MCFRS

A fire that took place on Saturday, February 18th at the Arrive high-rise apartment complex on Georgia Avenue in Downtown Silver Spring resulted in one fatality and injuries to multiple residents, as well as the displacement of hundreds of residents. At the request of Montgomery County, Montgomery Housing Project (MHP) is managing a dedicated relief fund to assist those affected by the fire. One-hundred percent of donations will go directly to those affected.

Per MHP: “While this is not an MHP property, we maintain close ties with the community through the many affordable housing properties we have developed in Montgomery County, and are playing a role by managing financial donations to help impacted residents. Thank you for lending a hand to our neighbors!” Donations can be made here.


Entertainment

Sean Gaiser is a class ‘98 Georgetown Prep alumnus and a current music teacher at the Jesuit college-preparatory school in North Bethesda (the only only Jesuit boarding school in the United States). He and Billy Glading (Gonzaga ‘99) have recently released a new five-song EP titled “Wildflower.” The title of the album was inspired by Sean’s sister, Caroline, who passed away in February 2020.

Per a Georgetown Prep news release, his sister, Caroline, was a free spirit who loved flowers. Gaiser chose a fox on the cover because they frequent his house and stare at him and he feels in his heart the foxes represent his sister. The third song on the album is a tribute to Caroline. This is Sean’s third album and he says, “I am always writing music and enjoy starting new projects. I plan to never stop making music.” Sean and Billy said this is their most personal and challenging piece of work yet, and took 5 years to create.You can listen to the album on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube.


Rockville

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Technical Rescue Team responded to the Montgomery County Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center at 16101 Frederick Rd in Rockville on Tuesday afternoon after a vehicle was dumping trash on the tipping floor, its weight shifted, and the occupied cab went up in the air. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, rescue crews stabilized the truck and have removed the driver. There were no injuries reported.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – 16101 Frederick Rd, Transfer Station, vehicle mishap involving occupied (driver) dump truck, stuck/suspended in air, vehicle being stabilized (in order to ecract/remove driver) via ladder, plant operations have been shut down, @mcfrs TRT (Technical Rescue Team) on scene”


Bethesda

Paul Stanley, the co-founder, singer, and guitarist of legendary rock band KISS, will be appearing at the Wentworth Gallery at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda) this Friday, February 24 from 7-9pm. Stanley’s art is currently on display at the gallery and individuals who purchase one of his paintings will have the opportunity to meet him at event. Stanley will also be appearing the Wentworth Gallery at Tysons Galleria on Saturday, February 25. Additional information below courtesy of Wentworth Gallery:

“To ring in the New Year – Wentworth Gallery is honored to present a collection of works from legendary Musician and Fine Artist, Paul Stanley. Since the artist’s last national art tour, over four years ago, Stanley has created new original paintings, hand painted signature Paul Stanley Ibanez guitars, mixed media originals, and limited-edition artworks including new works on metal. Several of the pieces on display come from the Black Series that was originally commissioned in 2020 for museum exhibition. As with most events in 2020 that exhibit was canceled due to the pandemic. With the Black Series, Stanley pushes the boundaries of his art by starting with a black canvas and creating vibrancy and emotion with his trademark bright colors. Fans can experience the new works and meet Paul Stanley at the following Wentworth Gallery locations beginning February 3 in Hollywood, FL on February 4 in Boca Raton, FL and then on February 24 in Bethesda, MD and finally February 25 McLean, VA (full details below).


Maryland

Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are continuing to investigate a fatal crash that occurred Tuesday morning in Montgomery County. Shortly before 5:01 a.m. on Tuesday, troopers from the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack responded to the area of eastbound Interstate 495, prior to the Route 355 exit for a report of a crash involving injuries. According to a preliminary investigation, a Chevrolet Cobalt, for unknown reasons, traveled off the right side of the highway, striking an embankment and tree.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Tera King, 18, of Weejun Loop, Woodbridge, Virginia, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Montgomery County EMS personnel. The lone passenger in the car, a 20-year-old male, was transported by ambulance to Suburban Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Anyone with information related to this crash is asked to contact the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack at 301-424-2101. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.


Beyond MoCo

On February 20th, 2023 at approximately 12:21am, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the area of the 14000 block of Shirley Bohn Road, Frederick County, Maryland, along with Deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Officers from the Mt. Airy Police Department, and Emergency Medical Personnel for the report of a stabbing that occurred during a party. It was discovered that a 19 year old male was stabbed and subsequently taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center by Maryland State Police Aviation. Two additional 19 year old victims were also located and transported to local area hospitals for further care.

Per the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office: As the investigation continued, a suspect was identified as a 17 year old male from Olney, Maryland. He was located a short time later and taken to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. It was later determined that the actual assault had occurred in the 6000 block of Buffalo Road in Carroll County, not at the original location of the party. Investigators from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office then took over the investigation. After consultation with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, the suspect was transported to Carroll County Central Booking where he will initially be charged as an adult. He is being charged with:


Silver Spring

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old from Silver Spring. Marsamo Kranidis Schmidt was last seen on Sunday, February 19, 2023, in the 10200 block of Tenbrook Dr.

Schmidt is approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighs 190 pounds. He has black medium length locs and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt, a black hoodie sweatshirt, dark athletic pants and black sneakers. He may be carrying a black rolling suitcase with a gold tassel. Police and family are concern for his welfare.


Montgomery Planning

Per Montgomery Planning: The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), briefed the Montgomery County Planning Board Feb. 16 on its Wheaton Downtown Study, which examines the progress and challenges toward fulfilling the 2012 Wheaton Central Business District (CBD) and Vicinity Sector Plan and offers specific recommendations to inform decision makers on advancing the sector plan’s implementation. Montgomery Planning is now sending the completed study to the Montgomery County Council.

READ THE WHEATON DOWNTOWN STUDY DOCUMENT


Rockville

Per the City of Rockville: The City of Rockville will host four interactive listening sessions to kickoff outreach and engagement for the Town Center Master Plan update, which will help guide the area’s success in coming decades.

The same material will be covered at all listening sessions, so only one needs to be attended. Light refreshments and a children’s activity area will be available at the in-person sessions.


Olney

We have received confirmation from a representative at &Pizza that the company will no longer opening an Olney location this year.

Back in September of 2021 we let you know that &Pizza would be coming to Olney’s Fair Hill Shopping Center. At that time, we didn’t have an exact location, noting that it would likely take over a spot that was home to an existing business. The pizza shop was then going to take over the storefront that was formerly home to Olney Winery, but that has fallen through as a representative has told us that &Pizza will not be opening Olney “this year.” The storefront is once again available for lease.


Health

Per the State of Maryland: Today, Governor Wes Moore joined California Governor Gavin Newsom, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Delaware Governor John Carney, Hawai’i Governor Josh Green, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, to announce the launch of a multi-state Reproductive Freedom Alliance (Alliance).

The Alliance is a non-partisan coalition of 20 Governors committed to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom in their states, the largest such coalition ever convened. The Alliance will work together to strengthen reproductive freedom in the face of an unprecedented assault on abortion access and other forms of reproductive health care by states hostile to abortion rights and judges who are advancing their ideological agenda. All Governors who support reproductive freedom are welcome to join the Alliance.