MoCo Archives - Page 310 of 614

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

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.

29 Law Enforcement Officers Graduate From University of Maryland’s DUI Institute

By MCS Staff

Published June 11, 2023 at 10:46AM

Program Trains State Law Enforcement Leaders to Combat Impaired Driving

Per the Maryland Department of Transportation: Twenty-nine officers from 15 law enforcement agencies in Maryland graduated today from the University of Maryland’s DUI Institute, a rigorous 40-hour program that develops leaders in the enforcement of alcohol-impaired driving laws.

What You Need to Know About FIREWORKS in Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published June 11, 2023 at 10:44AM

It is illegal for any person to manufacture, possess, store, offer for sale, sell, discharge, use, burn or explode any fireworks in Montgomery County, Maryland, except that an authorized display may be conducted by a licensed pyrotechnic professional with a permit. Penalties for violations of the law include a fine up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail. All fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and the City of Baltimore. Montgomery County Fire Safety Code: Section 22-70: Fireworks.

In Montgomery County, ALL fireworks are illegal to possess or discharge including gold label sparklers. Snap-and-pop noise makers, snakes and party poppers are the only exception to this law.

Minimum Wage Set to Increase More Than $1 on July 1

By Patrick Herron

Published June 10, 2023 at 1:35PM

Minimum wage for large employers (51 employees or more) in Montgomery County is set to increase to $16.71 an hour on July 1, 2023. The current minimum wage for large employers in Montgomery County is $15.65. The state of Maryland minimum wage is $13.25 an hour, while the federally-mandated minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

Per Montgomery County: The minimum wage will again increase in Montgomery County on July 1. Sponsored by then-County Council member, and current County Executive, Marc Elrich and signed into legislation on Nov. 17, 2017, Bill 28-17 raises the minimum wage incrementally each July 1. Based on the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) for Washington-Baltimore, the Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer has set the rate for the increase of minimum wage for July 2023 for large employers (those with 51 employees or more) at $16.71 per hour.

Montgomery County Recreation Receives Six NACo Achievement Awards in 2023, Including Best in Category

By Patrick Herron

Published June 9, 2023 at 5:36PM

Awards include for:

NACo is a nonprofit organization that provides services to the nation’s 3,069 counties and represents county governments across the United States. The NACo Achievement Awards recognize a county’s outstanding commitment to public service in various categories such as civic education and public information; community and economic development; children and youth; and arts and entertainment.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Nominates Jon Monger as Director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Dr. James Bridgers as Director of the Department of Health and Human Services

By Patrick Herron

Published June 9, 2023 at 2:22PM | Updated June 9, 2023 at 3:14PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today announced the nomination of Jon Monger to lead the County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Dr. James Bridgers to lead the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The County Council is scheduled to vote on both nominees on Tuesday, June 20.

County Executive Elrich’s nominee to head DEP, Jon Monger, currently serves as the Assistant Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where he oversees agency policy, management, and operational priorities. Mr. Monger has dedicated his career to addressing environmental issues, including serving as Counsel to a presidential commission formed to investigate the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, EPA’s White House Liaison under President Barack Obama, policy advisor in EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, and Oversight Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. Jon received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and graduated magna cum laude from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. During law school, he clerked for the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and the Honorable James J. Brady of the Middle District of Louisiana.

Legendary Churchill Lacrosse Coach, Jeff Fritz, Steps Down After 30 Years

By MCS Staff

Published June 9, 2023 at 7:43AM | Updated June 15, 2023 at 1:24PM

Last year, Winston Churchill High School in Potomac celebrated Jeff Fritz’s 300th victory as head boys lacrosse coach at the school and became the first Montgomery County lacrosse team (boys or girls) to ever win a State Championship. Following another successful season in 2023, Coach Fritz has announced that he’ll be stepping down as coach.

Churchill boys lacrosse won the 2022 Maryland 4A State Championship, after defeating Anne Arundel County powerhouse Broadneck 15-7 in the championship. This stories season was memorable for many reasons, as coach Fritz was celebrated for winning his 300th game. Churchill welcomed Montgomery County Councilmember and alumnus Andrew Friedson to the school’s game against Sherwood High School. At halftime Councilmember Friedson presented his old lacrosse coach with a Proclamation from Montgomery County for Coach Fritz’s 300th career win. Churchill boys lacrosse finished 13-0 in 2022.

New 227 Area Code Takes Effect This Month

By Patrick Herron

Published June 7, 2023 at 7:37AM

To ensure a continuing supply of new telephone numbers, the Maryland Public Service Commission has approved an all-services area code overlay for the 240/301 area code region which serves all or portions of Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Bowie, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Hagerstown, Potomac, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Wheaton, and many other small communities. The new 227 area code will serve the same geographic area currently served by the existing 240/301 area codes.

What is an Area Code Overlay? An overlay is the addition of another area code (227) to the same geographic region as an existing area code region (240/301). The overlay does not require you to change your existing area code or phone number, or how you dial your calls. You will continue to dial the area code and phone number for all local calls, as you do today, within and between the 240, 301, and new 227 area codes.

Rockville Pride Takes Place June 24th

By Patrick Herron

Published June 4, 2023 at 3:04PM

Per the City of Rockville: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. The commemorative month also recognizes the impact LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history—locally, nationally, and internationally. The City of Rockville has issued proclamations declaring LGBTQ+ Pride Month since June 2017.

The event is free and open to all ages, and will feature:

(POSTPONED) MoCo’s First 18-Hole Disc Golf Course Will Be Discussed at Community Meeting on Tuesday, June 6

By MCS Staff

Published June 4, 2023 at 8:00AM | Updated June 5, 2023 at 4:31PM

Montgomery Parks is postponing the community meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, 2023, about plans to develop a disc golf course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park. The meeting is being postponed due to health reasons. A new meeting date will be announced soon. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause.

Montgomery Parks will hold a community meeting from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, at the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville to share information about a proposed disc golf course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park. The planned disc golf course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park will be the first 18-hole course in Montgomery Parks.