MoCo Government

The Montgomery County Council will will meet on Tuesday, November 15 at 9am and is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 21-22, Weapons – Firearms in or Near Places of Public Assembly, which would prohibit the possession of firearms in or near places of public assembly, with certain exemptions. In addition, the bill would remove an exemption that allows individuals with certain handgun permits to possess handguns within 100 yards of a place of public assembly.

Per the Montgomery Council press release: The goal of this bill is to reduce gun violence in Montgomery County. The lead sponsor is Council President Albornoz. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors. In the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision of New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. v. Bruen, Superintendent of new York State Police, the Supreme Court overturned a requirement of New York’s handgun carry law. The New York law had required an applicant for a handgun carry license to show proper cause for the license, and the Supreme Court held that the requirement violated the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. The Court explained, however, that longstanding laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places, such as schools and government buildings, are constitutionally permissible.


MoCo History

Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery (SSSM), Inc has announced that they, along with former NFL player and MoCo native Richie Anderson, have established the Richie Anderson Project Youth Advisory Committee.

Richard “Richie” Anderson grew up in the Sandy Spring community and attended Sherwood High School where he excelled as a student-athlete in Football, Basketball, and Track-and-Field. His excellence in athletics allowed him the privilege to be a 2010 Sherwood Hall of Fame member. After high school, Anderson played for Penn State University football on a scholarship, leading him to be drafted into the NFL by the New York Jets in the 1993 NFL draft.


Maryland

Governor-Elect Wes Moore has named Maryland House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke of Montgomery County as his chief legislative officer. Eric Luedtke was first elected in 2010 to the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 14 in Montgomery County, which includes parts of Burtonsville, Silver Spring, Olney, Sandy Spring, Brookeville, and Damascus. Luedtke currently serves as the House Majority Leader, as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and as Chair of the Revenues Subcommittee.

Luedtke was born in DC and raised in Montgomery County, graduating from Wootton High School in Rockville. He worked as a middle school social studies teacher for MCPS from 2004-15. After becoming a teacher, he became involved with the Montgomery County Education Association, where he served on the Board of Directors.


Gaithersburg

Scratch Kitchen opened it’s doors in Olney just a couple months back and the restaurant is already giving back to the community, generously providing a “true Thanksgiving meal”  for 130 new multilingual learners at Gaithersburg High School next week.

On Tuesday, November 22nd, Gaithersburg High School will host it’s annual Thanksgiving Lunch to the school’s newcomer multilingual learners. Per a community message sent out by Gaithersburg High School, “Every year, we invite our newcomer students to experience the true Thanksgiving meal during lunch on the day before our Thanksgiving break. This luncheon typically includes all of the newcomer students, our administrative team, our counseling team, and our English Language Development teachers. The goal is always to help our students feel comfortable breaking bread with school staff, and to help them experience an American tradition. It is typically the first time our students have tasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie.”


MoCo Government

Review: The Council will review Bill 13-22, Buildings – Comprehensive Building Decarbonization, which would require the County Executive to issue all-electric building standards for new construction, major renovations and additions by Jan. 1, 2024.

All-electric building standards will help the County achieve its zero-greenhouse gas emissions goal by ensuring future construction is electrified. Exemptions would be provided for emergency backup systems and certain uses such as manufacturing, crematories, life sciences and commercial kitchens. In addition, income restricted housing and schools will have an extended timeline.


MoCo Government

The online list that can be accessed from the coaster QR code features contact information for vehicle-for-hire services such as taxicabs, Uber and Lyft, as well as local public transportation. It also includes the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide discount ride program for selected holidays.


MoCo Government

Montgomery County has issued a Hypothermia Alert for 11:00 pm Mon. 11/14 – 9:00 am Tues. 11/15. Expect the wind chill to be at or below 32 degrees. Wear layers and take extra precautions if you spend significant time outdoors during that time. 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.

There is always particular concern for children, seniors, homeless individuals and animals during periods of extreme cold.


Bethesda

Turkeys famously can’t fly, but they sure can fry. This Thanksgiving, the public is once again invited to fly, drive, metro or just walk on over to Medium Rare restaurant in Cleveland Park for the 15th Annual Free Turkey Fry. The event has become a much-anticipated  DC Thanksgiving Day tradition. This year, Medium Rare co-owner Mark Bucher estimates they’ll fry up to 600 turkeys. It’s for anyone who brings a thawed, eight- to 12-pound bird with them. A dozen fryers filled with almost 500 gallons of oil will be red hot and ready to fry up 96 birds an hour.

Bucher, who has been at the forefront of ending hunger in the DMV, started the event in 2008  for those who wanted to avoid the hassles and potential danger of turkey frying.  Many who take advantage of the annual event are recipients of free turkeys but lack the skill, confidence or tools to cook them. In recent years, it’s also become a fundraiser for Feed the Fridge, the non-profit Bucher started to provide free, nutritious, restaurant-prepared meals to those who need them. Since its launch at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Feed the Fridge has provided more than 700,000 meals and has paid local restaurants $3.5 million in donated funds to prepare them. Medium Rare will fry your turkey for free, but asks those can to make a small donation to Feed the Fridge.


Silver Spring

An Uber driver was carjacked on Sunday night in Silver Spring. According to MCPD, “On Sunday, November 13, at approximately 10:43 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Silver Spring Ave. for the report of a carjacking that just occurred.  The preliminary investigation has revealed that three suspects stole a black 2022 Kia from an adult male victim (Uber driver) who had just dropped off a passenger at the location.” This is an active and ongoing investigation.  We will post an update when additional information becomes available.

 


Gaithersburg

Three suspects were arrested after carjacking a Toyota Corrolla in Gaithersburg early this morning. According to MCPD, “On Monday, November 14, 2022, at approximately 1:34 a.m., MCP officers responded to the 7800 block of Guildberry Ct. in Gaithersburg for the report of a carjacking that just occurred.  The preliminarily investigation has revealed that the adult male victim was approached by the 3 suspects (two males and one female) as he exited his Toyota Corolla. The suspects produced firearms and demanded the victim’s vehicle. The victim complied, and the suspects left the scene in the Toyota.  

Officers located the Toyota and attempted to pull it over, but the driver of the Toyota continued driving at a high rate of speed. Officers followed the Toyota. In the area of 270 HWY and Democracy Blvd., the suspects lost control and crashed.  Three suspects were apprehended, and two firearms were recovered.  The suspects sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to an area hospital.  This is an active and ongoing investigation.  


Bethesda

The Council stands in strong solidarity with our Jewish community and condemns all acts of hate and religious bigotry. There is no tolerance in Montgomery County for these hateful actions and abhorrent, violent imagery attacking the Jewish community.  Earlier this month, the Council unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming our commitment to address antisemitism and protect our Jewish community from these awful acts of hate. 

“These hateful acts are not only a desecration of public spaces but hurtful and damaging to the entire Montgomery County community. The Council extends its deepest gratitude to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) for actively investigating these antisemitic acts and thanks the Department of Transportation for a swift response and clean-up.