MoCo Archives - Page 306 of 629

Department of Permitting Services Will Enforce Changes to Law Regarding Demolition Work Starting Monday, Aug. 21

Published August 16, 2023 at 4:25PM

Per Montgomery County: An amendment to Montgomery County Code Chapter 8-27 regarding the demolition or removal of buildings will go into effect on Monday, Aug. 21, to ensure that when a residential building is demolished or substantially demolished, a demolition permit will be required. The law also will require any new home rebuilt on that site have a new home building permit. The County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) issues the permits.

The amended legislation redefines the term demolition to include removal of two-thirds (67 percent) of first story exterior walls of a single-family or two-family dwelling (duplex or townhouse) or if less than one-third of existing first-floor exterior walls (enclosing a habitable space of a house) are left in place above the basement or foundation.

Americorps Seeking Recent High School Graduates to Serve in ‘Project Change’ to Help Them Confidently Advance to Next Steps in Life

By Patrick Herron

Published August 16, 2023 at 4:23PM

Per Montgomery County: Americorps, which has been helping recent high school graduates build confidence and skills to advance to their next steps in life, is seeking to recruit recent graduates who are wondering about their future. As part of “Project Change,” Americorps volunteers would be placed in a variety of positions, earning stipends for their work.

Applications are now being accepted for positions that will be filled soon.

Gun Buyback Event to be Held August 26; $100/$200 Visa Gift Cards Offered for Functioning Guns Including Assault Style Weapons and “Ghost Guns”

By Patrick Herron

Published August 16, 2023 at 1:27PM

The Rockville City Police Department will be holding a gun buyback event on Saturday, August 26, from 9am-1pm at RedGate Park in Rockville. Last year over 300 hundred guns were turned at similar event. Full details below:

The Rockville City Police Department, in partnership with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County Public Schools, will host a gun buyback event from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at RedGate Park – 14500 Avery Road, Rockville, MD 20850.

Montgomery County to Hold Ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 31, Recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day and September as International Recovery Month

By Patrick Herron

Published August 15, 2023 at 5:46PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County will host a remembrance ceremony and candlelight vigil on Thursday, Aug. 31, in Downtown Rockville to memorialize lives lost to overdose and substance use. The event will commemorate “International Overdose Awareness Day,” a global event aimed at raising awareness of overdoses and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths. Across the U.S., overdose death rates continue to increase. More than 109,000 Americans lost their lives to overdose in 2022, an increase of approximately four percent and the second consecutive year of more than 100,000 overdose deaths.

The ceremony and vigil will be held at Memorial Plaza, located at 101 Monroe St. in Rockville (the terrace between the Montgomery County Executive Office Building and the County Circuit Court). There will be a memorial photo display on the plaza. Families and friends, with permission of the family, can submit a photo (only photos of the individual with no one else in the picture can be submitted) to be included in the display. For more information, including how to submit a photo, complete the online form.

Montgomery County Nonprofits May Be Eligible for ‘Clean Water Montgomery Grants’ Awards Range from $40,000 to $100,000

By Patrick Herron

Published August 15, 2023 at 5:36PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County nonprofit organizations including local watershed groups, homeowner and community associations, faith-based organizations, service and civic groups may be eligible for grants ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 via the “Clean Water Montgomery Grant” Program. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust) partner to administer the program, which is made possible through the County’s Water Quality Protection Fund and through Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) funding.

“Through this partnership between the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, we are taking meaningful steps to protect our water quality and enhance our communities,“ said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “By supporting projects that address stormwater runoff and pollution, promote education and foster stewardship, we are empowering local organizations to play a crucial role in restoring and maintaining the health of our waterways.”

Free Computers and Up to $45 Per Month Off Home or Mobile Internet Available for Low-Income Montgomery County Residents

By Patrick Herron

Published August 15, 2023 at 5:33PM

Per Montgomery County: A new school year is about to start, and for some low-income residents without computers or the ability to pay for home or mobile internet, Montgomery County is trying to provide help through its continued program of giving away free computers and subsidized internet service. The next distribution of free computers will be from noon-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Germantown American Job Center.

The Maryland Connected Device Chromebook laptop computers are funded by a $7 million grant from the State of Maryland. The laptops are being distributed through the Montgomery Connects program, operated by the County’s Department of Technology & Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS). Mobile and internet connectivity subsidies are available through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

MoCo Animal Services and Adoption Center at Critical Occupancy, Adoption Fees Waived for Next 100 Animals Adopted

By Patrick Herron

Published August 15, 2023 at 12:22PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) in Derwood has reached a dangerous capacity for animals of all types. Despite the recent support in a campaign to have large dogs adopted, the over-population situation remains critical and has extended to all types of animals. To help inspire adoptions, the shelter is waiving adoption fees for the next 100 pets adopted by Thursday, Aug. 24.

The full capacity means the shelter will only be accepting animals who need immediate help. This policy is to help prevent euthanasia. Owners who must rehome a pet are encouraged to use rehoming websites. The shelter can list pets on the website for owners trying to rehome. Visit Surrender an Animal (montgomerycountymd.gov) for information on rehoming. Due to lack of space in the shelter, surrendering a pet now means it is at an increased risk for euthanasia.

Statement From Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass Regarding WaPo Article on MCPS Principal

By Patrick Herron

Published August 14, 2023 at 4:55PM | Updated August 14, 2023 at 6:26PM

On Friday, August 11, the Washington Post released an article alleging that Paint Branch High School Principal Dr. Joel Beidleman had been reported to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) 18 times in seven years and detailed alleged sexual harassment, workplace bullying, and other inappropriate conduct at multiple schools, spanning over a decade. The article states that Beidleman was placed on leave by MCPS and that the school system will launch an “independent, external investigation.”

Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass released the following statement on Monday, August 14: “I am deeply disturbed by the Washington Post’s detailed reporting alleging an MCPS principal created a hostile and unsafe workplace. The public needs to know who was aware of this information and why it was not promptly investigated. As we prepare for a new school year, we must ensure that students and teachers feel safe, welcome and respected in the classroom.”

Two New Parks Added to Annual Deer Population Management Operations in Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 2:51PM

Montgomery Parks‘ annual deer population management program will take place from September 2023 into March 2024, across 48 parks. Two new park locations are being added to the deer management efforts this year. Montgomery Parks will notify residents adjacent to newly added/adjusted park locations by mail, signage, and other electronic forms of communication such as email and social media posts. A complete schedule of program dates and locations is available online. This year, archery-managed hunts are being added to the following park locations:

In addition to these expansions, one deer population management park location (3 park units) will also see an adjustment to the strategy. North Germantown Greenway Stream Valley Park (Brink Rd. & Wildcat Rd. southeast)/Great Seneca Stream Valley Park Unit 2/Blunt Rd. Local Park will transition from firearms-managed hunting to archery-managed hunting. Initiated 27 years ago, the program addresses deer populations in many areas of the county that result in deer-automobile accidents, excessive damage to the environment, private landscapes, and agriculture and concerns over disease. Once programming is implemented and established in these areas, routine maintenance is required to balance deer with available habitat and human land uses.

MCPD Responds to Several Illegal Car Meet-ups Saturday Night

By Patrick Herron

Published August 13, 2023 at 8:44PM

On Saturday, August 12, Montgomery County Police released a message on social media stating that they were responding to several locations for illegal car meet-up events and that they would be enforcing traffic violations in those areas. According to MCPD, the gatherings were shut down and no arrests were made.

Parents of Missing Teen Believe She Was Groomed and Lured Away Via Social Media

By MCS Staff

Published August 12, 2023 at 2:43PM

The Special Victims Investigations Division of Montgomery County Police is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old, Sophia Isabella Roach (age 15), who has been missing for over a month now.

“We believe that she was kind of groomed and lured online by somebody, and we’ve got evidence of that from social media,” Mayyasa Roach said in an interview with NBC Washington. “And that, yes, she left, may have been voluntarily, but now she’s been abducted or she is somewhere that we don’t believe that she’s in control of her situation.”