Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Montgomery County to Sponsor Seven Pit Stops During Washington Region’s Annual ‘Bike to Work Day’ on Friday, May 19

Published March 22, 2023 at 12:13PM

Per Montgomery County: National Bike to Work Day will be held on Friday, May 19, and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will sponsor seven pit stops throughout the County as part of the Washington Region’s participation in the event. Registration for the free event is now open. The first 15,000 bicyclists to register and participate will get a free t-shirt and will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a new bike.

“Today, we offer more bike paths, dedicated lanes, as well as opportunities to transport a bike on RideOn, MetroBus and Metrorail, than ever before,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Biking to your job or to run errands is a healthy form of transportation that does not produce pollution or add cars to the road. I encourage everyone to join us on Bike to Work Day and consider biking as a transportation alternative this summer.”

Bethesda

County Executive Elrich to Hold Six ‘Community Conversations’ to Talk About Long-term Priorities and the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Budget

By Patrick Herron

Published March 22, 2023 at 12:10PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will hold six “community conversations” at sites around the County in April and May to talk about long-term priorities and how he will address the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. The first event will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring. Five of the community conversations will be in-person events. On May 1, the community conversation will be a virtual only event.

A capital budget plan that states how much money is needed for major construction projects and for purchase and maintenance of the assets. It also determines the amount of time that will be used for the planning and design of the project. The CIP refers to items such as land, buildings, equipment and other investments in the County. The capital budget addresses planning for long-term major projects. It differs from the County operating budget, which funds spending needs for a one-year period.

Darnestown

Police Investigating Fatal Collision That Occurred Early Wednesday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Published March 22, 2023 at 10:39AM

Montgomery County Police are investigating a fatal collision that occurred at approximately 12:27 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Darnestown. According to MCPD, “The preliminary investigation has revealed that the driver of a gray Toyota 4Runner was traveling west in the 14400 block of Turkey Foot Road. For reasons that are still under investigation, the Toyota left the roadway and struck multiple trees, causing the vehicle to overturn. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The Montgomery County Department of Police, Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating this collision. A news release will be distributed once more information is available, including the name of the deceased following proper notification of next of kin.”

We will post an update when additional information becomes available.

Gaithersburg

MCFRS Respond to Fire at Gaithersburg Apartment Building

By Patrick Herron

Published March 22, 2023 at 10:28AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire at the Streamside Apartments on the 300 blk of N. Summit Ave, near Girard St, in Gaithersburg around 9am on Tuesday, March 22. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the “small” fire was located on the 3rd floor of the building around a ceiling exhaust fan. The fire has been extinguished and there were no injuries reported. One family has likely been displaced. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – N Summit Avenue, three-story garden-style apartment, smoke on third floor, small fire in living room knocked down, occupant is out and OK”

Montgomery Village

Driver Crashes Vehicle Into Building in Montgomery Village

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 6:20PM | Updated March 21, 2023 at 6:37PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) and Montgomery County Police responded to the Montgomery Village Shopping Center on Tuesday, March 21 for the report of a collision after a vehicle was driven off the road and into the front of The Joint Chiropractic (19218 Montgomery Village Ave). We will post an update when additional information is available. Featured photo courtesy of Moe’s Southwest Grille in Montgomery Village.

Silver Spring

Two Arrested in Connection to March 7 Homicide

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 4:08PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested 21-year-old Javier Reyes of Silver Spring and 20-year-old Brian Gaitan-Sanchez of Bladensburg for the homicide that occurred on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in the 1700 block of Hampshire Green Ln. in Silver Spring. Reyes and Gaitan-Sanchez are accused of killing 20-year-old Walter Woods, of Takoma Park. Through the investigation, detectives identified Reyes and Sanchez as suspects.

Both were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where they are being held without bond.

Gaithersburg

Traffic: Overturned Vehicle Causes Delays on I-270 Tuesday Afternoon

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 2:35PM | Updated March 21, 2023 at 6:38PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services and Montgomery County Police responded to a collision involving an overturned vehicle on Tuesday, March 21 around 1:45pm. The collision occurred on northbound I-270 at the Muddy Branch overpass in Gaithersburg. Several lanes are closed and drivers are to expect delays. We will post an update when additional information is available.

Featured image courtesy of @manu.gamboaa on Instagram.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Passes Legislation to Achieve Greater Forest Planting and Conservation in Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 2:22PM

Expedited Bill 25-22, Forest Conservation – Trees, in companion with the resolution to approve Montgomery County Planning Board Regulation No. 25-22 on Forest Conservation – Trees, will amend Chapter 22A, the Forest Conservation Law, and the Planning Board’s forest conservation regulations. The Council passed an amendment to expedite the legislation.

The amendments to the Forest Conservation Law and regulations are proposed to achieve greater forest planting and forest conservation in Montgomery County, with a goal of achieving an equal or greater area of forest planted than forest removed on a Countywide level by projects subject to the Montgomery County Forest Conservation Law.

MoCo Government

County Executive Marc Elrich Announces New “Business Center” to Provide Personal Assistance to Companies Seeking to Start or Expand in Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 1:44PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today announced the launch of a “Business Center,” based in the Office of the County Executive. The Business Center is a rebranded and expanded version of the County’s Business Advancement Team (BAT). It will be focused on assisting businesses looking to start, expand, or relocate in the County. Goals for the Business Center include conducting proactive outreach to the County’s business community, reducing inefficiencies in County processes to make it easier to own and run a business, and connecting local businesses to the numerous resources available through the County. The Business Center is home to the County’s Small Business Navigator position, business liaisons, business incubator system, business grant programs, and access to resource partners.

“When COVID hit, our Business Advancement Team worked tirelessly to provide tens of millions of dollars in business grants to our hardest hit industries,” said County Executive Elrich. “As we emerged from COVID, we saw an opportunity to expand the team and shift its focus from pandemic assistance to proactive and responsive customer service for our businesses. We are one of the most diverse communities in the entire nation, with businesses that reflect this diversity. Our County is full of assets for businesses, but we recognize that we must compete in a regional and global community. The Business Center is going to give us the edge to better support our local businesses, work with our partners in and out of government to attract new businesses, and help our business community succeed, create jobs, and grow our economy.”

Entertainment

Six MoCo High Schools Make the “Sweet 16” in Hot 99.5’s “Best High School in the DMV” Contest

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 9:58AM

Radio station Hot 99.5 (WIHT FM) is currently running it’s annual “Best High School in the DMV” contest on Instagram. The six Montgomery County high schools to make the “Sweet 16” are Montgomery Blair, Northwest, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Walter Johnson, and Wheaton. The schools included in the tournament were selected after receiving the most nominations and the winning high school will be awarded with $1,000 (courtesy of Burn Bootcamp in Rockville.) Wheaton High School lost to Osbourn Park High School (Manassas, VA) in the final round of the 2021 tournament. Voting takes place in Hot 99.5’s Instagram page’s stories. Hot 99.5 (WIHT) broadcasts out of the IHeartMedia studios at 1801 Rockville Pike in Rockville.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqB3fRVL8WA/

The Universities at Shady Grove Invites Prospective Students to Undergraduate and Graduate Open House on May 6 (sponsored)

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 9:26AM

The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) invites prospective students and guests to learn more about the USG campus and the wide variety of degree programs offered by its university partners at the upcoming Undergraduate and Graduate Open House on Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

USG is a regional higher education center of the University System of Maryland that offers approximately 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs from nine different state universities, all on one convenient campus in Montgomery County. Undergraduate programs at USG are geared to serving transfer students, as the universities offering the bachelor’s degree programs provide the third and fourth year coursework. Students admitted into the university programs complete their first two years at Montgomery College —where they can benefit from significant cost-savings on a four-year degree via the “2+2 pathway” — or another college or university.