MoCo History

18th Montgomery History Conference on Nov. 4 Will Include Address on ‘Black Chevy Chase’ and Sessions on ‘Du-Drop Inn’ and ‘Historic Homes of the Agricultural Reserve’

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The 18th Montgomery County History Conference will return as an in-person event for the first time since 2020, with the full day of activities on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Montgomery College in Rockville including a keynote address on “Black Chevy Chase” and breakout sessions “The Du-Drop Inn of Emory Grove” and the “Historic Homes and Barns of the Agricultural Reserve.”

In addition to breakout sessions on the Du-Drop Inn and the historic homes and barns of the Ag Reserve, breakout sessions will focus on the families of the Agricultural History Farm Park, Sentinel publisher Rebecca Fields, a history of enslavement in Kensington, the County’s Poor Farm, the seven enslavers who have public schools named for them and new techniques for indigenous archaeological research.

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Bethesda

Free Drop-In Electric Scooter Clinics for Adults to be Held Oct. 22 and 28

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery College: Residents 18-and-older who are interested in electric scooter lessons will have the opportunity to attend free clinics sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation on Sunday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 28. Participants will be able to take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws.

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Bethesda

Plans for Development at Montgomery Mall as Westfield Pulls Back From Plan to Sell U.S. Properties

By MCS Staff

As recently  as this past May, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) maintained its deleveraging progress with U.S. asset sales with the sale of Westfield Brandon Shopping Center  (located in Brandon, Florida) in the US for $220 million. It was reported in 2021 that Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) planned to sell all of it’s US holdings in 2022. Last year, then-Chief Executive Jean-Marie Tritant told investors that Unibail wants to shed most of its U.S. properties by the end of 2023, which pushed things back about a year, but things appear to have changed according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

“Unibail is also investing in its top properties.” the report stated. “Unibail is also moving forward with development projects at properties in Illinois, northern New Jersey and Bethesda, Md., including adding apartments and open-air retail and restaurants.” According to development information posted by Westfield, this will include “reimagining the Westfield Montgomery experience by creating a mid-rise multi-family and amenity-rich community with architecture that reflects the seasonal, wooded quality of the community, combined with a modern, urbane feel.  And all within easy walking distance from everything you enjoy.” This will include:

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Celebrities

Wisdom Martin Joins WUSA9 After 20 Years With FOX5

By MCS Staff

Wisdom Martin, a Montgomery County resident, joined the FOX 5 News team in 2003. 20 years later, this past June, he celebrated his last broadcast with FOX 5 with the network where he has recently been the morning anchor, starting the day at 4 a.m. through 6 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Good Day DC. As of Mid-September, the award-winning anchor took on a new assignment by joining the Get Up DC team on WUSA9 (video below).

Per FOX 5: His career started while he was a sophomore at Jackson State University. His first job in TV news was running the teleprompter on the weekends at WAPT news. From there he worked his way up to news photographer, editor and sports reporter for the weekend shows, before graduating. After leaving Jackson, he became a news and sports reporter/anchor at KSEE in Fresno, California; WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina (Go Tar Heels!), weekend anchor at CNN in Atlanta; and anchor/reporter at WKRN in Nashville Tennessee.

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Uncategorized

Governor Wes Moore Announces $10 Million Build Our Future Innovation Infrastructure Pilot Program

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland: “Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of the Build Our Future grant program, a financial resource for innovation infrastructure projects to support eligible technology sectors. Funded at $10 million, the pilot program will provide matching grants of up to $2 million to projects that demonstrate a transformative impact in accelerating growth and innovation in the state’s strategic industry sectors.

“From cybersecurity and manufacturing, to quantum and drug discovery, we believe the Build Our Future pilot program will grow our innovative industries throughout the state,” said Gov. Moore. “While building a more competitive and equitable Maryland, we need to ensure we’re looking toward the jobs of the future and supporting the progressive technology sectors. This program will help us invest in the tech-advanced facilities that tomorrow’s workforce depends on.”

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Maryland

Attorney General Brown Joins Coalition Supporting EPA’s Proposal to Strengthen Dust-Lead Regulations That Could Reduce Adverse Health Effects in Low-Income Communities

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 13 Attorneys General supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to strengthen dust-lead hazard standards and post-abatement clearance levels, as authorized by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

In a comment letter, Attorney General Brown and the coalition strongly support the EPA’s efforts to strengthen its dust-lead hazard standards and clearance levels, two important regulations that help to protect the public against dangerous dust-lead and lead paint exposures. The EPA’s proposed regulations are based upon several scientific studies that found that there is no safe level of lead exposure. Even very low levels of lead exposure can lead to serious health effects. For example, lead exposure is associated with delayed growth and lower academic performance in young children.

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MCPS

MoCoShow High School Football Week 6 Preview & Predictions (2023)

By Damon Anderson

Northwest (5-0) at Paint Branch (3-2): Northwest looked very mortal against BCC and the Panthers, who were looking like distant longshots last week, may just have a shot if they can find a way to apply the film. One might think the Panthers’ defense, which has been performing consistently well in spite of the gloom, might be able to do what the Barons defense did. Could this, of all years, be the year PB gets that long sought after first ever win vs. the Jags?  WJ was able to gash PB on the ground, and NW’s offense has the personnel to run a similar attack between dual threat QB David Davis, a plethora of speedy rushers and a huge O-Line.  Prediction: Northwest by 15

Seneca Valley (3-2) at Quince Orchard (5-0): SV’s got a little mojo back after boat racing RM. Unfortunately, handling the Rockets in the trenches is not a particularly notable accomplishment and SV will likely be in for a world of hurt against QO.  Prediction:   QO by 35

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Education

MCPS, Montgomery County Celebrate Walk and Roll to School Day

By MCS Staff
Walk and Roll to School Day at Brooke Grove Elementary School.

Schools throughout MCPS celebrated Walk and Roll to School Day today (Oct. 4) to promote health and safer routes to for students to walk and bike to school.

Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney held a special event, joined by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s MCDOT’s Zeal the Safety Zebra and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Sparky the Fire and Rescue Dog. The event included music, balloons, giveaways, police officers, firefighters, fire trucks and special visits from Montgomery County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Dawn Luedtke.

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MCPD

Statement From Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando Regarding Maryland Attorney General Opinion on the Safety and Traffic Equity In Policing (“STEP”) Act

By Patrick Herron

From the Office of Councilmember Will Jawando: Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando released the following statement related to the Maryland Attorney General’s Opinion on the Safety and Traffic Equity in Policing (“STEP”) Act.

“I introduced the Safety and Traffic Equity in Policing (“STEP”) Act to address racial disparities in traffic enforcement and to free up our police department to focus on enforcement of traffic violations that are the key drivers of serious injuries and fatalities, for example, speeding, reckless driving, DUI and driving without seatbelts.

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Arts

Clarksburg, Whitman High Chorus Students Perform at World Culture Festival

By MCS Staff

Last month, 250 chorus students from Clarksburg and Walt Whitman high schools performed at the 2023 World Culture Festival. Nearly 1 million people from more than 180 countries are estimated to have participated in the three-day celebration of unity, diversity and peace on the National Mall. The event included 60 performances from more than 17,000 artists, musicians and dancers representing cultures from every corner of the globe. MCPS students opened the festival singing the national anthem with the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and the U.S. Army Chorus, followed by two original compositions fusing English and Sanskrit lyrics—Blessings Invocation and One World Family, and America the Beautiful – Vande Mataram with Grammy-nominated artist Chandrika Tandon.

Amy Vanek and Michelle Kim, choral music directors at Clarksburg and Whitman, worked to prepare the students for the festival within three weeks. Others who help to coordinate the students’ appearance included: Kanan Shah, MCPS’ World Culture Festival coordinator and occupational therapist at Infants and Toddlers, Emory Grove; Elaine Chang, director of partnerships; Amita Mongia, teacher at Garrett Park Elementary School; Randy Rumpf, fine arts supervisor; Katie Murphy, choral and general music coordinator, and Ed Owusu, principal at Clarksburg, and Robby Dodd, principal at Whitman.

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