Education

Riki Ellison, a former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders who has won three Super Bowls, visited Takoma Park Middle School recently. He is also the founder of the Youth Impact Program (YIP) for disadvantaged and at-risk adolescent boys. YIP partners with universities, the U.S. Marine Corps, and local NFL teams.

Ellison spoke with sixth to eighth grade boys about his football career and the YIP. His motivational talk discussed how hard work equals success, as well as how to make positive choices.


Education

Approximately 50 African American male students were honored during the Iron Sharpens Iron leadership event on May 19 at Francis Scott Key Middle School. The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Daryl Howard, an instructional specialist with the Equity Initiatives Unit who has a passion for enlightening young people and supporting male educators of color.

Francis Scott Key Middle School received a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to support young men of color to develop skills that would help ensure success academically, socially and emotionally. Throughout the year, students learned leadership skills and had opportunities to complete community service, which included beautification projects, putting food baskets together and coordinating toy drives during the holidays, and sorting and organizing items at A Wider Circle.


MCPS

Dozens of MCPS high school seniors were recognized for their accomplishments in dance and theatre at the 21st annual Superintendent’s All-County Fine Arts Awards Gala on May 23 at Seneca Valley High School.

 


Gaithersburg

Life Time Fitness lifeguards Megan Davis, Olivia Fahlbush, Amelia Grant, Jessica Perkins, and Caleigh Wilson were recognized as ‘Everyday Heroes’ by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) earlier this month for their role in saving the life of a swimmer who suffered from a medical emergency in the pool at the Gaithersburg gym last December.

According to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, the lifeguards recognized the medical emergency, rescued the unconscious patient from the water, and performed life-saving measures until MCFRS crews from Travilah and Gaithersburg arrived.


Event

Historic Indigenous Recognition Event to Take Place in Montgomery County, Maryland

The Taino American Indigenous National Organization (T.A.I.N.O.) proudly announces its upcoming signature public event,


Darnestown

Great Seneca Plan examines the vision set in the 2010 Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan to support a globally recognized biotechnology hub in the Shady Grove Life Science Center

WHEATON, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Board, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), approved the Great Seneca Plan: Connecting Life and Science Scope of Work at its May 26 meeting. Montgomery Planning staff laid out an approach that builds on the vision set in the 2010 Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan to support a globally recognized biotechnology hub with housing options and recreational opportunities.


Montgomery Parks

Season Opening

Paddle, splash, and putt! Three facilities open for the season on Saturday, May 28. Jump and run in the sprays then enjoy a game of miniature golf at South Germantown SplashPark and MiniGolf(opens in a new tab). It will be open Saturday, May 28, to Monday, May 31, 10 am to 6 pm. Enjoy time on the water in a canoe, kayak, rowboat, or pedal boat. Lake Needwood Boats(opens in a new tab) at Rock Creek Regional Park and Black Hill Boat Rentals(opens in a new tab) at Black Hill Regional Park are open Saturday, May 28, to Monday, May 31, 10 am to 6 pm.


WMATA

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight, providing normal service on 5 of 6 lines, with service adjustments on the Orange Line due to the Platform Improvement Project. Metrobus service will vary by route, with buses running on a Sunday schedule. MetroAccess customers may make a reservation to travel on the holiday; however, subscription trips will be canceled.

Service information:


Downtown Silver Spring

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 26, 2022

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 26, 2022 —The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution approving the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan. The Plan makes recommendations within the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan area for land use and zoning, housing, economic development, urban design, transportation, parks and public spaces, environmental resiliency, community facilities and historic resources.


Crime

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland:  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today sentenced Patrick Lawrence Wood, age 35, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 17 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release for conspiracy to produce child pornography.  Wood admitted that he paid co-conspirators in the Philippines to procure images and videos of children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct requested by Wood.  Judge Hazel ordered that, upon his release from prison, Wood will be required to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge Selwyn Smith of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.


MoCoSnow

A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia until 2 PM EDT. This Watch includes Montgomery County.

According to the National Weather Service, a few tornadoes are possible during this time in the Watch area. Isolated hail up to a quarter size is possible and scattered gusts of up to 70 mph winds are possible.


Gaithersburg

The investigation by detectives determined that the victim was servicing an ATM outside of the bank when the suspects pulled into the ATM lane. The two suspects exited their vehicle, demanded the victim to move out of the way and pepper sprayed the victim. When the victim complied, the suspects stole an undisclosed amount of money from the ATM.  The suspects then fled the scene in a silver Mazda SUV.   The first suspect is described as a Black male, wearing a tan hoodie, dark colored pants and white and black sneakers. He was also wearing a neon green face mask.  The second suspect is described as a Black male, wearing a grey and black hoodie, dark pants, and black flip flops. He was also wearing a light colored ski mask.  The third suspect is described as a Black individual, whose gender is unknown at this time, wearing a green hoodie.

Anyone with information about these suspects or this crime is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070 or 240-773-TIPS, or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects. Callers may remain anonymous.