Findings of the report, per Montgomery County: 


With the 130th annual Laytonsville Community Parade returning to Laytonsville on Saturday, May 14 “Better Together for 130 Years” after a couple years off due to Covid-related concerns, we wanted to share some history on the town. Information and Pictures courtesy of the Laytonsville Historical Center:

Laytonsville has stood as a crossroad to the history of Maryland for over two centuries.  The intersection of the northern district of the town provides a route to the major metropolitan areas of the state– Damascus and Frederick County, to the east to Baltimore, to the south toward Washington, D.C., and to the west the Potomac River.  Although in January 1998 Laytonsville is still a cozy town, its small size, 614 acres and a population of 295, belies its long and interesting history. 


“These local maps will help us identify where we can take action to protect vulnerable neighborhoods now and in the future from extreme heat risk,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are pleased to be participating in this nationally competitive program and continuing our work in Montgomery County toward equitable climate resilience.”

This campaign is part of a national effort to track “Urban Heat Islands.” Heat inequities will be tracked in 14 states and two international cities. Urban Heat Islands are areas that can be up to 20 degrees hotter than nearby neighborhoods due to buildings, pavement, and other parts of urban environments amplifying high temperatures compared to nearby vegetated areas. They can put people at heightened risk of illness and death during extreme heat events. Through this effort local climate scientists and residents will work together to identify the hottest areas in the County. Heat equity refers to the development of policies and practices that mitigate heat islands and help people adapt to the impacts of extreme heat in a way that reduces the inequitable distribution of risks across different populations within the same urban area.


A Lyft driver was carjacked at gunpoint Wednesday night in the 8000 block of 13th St in downtown Silver Spring. According to Montgomery County Police, officers were called to the scene at approximately 10:11pm.  The driver reportedly picked up three passengers, one of which pulled out a handgun and demanded the driver leave the vehicle. The three individuals then took off with the vehicle.

The incident is under investigation and Montgomery County Police are expected to release addition details soon. There are no suspects in custody at this time.


To serve in this paid volunteer position, all election poll workers must be registered to vote in the State of Maryland; able to speak, read and write the English language; and cannot hold, or be a candidate for, public or party office. In addition, election workers may not serve as a campaign manager for a candidate or as treasurer for any campaign finance entity.

Training is required and will be provided to all election workers. This includes an online quiz, virtual training and classroom in-person training. Volunteers will be paid for completing training and working the election. Several positions are offered, including all-day and part-day. More information is available at www.777vote.org.


At the event, there will be tree planting, trees will be raffled off and volunteers will take part in a trash pickup. It is hoped the activities will bring attention to the new County tree and encourage the planting of trees so the tree canopy increases. Residents also can register for “plogging” supplies at the event. Plogging is an innovate way to help the environment by doing an exercise like jogging, walking or biking while picking up trash.

“The black tupelo is now added to the list of county symbols that includes the robin as the County bird, the dogwood as the County blossom and the County seal,” said County Department of Environmental Protection Acting Director Adriana Hochberg. “The black tupelo is resilient, beautiful and critical to the County’s ecosystem and tree canopy. It’s a perfect symbol for Montgomery County as our official tree”.


MCOT responses to behavioral health crises without police presence represent a significant change toward a civilian response. The civilian response is designed after the Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets (CAHOOTS) model that has been successfully implemented in Eugene, Ore., for more than 30 years. In 2021, DHHS consulted with the White Bird Clinic (WBC) that runs the CAHOOTS model. Staff from WBC provided training to MCOT team members, homeless outreach workers, police, and other staff on de-escalation, scene safety, situational awareness, community engagement and trauma informed care. To request sign language interpreter services or other assistance to participate in this meeting, email Dorne Hill at [email protected] no less than five business days before the meeting date. For more information about the event, Dorne Hill at [email protected].


The investigation by detectives has determined that on December 13, at approximately 12:40 p.m., the suspected entered the SkyPoint Federal Credit Union in the 19700 block of Crystal Rock Dr. in Germantown. The suspect approached a bank teller, identified herself as the victim’s wife via a fraudulent identification card and withdrew an undisclosed amount of money from the victim’s account. The suspect then exited the bank and fled the scene. Again, on December 13, 2021, at approximately 1:25 p.m., the suspect arrived at the SkyPoint Federal Credit Union on Colesville Rd., presented the fraudulent identification card and withdrew an undisclosed amount of money from the same victim’s account.

Later the same day, at approximately 1:50 p.m., the suspect withdrew an undisclosed amount of money from the victim’s account, using the same fraudulent method from the Rockville branch. The suspect has been described as a female, around 50-years-old, medium build, blonde hair, wearing a brown scarf, black jacket, black jeans and black boots.


First-year recipients to support health, wellness, and education in the DC-metro area

Per the Columbia Foundation: The Columbia Foundation announced its first-ever Community Impact Fund (CIF) grant recipients. The Greater DC Diaper Bank; Mercy Health Clinic in Montgomery County, MD; and Washington Jesuit School in Northeast DC were each awarded $20,000 to support specific capacity-building projects.


View More Stories