Entertainment

Maryland Attorney General Co-Leads Coalition in Multistate Amicus Brief Supporting Safety and Inclusion for LGBTQ+ Youth in Schools

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, co-led a coalition of 19 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief supporting a Maryland local board of education’s efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for LGTBQ+ children and all students. The Montgomery County Board of Education (MCBE) is facing a challenge to its policy that incorporates LGBTQ+-inclusive books into its language arts curriculum without allowing students to opt out. In the amicus brief, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Attorneys General reiterate the importance of providing safe and inclusive school environments for all children, and explain that policies such as MCBE’s do not raise constitutional or other concerns.

“Our schools play a fundamental role in shaping the minds and hearts of the next generation, and it’s our duty to ensure that every child feels safe, supported, and valued,” said Attorney General Brown. “Educational policies that promote respect for LGBTQ+ people will help build a more equitable future for all children.”

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Beyond MoCo

Raising Cane’s to Open in Columbia on November 7th

By MCS Staff

Raising Cane’s started its expansion into the D.C. metropolitan region when its first area restaurant opened last December in Sterling, VA (45545 Dulles Eastern Plaza). The first Maryland location opened in Towson in January 2023 and both stores featured lines out the door for months on several days of the week. A Waldorf Location opened in May, a Westminster location opened in July, and a Gambrills locations opened in September to make four for the state. Now, the fifth and closest location to Montgomery County will open at 9071 Snowden River Pkwy in Columbia on Tuesday, November 7th.

We previously reported that Raising Cane’s aims to open 14 stores in the next year, stretching from suburban Baltimore to the Richmond area, and now the chain has announced 15+ locations for Maryland alone. A Forestville restaurant, at 3270 Donnell Drive (Prince George’s County) is set to open on December 5th, which will be a closer location for many. None of the other Maryland locations have been announced yet, and we are awaiting word on if Montgomery County will be included in the openings.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings on Thursday, November 2

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: “The Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will meet on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 9:30 a.m. to receive a briefing on the Community Health Needs Assessment and on the implementation of federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding.

The members of the HHS Committee include Chair Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Laurie-Anne Sayles.The joint Education and Culture (EC) and HHS Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to receive a briefing on early childhood education initiatives. The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Albornoz and Kristin Mink.

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Burtonsville

Detectives Ask for Public’s Help in Locating Family of Man Who Died in Collision on Saturday 

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: “The Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is investigating fatal collision that occurred on Saturday, October 28, 2023, near the intersection of Old Columbia Pike and Dustin Road. Detectives have been unable to locate any of the decedent’s family and are asking for the public’s assistance to find possible family members.

At approximately 12:15 p.m., Montgomery County Fire Rescue and MCPD responded to the area for the report of a single vehicle collision.  The preliminary investigation by CRU detectives has revealed that a blue 2009 Hyundai Elantra, driven by 73-year-old Robert Hugh Haas, of Windsor Mill, was traveling northbound on Old Columbia Pike when, for unknown reasons, the Haas failed to negotiate the traffic circle at Dustin Road and struck a retaining wall.

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Event

Healthy at the Harbor

National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland

165 Waterfront St.

National Harbor, Maryland 20745

Website Social

Join Kaiser Permanente for Healthy at the Harbor, a free community health and wellness event taking place Saturday, June 6, from 11 am to 4 pm at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bring your family and friends for free full day of fun, fitness, and preventive care along the waterfront.

Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. A lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.

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Business

Maryland’s First Cannabis Delivery App, Upling, Wins Award at DC Startup Week Competition

By MCS Staff

Colin Fraser, a pioneering cannabis entrepreneur from Silver Spring, has created the first cannabis delivery app in Maryland and the first Black-owned cannabis delivery app in the United States and Jamaica. Fraser, the founder of Upling, was declared the winner of the growth-stage round at DC Startup Week. The startup wants to make medical cannabis more accessible, especially for folks who have a hard time making it to a dispensary because of health issues. “We saw that it’s hard for those who are older or vets to get their medication,” Fraser said in a recent interview. “So when you talk about medical cannabis, it’s hard for them to go into the lines, stand up and get cannabis.” Funding amounts for both winners are typically announced immediately following the event, but the announcement for the growth stage was delayed due to a founder being unable to present during the main pitch event.

More on Colin Fraser and Upling: “With a passion for cannabis advocacy and a deep understanding of the plant’s medicinal properties, Fraser has played a vital role in shaping the legal cannabis landscape by testifying in Maryland for black and brown cannabis entrepreneurs to have equality in the legacy market, and holding the first cannabis round table with now governor Wes Moore. Recognizing the importance of giving back, Fraser actively supports initiatives aimed at social equity within the cannabis space. A cannabis entrepreneur who has overcome significant challenges as a returning citizen to make a lasting impact in the industry. With a steadfast determination and a passion for social justice.

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Kensington

$50,000 Winning Scratch-off Sold at Sunoco

By Patrick Herron

“I like to check to see how many top prizes are still out there for each game,” the Prince George’s County resident said. “It feels like I have a better shot at finding a big one.”

Before leaving home to meet friends, the 47-year-old frequent player noticed that Money Bag Multiplier, a $10 scratch-off game that debuted in April, still had one $100,000 top prize available. He also noted that three of the game’s $50,000 second-tier prizes had not yet been claimed.

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Education

Every New MCPS School That Has Opened Since 1985

By MCS Staff

We recently shared with you a list of 16 Montgomery County Public Schools that were closed by the school system at one point in time, but have since reopened (some with new names). In this article, we’ll be providing you with a list of every MCPS school that has opened (or reopened) since 1985. The information comes directly from MCPS and the full list an be seen below:

1985

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Germantown

Public Meeting on the Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study – Wisteria Drive to be Held on Wednesday, Nov. 8

By Patrick Herron

Per MCDOT: “On Wednesday, November 8 starting at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold an online and in-person public information meeting about the concept designs for the Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study – Wisteria Drive in Germantown. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

The Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study is a facility planning study of multimodal improvements, such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities safety and connectivity improvements, access improvements to nearby bus stops and the Germantown MARC train station, in Germantown. The limits of this project are from Great Seneca Highway to Germantown Road on Wisteria Drive and Middlebrook Road. This project will evaluate the safety needs of pedestrians and cyclists, facilities connectivity and access improvements, such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus stops.

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Beyond MoCo

Maryland Native to Wrestle Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship on Saturday

By MCS Staff

Before he was LA Knight, one of the hottest superstars in professional wrestling today, Shaun Ricker was a kid growing up in Hagerstown, Maryland. He graduated from North Hagerstown High School (class of 2000), where he was in the band and ran track, but always dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler. On Saturday, he has his biggest match ever– taking on WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.

Though he appears to be outspoken now, as his LA Knight persona has been compared to a modern-day version of Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Rock, Ricker remembers how different he was when he was growing up in Hagerstown. “I was a very shy kid, but I always wanted to be a performer. I was that kid that was so shy when I was at my grandma’s house, I would whisper in my mom or dad’s ear, ‘Could you ask her for a cookie?’ Those hand mixers, when I was a kid, I thought the metal mixer part looked like a microphone so I would take those, stand behind a door and I would sing and dance. I figured if I was behind a door, nobody would see me, nobody could hear me. It was like I was invisible.” he said in a since-archived interview with the Ottawa Citizen.

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