MoCo Pride

Per Montgomery County: Youth members of the LGBTQ+ community will tell their stories—and share the challenges they have faced—in a virtual town hall meeting sponsored by EveryMind from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The panel members also will talk about support systems that have been helpful to them and offer ideas for improved support.

EveryMind, whose mission is to strengthen communities and empower individuals to reach optimal metal wellness, has structured the event to benefit parents, foster parents, caregivers, guardians, extended family members, mental health professionals and service providers who care for LGBTQ+ youth.


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Cooler weather often spurs cozy gatherings around the fire pit during the fall season.  The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) website features safety tips for those who will be using fire pits, fire bowls and chimineas. It is important to utilize the devices in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance, and to make sure at least one adult is supervising.

Fire pits and similar devices should be located at least 10 feet away from a home. It is important to keep a clear area of three feet in diameter around the fire pit. Mulch can catch fire quickly, so be sure and keep the fire pit at least three feet away from any nearby mulch.


Gaithersburg

The investigation by detectives has revealed that a 70-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man were crossing School Drive northbound towards Fields Road Elementary School when they were struck by a 2007 Toyota Prius, traveling westbound. Both pedestrians were transported to an area hospital where they were pronounced dead.  The decedents have been identified as 70-year-old, Ana Margarita Ortiz and 65-year-old, Miguel Antonio Ortiz, of Gaithersburg. The driver of the Prius remained on scene.  This is an active and ongoing investigation.   Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at (240)773-6620.


Takoma Park

Per MCDOT:

Beginning Monday, Nov. 14, the bus stop located Westbound on Philadelphia Avenue (bus stop #24859), near Ceder Avenue at the Takoma Park Community Center, will be temporarily closed for approximately one year for the Takoma Park Maryland Library reconstruction project. Riders will be directed to the next nearest stops at Maple Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue (F4 Metro bus) and Maple Avenue and Grant Avenue (17 Ride On bus).


Silver Spring

Update: MCPD released the following information, “On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at approximately 4 a.m., officers responded to the area of Colony Road and Northampton Drive for the report of shots fired.  Officers arrived on scene and located a deceased person, with trauma to the body, to the rear area of the 100 block of Colony Road. This is an active and ongoing investigation.  A formal news release will be distributed as more information becomes available. The decedent’s names will be released following proper notification of next of kin.    

7am Update: Montgomery County Police are currently on the scene investigating a shooting that occurred around 4am on Wednesday, November 9. According to MCFRS Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the incident occurred in the area of Colony Rd and Northampton Dr in Silver Spring.  Multiple patients have been treated by EMS and FOX5 reports that one person is dead as a result of the shooting. We will post an update when more information becomes available.


MoCoSnow

Montgomery County has activated a Hypothermia Alert for extreme cold for Wednesday 11/9 from 3AM until 8AM. Expect the wind chill to be below 32 degrees. Wear layers if you go outside. Per Montgomery County:

A Hypothermia Alert is issued for the County when forecasted temperatures, and/or wind chill, in at least part of the County fall below 32 degrees creating a hazardous situation in which hypothermia and frostbite are likely.


Bethesda

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Jayleen Chavez, a missing 13-year-old from Bethesda.  Chavez was last seen on Monday, November 7, 2022, at approximately 1:19 p.m., in the 10300 block of Strathmore Hall Street in Bethesda.

Chavez is approximately 5-feet tall and weighs 110 pounds. She has brown eyes, brown hair and a piercing in her nose. She was last seen wearing a gray sweater and blue, black and gray cargo pants. She was last seen carrying a blue backpack.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


MDLottery

Powerball has announced that a winning ticket for yesterday’s record $2.04 billion jackpot was sold in the state of California. Originally announced to be $1.9 billion, by the time all sales were counted the final total came in over $2 billion, with a cash value of $997.6 million. The winning numbers were 10 33 41 47 56 and Powerball 10.  Locally, a $50,000 ticket was sold at the Check Cash Depot at 8476 Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring.  Additional details courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:  “Although Monday night’s Powerball drawing was delayed until Tuesday morning, it delivered a record-shattering jackpot on a winning ticket sold in California, along with nine prizes of at least $50,000 on tickets sold in Maryland, including a $1 million second-tier win in Catonsville.

The estimated annuity value of the jackpot stood at $1.9 billion on Monday, but when all sales were finalized, the total had grown to $2.04 billion with a cash value of $997.6 million. It was the largest single jackpot prize in lottery history, surpassing a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in 2016 that was shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee. The drawing was delayed while one of the jurisdictions that participates in Powerball worked to finalize its sales results. Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is operated under strict protocols that require all 48 of those lotteries to finish processing their sales results and report their data before the drawings can take place. The Maryland Lottery was not the source of the delay. Videos of the Powerball and Double Play drawings are available at powerball.com and Powerball’s YouTube channel.


Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Police are investigating a double pedestrian fatality that occurred this morning in the area of Fields Road Elementary School in Gaithersburg.  According to FOX5, the victims were walking to their registered polling place at the time of the incident. Per MCPD: “On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at approximately 7:20 a.m., officers from the Gaithersburg City Police Department and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the area of School Drive near Muddy Branch Road for the report of two pedestrians struck.  

Both pedestrians, a 70-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, were transported to area hospitals, where they were pronounced deceased. The striking vehicle remained on scene.  This is an active and ongoing investigation.   A formal news release will be distributed as more information becomes available. The decedent’s names will be released following proper notification of next of kin.”


Silver Spring

Leuthongchak-Sak is approximately 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair with green highlights.  She was last seen wearing a black sweater, black sweatpants, black shoes and carrying a dark blue backpack. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Alanah Leuthongchak-Sak is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.


MoCo History

Many of you have ridden over this viaduct on the train or seen pictures of it, but not many have actually visited the structure from below. That is because there are only two ways to access it – either by a very steep and overgrown path from Waring Station Road at the top, or through the private property of the Izaak Walton League below. For this event the League has granted GHS and our guests access through their property. We may even have a picnic in their pavilion if the weather cooperates.

From the time the Metropolitan Branch of the B & O Railroad began service to Washington D.C. in the spring of 1873 it started to transform the County. Suburban railroad towns started popping up down-county and the farmers up-county began planting peach and apple trees and milking cows. Steam-powered mills and factories were built near the train stations, bringing us into the Industrial Age. City folk came up from the city in the summer to escape the sweltering heat, noise and pollution. So people in the up-county opened their homes as rooming houses or built hotels to accommodate them.


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