MoCo Archives - Page 300 of 605

MD 355 Flash BRT Project Update

Published June 14, 2023 at 6:01AM | Updated June 14, 2023 at 7:51AM

A briefing on the MD 355 BRT was provided to the Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council on Tuesday night. Per the presentation, available below, the MD 355 BRT will provide a new transit service with greater travel speed and frequency along the MD 355 corridor that will help:

The MD 355 BRT has completed the Preliminary Engineering phase between Grosvenor and Montgomery  College – Germantown. Preliminary Engineering is continuing for the Bethesda and Clarksburg segments (Fall 2023 completion), NEPA documentation is underway, there is ongoing coordination with FTA, and they are currently preparing procurement for Progressive Design-Build. Full presentation below:

Gaithersburg Oak Barrel & Vine Opens This Thursday, June 15

By Patrick Herron

Published June 13, 2023 at 10:24PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) will open its new Gaithersburg Square store under its upgraded retail concept, “Oak Barrel & Vine,” at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 15. Elected officials and alcohol industry representatives plan to attend the opening. Walt “The Wizard” Williams, a former basketball star at the University of Maryland who went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, will be present to sign bottles of his Clutch vodka.

The celebration and ribbon cutting will occur in front of the store, located in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center at 512 N. Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg. Throughout the weekend of Thursday-Sunday, June 15-18, the store will offer special tastings including those of Maryland-made products, high-end spirits and Juneteenth specials.

Montgomery County Holiday Schedule for Juneteenth on Monday, June 19

By Patrick Herron

Published June 13, 2023 at 10:16PM

Montgomery Parks—Visit www.MontgomeryParks.orgfor complete information. Additional information:

Governor Moore Announces $6.3 Million to Support Construction of More than 200 Affordable Housing Units in Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published June 13, 2023 at 2:35PM

Per MCPD: Governor Wes Moore today announced $6.3 million to support projects to support the construction of more than 200 affordable rental housing units, approved during the most recent Board of Public Works meeting. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will provide $3.5 million through the Rental Housing Works Program and $2.8 million from the Partnership Rental Housing Program to support two affordable housing projects in Silver Spring.

The department’s Rental Housing Works and Partnership Housing Rental programs provide financing for projects that create or preserve affordable rental housing units. The Rental Housing Works program finances rental housing that will be occupied by individuals with incomes at 60% of area median income. The Partnership Rental Housing Program finances rental housing that will be occupied by individuals with income of 50% below State-wide area median income. Through other programs, the department’s total investment in the two projects is more than $73 million.

Saturday Parking No Longer Free at County Operated Garages, Lots, and Meters in Downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Published June 13, 2023 at 11:21AM | Updated June 13, 2023 at 5:43PM

Parking revenue will be used to implement new safety and security measures in Downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton parking facilities. This will include installing more lighting and cameras, in addition to maintenance. The Montgomery County Council approved the new parking schedule and a monthly pass with Resolution 20-167, ‘Setting Transportation Fees, Charges, and Fares, as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget process. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will implement the changes in accordance with the resolution. Paid parking on Saturdays already is in effect in Downtown Wheaton.

WSSC: Residents May Notice Change of Taste and Odor of Tap Water

By Patrick Herron

Published June 13, 2023 at 10:27AM

WSSC has announced that customers who are served by the Potomac Water Filtration Plant may notice a change in the taste and odor of their tap water because of algal activity in the Potomac River. Additional details below per WSSC:

Juneteenth Celebration to Take Place in Germantown on Saturday, June 17

By MCS Staff

Published June 13, 2023 at 7:01AM

Montgomery County will celebrate Juneteenth at a special event featuring live music, food, art, films and awards from 12-10 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 2023 at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights coordinates the program, which also features the Living Legends Awards honoring county residents who have helped shape the cultural heritage of the African American community. Look for a City of Rockville table and city representatives at the celebration.

The Juneteenth holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when the Union army arrived in Texas bearing federal orders proclaiming the end of slavery. The orders arrived nearly two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared that enslaved people living in the secessionist Confederate states were now free.

Montgomery County Council Meets on June 13 at 9 a.m. to Interview Candidates for Director of the Department of Health and Human Services and Director of the Department of Environmental Protection

By Patrick Herron

Published June 12, 2023 at 2:31PM

The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, June 13 at 9 a.m., and the meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first proclamation, presented by Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, commemorates International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The second proclamation presentation, led by Council President Evan Glass, recognizes the 40th Anniversary of Manna Food Center.

The afternoon session will begin with two proclamation presentations. At 1 p.m., Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles will lead a proclamation celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month. At 1:15 p.m., Councilmember Will Jawando will lead a proclamation presentation recognizing Juneteenth.

Montgomery Committee Against Hate Violence Panel Will Discuss Hate/Bias/Violence/Bullying-in County Public Schools on Monday, June 12

By Patrick Herron

Published June 12, 2023 at 1:43PM

Courtesy MCPL

Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Committee Against Hate Violence (CAHV) of the County Office of Human Rights, at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 12, will sponsor a “Second Conversation” panel discussion focusing on “Hate/Bias/Violence/Bullying” within the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The program will be held at the Gaithersburg Library and also will be livestreamed. The Gaithersburg Library is located at 18330 Montgomery Village Ave. in Gaithersburg. There is no charge to attend and audience participation will be welcomed. The discussion will be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/CountyCableMoCo.

Scheduled to be on the panel are Attorney Guila Siegel, the associate director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Washington, D.C.; Stephanie Sheron, the chief of strategic initiatives of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); Demon Monteleone, the associate superintendent of MCPS; Ryvell Fitzpatrick, the ombudsman of the Montgomery County Board of Education; and Lisa Taylor, chair of the Montgomery County Committee Against Hate Violence.

Quince Orchard Alumnus Charles Lee Hired As Top Assistant Coach by Boston Celtics

By MCS Staff

Published June 12, 2023 at 10:14AM

Boston Celtics Head Coach, Joe Mazzulla, has hired MoCo native Charles Lee as their lead assistant coach under Mazzulla, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Lee has been an assistant in the NBA since 2014, helping the Milwaukee Bucks win an NBA championship in 2021. Lee, a 2002 graduate of Quince Orchard High School, grew up in Gaithersburg and was a student-athlete at Quince Orchard before moving on to Bucknell, where he attended school and played until 2006.

He went on to play professionally, primarily in Europe and Israel. After his professional career came to an end, he returned to Bucknell as an assistant coach and later served as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks from 2014-18. He joined the Bucks as an assistant, becoming the top assistant after Darvin Ham left to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. His name appeared as a potential candidate for the Washington Wizards coaching job, prior to the Wizards naming Wes Unseld Jr. their head coach. Now, Lee joins a Celtics team that was a game away from the NBA Finals and is coming off of a 57-win season.

Councilmember Kristin Mink Releases Statement Apologizing to Muslim Community For Remarks Made During Board of Education Meeting

By MCS Staff

Published June 11, 2023 at 4:23PM

Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink has released a statement apologizing to the Muslim community for remarks made during the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting about inclusive education and whether families should be permitted to opt their children out of LGBTQIA-inclusive curriculum materials. During the meeting, Mink stated the following, “…it’s more complicated than a lot of people would like to think it is. This issue has unfortunately put, it does put, some, not all of course, but some Muslim families on the same side of an issue as white supremecists and outright bigots and you know, however, the folks who I’ve talked to here today…I would not put in the same categories as those folks. Although, you know, it’s again complicated, because they’re falling on the same side of this particular issue.” Below is the statement released by Councilmemebr Mink today:

“On Tuesday, June 6, I spoke at a Montgomery County Board of Education meeting about inclusive education and whether families should be permitted to opt their children out of LGBTQIA-inclusive curriculum materials. I regret that although my remarks were focused on promoting inclusion, they created an opportunity for misunderstanding and mischaracterization. I apologize for the hurt that caused in the Muslim community.