Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call at approximately 6:30pm for an electrical hazard on the 100blk of Olney-Sandy Spring Rd (Route 108), between New Hampshire Ave and Sherwood high school in Ashton. According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, PE704 responded “for electrical hazard, wires down, some lanes blocked.” As of now there is no word on how the pole was damaged.
(~630p) 100blk Olney-Sandy Spring Rd, Rt108, IAO Between New Hampshire Ave., and Sherwood high school, Sandy Spring, @mcfrs PE704 responded routine for electrical hazard, wires down, some lanes blocked pic.twitter.com/lxXjKSzPuX
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) February 1, 2023
Seneca Valley and Sherwood High School students have partnered with restaurant industry leaders to gain first-hand experience creating an elegant pop up restaurant for one night in Potomac. The event will be the culmination of months of planning between MCPS students, hospitality program teachers Melissa North and Lisa Gilbert, and the Foundation for Hospitality & Restaurant Managements’ (FHRM) Student Professional Development Committee.
“Success starts with a spark,” said Ted Xenohristos, Chief Concept Officer & Founder of CAVA, “And, we’re here to light the match!” The dinner is an opportunity for the students to experience firsthand the wide variety of activities necessary to stage a sophisticated experience—from social media and ticket sales to front-of-house management and heart-of-house hustle. With a team of CAVA chefs, the students will design, prepare and serve a four-course gourmet dinner at the Falls Road Golf Course Café on February 3, 2023.
Jana Anderson, professor and Program Coordinator for the Hospitality Management Program at Montgomery College will coach the front-of-house student volunteers through in person and zoom workshops leading up to the event. “I am inspired by the students’ excitement and seeing this first dinner come together.”
Lizz Durante, President of Payroll Network’s Restaurant People Cloud and a FHRM Cadre, will lead the marketing activities for the fundraiser. The students will participate in two social media workshops led by Payroll Network’s Chief Revenue Officer, Mary Grothe and Becca Bollinger, Marketing Specialist. “We are excited to develop projects that engage MCPS hospitality program students in real-life scenarios like this,” said Ms. Durante.
Alan Squier, President of Squier Associates and a FHRM Cadre is working with the students to transform the café into a white tablecloth, candlelit dining room. “This fundraising dinner is our first,” said Squier, “but it’s not our last. We hope to learn from this experience and improve and expand future student dinners.”
“FHRM and MCPS recognize that teens today want to forge their own success and happiness in their future careers,” said David Child, General Manager of North Bethesda Marriott and FHRM’s President. “The most important thing to them is to do something they’re excited about, regardless of what career they choose. These students are drawn to hospitality.”
“At CAVA, caring, hospitality, warmth and generosity are our pillars,” stated CAVA Founder and CEO Ted Xenohristos. “Giving students the skills to succeed in the restaurant industry and nurture their passion is key to our vision. Mediterranean families have been perfecting healthy eating for 4,000 years. We hope to inspire a new generation to continue this great legacy.”
Student Takeover Dinner Details
Proceeds from the fundraiser will allow FHRM to continue to offer programs like this throughout Montgomery County and give high school students the opportunity to explore first-hand the wide variety of careers in hospitality, work opportunities, and apprenticeships and find ways to engage students and educators in public-facing projects.
Date: Friday February 3, 2023
Location: Falls Road Golf Course, 10800 Falls Road, Potomac, MD
Time: Two Seatings | 6 PM and 7:30 PM
Program: Four-course Dinner with Wine Pairings & Chef Meet and Greet
Tickets and sponsorship information Contact Lizz Durante [email protected] or visit the website https://go.rallyup.com/fhrm-student-pop-up-potomac/Campaign/Details
About FHRM
The Foundation for Hospitality and Restaurant Management (FHRM) serves as an advisory board, to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and is comprised of industry professionals, post-secondary educators and community partners focused on providing the skills that students need for management and entrepreneurial opportunities in hospitality, lodging, culinary arts, food and beverage, tourism and travel. The Foundation leverages its industry members’ first-hand knowledge and business acumen to provide MCPS strategic advice, encourage public/private collaboration, advocate for research and tracking of program and student outcomes as well as to guide educators and school leaders throughout the entire county on current trends in the industry. The Foundation’s core values and guiding principles are motivated by the industry’s vision. The Board members strive to foster a better world through real-world experiences, purposeful education and to do so with integrity, collaboration, guidance and an inclusive approach that embraces all.
Learn more at https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/hospitality
About CAVA
Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and founded in 2010, CAVA Group is a casual restaurant company that produces a line of chef-crafted dips and spreads sold in specialty grocery stores around the country.
About Montgomery College
Montgomery College (MC) is a public community college in Montgomery County, Maryland. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville. Its other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown. Its off-campus sites include the Business Training Center in Gaithersburg and Westfield South in Wheaton, which are operated by the college’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division.
About Payroll Network and Restaurant People Cloud
Restaurant People Cloud serves restaurants exclusively with Payroll, HR, time, talent, benefits, compliance and workforce management are delivered in a unified platform that increases retention and productivity. Payroll Network’s People Platform helps companies succeed with outstanding client service and comprehensive human capital management (HCM) SaaS, enabling employees to reach their full potential. The company is celebrating its 25th Anniversary Year by amplifying philanthropy and community impact.
Learn more at www.payrollnetwork.com.
About Squier Associates
Squier Associates is a manufacturer’s rep located in Rockville, MD. We support dealers, commercial kitchen design consultants, and end users in the selection of kitchen equipment, tabletop and supplies from premium brands. From fine dining and quick service to hospitality, healthcare and education, we exude a tangible passion for our partners and their establishments.
Around 65 Montgomery County firefighters responded to a 1-story single family house fire Tuesday morning on Haw Lane (between Ashton, Spencerville, and Burtonsville). According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, an occupant of the home witnessed a tree coming down on power lines, which caused a transformer to blow. They then notified the power company and minutes later saw smoke coming from the basement. The fire then vented out of a basement window of the home which ignited a propane/oil tank.
All occupants were able to make it out of the home and there were no injuries reported. One family (3 adults) has been displaced. Howard Co Fire & EMS assisted. Per @mfrsPIO on Twitter, “Origin/Cause, electrical in nature, tree pulled wires down (outside), combustibles in basement ignited (likely power surge) Damage ~$260K.”
(1150a) Haw La, off Ednor Rd, family member witnessed tree coming down on @MyBGE power lines, transformer blew, house occupants notified, (called BGE), minutes later they saw smoke coming from basement, fire vented out basement window, ignited propane/oil tank, occupants got out pic.twitter.com/YxQCgJGhzg
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 27, 2022
El Andariego (5 Olney Sandy Spring Rd), a staple of the Ashton community for over 20 years, has announced that it will close from Monday, August 8th until Sunday, August 14th to provide its staff with a full week of vacation. In announcement made via social media, the restaurant states the following:
“Dear customers of El Andariego Restaurant, we want to notify you that after a long season of hard work of more than 2 years and during a pandemic, we have deemed it good to give a full week of vacation to our respectable staff, who deserve this time off for their unconditional support and honorable service. Due to the lack of more workers, El Andariego Restaurant will be closed from monday, august 8 to sunday, august 14, 2022. Thank you very much for your understanding always. -Consuelo, Jaime, Cristina & Staff.”
WSSC has issued a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Advisory for the Triadelphia Reservoir, warning to avoid direct contact with water. Drinking water is not affected. The Triadelphia Reservoir is located along the Patuxent River, near the Olney/Brookeville area, between Montgomery and Howard Counties. Their full message can be seen below:
“WSSC Water has detected high concentrations of blue-green algae in the Triadelphia Reservoir, which can cause serious adverse health effects if contacted. The reservoir, located along the Patuxent River in Montgomery and Howard counties, serves as a drinking water source for WSSC Water and as a recreational area for hiking, fishing and boating.
It is important to note that WSSC Water’s drinking water is not affected and continues to meet all Safe Drinking Water Act standards. As a precaution, WSSC Water is closely monitoring water quality conditions at its Patuxent Water Filtration Plant. Visitors to WSSC Water’s Triadelphia Reservoir should do the following:
- Avoid all recreational water contact. If water contact occurs, rinse off immediately with clean water.
- Do not allow pets to swim in or drink the water (prohibited at all times by WSSC Water watershed regulations).
- Do not consume fish livers or digestive organs from fish caught in the reservoir. If a fish is caught in the reservoir, wash fillets thoroughly with drinking water.
Signs will be posted throughout the reservoir’s recreational areas to make visitors aware of this water contact health advisory. If you, your pet, or someone you know has contacted or ingested water at either reservoir, call your local Health Department:
- Montgomery County: 240-777-0311(Montgomery County 311)
- Prince George’s County: 301-883-4748(Prince George’s County 311)
- Howard County: 410-313-1773 (Community Hygiene Department)
For more information on algal blooms, visit WSSC Water’s Algal Blooms page.”
During a health advisory:
- Recreation areas remain open
- Boating and fishing are allowed
- Any body parts that come in contact with reservoir water should be rinsed with drinking water
- Keep pets away from the water
Featured photo courtesy of WSSC.
New Hampshire Avenue is closed between Brighton Knolls Drive and River Mist Ct in Brinklow (includes Gold Mine Rd), according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue PIO Pete Piringer.
Crews were initially dispatched to New Hampshire Ave. near Brighton Knolls Drive for extensive storm damage. BGE was on the scene for wires down and damaged utility poles that has resulted in power out in are. Two people were trapped in a vehicle with burning/sparking ‘live’ wires on car and we’re safely removed by MCFRS. The road is currently closed in that area.
ICYMI (Initial dispatch ~5p) New Hampshire Ave. near Brighton Knolls Drive, extensive storm damage, @MyBGE on scene, wires down & utility poles damaged, power out in area, two persons were trapped in vehicle (burning/sparking ‘live’ wires on car) & safely removed, road CLOSED https://t.co/BpZ3neLVn3 pic.twitter.com/aWkmErpWoK
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 22, 2022
A collision involving three vehicles occurred at approximately 8:45 this morning at SB New Hampshire Avenue and Route 108 in Ashton, according to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer.
The collision has resulted in the closure of “some lanes”, but it is not clear how many at this moment. Three vehicles were involved and two patients were sent transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A traffic advisory was issued by MCFRS for 108 and New Hampshire Ave with some southbound lanes closed at the moment.
(~845a) New Hampshire Ave. & Ashton Road, Ashton, collision, some lanes, Three vehicles involved, @MCFRS_EMIHS Two patients, both NLT, @mcfrs PE704, HCM56 on scene pic.twitter.com/xKtqOE2iKz
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 18, 2022
Per the Maryland Lottery:
An Ashton resident visited Maryland Lottery headquarters on April 29 to claim her $50,000 VaxCash 2.0 promotion prize from the April 12 drawing. The winner, Milagro Alfaro de Melgar, won the prize after being selected randomly from more than 2 million eligible Marylanders. Milagro qualified for the $50,000 prize after getting her COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters in Maryland. The 48-year-old Montgomery County woman was both surprised and happy when she received a call from the Maryland Health Department informing her that she had been selected. Although thrilled with the prize, the lucky winner told Lottery officials her reason for becoming vaccinated was simple: to protect herself and others.
“It helps save lives. Mine, as well as others – like my family,” she said. Milagro told Lottery officials that she is looking for a house and the $50,000 prize will go toward her dream of home ownership. “I’m also appreciative of the program and what it has done to encourage others to get the vaccine,” she said. Milagro is one of 11 VaxCash 2.0 winners so far, and one of 10 winners of $50,000. The promotion’s first drawing on Feb. 15 awarded a $500,000 prize to a Dundalk woman. On May 3, a single winner will be selected for a grand prize of $1 million.
The VaxCash 2.0 promotion, which was announced by Gov. Larry Hogan on Feb. 8, is awarding $2 million in cash prizes in weekly drawings from Feb. 15 through today, May 3. VaxCash 2.0 aims to incentivize Marylanders to get COVID-19 booster shots. All Maryland residents 18 and older who had received an initial shot(s) and a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at eligible facilities in Maryland at any time were eligible to win. No registration or entry was needed.
VaxCash 2.0 follows last year’s successful collaboration between the Lottery and the Maryland Department of Health for the VaxCash Promotion that ran from May 25 through July 4, 2021, awarding $2 million in prizes to vaccinated Marylanders. For complete details about VaxCash 2.0, including the official rules and a list of frequently asked questions, visit the VaxCash 2.0 page.
Olney Winery has been operating since 2012. The winemaker is currently located at 18127 Town Center Drive in the Fair Hill shopping center in Olney. In 2016, Olney Winery expanded and opened a tasting room in the stone house at 12810 Shank Farm Way in Hagerstown.Now, we’ve learned that Olney Winery will be one of the new tenants at Ashton Market, a new development that includes shopping and retail, located at 12 Olney Sandy Spring Road in Ashton.
Olney Winery will remain at its current location until the new location opens. They are currently aiming for a June opening. More on Ashton Market:
Up to 7,020 SF of newly constructed ground floor retail w/ storage space
• Two corner patio options
• Dedicated parking garage
Featured photo courtesy of the Olney Winery Facebook page.
Press Release:
ASHTON, MD — Ashton attorney Dawn Luedtke announced today her candidacy for a district seat on the Montgomery County Council. Luedtke is an attorney with extensive experience in education, public safety, and health care law, and a mother of four children attending Montgomery County Public Schools. She is running as a Democrat in the 2022 election to represent the newly proposed District 7 in northeastern Montgomery County.
“Every day I ask myself what I have done to help, what am I doing that makes a difference in the lives of those around me. I can think of no better way to assist with positive progress for our community than to serve on the Council. I believe I bring a passion and a skill set that will benefit the work of the Council, the work of the people, and strengthen our community.”
Luedtke grew up in New Jersey, helping out at the family auto parts store. A hard working student, she earned a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, becoming the first member of her family to attend college. She moved to Maryland to attend the University of Maryland School of Law, and began a career in private practice advocating for mesothelioma patients and people harmed by corporate negligence.
Following the birth of her children, Luedtke left the private sector and began a career in the Office of the Attorney General, where she worked under Attorneys General Doug Gansler and Brian Frosh. In that role, she has worked to improve school safety, prevent incidents of mass violence, and promote data-driven decision making in education. A longtime performer herself, she has also been an advocate for the arts, and serves on the Boards of the Baltimore Concert Opera and the Olney Theatre Center. Her work and advocacy has carried her to all corners of the state, but she makes her home in Ashton with her husband Eric, a state legislator, and their four children.
Luedtke will hold a formal campaign launch in December. For more information on the campaign, visit www.dawnluedtke.com or contact [email protected].
Steve Atwater was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame last night, having to wait a year due to Covid postponing last year‘s ceremony. The hard-hitting safety was one of the most feared players in the NFL during his time as a player.
Atwater won two Super Bowls in 10 seasons with the Broncos before finishing his career with the Jets in 1999. After his pro career came to an end, he lived in Georgia where he coached his two oldest sons youth football teams and started a real estate company.
In January of 2012, Atwater moved to Montgomery County. His youngest son, Paris, was a student at Sherwood High School where he played football, and Steve joined the Sherwood staff as defensive backs coach while he lived in Brookeville.
He only coached in MoCo for one season, but the impact of a future NFL Hall of Famer coaching local student-athletes is still talked about nearly a decade later.
