MoCo Archives - Page 345 of 615

Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Accepting Holiday Trees for Recycling

Published January 4, 2023 at 2:07PM

“Increasing sustainable practices and habits in our daily life is a great New Year’s resolution,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Recycling Christmas trees and wreaths is much better for environment than simply throwing them away. I appreciate our Department of Environmental Protection for offering this service to our residents and I encourage everyone discarding live trees and wreaths to recycle them.”

Collected trees are taken to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station, where they are shredded and chipped for mulch. The facility is located at 16105 Frederick Rd. in Derwood. Residents also can take their trees to the Transfer Station and drop them off for recycling. Live trees with root balls, or that have their roots intact, cannot be collected as yard trim.

MCPD Holiday Alcohol Task Force Arrest 40 People for DUI During Week 8 of Enforcement

By Patrick Herron

Published January 4, 2023 at 1:56PM

Montgomery County Police have announced that the Alcohol Holiday Task Force arrested 40 people for DUI during the week of December 28, 29, 30 and 31. Per MCPD: Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Holiday Alcohol Task Force have been devoting their full time and attention to detecting alcohol-related offenses this holiday season to save lives and reduce impaired driving violations in our roadways.

This task force typically starts the week before thanksgiving and ends the first week of January. Montgomery County Police officers and officers from allied agencies (Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Rockville City Police, Takoma Park Police, Gaithersburg Police, Maryland State Police and Maryland National Capital Park Police) volunteer to work the task force.

Senator Chris Van Hollen Sworn In for Second Term

By Patrick Herron

Published January 4, 2023 at 11:13AM

“Last Congress – through the united efforts of President Biden in the White House and Democratic majorities in the House and Senate – we led one of the most productive legislative sessions in history – from critical legislation to confront the climate crisis and lower costs for American families to vital investments to modernize our infrastructure to common-sense, bipartisan first steps on gun safety, election integrity, marriage equality, and veterans’ health care.

“This session, it’s essential that we build on this progress by overseeing the effective implementation of these initiatives as we continue to build a more inclusive economy with greater shared prosperity. For Maryland, I’ll be working to invest federal resources in key initiatives across our entire state to support our schools, our workforce, our seniors and our communities, including removing the Highway to Nowhere so we can reunite divided neighborhoods in West Baltimore. And I’ll be fighting to build on the progress we’ve made to preserve and clean up the Chesapeake Bay by moving forward on our proposed Chesapeake National Recreation Area.

Montgomery Council Seeks Applicants for Montgomery County Planning Board; Deadline for Applications is January 13, 2023

By MCS Staff

Published January 3, 2023 at 7:38PM

The Montgomery County Council is currently seeking applicants to fill three upcoming vacancies on the Montgomery County Planning Board. In October 2022, the County Council appointed five temporary acting Planning Board members. All members serve until their successors are appointed.

The Council intends to appoint successors, before February 28, 2023, for three members. The Council is expected to appoint the remaining two positions, including the chair, by June 14, 2023 and will advertise to fill those positions at a later date.

Registration Now Open for Montgomery County’s Office of Human Rights Maryland Civil Rights Educational Freedom Experience

By Patrick Herron

Published January 3, 2023 at 4:06PM

The tour will leave Rockville on Friday, March 24, and return on Saturday, April 1. The tour will travel to Greensboro, N.C.; Atlanta; Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; Little Rock, Ark., Sumner and Jackson, Miss. It will retrace the steps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, the Little Rock Nine and many other civil-rights heroes.

Beginning Today: Montgomery County Recreation Center Membership Passes are Now Free

By Patrick Herron

Published January 3, 2023 at 9:24AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Recreation Center membership passes will be free for County residents in 2023. Starting Jan. 3, a free pass will provide access to fully equipped fitness rooms, open gym (drop-in) activities and game rooms at any community recreation center during regularly scheduled hours. The free pass does not include access to aquatic centers. For aquatic center pass information and prices, visit Aquatic Passes – Department of Recreation – Montgomery County, Maryland (montgomerycountymd.gov).

“We are pleased to be offering this service free to our residents in 2023,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “As we head into the new year and many are renewing their fitness goals, I encourage our County residents to take advantage of these great spaces. Make sure to head to a community recreation center near you to check out all they have to offer. Thank you to the team at Montgomery County Recreation for helping make this happen.”

Bryan Bresee, Damascus Alumnus, Declares for NFL Draft

By MCS Staff

Published January 2, 2023 at 4:01PM

Bryan Bresee has officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, according to his Instagram post from earlier Monday afternoon. The 6’5, 305lb Clemson defensive lineman graduated from Damascus High School in 2019. He is the former No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2020, and played three years at Clemson, missing significant time in 2021 with an ACL tear. He is widely expected to be drafted in the first round. His announcement and more on his time at Damascus below:

“When I committed to play football for Clemson University, I never could have imagined how special this opportunity would be. The support I have received from the Clemson community the past 3 seasons has been amazing. I truly appreciate this experience.

Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring Delivers DC Area’s First 2023 Baby

By MCS Staff

Published January 2, 2023 at 11:05AM

The D.C. region’s very first baby of 2023 was born at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring at 12:03am on Sunday morning (New Year’s Day).

According to Fox 5, “The baby boy named Lael (pronounced Lyle) is the son of Brenda and Renauld Sabuni. He arrived at 12:03 a.m. and weighs eight pounds, 10 ounces. The hospital staff say mom and baby are doing well and look forward to joining their two brothers at home.” Fun Fact: Holy Cross Hospital of Silver Spring has been serving the community since 1963. It has led all Maryland facilities in new births since its inception. Dora Jean Duckett was the first baby born at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring back in 1963.

Police Investigating Second, Unrelated New Year’s Day Shooting; Councilmember Kate Stewart Releases Statement Regarding Shootings

By MCS Staff

Published January 1, 2023 at 10:08PM | Updated January 1, 2023 at 10:28PM

The Montgomery County Police Department is investigating a shooting in the 8500 block of 16th Street at/near the Summit Hills apartment complex. According to a news release earlier today, an adult male victim was transported with serious injuries. No suspect is in custody at this time and officers believe this is an isolated incident.

Earlier today police was investigating a shooting on the 9200 block of New Hampshire Ave. An adult male victim was transported with non-life threatening injuries. No suspect is in custody at this time. Councilmember Kate Stewart released the following statement regarding the shootings:

2022’s Top Stories: House Party With Over 600 Tickets Sold Prevented From Taking Place Sunday in Laytonsville

By MCS Staff

Published December 31, 2022 at 11:23AM

As 2022 ends, we’re sharing a few of our most-read stories of the year, from September: A large house party that had sold over 600 tickets and was scheduled to take place Sunday night in Laytonsville was cancelled after the owners of the home became aware of the event and alerted Montgomery County Police. According to a Tiktok video that was promoting the event, it promised to be the “DMV’s Biggest Mansion Pool Party” and was taking place on over “3+ acres of land” with “10+ security guards.” MCPD sent out a notice to the community on Sunday afternoon, stating “An event scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 4 in the 5900 block of Sundown Rd. in Laytonsville, has been cancelled. Montgomery County Police will be present and are advising attendees to stay away from the area and contact event organizers for a refund.”

According to MCPD. “the event organizers had rented the house for what was supposed to be a private party, but they posted on social media and sold tickets to the party. Over 600 people purchased tickets. The owners of the home became aware of it, cancelled the event and made police aware of what was happening.”

Policing Advisory Commission to Hold Public Forum on Traffic Enforcement in Montgomery County; Believes that Traffic Enforcement Practices Do Not Meet Basic Tests of Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Equal Enforcement

By Patrick Herron

Published December 30, 2022 at 11:40AM

Per Montgomery County: The Policing Advisory Commission (PAC) of Montgomery County is holding a virtual public forum on Jan. 9, 2023, to solicit community testimony and feedback on traffic enforcement in the County by the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). Other police departments — municipalities, park police, state police, etc. — are not under the PAC’s purview. Community members are invited to register to provide live testimony during the public hearing or to submit written, audio, or video testimony. Community members are asked to limit their live testimony to no more than three minutes and to one speaker per organization (if applicable). Written, audio, and visual testimony submitted prior to the public hearing may be longer, if needed. The deadline to register to speak at the public hearing is 4 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2023.

The PAC believes that traffic enforcement practices in the County do not meet basic tests of effectiveness, efficiency, and equal enforcement, and that a change in mission, focus, and strategy is necessary. The PAC’s report on traffic enforcement, including recommendations, can be found here. The PAC is very interested in hearing from the Montgomery County community regarding their experience with traffic enforcement, and what changes or improvements they would like to see.