Damascus Archives - Page 13 of 27

Lighting Athletic Fields at Damascus Recreational Park Will Be Focus of Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24

Published October 21, 2023 at 7:02PM

Per Montgomery County: “Whether to provide lights on two ballpark diamond fields and a future rectangular field at Damascus Regional Park will be the focus of a meeting Montgomery Parks will be holding at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg. The meeting also will be available virtually.

Hallie Wells Middle School is located at 11701 Little Seneca Parkway in Clarksburg. To join the meeting virtually, go to MoCoParks.org/DRPLights. Anyone who may be attending in person or virtually is asked to register in advance at mocoparks.org/DRPMeeting. Registration is optional.

Ridge Road Closed Tuesday Afternoon After Vehicle Driven Into Utility Pole

By Patrick Herron

Published October 17, 2023 at 3:10PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 27,100 block of Ridge Rd., between Woodfield Road & Gue Rd., in Damascus for the report of a collision involving a vehicle into a utility pole. Ridge Rd is currently closed at Woodfield Rd. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, “lanes are blocked by downed pole and wires, road will be closed to large vehicles, likely, i.e. School buses, delivery trucks, etc..”

Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route and to expect significant delays. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Community Meeting For Upcoming Damascus High School Renovation Takes Place This Week

By MCS Staff

Published October 16, 2023 at 8:17PM

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is scheduled to begin the Schematic Design Phase for an approved capital project at Damascus High School. Prior to beginning the design process and community engagements, a kick-off meeting for community members and all stakeholders is scheduled on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 6:30 pm to share the project information. The in-person meeting will be held in the Cafeteria/All-Purpose room. Doors open at 6:00 pm, presentation begins at 6:30 pm. It is unclear if the meeting will discuss any boundary changes between Damascus and nearby schools like Clarksburg High School.

A major capital project was approved to address various building systems and programmatic needs for Damascus High School, located at 25921 Ridge Road. The Board of Education, in the requested FY 2021–2026 CIP, included expenditures in FY 2022 to continue the planning and design of this major capital project with a completion date of August 2025, but the County Council delayed the expenditures by one year. An FY 2023 appropriation was approved to begin the design of this Major Capital project. An FY 2024 appropriation is recommended for construction funds. This project is scheduled to be completed August 2026. Once completed in 2026, school capacity is expected to increase from 1,543 (where it’s at currently) to 2,250.

100+ Restaurants That Have Opened in Montgomery County in 2023

By Patrick Herron

Published October 15, 2023 at 11:55AM

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxyGQrCuaCK/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx4CS4gOZio/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=0f71d286-286f-47f2-bd2a-02bb51f27c98

2023 MoCo Haunted Trail & Forest Guide

By Patrick Herron

Published October 10, 2023 at 4:26PM

The haunt is a benefit performance for Calleva, a 501c3 organization dedicated to building young leaders through positive outdoor experiences. “We spend all year empowering people through outdoor experiences that foster teamwork & individual achievement,” says Nick Markoff, one of the three brothers who founded Calleva. “Then we bring them out to Markoff’s Haunted Forest to knock their confidence back a bit.” The haunt began as a small scale event, but has grown into one of the nation’s top-ranked performances. Markoff’s Haunted Forest still helps fund Calleva’s summer camp scholarships, community partnerships, and outdoor education programming. It’s a partnership that delivers seasonal fun AND year-round benefits to our Montgomery County neighborhood. Tickets are on sale now at www.markoffshauntedforest.com.

“Since 1992, when the Markoff brothers started with a Haunted School Bus driven to events and festivals around DC, our haunt has provided fright fest lovers with a creative, dramatic, and – YES — terrifying haunt experience. Our creative team combines music, lights, scents, actors, make-up & prosthetics, and artistic brilliance in a series of high-tech, detailed scenes that consistently place MHF among the top haunts in the country.”

Retail Building in Damascus Sells For $1.14 Million; Now Looking For Additional Tenants

By MCS Staff

Published October 2, 2023 at 1:17PM

A 5,600 SF retail building at 26437 Ridge Rd. in Damascus has been sold to a partnership headed by Alexandria, VA-based Harmon Capital Group for $1.14 million, according to a report by Maryland Newsletters. The building is currently home to Domino’s Pizza on the front-facing side on Ridge Rd, but the restaurant only takes up approximately 1,500 SF with no plans to close. There is an additional 4,100 SF looking to be leased with entrances on the back side of the building.

Per the Capstar Commercial Realty listing, there are two spaces currently available in the building– A 2,800SF space and a 1,250 SF space that was previously home to Verizon. The retail building was built in 1987, and touts “Multiple access points off the intersection of Ridge Rd and High Corner St.” and a “Location adjacent to McDonald’s and at the primary gateway to the bustling Damascus Shopping Center which houses prominent names like Chipotle, Dollar Tree, Advance Auto Parts, T-mobile, Mathnasium, and several more.”

MCPS To Pay $9.7 Million in Damascus Sex Assault Case Settlement

By MCS Staff

Published September 30, 2023 at 7:52AM | Updated September 30, 2023 at 8:43AM

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is paying $9.7 million to settle the lawsuits against the Montgomery County Board of Education, former Damascus High School principal Casey Crouse, former football coaches Vincent Colbert and Eric Wallich, and former athletic director Joseph Doody, stemming from the sexual assault in the boy’s locker room at Damascus High School in October of 2019.

In a FOX 5 report, the victim’s attorneys shared that they believe this is the largest settlement of its kind in Maryland history. “The Board Of Education has agreed to pay these four young men who were sexually assaulted at Damascus High School a total of $9.7 million dollars, and that appears to be appears to a record settlement in the State of Maryland,” said attorney Timothy Maloney.” MCPS wrote in a statement to FOX 5, that they have “taken extensive measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. This is protocol rooted in an increase in monitoring and oversight of all locker rooms across our school district.“

Concern for Missing Adult

By Patrick Herron

Published September 16, 2023 at 9:08AM

The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Jay Turner, a missing Damascus man. Turner was last seen on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at approximately 12:32 p.m., in the 24600 block of Showbarn Circle in Damascus. He is 5-feet, 6-inches tall, slim build, bald.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jay Turner is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

The MoCoShow Game of The Week: Damascus at Northwest (Preview/Prediction)

By Damon Anderson

Published September 8, 2023 at 5:55PM

The two teams regularly expect to contend for a state championship in their classifications and this year is no different, with Damascus looking to repeat after capturing a record-tying 12th state title last year. Northwest, though a few years removed from their last title game appearance, added some big-time championship experience to their coaching staff. Their head coach will be familiar to many Damascus fans, as Bucky Clipper was the Hornets’ defensive coordinator during their dynasty run from 2014-18, and in 2019 served as DC for Northwest who made the 4A final that year. Anyone who saw Damascus play during that glory period knows the Hornets defense was straight up nasty during that time, and Clipper will look to maintain that same identity as he guides Northwest as the top dog. He’s not the only championship coach they brought in either, as Justin Sickeri returns as OC of the Jaguars after head coaching stints at Poolesville and Seneca Valley. Sickeri was the mastermind behind the offensive unit that captured back-to-back titles in 2013 & 2014, and will look to field a just-as-great unit a decade later.

Both teams achieved big blowout victories to start the year. Northwest went to Montgomery Village and thumped Watkins Mill, 47-0, which they reached in just the first half of play. Damascus welcomed Einstein to the “Hornet’s Nest” and boatraced the Titans 44-12. Solid performances across the board for these teams, but Watkins Mill and Einstein will not come close to the challenge level that Northwest and Damascus will find in each other.

77th Annual Damascus Community Fair Sept. 8-10 Will Celebrate the Agricultural Roots of the Northern Montgomery Area

By Patrick Herron

Published September 7, 2023 at 8:34PM

Per Montgomery County: The 77th Damascus Community Fair, which is a present-day reminder of what the northern Montgomery County community was like many years ago, will take place Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10, at the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department activity center. The free fair will feature displays of top agricultural crops as the growing season hits its prime, exhibitions of home-made products, live music, exhibitions, kids’ activities and livestock and cake auctions. New this year will be the touch-a truck opportunity to get close to vehicles of many types.

The Damascus Volunteer Fire Department activity center is located at 10211 Lewis Dr. in Damascus. The fair is open through 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. It is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, and from 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10. The livestock and cake auction will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Inaugural Maryland Cider Fest Takes Place This Saturday, September 9

By MCS Staff

Published September 5, 2023 at 2:34PM

The inaugural Maryland Cider Festival is taking place this Saturday, September 9th at Two Story Chimney Ciderworks (7115 Damascus Rd. Gaitherburg, MD 20882) from 11am until 4pm. Though the event has a Gaithersburg address, it’s north of Laytonsville closer to Damascus. This event will showcase hard cider makers from across the Old Line State. You’ll also find local artisans, craft vendors, live music, and food trucks. Whether you’re an aficionado who knows their cider, cidre, or sidra, or you’re just looking for a refreshing change of taste this is the place to be. Come join us for a celebration of Maryland craft makers.

The festival will feature ten local cideries showcasing their best hard ciders, from dry to sweet, still to sparkling, modern to heritage, and everything in between. Ciders of all styles and types will be in glass for you to sample and take home, and you’ll get to learn more about the cider-making process from the experts. The festival will also have food trucks serving up delicious bites to pair with your cider, live music from local musicians for your enjoyment, and local craft vendors selling their unique and handmade products.