Café Sophie (7940 Airpark Road, Gaithersburg) is a European style café with a Scandinavian influence, located at the Montgomery County Airpark. Owners Sandy & Tom decided to name the cafe after their sweet dog Sophie, who can sometimes be found greeting customers. Sandy’s grandfather & father Bill & Jim Richardson built & operated the Airpark back in 1960. “I used to come to the airpark with my dad on weekends. It was always fun to be in the air with my father flying”. Sandy is also a pilot herself! Tom was born and raised in Bergen Norway. He became a professional pilot & flew private charter flights and private corporate jets all over the US and Europe. He would often fly into Montgomery County Airpark. This is where Sandy & Tom met. As Tom puts it, “I landed one day and never took off”.
Cafe Sophie’s, Chef Asael, offers a creatively prepared menu with locally sourced ingredients. Their meats come from Wagner’s Butcher, their milk, eggs, creamer and ice cream from South Mountain Creamery, German sausages from Binkert’s, and croissants, baguettes & Cro’Gels are delivered from Fresh Baguette. They also offer up fresh baked muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, and European goodies, along with specialty coffees, international & domestic beers, a selection of wine, champagne, and mimosas (try the Lingonberry Mimosa). Enjoy a delicious meal while watching the planes come and go, the kids absolutely love it!
Hours of Operation:
Mon – 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tue – Closed
Wed – 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Thu – 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Fri – 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sat – 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sun – 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Breakfast is served from 8-11:30am during the weekdays & all day on Saturday & Sunday.
We offer Door Dash.
Cafe Sophie
7940 Airpark Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
240-251-4189
www.cafesophie.net
Below is a statement by Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson on the investigation into Montgomery County Public Schools employee misconduct and promotion processes following the Thursday morning hearing involving the Montgomery County Council and Education & Culture Committee (the full hearing can be seen here):
“This morning, the entire Montgomery County Council joined the Education & Culture Committee for a hearing to review the deeply alarming workplace harassment and employee misconduct allegations in MCPS and their processes for promoting principals and administrators.
It’s evident that this is not just a case of established MCPS processes and procedures failing, but of systems that appear to be set up to fail, or perhaps not set up at all. It’s also clear this deeply disturbing episode doesn’t just reflect a process or procedural problem; it appears to reflect a longstanding cultural problem.
Regaining the public’s trust starts with publicly releasing the full Jackson Lewis report with any required redactions unless there is a specific legal reason not to release it. That report is only as good as the trust that the 25,000 educators, 160,000 students and their families, and the public have in it. And they can’t trust what they can’t see.
Letters and websites aren’t enough. Everyone needs to feel there’s a genuine culture of accountability and transparency. They must have faith that complaints and concerns will be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and that appropriate actions will be taken without delay. The idea that anonymous complaints have not been taken seriously up to this point reflects a deeply concerning culture of power dynamics and protectionism that must change immediately.
The Maryland Public Information Act is intended to promote public transparency, not to prevent it. Along with colleagues, I urged the Board of Education and Superintendent to change their email procedures to ensure emails are available for requests, reviews, and investigations.
I strongly support the Office of the Inspector General and have full faith in their independence and professional standards as they undertake two investigations into the specific allegations against Dr. Beidleman and the school system’s policies and procedures for handling misconduct allegations. I’ve spent the past five years working to strengthen the Office of the Inspector General and together with Council colleagues, added two exclusive investigator positions to provide additional oversight into our more than $3 billion public school system.
Both the obvious failures related to this specific incident and the broader structural and cultural failures they have exposed must be investigated thoroughly and transparently. We need true accountability for all those directly and indirectly responsible and we need an actionable plan to root out the problems. This cannot be the end of the process for achieving the type of systemic change needed to restore trust. Our students and families, educators, and taxpaying public deserve nothing less.”
My statement on the investigation into MCPS employee misconduct and promotion processes.
To watch today’s hearing: https://t.co/O0pbgiIjrb
To report issues to the Inspector General: https://t.co/cxSkemCpap pic.twitter.com/X75xKQWnlj
— Councilmember Andrew Friedson (@Andrew_Friedson) September 28, 2023
MCPS sent out its “things to know” for Thursday, September, 28. Below you’ll see information about Out-of-School Time activities, upcoming college fair, upcoming district events, and more:
1. Out-of-School Time Activities Available For All Students Starting Oct. 9
MCPS is offering out-of-school programming for elementary and middle school students throughout the 2023-2024 school year. Families are invited to take advantage of a host of activities for students on four days: Oct. 9, Nov. 1, Jan. 29 and April 10 when schools are closed for students. Students can participate in person or virtually. The cost is $15 a day. For a list of activities, sign up with the following links for Kids Day Out and Teens Day Out. For additional opportunities, visit the MCPS out-of-school time webpage.
National Hispanic College Fair Set for Oct. 13; Financial Aid Sessions Oct. 11 and 12
The National Hispanic College Fair will be held on Friday, Oct. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Community Center in Gaithersburg. Sponsored by the National Hispanic College Fair and MCPS, the fair will feature more than 50 colleges, universities and service organizations. MCPS students must register to attend. Registration is open until Wednesday, Oct. 11; permission forms are available from their school’s College and Career Information Coordinator.
There will also be free sessions open to the public on Financial Aid: Completing the FAFSA and MSFAA in Spanish and English.
- Wednesday, Oct. 11 at Seneca Valley High School from 6-8 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 12 at Montgomery Blair High School from 6-8 p.m.
3. Save The Date for Upcoming District Events
Outdoor Education to Celebrate 60th Anniversary
The MCPS Outdoor Environmental Education Program will celebrate its 60th anniversary from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. Hear from Joe Howard, the founder of MCPS Outdoor Education, and from former students who chose environmentally focused careers; learn more about the natural world and environmental stewardship; explore Maryland agriculture; participate in a reforestation project and decorate a pumpkin to take home.
The event will be held at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center at 5110 Meadowside Lane in Rockville. Visit the event website for more information.
Join Us Oct. 21 at This Year’s STEAM Festival
The STEAM Festival highlights the educational, cultural and financial impact of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts And Mathematics (STEAM) in the county. Families can participate in hands-on activities, talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits and performances. The event will be held 10 a.m.– 1 p.m. at the Wheaton and Edison high school campuses, 12401 and 12501 Dalewood Drive in Silver Spring.
MCPS to Host Girls’ Summit
Join us for the Girls’ Summit on Saturday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Clarksburg High School. This event will provide informative workshops for middle and high school girls on a variety of current topics. Join us for a chance to network, participate in fun activities, learn valuable skills and enjoy a fashion show presented by White House Black Market celebrating diverse body types! Sessions will be provided in English and Spanish, and will be organized by grade level. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours will be available. Clarksburg is located at 22500 Wims Road in Clarksburg.
4. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Roberto W. Clemente Middle School
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, hear from students and the principal at Roberto W. Clemente Middle School about the legacy of their school’s namesake, Puerto Rican professional baseball player Roberto Clemente.
5. Good News This Week
MCPS Moment: Back to School Night Reimagined
In an effort to improve family engagement this school year, MCPS implemented strategies to reimagine Back-to-School Night in alignment with serving each of our school communities. Watch how various schools approached their events.
Fall Issue of Amplifier Magazine Now Available
Students, teachers and supporting staff behind The Amplifier, MCPS’ countywide feature magazine celebrated the release of the fall 2023 edition. The issue, “The Teenager Turns 100,” includes stories and artwork from students in 22 schools and is focused on the mental health and wellness of teenagers. Look for a copy at a high school media center near you. Or, you can use the order form below.
With the current lease set to expire on December 31st 2023, the Baltimore Orioles, State of Maryland, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and the Maryland Stadium Authority announced that they have agreed to a deal that will keep the O’s at Camden Yards for at least 30 more years. The announcement was made on the scoreboard following the third inning.
As of press time, Baltimore leads Boston 1-0 in the top of the 6th inning as the team looks to win its 100th game of the season while vying for the division title. The Orioles have not won 100 games since 1980. “30 MORE YEARS IN BALTIMORE. LET’S GO O’S!” tweeted Governor Moore. Featured photo courtesy of Clark Construction
30 MORE YEARS IN BALTIMORE.
LET'S GO O'S!
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) September 28, 2023
The City of Rockville will hold two meetings in October to present a report on community outreach and engagement for the Town Center Master Plan. An in-person meeting will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 in the Buchanan Room on the second floor of VisArts, 155 Gibbs St. A virtual meeting via WebEx will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. To register, visit engagerockville.com/towncenter.
Rockville staff will present findings from four months of intensive community outreach and engagement on the Rockville Town Center Master Plan. A master plan is a long-range document that establishes a vision for future growth and development. The goal of the master plan is to create a cohesive vision for the Town Center area that meets the city’s goals regarding climate action, bicycle and pedestrian safety, racial equity and social justice, and more.
This will be the last chance for community members and other stakeholders to provide feedback before the team begins drafting the plan.
Per the State of Maryland: Today, Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller attended the 46th annual J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake. The event, attended by elected officials from across the state, was held at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield and is Maryland’s largest all-you-can-eat seafood festival.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many Marylanders in the place Governor Tawes called home,” said Gov. Moore. “Governor Tawes was a true public servant and served Maryland as state treasurer, comptroller, and governor. He made our state a better place for all and today, we honor his legacy by providing support and resources to Crisfield.”
The annual crab and clam bake, hosted in what is considered to be the crab capital of the world, is named in honor of the 54th governor of Maryland, is run by the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from the event benefit the Crisfield Heritage Foundation, as well as Crisfield’s local schools, police and fire departments.
Governor J. Millard Tawes, a native of Crisfield, is the only person to ever hold office as treasurer, comptroller, and governor of Maryland. During his tenure, Governor Tawes created the Department of Economic Development, now known as the Economic Development Commission, the Agricultural Advisory Board, and the Industrial Development Financing Authority. The governor also created a law prohibiting discrimination and segregation in public places and reformed Maryland’s education system, creating an advisory council on education and fighting for student loans for higher education.
Per the State of Maryland: Today, Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller received a training on overdose response and using the opioid overdose reversal medicine naloxone at the State House. They also recognized September as National Recovery Month and reiterated the administration’s support for increasing access to substance use treatment and recovery services.
“Overdose has touched so many Maryland families, including my own,” said Lt. Gov. Miller. “We need to create a seat at the table for everyone as we continue to identify ways to reach those who need support. Whether it’s state government, community organizations, local partners, or individuals, we all have a role to play in combating the overdose crisis and saving lives – and we can all start by carrying naloxone and recognizing the signs of an overdose.”
Lt. Gov. Miller currently chairs Maryland’s Inter-Agency Heroin and Opioid Coordinating Council, which works to increase collaboration and data sharing between state agencies that are working to address the overdose crisis.
Marylanders can learn more about obtaining naloxone, recognizing and responding to opioid overdoses, and details regarding Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law by visiting beforeitstoolate.maryland.gov.
Marylanders who are struggling with substance use are encouraged to call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Liveline, 988 to get connected to substance use and behavioral health resources.
The Moore-Miller administration also announced additional funding to support state, local, and community programs addressing the crisis. Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center is distributing $10 million in grant awards today through its block grant and competitive grant programs. The awards will support initiatives in FY24 to reduce overdose deaths in each of Maryland’s 24 local jurisdictions. Private and nonprofit organizations and state and local government agencies across Maryland will receive $6 million in competitive awards. Local jurisdictions will receive $4 million through block grants.
“The programs we are supporting this year address overdose mortality from all angles,” said Special Secretary of Opioid Response Emily Keller. “By advancing priorities from prevention and reducing the harms of substance use to promoting connections to treatment and recovery resources, we are confident that these programs will make a difference in the lives of people in all Maryland communities.”
The Opioid Operational Command Center’s block grant program provides funding to every local jurisdiction in Maryland through its Opioid Intervention Teams. Funding through the program is based on a formula that considers the local impact of the opioid and overdose crisis while ensuring that each jurisdiction receives a base amount of support for overdose prevention programming.
The center is also awarding 35 proposals through its competitive grant program. Competitive awards support nonprofit organizations, local health department programming, and programs implemented by state agencies and other local government entities, such as local school systems. Nine projects supported through Opioid Operational Command Center competitive grants will serve multiple jurisdictions.
More information about the Opioid Operational Command Center’s grant programs can be found on its website, https://beforeitstoolate.
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has removed permitting barriers to allow produce growers to build high tunnel-type greenhouses on urban and suburban properties, a benefit previously reserved for land designated as agricultural. High tunnels can be a key piece of farm infrastructure for vegetable growers to increase food production. Similar to a greenhouse, a high tunnel is a less permanent structure, built with a metal frame and plastic cover instead of glass and metal. High tunnels extend the growing season by trapping heat and protect crops from diseases and pests.
Urban agriculture is fundamental to achieving food systems resiliency in the County, increasing urban access to nutritious food and empowering urban residents. Previously, a building permit from the County was required for high tunnels on properties not agriculturally assessed for tax purposes. It is often difficult for properties with fewer than three acres to obtain the necessary agricultural assessment. This requirement had presented a barrier to new farmers and those with fewer means on urban and suburban properties.
“Ag growers who are Black, indigenous or people of color often operate on properties with fewer than three acres of land, so this policy change was made to increase racial equity,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “This policy change also is expected to increase local food production, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from long-distance food transport on our roads and increase urban access to healthy and nutritious food. I thank the local grower who advocated for change and the Office of Agriculture and Department of Permitting Services for implementing the new policy.”
DPS, based on recommendations from the Office of Agriculture (OAG) and with support from County Executive Elrich, recently made the policy decision to allow properties that are not agriculturally assessed to install a high tunnel without a building permit. The applicant must submit to the DPS a certificate showing that the high tunnel proposal has been reviewed by the Montgomery Soil Conservation District and the OAG to ensure that it will comply with sediment and erosion control, stormwater management, zoning, and any HOA requirements.
Tope Fajingbesi and her husband Niyi Balogun, owners of Dodo Farms in Brookeville, grow several different vegetables from their home country of Nigeria.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and the following supply chain disruptions really exposed the vulnerability of our food systems, and more than any other events I have witnessed, showed the need to increase food production in the County,” said Tope. “Therefore, this gesture by the County Executive is a step in the right direction. Not only will food production increase, but I also anticipate that we will see an increase in culturally appropriate food for the County’s diverse residents.”
Per Montgomery County: After nine public meetings throughout the summer and three public listening sessions, Montgomery County’s Development Review Workgroup this week ended its months-long deliberations on ways to streamline the process that determines how development flows in the County. The group voted on a series of recommendations, approved by a supermajority of members, on steps forward. The recommendations include changes to review, permitting and administrative procedures and improved notification and inclusion of the County’s diverse communities.
Chief among the consensus recommendations are:
- At the State level, enact legislation to speed the approval of plats and reduce the timeline for State Highway Administration review.
- Reduce conflicts between Executive Branch agencies and Planning Department by clarifying agency roles in an updated Lead Agency Memorandum of Understanding.
- Establish a Citizens’ Education Academy, with a priority focus on regions of the County and population groups historically under-represented in the zoning, planning and permitting processes.
“I am appreciative of Delegate Lopez and members of the workgroup for their work and the progress that has been made for our County’s residents and economic development,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “At the same time, I am disappointed by the consistent refusal to address larger systemic issues, which leaves some major issues unaddressed.”
While there were several items that the workgroup was unable to reach consensus on, the two most prominent included:
- A recommendation to establish a People’s Counsel that would assist residents in better understanding the planning process, providing assistance in managing the process, with a particular focus to historically underrepresented communities.
- A recommendation to contract with an independent third-party consultant to conduct a professional, comparative study of the County’s development process to competitive counties throughout the region.
“This workgroup created a positive start in addressing key issues, and I am intent on not letting the momentum to make this County’s processes more hospitable to go to waste,” said County Executive Elrich. “The addition of a People’s Counsel would serve as a valuable resource to the many County residents who would like to be more engaged in proposed projects but need assistance to better engage. Moreover, an outside neutral consultant could have provided valuable insight for policymakers, members of the public and developers on ways to streamline our processes, create more certainty and improve our economic competitiveness. While this workgroup failed to move forward on these two significant initiatives, I look forward to working on bringing these to fruition.”
The Development Review Workgroup was created following residential and commercial developers’ concerns over delays in process, potential duplicative issues and other concerns. While residents have raised concerns as to insufficient notice of proposed projects, inadequate attention to their issues and concerns of an opaque process makes it difficult for resident participation.
In response to this, and several proposed bills during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session to improve the process, the Montgomery County House Delegation referred the issues to an interim study group chaired by State Delegate Lesley Lopez. She, together with an agreement from the County Executive and the Montgomery Planning Board chair, established the Development Review Workgroup. The workgroup, consisting of representatives of the Executive Branch departments, Montgomery Planning, the County Council, the County Executive, private developers, residents and other partners reviewed the process and received testimony on concerns.
Including this week’s meeting, the workgroup held nine public meetings and three public listening sessions to receive comments and concerns from residents and developers. All meetings of the workgroup were streamed. Videos and documents are available at this link.
A plumber from Takoma Park is $31,796.50 richer after playing the Racetrax lottery game at Ertters Market (521 Dale Dr) in Silver Spring. Full story below courtesy of MD Lottery:
Montgomery County resident Rafael Reynoso is enjoying a hot streak when it comes to playing Lottery games. Recently, he won the most money in his life playing Racetrax, which is one of his favorite games. The 66-year-old plumber describes himself as a big Lottery fan. He’s been playing the Lottery for over 15 years. The Takoma Park man plays games like Racetrax and scratch-offs as a hobby and a “quick distraction from life.” Lottery luck found the winner at his favorite convenience store, Ertters Market located at 521 Dale Drive in Silver Spring.
“I spent my extra change from lunch to play,” he said. “When I noticed I won, I couldn’t believe it because this is the second time I won with the perfect numbers and the first time winning Superfecta.” The Lottery terminal at Ertters Market produced his big winner, randomly selecting horses 6 and 7 for the No. 1 position, then 9, 11 and 4 for the second, third and fourth positions. To win on a Superfecta Wheel bet, a player’s horses must cross the finish line in their exact order. He bet on the combination for 10 drawings and won $31,796.50 on the ninth race.
Asked what he plans to do with his prize, the lucky winner said he wants to help his family and save as much as he can for a “rainy day.” The Lottery retailer’s owner receives a $317.96 bonus from the Lottery for selling a winning Racetrax ticket of $10,000 or more. The bonus is equal to 1% of the prize. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.
