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Harriet Tubman Journey to Freedom Statue on Display at Button Farm in Germantown, Special Program on Saturday, May 13, as Montgomery County Hosts ‘Journey to Freedom History Day’

Published May 12, 2023 at 12:07PM

Per Montgomery County: The Harriet Tubman: The Journey to Freedom statue will be the centerpiece as Montgomery County hosts “Journey to Freedom History Day” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday May 13, at the Button Farm Living History Center in Germantown. Montgomery County Executive, Marc Elrich will speak at the free event, which is being presented by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, the Menare Foundation Inc., Heritage Montgomery and Montgomery History.

At noon on May 13, Ranger Angela Crenshaw will host a talk on Harriet Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad and screen the documentary Harriet Tubman: Vision of Freedom. At 1 p.m., County Executive Elrich and members of the County Council will present a proclamation in recognition of the event. At 2 p.m., Capitol Tap and District Tap will share a dance performance about Ms. Tubman’s coded letter. The afternoon will conclude with Lesley Younge leading a story time for kids reading from her new book A-Train Allen. Throughout the event, Montgomery History will host a history table of information.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration to be Held in Germantown on Sunday, May 21

By Patrick Herron

Published May 12, 2023 at 8:55AM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of Community Partnership (OCP) and the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) will host the second annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown. The event is free and registration is not required to attend. Seneca Valley High School is located at 19401 Crystal Rock Dr. in Germantown.

The event will feature:

Blair Alumnus Chick Hernandez Named to The Commanders Pre-Season Broadcast Team

By MCS Staff

Published May 11, 2023 at 6:56PM

The Washington Commanders have announced that Chick Hernandez, who grew up in Montgomery County and graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1981, will be joining former Washington players Brian Mitchell and Logan Paulsen as part of the new Preseason 2023 TV Crew.

Hernandez was born at Providence Hospital, but grew up in Silver Spring and graduated from Montgomery Blair High in 1981. While at Blair, Hernandez was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football. He even went on to play for one year at Montgomery College- Rockville. Following his time at MC, he enrolled at the University of Maryland. While Hernandez was still in school, fellow MoCo native Larry Michael (Northwood alumnus) offered him a job as a weekend producer with Mutual Radio in 1987. Hernandez went on to become the sports director at Georgia’s WRDW TV before coming back home to join FOX 5 as a sports anchor for seven years. He later worked for Comcast SportsNet/NBC Sports Washington for 17 years.

Nominations Sought for County’s African American Living Legends Awards That Will Be Presented at 26th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

By Patrick Herron

Published May 11, 2023 at 10:45AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County is seeking nominations for its African American Living Legends Awards that honor individuals who are 75 or older and have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness to their community. The awards will be presented as part of the 26th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, themed “Celebrating Freedom at the Rock … Acknowledge, Educate, Celebrate.” The awards ceremonies will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The community celebration will be from noon-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, at the BlackRock Center.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will host the African American Living Legend Awards presentation at to honor distinguished individuals who are living legends in the County and have helped shape the cultural heritage of the African American community.

Two MCPS Student-Athletes Win Minds in Motion Scholarships

By MCS Staff

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.