MoCo Archives - Page 311 of 605

Montgomery County’s Celebration of ‘Public Works Week’ Will Include Paint the Plow Contest and Truck Day Event on Sat., May 20

Published April 25, 2023 at 4:06PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will kick off “Public Works Week” on Saturday, May 20, with Truck Day at the MCDOT Depot and Salt Barn in Gaithersburg. Truck Day is a free, family-friendly event that invites members of the community to touch, climb and explore the many first-response, construction and transportation vehicles that make the county run.

Truck Day will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on May 20 at the MCDOT Truck Depot and Salt Barn, which is located at 17000 Crabbs Branch Way in Gaithersburg.

Montgomery County Receives Nearly $5 Million in HUD Grant Funding & 30 Vouchers to Support Effort to End Homelessness by 2025

By Patrick Herron

Published April 25, 2023 at 3:54PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County recently received $4,870,352 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of its Continuum of Care (CoC) grants program. It is the only jurisdiction in Maryland to receive a Special Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) award to address unsheltered and rural homelessness, which is a first-of-its-kind funding initiative. In addition to the $4.8 million in programmatic funds the county received 30 Stability Vouchers that will be allocated through direct referral through the County’s Coordinated Entry System for households experiencing homelessness. These vouchers will be used to ensure people can stay in homes and avoid homelessness. They will be administered by the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and Rockville Housing Enterprises.

The County’s Interagency Coalition on Homelessness recently reiterated its commitment to end homelessness for all populations by 2025 through its Zero for All campaign. The recently awarded $4.87 million will add to the $10 million already awarded annually from HUD’s CoC NOFO process and the anticipated $84 million allocated in the County Executive’s recommended FY24 operating budget for homeless prevention and services to end homelessness.

Montgomery County Executive Elrich Holding ‘Community Conversations’ to Talk About Long-term Priorities and FY 2025 CIP Budget April 24, in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published April 24, 2023 at 3:02PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is holding “community conversations” at sites around the County in April and May to talk about long-term priorities and how he will address the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. There will be an event for the UpCounty area from 7-8:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Monday, April 24, at the Sidney Kramer UpCounty Regional Services Office

The Sidney Kramer UpCounty Regional Services Office is located at 12900 Middlebrook Rd, Suite 1000, in Germantown.

The Montgomery County Fair Has Announced its 2023 Dates

By MCS Staff

Published April 23, 2023 at 8:28AM

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has announced its 2023 dates for this upcoming summer. This will be the 74th annual fair and it’s third year back after having to cancel for the first time in its 70+ year history in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. This year opening day for the MoCo Fair will be on Friday, August 11th and it will go until Saturday, August 19th.

Founded in 1949, the Montgomery County Agricultural Center has been home to the Montgomery County Fair since its creation. Sitting on 62 acres, the Fair has more than 50 buildings that are filled with more than 5,000 animals every year. The Fair has animals, entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibits, and many others for the whole family to enjoy.

Montgomery County Council to Hold Committee Meetings on Monday, April 24

By Patrick Herron

Published April 21, 2023 at 5:50PM

Per Montgomery County: The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Monday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m. to review Bill 17-23, Taxation – Recordation Tax Rates – Amendments. In addition, the committee will review the Recommended FY24 Operating Budgets for the Department of Finance, Risk Management NDA, Debt Service, the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The members of the GO Committee include Chair Kate Stewart, Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Sidney Katz.

The joint Education and Culture (EC) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to review the Recommended FY24 Operating Budgets for programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) related to early care and education, Linkages to Learning, High School Wellness Centers, High School Cluster Projects and private partnerships. In addition, the Committee will review an $850,000 FY23 supplemental appropriation for School-Based Health and Linkages to Learning Centers.

Montgomery County Police Asking for Assistance in Identifying and Locating Guardians or Family of Non-Verbal Man

By Patrick Herron

Published April 21, 2023 at 9:02AM

Montgomery County Police are asking the public’s assistances in identifying a non-verbal man that walked into a hospital on April 20. Per MCPD: “Montgomery County Department of Police is asking for assistance in identifying and locating guardians or family members for a male that walked into a Montgomery County hospital Thursday, April 20 at approximately 8:30 p.m. He is approximately 5-feet 8-inches to 5-feet 9-inches tall, with short black hair and all black clothing. He is non-verbal.

Anyone with information regarding guardians or family is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).”

Woman Located Safe and Unharmed After Last Being Seen on August 1st, 2022

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 1:14PM

Wudaise Melese has been located safe and unharmed after previously being last seen on August 1, 2022. Montgomery County provided the update on Thursday morning without any additional information. Last week, it was reported that detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Cold Case Section were continuing to ask for the public’s assistance in locating Wudaise Melese, who was last seen on Monday, August 1, 2022, in the 3400 block of Landing Way.

UPDATE: Wudaise Melese has been located safe and unharmed. Thank you for sharing.

Governor Moore Kicks Off ‘More Opportunity Tour,’ Announcing Largest Rooftop Solar Project on an Affordable Multifamily Property Ever in Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published April 19, 2023 at 9:48PM

The Montgomery County Green Bank is financing the 2.18-megawatt solar project at the Seneca Village Apartments in Gaithersburg. The project will bring affordable renewable energy to affordable multifamily properties, using sizable rooftop solar panels to help aid the county in its goal to significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses produced.

The Maryland Energy Administration works closely with the Montgomery County Green Bank to combine resources to bring the necessary capital to mobilize projects across the state that advance reductions in energy use, improve resiliency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. MEA has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars directed toward projects, incorporated with Green Bank Financing. Examples include a resiliency planning effort involving sites across Montgomery County, a partnership between the Green Bank and Groundswell, Inc. and an energy efficiency project at Takoma Outlook, a multi-family community in Takoma Park, Maryland.

‘Muslim Experiences in Montgomery County: A Panel Discussion’ Presentation Will Honor Eid al-Fitr Starting on Monday, April 24

By Patrick Herron

Published April 19, 2023 at 9:41PM

Per Montgomery County: With religious intolerance on the rise across the country, it is incumbent upon historians to document and record those experiences. And all too often, non-Christian religions like Islam are given short shrift in American history. In honor of Eid al-Fitr, Montgomery History will be making available its presentation Muslim Experiences in Montgomery County: A Panel Discussion starting Monday, April 24. The presentation was originally recorded at the 2018 Montgomery History Conference. The replay of the presentation will be available for a one-week period.

Jim Johnston led the panel discussion of individuals from Pakistan, the United States, Palestine and Algeria. They talked about what it is like to be Muslim in Montgomery County today. To view the presentation, go to https://montgomeryhistory.org/mhconnected/watch/.

Consumer Complaints Against Auto Repair Shops Can Be Assisted by Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection

By Patrick Herron

Published April 19, 2023 at 9:37PM

Auto mechanic controlling car with checklist in workshop

Per Montgomery County: Spring and summer are times when more people get into their vehicles and head out on adventures. However, more miles driven mean increased chances for vehicle break downs, and in some cases, the need for major repairs. When transactions between vehicle owners and car repair businesses in Montgomery County reach serious conflicts, the County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) often can help. OCP registers car repair shops and enforces the County code regarding consumer rights. When a resident registers a complaint concerning an interaction with a business, OCP is guided by Montgomery County Code 31-A, which governs automobile repair businesses in the County. Maryland State Commercial Law, Title 14, Subtitle 10 also applies.

The highlights of laws regarding vehicle repairs performed by Montgomery County auto repair services include:

Germantown Cider Barrel Vandalized

By Patrick Herron

Published April 19, 2023 at 8:09PM

The iconic Cider Barrel structure on Frederick Rd/355 in Germantown was vandalized on Wednesday, April 19. The Cider Barrel opened in the mid-1920s and sold non-alcoholic cider from the Ballincar Orchard in Germantown during the height of Prohibition and remained in business until 2003. Plans to reopen Cider Barrel in 2020 were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. History of the Cider Barrel below, courtesy of a 2020 article by Karen Adjei:

“The Cider Barrel has deep roots with the local area’s history. It was originally built by Andrew Baker in 1922 (some sources say around 1925 or 1926). He was a local insurance entrepreneur who also developed the Ballincara Mansion, the Selby/Soderberg House and Livery Stable, and the original Germantown Bank.