MoCo Archives - Page 404 of 605

Explore Rockville by Decade; History Tour & Scavenger Hunt

Published May 9, 2022 at 12:22PM

You’re invited to Explore Rockville’s long and rich history through a self-guided outdoor tour and scavenger hunt that will walk you through sites and stories in Rockville through the decades. Learn about Rockville from its beginnings to the 20th century, and visit parks and public art along the way, in this event by Peerless Rockville.

Per the event listing: Tour stops are a SURPRISE! The 10+ stops about Rockville’s unique sites, stories, and art are located across the city – you’re invited to explore places you’ve never been and sites you pass by all the time unaware. This tour features highlights from our three previous Explore Rockville events plus a few new stops.

Montgomery County Sends Over $4 million in Tax Refund Checks to Homeowners After State Error

By Patrick Herron

Published May 9, 2022 at 10:11AM

Montgomery County has sent out over $4,000,000 in tax refund checks after a tax error by the state of Maryland. The mistake was first discovered by Olney resident Louis Wilen back in 2016, which FOX 5 first reported on in 2020. Maryland had been miscalculating the Homeowner Tax Credit, which is for seniors and low-income residents. Montgomery County has issued over 5,000 checks to homeowners eligible for the $346 senior supplement, according to FOX.

Per Montgomery County, “Homeowner tax credit refunds for the County portion (issued by Montgomery County Treasury Office in Finance), have now been completed and refund checks are being mailed out to taxpayers now. Refunds are being issued because of a State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) error that was made in the calculations. Checks and letters for the State portion of the refund have already been mailed out to taxpayers from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The refunds cover levy years 2017, 2018 and 2019, however, not all homeowners will receive refunds for all years, it just depends on what the homeowner applied for and were deemed eligible for.”

Honoring my heritage: How Montgomery Planning’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Project brought me closer to my family

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2022 at 6:28AM

Montgomery County’s first AAPI Heritage Project is examining the history of AAPI county residents as early as the 1900s By Karen Yee, published on MontgomeryPlanning’s Department Blog

Of the 86,000 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s repository of historic structures, sites, buildings, districts and objects that are deemed significant to American history, less than 8% relate to Asian Americans and other underrepresented communities. In Montgomery County, where 15% of residents are Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), there is only one locally designated resource associated with AAPI heritage, the Pao-Chi and Yu Ming Pien House. Even this house was only recently recognized—it is located within the Potomac Overlook Historic District, designated in April 2022. In order to address this disparity, Montgomery Planning’s Historic Preservation Office applied for and was awarded a non-capital grant by the Maryland Historical Trust in 2021 to identify historical and cultural resources associated with AAPI communities in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Supports Preservation of Affordable Housing at Snowden’s Ridge in Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Published May 7, 2022 at 10:02AM

The property, located at 2035 Harlequin Terrace, Silver Spring, held its grand reopening celebration Friday. This is APAH’s first property in Montgomery County, as well as the State of Maryland. “Here at Snowden’s Ridge, the County supported preservation of existing affordable housing,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “To expand affordable housing efforts, I proposed $140 million housing budget – the largest in County history – including a dedicated $40 million NOAH fund to preserve affordable housing. Preserving affordability preserves communities and protects families from displacement. We need the $40 million NOAH Fund to protect more residents, as we did here at Snowden’s Ridge.”

The County provided a $1.5 million CDBG loan and $1.25 million HIF loan in 2019 to support the acquisition. When the initial HIF loan was repaid, the property retained the existing CDGB loan and the County provided a new $5 million HIF loan for recapitalization and renovation, along with a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement. The loans and PILOT provided by Montgomery County support affordability, with all 87 apartment units utilizing project-based vouchers targeting families at 30 percent AMI. The property includes 12 one-bedroom units; 21 two-bedroom units; and 54 three-bedroom units. Five units were converted to be fully accessible.

MoCo’s Cheer Prodigy All Stars Royal Elite Advance to Cheerleading Nationals

By MCS Staff

Published May 7, 2022 at 7:28AM

Cheer Prodigy All-Stars Elite Junior 1 team, Royal Elite, located in Gaithersburg, represented Montgomery County on the nation’s biggest stage on May 6, 2022 at the Varsity D2 Summit competition, held at ESPN’s World Wide of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Churchill Lacrosse Coach Jeff Fritz Celebrates 300th Career Win

By MCS Staff

Published May 6, 2022 at 9:36AM

Yesterday Winston Churchill High School in Potomac celebrated Jeff Fritz’s 300th victory as head lacrosse coach at the school.

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.

Annual Montgomery County Ride On Bus Food Drive to Run from May 15-22

By Patrick Herron

Published May 6, 2022 at 9:15AM

“We must ensure that no one in Montgomery County goes hungry,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Food insecurity was prevalent before the pandemic hit—and COVID-19 made it even worse. So many people lost jobs and higher food prices continue to make it exceedingly difficult for families to make ends meet. I am grateful to MCDOT and Manna Food Center for this important effort and encourage residents to donate non-perishable food items on all of our buses between May 15 and May 22.”

MCDOT has conducted the food drive for more than 30 years in partnership with Manna Food Center, although the effort was suspended during the two-year COVID-19 health crisis. This year, the food drive also has partnered with Montgomery County Public Libraries and the County’s five Regional Services Centers, which are also taking in non-perishable food donations.

Montgomery County Police Continue to Investigate 2001 Homicide of Leslie Preer

By Patrick Herron

Published May 5, 2022 at 1:42PM | Updated August 26, 2022 at 5:28PM

On Wednesday, May 2, 2001, at approximately 11:47 a.m., Montgomery County Police Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 4800 block of Drummond Avenue in Chevy Chase for the report of a suspicious situation. When Leslie Preer did not show up to work in the morning of May 2, 2001, her employer contacted her family members to check her welfare. Leslie’s employer and her husband responded to Leslie’s residence, where they discovered a suspicious scene. Leslie was located deceased inside of the residence with apparent trauma to her body.

Leslie Preer’s murder is an ongoing homicide investigation. The department urges anyone who has any information about this homicide to call the Major Crimes Division – Cold Case Unit at 240-773-5070 or 240-773-TIPS, or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s). Callers can remain anonymous.

Montgomery History Online Presentation on ‘I Have Started for Canaan: Telling the Sugarland Story’ Available on Monday, May 9

By Patrick Herron

Published May 5, 2022 at 1:05PM

‘I Have Started for Canaan: Telling the Sugarland Story” will be available for viewing through May 16. No registration is required.

The panel also will describe ongoing preservation efforts and speculate about some of the intriguing historical questions that remain to be explored about Sugarland.

Detectives Investigate Pharmacy Shooting

By Patrick Herron

Published May 5, 2022 at 11:54AM

At approximately 9:31 p.m., 4th District officers responded to the CVS Pharmacy in the 12300 block of Georgia Avenue for the report of a shooting that just occurred. Upon arrival, detectives determined that an unknown female suspect entered the CVS Pharmacy and began placing property belonging to the store in her bag. When the suspect attempted to exit the store, an employee tried to stop her by standing in front of the exterior sliding glass exit door. At that time, an unknown male suspect approached the door the employee was attempting to block and fired a handgun into the bottom panel.

The employee then allowed the female suspect to pass, and both the female and male suspect fled the scene with the stolen property.

Council Vice President Evan Glass Requests Additional Funding for Expanded Access to Abortions for Montgomery County Residents

By Patrick Herron

Published May 5, 2022 at 10:08AM

On Sunday night, Politico reported that the Supreme Court would be voting to strike down Roe v. Wade, according to an initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito. On Wednesday, Council Vice President Evan Glass sent the following letter to County Marc Elrich requesting expanded access to abortions to Montgomery County residents.