MCPS

YouTube Star ‘Deestroying’ Releases Video of Seneca Valley/Quince Orchard Football Game: “Best Defense Ever”

By MCS Staff

Donald De La Haye Jr., also known online as Deestroying, is a Costa Rican-American YouTuber with almost 5 million followers on the platform and millions more across other forms of social media. He played college football at the University of Central Florida, where he was a kicker for the team. On Friday, September 30th he was at Seneca Valley High School to watch the then-undefeated Screaming Eagles take on undefeated Quince Orchard High School (video below).

De La Haye is known for his videos demonstrating his kicking ability as well as his sports-related skits and vlogs talking about his life journey. He also made news while in college when the NCAA controversially banned him for profiting off his name and YouTube videos, which sparked reform for student athlete compensation and became a driver for the implementation of a fair and balanced set of rules for student-athletes to monetize their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).

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MCFRS

Public Safety Career Fair to be Held on Saturday, Oct. 22, in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

The Public Safety Training Academy is located at 8751 Snouffer School Rd. in Gaithersburg. The Public Safety Career Fair will have a morning session from 9-11 a.m. and an afternoon session from 1-3 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/JOBFAIR.

Attendees will be able to meet the County’s innovative public safety teams who are reimagining what it means to have a rewarding career in public safety. Representatives at the fair will include members of the Police Department, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.

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Events

F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival Returns as In-Person Event to Honor Author Richard Powers on Saturday, Oct. 15, in Rockville

By MCS Staff

The 26th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival, one of the premiere literary festivals in the nation, will return as in-person event on Saturday, Oct. 15, in Rockville by presenting its annual Award for Achievement in American Literature to acclaimed author Richard Powers. The festival will be held on at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Rockville with this year’s theme of “Stories and the More-Than-Human.”

The festival will feature a keynote talk by Alice McDermott and morning and afternoon writing workshops. There will be events leading up to the featured day throughout the preceding week. Information on the event, including how to register, can be found at https://www.fscottfestival.org/registration.

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MoCo Government

Comprehensive Flood Management Plan to Be Focus of Virtual Community Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 20

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County is seeking assistance from community members to help identify flood-prone areas. It has established a new website that includes a short, confidential survey where residents can provide feedback on flooding experiences and insight. On Thursday, Oct. 20, the County will hold a virtual community meeting on its Comprehensive Flood Management Plan.

At the meeting, representatives from the County’s Department of Environmental Protection will explain the plan and will participants fill out the survey. The virtual meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20. Register at Comprehensive Flood Management Plan Virtual Community Forum.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County’s Holiday Giving Project Seeking Partners to Help During This Year’s Campaign

By MCS Staff

For more than 30 years, Montgomery County’s Holiday Giving Project (HGP) has provided Thanksgiving and December holiday assistance to low-income households. A network of social workers, school counselors, and other human service professionals refer families in need of holiday assistance to the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The program is seeking partners to help in this year’s campaign.

DHHS distributes validated referrals among the Holiday Giving Partners, a partnership of local nonprofits, faith-based organizations and local governments. Each partner adopts specific zip codes in the County to serve referred families in need by providing things such as food, gift cards and toys collected through donations.

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MoCo Government

MoCo Health Officials Urge Residents to Get a Flu Shot and Set Schedule of County-Operated Vaccination Clinics

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County health officials are urging all residents to get a flu vaccination and the County will hold clinics for adults and children in October and November. Getting a flu vaccination does not protect against COVID-19, but flu shots have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death.

Seasonal flu vaccinations are available through private health providers, as well as at retail locations throughout the community. County-sponsored seasonal flu vaccination clinics will include clinics for adults and for children ages six months and older. The County will offer flu shots only. High-dose flu vaccine and FluMist will not be available. Appointments are recommended.

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Derwood

MoCo Office of Animal Services Provides Relief for Florida Shelters

By MCS Staff

The Office of Animal Services’ Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) on Thursday, Oct. 6, welcomed cats and dogs from Florida shelters to provide relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Many of the animals are now available for adoption. MCASAC is located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood.

As a Best Friends Network Partner, the Office of Animal Services (OAS) received a request for aid. Working together with the Best Friends Emergency Response team, OAS was able to accept 10 cats and three dogs from the Humane Society of Pinellas, which acted as a transport hub for dogs and cats to move out of Florida in the wake of the hurricane to create more room in local shelters for displaced pets. Animals from the transport originally came from multiple Florida shelters, but primarily from Manatee County Animal Services.

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Colesville

Opening Information for Sweet Block

By Patrick Herron

Sweet Block at 24 Vital Way in Silver Spring (Colesville) has announced it will hold its grand opening on Monday, October 17. Sweet Block will offer tropical desserts along with traditional treats only found in the streets of various Latin countries.

The “one stop dessert shop” will feature Latin food, art, and culture from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Peru. Some of the menu items include Mangonadas, Esquites (corn in a cup), in-house ice cream, carved/prepared fruits, and juices/smoothies. Below is the message posted on social media regarding the opening:

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Germantown

Petition to Reinstate Northwest High School Football Coach Travis Hawkins is Signed By Over 1k People in 4 Hours

By MCS Staff

On Wednesday it was announced in a letter to the community  by Gaithersburg High School Principal Cary Dimmick, Northwest High School Principal Scott Smith, and MCPS Systemwide Director of Athletics Jeff Sullivan that the Gaithersburg High School Athletic Specialist position and the Northwest High School head and assistant varsity football coach positions will be vacated following an investigation by MCPS of a physical altercation that occurred during the football game between the schools on September 16th.

On Thursday afternoon a petition was created anonymously in support of the reinstatement of Northwest head football coach Travis Hawkins. In four hours the petition has been signed by over 1,000 people.

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Bethesda

Detectives Investigate Wisconsin Avenue and Chestnut Street Fatality; Victim’s Identity Released

By Patrick Herron

The initial investigation has revealed that a blue 2018 Yamaha XV1900 motorcycle was traveling north on Wisconsin Avenue when a green 2001 Toyota 4Runner, traveling southbound attempted to turn left onto Chestnut Street. The vehicles collided in the northbound lanes.

The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver has been identified as 24-year-old, Abdesselam Beggar of Chevy Chase. This is an active and ongoing investigation.

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Health

Maryland Attorney General Joins Coalition to Protect Access to Gender-Affirming Care

By Patrick Herron

“North Carolina’s exclusion of gender-affirming care under its state insurance plan is unconstitutional,” said Attorney General Frosh. “This denial of care is, plain and simple, just an attempt to disenfranchise transgender individuals.”

The brief argues that the Fourth Circuit should affirm a lower court ruling that determined that the North Carolina State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees’ denial of medically necessary, gender- affirming care based on sex violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The coalition argues that discrimination against transgender people violates the Equal Protection Clause because it constitutes discrimination based on sex.

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