Health

Maryland Department of Health Launches Program to Reduce Suicides Among Maryland Service Members, Veterans

By Patrick Herron

Per the State or Maryland: The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today fully launched the Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP) Program, a new initiative to reduce suicides and increase lethal-means safety for service members and veterans. Developed by the Maryland Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and their Families, this training is free to all Maryland-based primary care staff. The initiative was first launched as a pilot program in 10 Maryland primary care practices.

“Maryland’s service members and veterans benefit from specially targeted medical and mental health care,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader (CAPT, U.S. Navy, Retired). “With this new resource, we aim to reach providers and practices and let them know we have the information and the tools to help this population before they reach a crisis.”

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Education

MCPS Honors Retiring Dr. Judith Docca, Longtime BOE Member And MCPS Employee

By MCS Staff

MCPS held a retirement celebration for Dr. Judith Docca, longtime Montgomery County Board of Education member and former MCPS employee, at the Universities at Shady Grove on Nov. 29.

Dr. Docca spent 38 years with MCPS—as a teacher, human relations specialist, assistant principal at Montgomery Blair High School and principal at Argyle Middle School. She was elected to four four-year terms on the Board of Education. The Montgomery Blair High School Jazz Combo played during the celebration; there was also a performance from the NAACP’s Afro Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) vocalist Kevin Dukes.

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Gaithersburg

City of Gaithersburg Achieves 100 Score on Municipal Equality Index

By MCS Staff

The initiative examines the inclusivity of laws, policies & services with respect to the LGBTQ+ community.

The City of Gaithersburg earned a score of 100 points in the 11th annual Municipal Equality Index, an initiative of the Human Rights Campaign that examines the inclusivity of laws, policies & services with respect to the LGBTQ+ community. The City’s score in 2021 was also 100. The Index used 49 different criteria to rate 506 cities across the country. The average score nationally was 68, up one point from 2021 and marking the fifth consecutive year of national average increases.

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Gaithersburg

Detectives Investigate Series of Credit Union Frauds Committed by the Same Suspect; Photo of Suspect Released

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Patrol Investigations Unit are investigating a series of bank frauds that occurred during the month of November 2022 across multiple jurisdictions. Detectives have released a photo of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.   

The investigation by detectives has revealed that the suspect presented fraudulent driver’s licenses at several credit unions to obtain funds from credit union members’ accounts. The credit unions were located in Silver Spring and Gaithersburg and also in the state of Pennsylvania. Detectives reviewed the surveillance cameras of the credit unions and obtained a photo of the suspect.

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Rockville

MCFRS Respond to Garbage Truck Fire; Nicholson Lane Closed at Nebel Street

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue services responded to a garbage truck fire on Thursday morning around 10:30am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, firefighters responded to the trash truck fire, plus large pile of trash dumped in parking lot, in the 5000blk of Nicholson Lane (between Nebel Street and Boiling Brook Parkway) in Rockville.  Nicholson Lane is closed at Nebel Street as the result of the fire rescue activity, according to Montgomery County Police. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route and to expect delays.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “5000k Nicholson Lane between Nebel Street and Boiling Brook Parkway, trash truck fire, plus large pile of trash dumped in parking Lot, Nicholson lane blocked”

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Kensington

DC Temple ‘Festival of Lights’ Begins Tonight, December 1

By Patrick Herron

The annual Festival of Lights at the Washington D.C. Temple (9900 Stoneybrook Dr) in Kensington will run from December 1, 2022 to January 2, 2023, including Christmas and New Year’s Day. The lights will be turned on nightly from dusk until 9pm and additional details for the festival will be released in the upcoming weeks.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cancelled the Festival of Lights in 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns and to focus on the temple’s open house and rededication, which took place this past spring.

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Beyond MoCo

Decedent and Sheriff’s Deputies Identified in Fatal Police Shooting in Frederick

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General: The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and involved sheriff’s deputies in the fatal shooting that occurred on November 29 in Frederick County.

The decedent has been identified as 23-year-old Aaron Mensah, of Frederick, Maryland. The involved Frederick County Sheriff’s deputies have been identified as Deputy First Class Cassy Boettcher, Deputy Travis Stely, and Deputy Nathan McLeroy. Deputy Boettcher has been with the agency for two-and-a-half years, Deputy McLeroy has been with the agency since July and has a total of 3 years of law-enforcement experience, and Deputy Stely has been with the agency since September and has total of 6 years of law-enforcement experience. The deputies are assigned to the patrol operations section.

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Takoma Park

Upcoming Direct Cash Assistance Application Events in Takoma Park

By Patrick Herron

Per the City of Takoma Park: The City of Takoma Park has partnered with LiveStories (FORWARD) to administer $2.1 million in COVID relief funds to the community. This opportunity will provide a one-time $1,000 direct cash assistance to eligible households in the City to assist those negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LiveStories (FORWARD) is hosting two in-person application events for individuals who do not have access to a computer, smartphone, or internet-enabled device or would like additional assistance.

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Events

Forum on Examining Mental Health in Our Communities Set for Dec. 6

By MCS Staff

MCPS is hosting Your Story Matters, a mental health forum for parents and caregivers that will include panel discussions and workshops. The event will be held in person from 6–8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Richard Montgomery High School. Doors open at 6 p.m. with information tables and welcome activities; the program begins at 6:30 p.m. High school students are also welcome to attend.

The four panel discussions for Your Story Matters will be focused on the African American, Asian and Hispanic communities. For the Hispanic community, there will be a panel presented in English and a separate panel presented in Spanish. Topics will focus on anxiety and depression, grief during the holidays and academic stress. Panels will also examine the stigma around mental health in those specific communities.

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Montgomery Parks

Things To Do in Montgomery Parks This Weekend (December 2 to 4, 2022)

By MCS Staff

Shop for holiday gifts for your pup. Take in a winter light show. Discover birding as a new family hobby. Discover these and other activities around Montgomery Parks for December 2 to 4, 2022.

Holidays: What is on your list for your furry family member? Find presents and enjoy some holiday fun with your dog at our first Holiday Barket(opens in a new tab) on Saturday, December 3, 10 am to 1 pm, at Cabin John Regional Park. Gift and food vendors, photo opportunities, pet services, crafts, and more! Free admission!

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Education

MCPS: Nominate Exceptional Teachers, Supporting Services Staff, and Administrators For a Variety of Awards

By MCS Staff
silver cup

Awards season is here! Don’t forget to nominate exceptional teachers, supporting services staff and administrators for top honors. A variety of awards are accepting submissions and deadlines are fast approaching. More information below:

The Montgomery County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award: The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Teacher of the Year Award honors a full-time kindergarten through Grade 12 teacher with a minimum of six years’ experience as an MCPS teacher. The MCPS Teacher of the Year will represent MCPS as its nominee for the Maryland State Teacher of the Year award. Submit applications to Maria Lopez-Silvero in the Office of Human Resources and Development. Deadline: midnight on Friday, Dec. 16

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