Olney Archives - Page 43 of 84

Over $25K Raised For Family of 13-Year-Old Killed in Fatal House Fire

Published August 16, 2023 at 9:12AM

A fatal house fire at a vacation home in North Carolina killed three Montgomery County residents and injured three more last Friday. The deceased were identified on Monday as 64-year-old Colleen Cohan and her husband William Deeg, 68, of Ashton, Maryland, and 13-year-old Sienna Farr of Silver Spring, Maryland. The three people injured were 48-year-old Laura Volk, 16-year-old Sadie Farr and 55-year-old David Brewer, all of Silver Spring. Volk is Sienna and Sadie’s mother, and the girlfriend of Brewer, per Kill Devil Hills officials. Various reports state that Volk and Brewer remain hospitalized in the burn unit, while Sadie Farr has been released. In less than a day, the community has raised over $25,000 for the family of 13-year-old Sienna Farr.

Per the GoFundMe, funds will go towards a memorial in honor of Sienna Farr and to support expenses for Laura and Sadie as Laura recovers from her injuries. the full text from the fundraiser can be seen below:

MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight, Writes Letter to Farquhar Middle School Community Regarding Allegations Made Against The School’s Former Principal

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 9:17PM

On Friday, August 11, the Washington Post released an article alleging that Paint Branch High School principal (previously Farquhar Middle School principal) Dr. Joel Beidleman had been reported to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) 18 times in seven years and detailed alleged sexual harassment, workplace bullying, and other inappropriate conduct at multiple schools, spanning over a decade. The article states that Beidleman was placed on leave by MCPS and that the school system will launch an “independent, external investigation.” Earlier today, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight sent a letter to the Farquhar Middle School community. The letter can be seen in full below:

Dear Farquhar Middle School Staff, Students and Families,

Fatal House Fire in North Carolina Kills Two Adults and One Teenager From Montgomery County; Three Others Injured

By MCS Staff

Published August 14, 2023 at 5:03PM

At approximately 2:25am early Friday morning, The Kill Devil Hills Fire Department in North Carolina responded to a report of a structure fire. According to the city’s public information officer, Rachel Tackett, crews contained and extinguished the blaze, which had fully engulfed an Outer Banks rental home and damaged two neighboring properties. Unfortunately, three people were killed and three others were injured due to the fire.

The deceased were identified on Monday as 64-year-old Colleen Cohan and her husband William Deeg, 68, of Ashton, Maryland, and 13-year-old Sienna Farr of Silver Spring, Maryland. The three people injured were 48-year-old Laura Volk, 16-year-old Sadie Farr and 55-year-old David Brewer, all of Silver Spring. Volk is Sienna and Sadie’s mother, and the girlfriend of Brewer, per Kill Devil Hills officials. Various reports state that Volk and Brewer remain hospitalized in the burn unit, while Farr has been released. According to wric.com, “A family member’s social media post indicated that recovery for Volk and Brewer could take several months, and they will eventually be transferred to a hospital closer to their home in the suburbs of Washington.” More, per the Town of Kill Devil Hills below:

The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Nominated for Best Amusement Park

By Patrick Herron

Published August 13, 2023 at 10:00PM

Per Adventure Park: On 8/1, Washington Parent Magazine readers nominated The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School for best “Amusement & Water Park” in the Parents Picks competition. The Adventure Park was also nominated in the “Party Venue”, “Climbing” location, & “Date Night” location categories. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring was nominated and won best “Amusement & Water Park” & “Best Climbing” location in 2022.

“Congratulations to The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School on being nominated for multiple awards by Washington Parent Magazine, including ‘Best Amusement Park,’ for a second year in a row,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This park is one of the County’s most popular places for both kids and parents, and they deserve this well-earned recognition. As summer fades away, please remember to plan one last visit to The Adventure Park and vote for them at WashingtonParent.com.”

First Look at Olney Winery; Now Open in Ashton

By MCS Staff

Published August 13, 2023 at 2:51PM

Olney Winery has been operating since 2012, initially as The Winery at Olney. The winemaker was previously located at 18127 Town Center Drive in the Fair Hill shopping center in Olney until September of last year. In 2016, expanded and opened a tasting room in the stone house at 12810 Shank Farm Way in Hagerstown. In July, Olney Winery opened its new space at 52 Olney Sandy Spring Road in Ashton Market that includes a large outdoor patio. In addition to wine, they’re also offering pizza at the location (first look video available below).

Per Olney Winery: “Olney Winery employs the unique business model of sourcing our grape product from suppliers and vineyards all over the world to ferment over 34 different varietals of award-winning wines locally. We bring the world of wine to Maryland.

Paint Branch High School Principal on Extended Leave Pending Investigation, Per the Washington Post

By MCS Staff

Published August 11, 2023 at 1:31PM

Last Friday, an email was sent to the Paint Branch High School community informing them of the school’s principal, Dr. Joel Beidleman, going on extended leave. Beidleman was named principal at Paint Branch in June and was previously principal at William Farquhar Middle School in Olney.

A Washington Post article released this morning alleges that Beidleman was reported to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) 18 times in seven years and details alleged sexual harassment, workplace bullying, and other inappropriate conduct at multiple schools, spanning over a decade. The article states that Beidleman was placed on leave by MCPS and that the school system will launch an “independent, external investigation.”

The Washington Post Visits The Sunshine General Store

By MCS Staff

Published August 7, 2023 at 8:54AM

Sunshine Burger from Sunshine General Store

The Washington Post recently released its “10 Best Burgers in the D.C. Area” list and Montgomery County’s very own Steeze Burger was ranked the #1 burger in the area. It was the only MoCo burger to make the actual list, with burgers from Soko Butcher (Takoma Park) and Quarry House Tavern (Silver Spring) named as honorable mentions. After going back and trying some reader’s picks, write Tim Carman believes MoCo’s Sunshine Burger deserves a spot on the original list.

“The Sunshine burger deserves a spot on the original list. It checks all the boxes: an unassuming preparation that trusts the basic building blocks of a good burger, even if they’re not necessarily the kind of ingredients sought out by chefs in white-tablecloth restaurants.” Carman wrote. The burger itself is generally loved by many, but there are also plenty (based on various comments through the years on our various social media posts) who can’t get past the look of the Sunshine General Store, where the burger is made.

New Daycare Coming to 16650 Georgia Avenue in Olney

By MCS Staff

Published August 6, 2023 at 11:20PM

Little Steps LLC has submitted a plan for Primrose daycare to be built at 16650 Georgia Avenue in Olney. According to a report by Maryland Newsletters, the existing Olney Antiques would remain at the space, but three other buildings would be demolished for the daycare center to be built. 16650 Georgia Avenue is located near Emory Ln., the ICC, and Roots Market

Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

‘Easy Little Plants’ is Now Open in Olney

By MCS Staff

Published August 2, 2023 at 6:58AM

Easy Little Plants, a new store selling “happy houseplants in homemade soil” has opened at 3412 North High St, Suite B in Olney (located behind the Exxon in Georgia Avenue).

Owner Savannah, 21, mixes each batch of soil herself, and takes pride in the effect it has on the pants sold at the store. The plants come pre-potted in repurposed glassware that allow you to look through the glass to see the roots and soil. “It’s much easier to look and see when your plant could use a drink.”

NBC Washington Highlights MoCo Lite Being Named The Best Light Beer in the Country

By MCS Staff

Published August 1, 2023 at 10:01AM

MoCo Lite, the collaboration between The MoCoShow and Lone Oak Farm Brewing Co. in Olney was recently named the Best Light Beer in the Country by Wine Enthusiast. NBC Washington’s Jummy Olabanji came out to Olney to speak with the team behind the beer.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvZ2QcKgg5E/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

MoCo’s Bryan Kim Wins 75th U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship

By MCS Staff

Published July 30, 2023 at 12:14PM | Updated July 30, 2023 at 12:30PM

MoCo native (Brookeville) and 2023 Sherwood graduate, Bryan Kim, has won the 75th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, held at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, South Carolina. He will be attending Duke University in the fall.

Kim, 18, joins Jason Widener (1988) as Duke players to etch their name on the U.S. Junior Amateur Trophy that includes the likes of major champions Tiger Woods, Johnny Miller, David Duval, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler and Brian Harman, this year’s Open winner at Royal Birkdale who sent a congratulatory video message to the champion. Kim advanced to the championship match, where he defeated Joshua Bai. A breakdown of the championship can be found here. Kim is 11th in the latest iteration of the American Junior Golf Association rankings and 443rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. As champion, Kim receives the following: