The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced earlier this school year that three graduating high school seniors from Montgomery County will receive the Cooke College Scholarship. This year’s recipients will receive up to $55,000 annually to cover the costs of their undergraduate education, as they go on to attend the nation’s top colleges and universities next fall. The winners from Montgomery County are:

The Cooke College Scholarship Program seeks to help high-achieving students with financial need earn a college degree. In addition to substantial financial support, Scholars also receive ongoing academic coaching and advising, graduate school and career advising, and access to a network of thriving and motivated peers in the Cooke Scholar community. Scholars will also receive opportunities for internships, study abroad, and access to graduate school funding.


Last week we let you know that customers served by WSSC Water’s Potomac Water Filtration Plant (Potomac River) may notice a change in the taste and odor of their tap water because of algal activity in the Potomac River. The customer alert remains active on the WSSC website and the service map can be seen below.

Per WSSC, This temporary change is not harmful and is due to an increase in a naturally occurring substance, Geosmin, caused by warmer weather and low water levels in the Potomac River. The naturally occurring compound, Geosmin, has no health effects at the current concentration. Despite the taste and odor issues, the water remains safe, meeting all EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards.


Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will hold a community conversation on Wednesday, June 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Weller Road Elementary School and virtually on Zoom. Councilmembers have scheduled this community conversation to answer questions and listen to concerns from community members. Some of the topics for discussion will include pedestrian safety, housing and transportation, public safety and other issues of community concern. 

“Community conversations are an opportunity for residents to get to speak directly with council members and ask questions about the issues that are of concern to them,” said Council President Evan Glass. “This listening session in Mid-County will be an important dialogue about the future of the community and county.” 


Never letting the grass grow under their feet, the Kentlands Under the Lights committee has been hard at work since the beginning of the year on what will be a wholly new and reimagined Kentlands Under the Lights for 2023. Kentlands Under the Lights will have a new and expanded footprint on Market Street running from the traffic circle to CenterPoint – and now fully including the Paseo space and merchants – more music options including three band stages, more food and drink options, and more places to sit and linger and enjoy the company and fellowship of our friends and neighbors on a warm summer night. Kentlands Under the Lights 2023 will be the best yet.


Per Montgomery County: Residents 18-and-older interested in e-scooter lessons will have the opportunity to attend the last free clinic of the spring schedule sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. The class will be from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, June 18, at Montgomery College, which is located at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.

The classes will be in Parking Lot 13. Participants can take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws. A valid driver’s license or ID is required to participate. The clinic is drop-in and no registration is required. Those interested in e-scooters can stop in at any time during the two-hour clinic. Scooters will be available at each site.


Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s 26th Juneteenth Celebration, themed “Journey to Freedom . . . Memorialize the Struggle, Celebrate the Successes and Secure the Justice and Equality,” will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown when Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich presents “African American Living Legend Awards” to six County residents. This year’s honorees are Henry Hailstock, Jr., Rev. Theresa M. Henderson, Pauline G. Johnson, Sheila G. Ogilvie, Vernon H. Ricks, Jr. and Lt. Colonel Shelton (Ivan) Ware.

The Juneteenth celebration will continue at BlackRock with activities from noon-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 17. The BlackRock Center is located at 12901 Town Commons Dr. in Germantown. The public is invited to the award ceremonies. The event is free to attend. The African American Living Legend Awards honor distinguished individuals who have helped shape the cultural heritage of the African American community. The 2023 awards will be presented to six individuals who have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness to their community.


Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Recreation’s outdoor pool summer season begins Saturday, June 17. The summer season will have the seven County-operated pools open seven days a week. During the summer season, June 17 -Aug. 13, outdoor pool hours will be 1-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. on weekdays and noon-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. on weekends. The Upper County Pool is closed on Fridays during the summer season.

For more information about pool hours, including holiday and post-season hours, visit the website.


Steeze Burger has been ranked the #1 burger in the DMV by the Washington Post. Laytonsville resident Hunter Karametos, owner of Steeze Burger, started the pop-up burger business in 2022 after spending the better part of a year consuming over 150 different burgers for research.

According the article, “Topped with steamed onions, pickles and American cheese, it’s a burger that sends your needle into the red zone on first bite. Your brain cannot begin to process the experience, so it just goes along for the ride — delirious over this buttery and rewarding burger, the best around these parts.” Burgers from Soko Butcher (Takoma Park) and Quarry House Tavern (Silver Spring) were also listed in the article as “honorable mentions.” You can read the full top ten at www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/best-burgers-washington-dc/


Per the Maryland Attorney General: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Office of the Attorney General today released dashboard and body-worn camera footage from the fatal vehicle pursuit involving Montgomery County Police on May 20, 2023, in Rockville. The decedent was previously identified as 37-year-old Lawrence White of Washington, D.C.

The IID will generally release body-worn camera and dashboard camera footage within 14 days of an incident. The release of the video footage of this incident was delayed to allow investigators to conduct witness interviews.


The OBGC 13U Blackhawks have won back-to-back championships after consecutive undefeated seasons. “I almost feel more of a relief than excitement. The expectations on this team were such that anything less than a championship would have been a disappointment for several of the players. The players were able to rise to the moment and they will remember today long after they eventually hang up their cleats.” said Coach Ron Berry. “This team is special, with or without the win today. This was the just the cherry on top.”

This band of young ladies has gone 33-2-1 over the last three seasons (2023 Spring Record – 12-0-1. 2022 Fall Record – 10-0. 2022. Spring Record – 11-2). The league they compete in is the OBGC House Softball league for 13u girls, which is made of a consortium of teams from Poolesville, Clarksville, Burtonsville, Damascus and Rockville. After losing to Damascus Team Remsnyder in the playoffs last spring, the team came back very hungry. They went undefeated in the Fall season (no playoff due to shortened daylight time and harsher weather with fall and winter approaching). The majority of the team came back for this year‘a spring season and picked up right where they left off.


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