Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to serious collision involving a motorcyclist  on Sunday, November 4. The incident occurred around 1pm on US-29 Columbia Pike at Musgrove Road (Fairland). According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, the motorcyclist was transported to an area Trauma Center with serious to critical injuries.

The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security tweeted the following at 2:54pm:
“Traffic incident blocks all northbound lanes, and the three left southbound lanes of Columbia Pike (US 29) between Tech Rd and Musgrove Rd. Expect significant delays.” We will provide and update if additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of @m57agqlg on Instagram.

SERIOUS MOTORCYCLE CRASH: ~1PM Sunday, US-29 Columbia Pike at Musgrove Road (Fairland/Montgomery County, MD). Motorcyclist transported to an area Trauma Center with serious to critical injuries. https://t.co/UcS8WdGzTZ

— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) November 5, 2023

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a shooting that occurred on Monday, October 23, 2023. At approximately 10:57 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14300 block of Fairdale Rd., for the report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers located 22-year-old Rakiy Deinol Gardner, of an unknown address, outside of the residence, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Despite lifesaving attempts, Gardner was pronounced dead at the scene.

A black Mercedes CLA 250 sedan was observed leaving the scene, at a high rate of speed, and collided with an officer responding to the scene in a marked patrol car. The driver of the Mercedes and the officer were transported to area hospitals for evaluation. A second male victim, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, was located a short distance from the scene and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

While investigating the shooting on Fairdale Rd., the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received multiple calls for a suspicious person in the 14300 block of Bradshaw Dr. Officers responded to the location and located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

An individual was taken into custody and determined not to be a suspect at this time. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding suspect(s) or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477.  A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Tips may remain anonymous.

A suspect is in custody after a triple shooting left one dead and two injured Monday night in Fairland. According to police, “At approximately 10:57 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14300 block of Fairdale Rd., for the report of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers located a male, unknown age, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. A second male victim, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, was located outside and transported to an area hospital, with non-life-threatening injuries.

A short time later, a third male victim, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, was located and transported to an area hospital. The extent of his injuries are unknown at this time.  One individual is in custody.  This is an active and ongoing investigation.”

According to our public safety reporter, Cordell Pugh, officers were responding to a call for a robbery/home invasion when they found the victim who was shot. The shooter crashed into an officer, where an arrest was made and a gun was recovered. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

~11:45PM Fairland UPDATE: Paramedics transporting 1 shooting victim to an area Trauma Center. There is at least 1 other victim at the scene, and a large Police presence in the area. Also handling a related crash scene on Fairdale Rd North of Briggs Chaney. https://t.co/WrkJCbBAVU

— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) October 24, 2023

Updated article can be found here. 

Montgomery County Police received a call at approximately 10:57 pm and responded to a shooting on the 14300 block of Fairdale Rd. in on Monday night. According to police, 3rd District officers arrived on the scene to find one victim who was shot. One suspect is currently in custody with more information to be released by police as it becomes available.

According to our public safety reporter, Cordell Pugh, officers were responding to a call for a robbery/home invasion when they found the victim who was shot. The shooter crashed into an officer, where an arrest was made and a gun was recovered. In a subsequent update, it was noted that at least one other victim was on the scene with a large police presence in the area who was also handling the related crash scene on Fairdale Rd., north of Briggs Chaney.

~11:45PM Fairland UPDATE: Paramedics transporting 1 shooting victim to an area Trauma Center. There is at least 1 other victim at the scene, and a large Police presence in the area. Also handling a related crash scene on Fairdale Rd North of Briggs Chaney. https://t.co/WrkJCbBAVU

— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) October 24, 2023

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating an attempted residential burglary that occurred in the 3500 block of Bruton Parish Way. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.  

The investigation by detectives has revealed that at approximately 6:40 a.m., on Thursday, September 28, 2023, the suspect attempted to force entry into the victim’s residence by breaking a basement window. Detectives reviewed video surveillance and obtained a description of the suspect. The suspect is seen wearing items taken from a theft from auto incident that occurred earlier in the same block. The suspect is described as a Black teenage male, wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, white ski mask and black gloves. He is carrying a flashlight and a black Northface backpack that was stolen from a theft from auto that occurred earlier.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Tips may remain anonymous.

This article has been updated to include updated plans for the Downtown Silver Spring location.

Chick Fil A on Tech Rd. in the Calverton/Fairland/White Oak area (technically Silver Spring) has temporarily closed for renovations. The store closed on Thursday at 2pm and will reopen in 8-10 weeks (approximately two months).

When the store reopens, it will be operated by Tina Oyeniya. Current store operator,Terrell Daniel, will be transitioning to Burns Corner FSU in Stafford, Virginia. The Downtown Silver Spring location, at 825 Ellsworth Drive,  also planned to closed for renovations earlier this summer but has not done so yet.

Chick-fil-A has Montgomery County locations in Bethesda, two in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Rockville, and Silver Spring (between Calverton, Fairland, and White Oak). The chain opened its newest location last month in Gaithersburg. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Mrs. Estelle Moore has been teaching for a total of 53 years; three years in Pennsylvania and the last 50 in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Having taught in MCPS since 1973, she has worked at Harmony Hills Elementary School, East Silver Spring Elementary School, Piney Branch Elementary School, Broad Acres Elementary School, Brooke Grove Elementary School, and Cloverly Elementary School. She has been at Greencastle in Silver Spring for 30 years, where she currently teaches 2nd grade.

During her illustrious teaching career, she spent a year teaching in Japan and four months in Ghana. Mrs. Moore was also named MCPS Teacher of the Year over 30 years ago while teaching at Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney. When asked what the biggest difference she has seen in her fifty years teaching in MCPS, Mrs. Moore said “The curriculum. It seems like every 3-5 years there has been a shift in the curriculum, but I feel in recent years it has come full circle in ways.” giving the example of phonemic awareness. When asked what’s still the same, she said “Students still need to know that you care. They need to hear their name in a positive way and to know that they matter.”

Mrs. Moore doesn’t have any current plans to leave teaching behind– she immediately shook her head no when asked if she had any plans to retire. “I was given a gift from God and I plan to keep using it.” she said. She believes God will let her know when she is done and that she has no plans to stop. She also joked that she just finished her evaluation year so she’s good to go for another five years. She loves having been at Greencastle so long that she has taught the children of her students and feels like she’ll be teaching their grandchildren soon.

Mrs. Moore’s co-worker, Amie Wohlfarth, calls her “an overall awesome human being.” Ms. Wohlfarth told us “She met my son when he was in second grade and he is now a sophomore at PBHS. He comes and volunteers on an almost daily basis. She has made such an impact on his life.” We want to wish Mrs. Moore and all of the other wonderful educators a successful school year!

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating a shooting that occurred on Monday, August 7, 2023, at an apartment building in the 14000 block of Castle Blvd. Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.

Approximately 10:09 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. The investigation has revealed that an adult male victim was in front of the apartment building when he was shot twice in the torsoby an unknown suspect. The victim was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Officers also determined that three apartments were also struck by gun fire.

Detectives are urging anyone with information regarding this shooting or the suspect to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Callers may remain anonymous.

At approximately 10:09 p.m., Montgomery County Police officers responded to the 14000 block of Castle Blvd. In Fairland for the report of a shooting. 

According to police, “the preliminary investigation has revealed that a shooting occurred at the location. An adult male was struck in the arm and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Approximately 3 apartments were also struck by the rounds. There are suspects in custody. The scene is secured. There is no current threat to the public.”

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Jada Robinson, a missing 15-year-old from Fairland.

Robinson was last seen on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m. on Harlequin Ter.  Robinson is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall. She has hair that is dyed reddish-pink and brown eyes. Robinson has a tattoo on her left inner arm. She was last seen wearing a red hoodie, black sweatpants and blue Crocs. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jada Robinson is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

Jada Robinson (Original Image)

Plan recommending better access to public transportation, housing options, retail, and pedestrian connections along five-mile stretch of U.S. 29 corridor heads to County Council, County Executive for review

The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Montgomery County Planning Department’s Planning Board Draft of the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan at the May 25 Planning Board meeting. The draft plan will be transmitted to the County Council and the County Executive for public review and final County Council approval. There will be an opportunity for additional public comment on the plan with the County Council’s public hearing and work session review.

The Planning Board Draft lays out the plan’s renewed vision for a five-mile portion of the U.S. 29 (Columbia Pike) corridor, drawing from hundreds of public comments, conversations, ideas, and illustrations generated by visioning workshop participants and community stakeholders since summer 2021. The Planning Board held a public hearing on the plan in May 2023, and Montgomery Planning staff incorporated that public feedback into the plan’s Working Draft, which went through a series of live-streamed work sessions with the Planning Board for input and direction from Board members. The draft plan provides recommendations to support its five major goals of creating a more complete community, fostering corridor growth, promoting economic development, increasing housing opportunities, and improving connections between the natural and built environments.

“The Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan will establish the vision for transformative activity-centered growth.  It sets the stage for mixed-use housing and commercial developments in compact centers and for a more transit- and pedestrian-oriented U.S. 29 corridor that is less dependent on automobiles,” said Planning Board Chair Jeff Zyontz. “This plan’s zoning recommendations accommodate an evolving community that will be able to satisfy market demands in a manner that makes walking and biking commuting a reasonable choice.”

“This is one of the first opportunities to plan a community through the lens of the county’s new General Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, which aims to create places to live, work, and play that strengthen racial equity and social justice, economic competitiveness, and environmental resilience,” said Acting Planning Director Tanya Stern. “Past policy and planning decisions have had a negative impact on growth in East county, resulting in inequitable investments. This plan seeks to repair those inequities and set a new path for the Fairland and Briggs Chaney community. It recommends strategies for an improved quality of life and access to high-quality amenities, supports a stronger social network, and celebrates this plan area’s multi-racial and multi-cultural community.”

For more details about the plan, visit the Fairland and Briggs Chaney website where the approved Planning Board Draft will be posted soon.

Key Recommendation Themes of the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan:

• Establish an emphasis on community gateways and activity centers as compact, high-density mixed-use centers focused on frequent transit service; safe pedestrian movement; greater tree canopy and ‘cool’ surfaces at summer hot spots; and attractive community gathering spaces.
• Prioritize U.S. 29 as a ‘transit-first’ corridor that provides frequent, convenient regional connections from the plan area to Silver Spring, Washington D.C., and Howard County.
• Complete a continuous network of trails and paths connecting activity centers, neighborhoods, parks, open spaces, community facilities, and bus stops, both within and beyond the master plan area.
• Establish an East County Resilience Hub as a community center for daily community needs and a destination for reliable electricity, water, temporary shelter, food, indoor heating and cooling, social services, and fellowship during public emergencies.
• Support a healthy community food system that includes healthy grocery and dining destinations, farmers’ markets, and community gardens.

About the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan

The Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Planis an update to a portion of the 1997 Fairland Master Plan and will establish a clear vision for an equitable, just, and prosperous future for the Fairland community, mirroring the county’s long-term priorities, which include a vibrant economy, equity for all residents, and a healthy environment. The master plan boundary consists primarily of property and neighborhoods of Fairland and Briggs Chaney along the U.S. 29 Corridor from near Paint Branch on the south to Greencastle Road on the north. The update will examine and provide policies and recommendations on existing and future land uses and zoning, housing inventory and needs, transportation systems, historic preservation opportunities, area park facilities, and the environment.

This master plan will take cues from the equity framework in the update to the county’s General Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, which describes how places with equitable access to opportunity produce strong, successful communities. Goals of the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan include:

• Complete Community: Identify and correct past inequitable development policies to make the Fairland and Briggs Chaney communities more whole and connected by integrating centers of housing, retail, and office development with parks and open space to make 15-minute living a reality for as many people as possible.
• Resilient Economy: Promote economic development and job growth within the plan area and surrounding communities.
• Housing: Promote racial and economic diversity and equity in housing to help rectify past discriminatory housing policies in every neighborhood.
• Arts, Culture and Environment: Support arts and cultural institutions, through parks, open space and environment, recreational programming, and development, to celebrate our diversity, strengthen pride of place, and make the county more attractive and interesting.
• Corridor Growth and Connectivity: Promote and prioritize public and private investment along the Route 29 corridor and neighboring communities to leverage and attract future private investment in community facilities and redevelopment, including a safer, more comfortable network for walking, biking, and rolling that connects the corridor communities.

Featured photo by @DronifyDMV