MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Meets on March 21 at 9:15 a.m. to Begin Review of the County’s FY23 Capital Budget and Amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, March 21 at 9:15 a.m. and the meeting will begin with a proclamation presentation recognizing National Agriculture Day, presented by Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe and Dawn Luedtke. The afternoon session will begin at 1:15 p.m. with a proclamation recognizing Ramadan, led by Council President Evan Glass and County Executive Marc Elrich. More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on LMA Application H-147 for property located at 11105 New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring. The application is a request by White Oak Self Storage to rezone approximately 2.62 acres of property from the CR-2.5, C1.5, R-1.5, H-200’ (Commercial Residential) to CRTF 2.25, C-2.25, R-1.5, H-200’ (Commercial Residential Town Floating). The applicant proposes to use the property to continue self-storage, expand the existing structure by 3,600 square feet and build a new freestanding 116,000-square-foot self-storage building. The hearing examiner recommends approval of the local map amendment.

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Kensington

Town of Kensington Installs New Electric Vehicle (EV) Public Charging Stations

By MCS Staff

By Councilmembers Nate Engle and Conor D. Crimmins, from the Town of Kensington newsletter: In our pursuit to situate Kensington as a leading “green” community, the Town recently installed several public, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.* The chargers are located at two station sites within the Town – the MARC station parking south of the CSX tracks and the other in the municipal parking lot at Kensington’s Town Hall. Each station consists of four, level-two EV chargers using the J1772 connection standard. The stations were installed and are maintained as part of Pepco’s EV charging station program.

To facilitate the process, the Town Council approved a License Agreement with Pepco in 2021, which allowed for the installation, operation, and maintenance of the facilities on Town property. The stations, which have been operating for several months now, are part of the Shell Recharge network, a nationwide network of over 2,500 EV charging stations. There is no membership fee to register for Shell Recharge; charging rates of the stations is set by Pepco, and currently runs $0.17/kwh. Users may download the Shell Recharge app from their preferred app store to use the charging stations.

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Events

Arbor Day Tree Walk to Take Place on Saturday, April 22

By MCS Staff

About Arbor Day: Arbor Day is also a time to recognize that a city can be a hard place for trees to live, and that they need our tender love and care! It is a time to redouble our commitment to providing our trees what they need to thrive in our urban environment. One of the most important acts you can take to support our urban forest is to plant a tree where there wasn’t one. Residents and property owners across the City are planting trees this season in solidarity with this mission. For the trees you already have, remember that a broad area of woody or leafy mulched soil for the roots to grow in is ideal. And don’t forget to water your new trees. Typically, fifteen gallons once a week is sufficient for a new young tree, though watering twice a week can be a good idea during times of drought.

Maryland Arbor Day: This year, Maryland Arbor Day is April 5, while nationally recognized Arbor Day is April 28. Tree planting is best done earlier in the spring, but any time is a good time to celebrate trees! See the City’s Urban Forestry page to learn more about tree care and City tree programs.

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Crime

Police Searching for Suspect in Strong Arm Carjacking

By MCS Staff

Per Takoma Park Police: On March 20, at approximately 8:50 am, Takoma Park Police responded to the 7000 block of  Carroll Avenue for the report of a carjacking that had just occurred.  The victim was inside her vehicle when an unknown suspect walked up to her window and demanded property. The victim complied by opening her window slightly.  The suspect took advantage of that opportunity to reach in and open the victim’s door from the inside and demanded her to get out of the vehicle.  The victim complied and the suspect stole her vehicle, last seen driving down Carroll Avenue towards the District of Columbia.

The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5’7-5’11, approximately 190 lbs., last seen wearing a black hoodie jacket and a full mask covering. A lookout was broadcast to all surrounding jurisdictions. The stolen vehicle is described as a 2006 gray Nissan Pathfinder, MD#740M503.  The outstanding vehicle has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) stolen vehicle database. Investigation continues. Anyone with information about this  crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230013413. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month

By MCS Staff

The City celebrates and honors Arab American Heritage Month in April with programs and a proclamation highlighting the culture, heritage, and achievements of our Arab American neighbors. An official proclamation designating April 2023 as “Arab American Heritage Month” in the City of Gaithersburg will be presented at the Mayor and City Council meeting on Monday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend the meeting at City Hall, watch it live on YouTube or watch it via Zoom by registering here.

Mayor Jud Ashman will present the proclamation to Dr. Shaza M. Ahmed, M.D., a paraeducator with Montgomery County Public Schools who works with children with special needs. Having an autistic child of her own motivated Dr. Ahmed to be more involved and become an advocate for her own child and all students, and their parents, who learn differently. She manages weekly educational sessions for parents on bullying, safety, understanding the system, available resources, and how to be an advocate for themselves and their children.

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Bethesda

Four Separate Crashes Result in Overturned Vehicles Across Montgomery County on Monday

By MCS Staff

Four separate crashes resulted in overturned vehicles across Montgomery County on Monday, March 20, according to various reports by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The first was a single vehicle collision with rollover on I-270 on Monday morning around 9am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the crash occurred on SB I270 in the HOV/Express Lane between Shady Grove Road and Route 28, prior to Exit 6. There were no injuries reported.

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Sandy Spring

MCFRS Respond to Collision With Overturned Vehicle at Horse Stable on Monday Afternoon

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a single vehicle collision with an overturned vehicle on Monday, March 20, around 4:30pm in Sandy Spring.

According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the collision occurred in the 16900 blk of Norwood Rd when a single vehicle traveled about 200 feet off road and across the yard of a horse farm/stable. One adult was evaluated but refused transport to the hospital. There were no injuries to nearby dogs or horses. Property damage included one horse trailer and a few Japanese Maple trees.

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg Man Arrested For Attempted Kidnapping This Morning at Bus Stop

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested 30-year-old Jamaal Germany, of Gaithersburg, for an attempted kidnapping that occurred this morning, Monday, March 20, 2023. SVID detectives are asking for anyone who believes that they may have been a victim of Germany to call 240-773-5400.

At approximately 7:54 a.m., the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) of Redland Middle School responded to the school for the report of an attempted kidnapping. The victim stated that they were standing at the bus stop in the 17600 block of Towne Crest Dr., at approximately 7:20 a.m., when the suspect allegedly grabbed the child and pulled them toward an apartment building. Several students who were standing at the bus stop attempted to intervene and the victim was able to break free. When the school bus arrived, all the students boarded the bus and the incident was reported to school staff.

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Kensington

27-Year-Old-Woman Pleads Guilty to Murder of Her 92-Year-Old-Roommate

By Patrick Herron

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, defendant, Julia Birch, 27, of Kensington, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of her 92-year-old roommate, Nancy Ann Frankel. Birch faces up to 40 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 29th at 10 a.m.before Judge Maloney.

On July 28, 2021 Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a residence on Spruell Drive in Kensington, Maryland for a death investigation. Upon their arrival, the complainant, 26-year-old Julia Birch, told officers that she had suffocated and killed her 92-year-old roommate, identified as Nancy Ann Frankel, who was found deceased in her bedroom. Birch had staged the body to look more presentable, laying the victim on a pillow, folding her arms over her chest, and putting perfume on her.  This was after initially unsuccessfully trying to get the body back into her bed.  Birch was taken into custody and transported to Montgomery County Police Headquarters to be interviewed.  She admitted to killing Nancy Ann Frankel by trying to place a plastic bag over Frankel’s head to suffocate her, and when the victim poked a hole in the bag, Birch took her to the ground and strangled her to death.  Physical evidence and autopsy confirmed the method of death.  Birch admitted to then calling 911 to report the death.

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Maryland

Governor Moore Proclaims Irish American Heritage Month in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Per the State or Maryland: Governor Wes Moore has proclaimed the month of March 2023 as Irish American Heritage Month in Maryland. The proclamation recognizes the millions of Irish who immigrated to the United States and their role in making both our country and our state a place of hope and opportunity.

“The history of the Irish in America reflects a very American story of triumph over turmoil,” said Governor Moore. “Beyond St. Patrick’s Day, we continue to celebrate the proud heritage of Irish Americans and we recognize the cultural significance that those deep roots helped foster.”

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MCFRS

MCFRS Responds to Crash That Leads to Overturned Vehicle in Olney

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a crash that occurred at approximately 3pm on Evangeline Lane and Hines Road in Olney.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the collision caused a vehicle to overturn, trapping one person inside (the person was extricated by rescue crews). Another vehicle that was involved also crashed through a fence and into a tree. One adult was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and some lanes are blocked.

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