MoCo Archives - Page 307 of 605

Two MCPS Student-Athletes Win Minds in Motion Scholarships

Published May 11, 2023 at 7:32AM

Congratulations to Grace Jennings of Winston Churchill High School, and Etana Heda of Springbrook High School, for winning the 2023 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s (MPSSAA) Minds in Motion Scholar-Athlete Scholarships.

Grace participates in bocce, swimming and diving, track and field, and field hockey, where she serves as team captain. She was one of two student-athletes to represent Churchill on the Student-Athlete Leadership Council and was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad. Etana participates in cross country, indoor track, and track and field, serving as team captain. He has received nine Minds in Motion Awards.

Crews Resurfacing Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda

By Cordell Pugh

Published May 10, 2023 at 3:37PM

This week (May 8th), Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) contractors began resurfacing Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda. Crews will be working on weekdays from 9AM to 4PM, resurfacing all lanes of Parklawn Drive between Randolph Road and the CSX Rail bridge (just East of Nebel Street).

Montgomery County-based M. Luis Construction Co., Inc. is performing the work. Crews will be removing the top layer of asphalt and paving a new asphalt surface on top of the existing base course. Work is expected to wrap up in June, as long as the weather cooperates, according to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

Advice Available from the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection to Residents Who Have Felt Deceived or Taken Advantage of During a Business Transaction

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2023 at 3:33PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County residents who have felt deceived or taken advantage of during a business transaction can turn to the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) for advice and assistance. OCP and its staff of experts on various matters can help explain complicated terms of a business transaction or get involved when a resident feels they are the victim of deceptive business practices, communication barriers or have experienced a situation when they were treated unfairly by a merchant who does not want to resolve the matter.

Spring is a time that brings out a regular trend of deceptive or fraudulent vendors, especially regarding work to be done around homes. OCP is prepared to help.

Winners of Sixth Annual Montgomery County Commission for Women’s ‘Girl Power Contest’ Announced

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2023 at 3:28PM

Per Montgomery County: The winners of the Montgomery County Commission for Women’s (CFW) sixth annual “Girl Power Contest” have been selected. The contest asked entrants to write/illustrate their thoughts on giving advice to the six new female members of the County Council “to make sure our community is a place where women and girls can feel safe and encouraged.” The winners are Natalie Jean (adult category), Morgen Thompson (high school), Mya Twyman (middle school) and Colette Jaksic (elementary school).

The Girl Power Contest ran from March 1-30 in celebration of Women’s History Month. The contestants were asked to address the following question: “We now have six women on the County Council. What advice would you give them to make sure our community is a place where women and girls can feel safe and encouraged?”

Olney Native Oguchi Onyewu Named U.S. Soccer Federation’s Vice President of Sporting

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2023 at 12:59PM

The U.S. Soccer Federation has named Oguchi Onyewu as the Vice President of Sporting. Onyewu, 40, brings a wealth of experience as a player and sporting executive with over 25 years in the game. The Olney native attended and played for Sherwood High School. During high school, he enrolled in the U.S. residency program for soccer in Bradenton, Florida before returning to Sherwood to graduate.

Per US Soccer: In this newly created role, the two-time World Cup veteran will work closely with U.S. Soccer’s Sporting Director Matt Crocker in supporting all sporting initiatives within the Federation. Reporting to Crocker, Onyewu will also play a prominent role in managing relationships with clubs and leagues in the United States and across the world, along with strengthening other stakeholder relationships.

County Council Raises Recordation Tax Rates to Increase Resources for School Construction, Montgomery County Construction Projects and Affordable Housing; New Rates Begin October 1, 2023

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2023 at 12:08PM

Per Montgomery County (5.9.23): Today the Montgomery County Council enacted Bill 17-23, Taxation – Recordation Tax Rates – Amendments, to increase resources for Montgomery County Public Schools’ construction projects, Montgomery County capital projects and the creation and maintenance of affordable housing through the Housing Initiative Fund. Councilmember Kristin Mink was the lead sponsor of the bill and Councilmember Will Jawando was a cosponsor. The Council’s vote was 7-4 to enact the legislation.

As a result of this legislation, resources to fund capital priorities are projected to increase by $187.3 million over the six-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) which covers fiscal years 2023 through 2028. Montgomery County’s most recent CIP status report shows a funding gap of $207.5 million, and the additional resources generated through updated recordation rates will help close this gap and fund essential construction projects including schools, affordable housing projects and transportation infrastructure improvements.

Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, and More Set to Perform at Scotland Freedom Day Concert at MoCo Fairgrounds in June

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2023 at 7:36AM

The Scotland Juneteenth Festival, and its presenting sponsor Minds in Motion Child Care, are bringing recording artists Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, Jamaican reggae legend Tarrus Riley with opening act Dean Fraser & The Blak Soil Band, and more for the Freedom Day Concert at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Monday, June 19th. Tickets can be purchased here. Additional information below:

Celebrating the past and present of the first places African-Americans owned land in Montgomery County, the Scotland community of Potomac, has announced significant expansion of the annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival for 2023. Featuring a children’s carnival and musical performance highlighted above, as well as art exhibitions, food, sports, and presentations on Black history in this region, the events for the federal holiday on Monday, June 19, will be spread across the Cabin John Regional Park, Cabin John Village, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and the Scotland community on Seven Locks Road.

Joint Letter from Board President Silvestre, Superintendent McKnight, and the Three Employee Associations Concerning MCPS Operating Budget Funding

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2023 at 6:52AM

On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Board of Education (Karla Silvestre), Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight), Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA President Jennifer Martin), Service Employees International Union Local 500 (SEIU Local 500 President Pia Morrison), and Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (President Christine Handy) wrote the following joint letter to the Montgomery County Council concerning the funding of the MCPS operating budget:

“Dear Council President Glass and Councilmembers:

Seneca Valley Announces Quintin Cosby as Sixth Ever Head Football Coach in School’s Storied History

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2023 at 10:00PM | Updated May 10, 2023 at 3:59PM

Seneca Valley High School athletic director Jesse Irvin has announced Quintin Cosby as the sixth head coach in the storied history of Seneca Valley football. The full announcement can be seen below, courtesy of Seneca Valley Athletics:

“The Seneca Valley High School Athletic Department and Administration is pleased to announce the hiring of our new head football coach, Mr. Quintin Cosby. Coach Cosby is the sixth head coach in the storied history of Seneca Valley Football. Quintin takes over the reins from Mr. Joseph Rankin.

Montgomery County to Host 26th Juneteenth Celebration with Music, Artistic Performances, Educational Exhibits on Saturday, June 17, in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published May 9, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated May 9, 2023 at 3:17PM

The celebration weekend will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, at BlackRock when County Executive Marc Elrich leads ceremonies to honor the 2023 winners of the County’s African American Living Legends Awards. The awards honor individuals who are 75 or older and have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness to their community. BlackRock Center for the Arts is located at 12901 Town Commons Dr. in Germantown.

Montgomery County to Host Online Annual Spring Forum Focusing on Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment on Thursday, May 18

By Patrick Herron

Published May 8, 2023 at 12:45PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host its annual mental health and substance use disorder spring forum from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. “Overcoming Disparities and Barriers to Treatment for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder” is a free event that will focus on treatment access within underserved communities and will include a track for adults and a concurrent track for youth, planned by members of the County’s Youth Ambassador Program. The forum will be hosted online.

Youth will participate in youth-led sessions, exploring ways to help their peers or themselves access support for mental health or substance use disorders. Youth participants will then rejoin the adults in the main Zoom room so all attendees can ask questions during a live Q&A panel. The event will conclude with links to various resources for mental health and substance use prevention, intervention and treatment. Students who attend for the full two-hour event will receive SSL hours.