of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.
There will be a limited number of County-sponsored clinics distributing the new vaccines, but they will be for residents who are uninsured. Information about those clinics will be available when vaccine is available.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the Potomac River, in the area of Little Falls (near DC/MoCo border), for the report of a kayaker in distress on Sunday, September 17, around 3:15pm. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer on Twitter, “two dozen adults from an out-of-State College kayak group were boating, one adult female was caught/trapped/pinned under a rock (in hydraulics), passerby’s and others came to her aid prior to MCFRS arrival, unfortunately she did not survive.” The incident is currently under investigation.
We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.
Chopin Noodle House is currently holding its soft opening at 12123 Darnestown Rd in the Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center, in the location that was home to Pho City for 15 years until the restaurant closed at the end of July.
Chopin Noodle House offers a variety of hand pulled noodle soups, including Lanzhou beef noodle soup, traditional beef noodle soup, crispy fish noodle soup, cold noodles, and many others. The menu will also offer appetizers such as cucumber salad, chili oil cabbage, mutton chops and more. A variety of milk teas and iced tea/lemonades are also available. The restaurant opened its first location in Catonsville earlier this year.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision with entrapment on Sandy Spring Rd and Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville on Sunday, September 17, around 1am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, one adult was transported to the hospital with trauma. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.
Update – Sandy Spring Rd, collision w/ entrapment, @MCFRS_EMIHS transported 1 adult trauma, some lanes blocked pic.twitter.com/pkMkt3Q56N