Derwood

MCFRS Responds to Collision Involving School Bus Thursday Afternoon

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) was dispatched to Miller Fall Rd and Muncaster Mill Rd (Gaithersburg) for a vehicle accident involving an occupied school bus with children. Two occupants from the car are being evaluated for transport and traffic is being diverted by Montgomery County Police.

According to an update by MCFRS Spokesperson David Pazos, MCFRS is transporting three adults (two from the car and the driver of the school bus) to local area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. All 30 students on the bus are ok and are in the process of being transferred to another MCPS bus en route.

Go to MCFRS Responds to Collision Involving School Bus Thursday Afternoon Read more
Crime

Arrest Made in 23-Year-Old Rape Case

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Cold Case Unit has arrested a Prince George’s County man for a rape allegedly committed 23-years-ago and believe there may be more victims.

On July 26, 2000, at approximately 1:55 a.m., two victims walking along Montgomery Village Avenue were approached by a suspect who was armed with a handgun.  The suspect, later identified as 47-year-old James Lorenzo Greene, allegedly robbed the victims of property and raped one of the victims.

Go to Arrest Made in 23-Year-Old Rape Case Read more
Beyond MoCo

Active Internal Affairs Division Investigation Underway into Prince George’s County Police Officer’s Actions

By MCS Staff

Per Prince George’s County Police: The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division (IAD) is actively investigating the actions of a Prince George’s County Police officer that were recorded and posted on social media. The Department is aware of two videos involving Corporal Francesco Marlett and an adult female. As soon as the agency became aware of the first video on Tuesday, IAD opened an investigation and Chief Malik Aziz decisively suspended this officer’s police powers.

 As part of its investigation, the Internal Affairs Division is attempting to interview all parties involved as well as citizens with knowledge of the interactions. IAD encourages those with knowledge to please assist with the investigation by speaking with detectives. Your information could play a key role in helping us determine exactly what happened and taking appropriate action.

Go to Active Internal Affairs Division Investigation Underway into Prince George’s County Police Officer’s Actions Read more
Arts

Takoma Park Folk Festival Takes Place This Sunday, September 10th

By MCS Staff

The Takoma Park Folk Festival takes place this Sunday, September 10th from 10:30am until 6:30pm at Takoma Park Middle School (schedule available below, pinch and expand). The mission of the Takoma Park Folk Festival, Inc. is to present a free annual folk festival in Takoma Park each September that celebrates the arts and the Takoma Park-Silver Spring community.  The event, which is held rain or shine, presents six stages of music, a juried crafts show, international food, community nonprofit tables, and children’s games and activities.  The Festival offers free shuttle buses (with wheelchair accessibility) to the Takoma Metro station.

All roads will remain open with limited access to the Takoma Park Middle School.  Motorists are urged to use caution and drive slowly – there will be heavy pedestrian traffic expected on Piney Branch Road. No parking from Piney Branch to Grant to Holly Avenue Parking is limited to residential side streets. Spaces will be reserved for handicapped parking, vendors, festival staff members, musicians & artists.

Go to Takoma Park Folk Festival Takes Place This Sunday, September 10th Read more
Maryland

Taste and Odor Changes to Tap Water Still Affecting Many in Maryland

By MCS Staff

As previously reported, customers served by WSSC Water’s Potomac Water Filtration Plant (Potomac River) may still notice changes in the taste and odor of their tap water because of algal activity in the Potomac River (map available below). This change is not harmful and is due to an increase in a naturally occurring substance, Geosmin, caused by warmer weather and low water levels in the Potomac River.  As Geosmin are prone to fluctuate with rain and changing water levels, customers may notice order is stronger at certain times than others. This is completely normal.

The odors from the naturally occurring compound, Geosmin, are not toxic. Because the human nose can detect Geosmin concentrations at very low levels, the unpleasant smell can cause sensitive individuals to experience nausea/headaches. Despite the taste and odor issues, the water remains safe, meeting all EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

Go to Taste and Odor Changes to Tap Water Still Affecting Many in Maryland Read more
Burtonsville

507 Vehicles Stopped, 3 Arrested During September 2 Sobriety Checkpoint

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police has announced that during a September 2nd sobriety checkpoint on Columbia Pike and Dustin Rd in Burtonsville, officers from MCPD and allied agencies stopped approximately 507 vehicles and arrested 3 people for driving while impaired. During an August 25 sobriety checkpoint on northbound Georgia Avenue at Weller Road in Wheaton, MCPD stopped approximately 372 vehicles and arrested 5 people for driving while impaired and during an August 18th sobriety checkpoint on northbound Frederick Road at Game Preserve Road in Gaithersburg police stopped 565 vehicles and arrested 4 people for driving while impaired.

In July, recreational marijuana use became legal in the state of Maryland and Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones issued the following reminder before the July 4th weekend, “We implore drivers to think of cannabis the same way they think of alcohol. Do not get behind the wheel of a car if you are impaired. Our officers will pull over and arrest anyone they suspect of driving while impaired. Alcohol, marijuana and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Our priority is keeping the roads safe for everyone.”

Go to 507 Vehicles Stopped, 3 Arrested During September 2 Sobriety Checkpoint Read more
Arts

Celebration of New Mural at Brookside Gardens Takes Place Sunday, September 10

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks is inviting the public to a ceremony naming the newest mural at Brookside Gardens. The celebration will take place on Sunday, September 10, 2023 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at Brookside Gardens Underlook/Harry Dewey Terrace 1800 Glenallen Ave. in Wheaton, MD 20902 (in case of inclement weather the program will be held in the Visitor Center).

The new artwork was painted this summer by Afro-Cuban artist Osbel Susman-Peña.  Entitled “Where Dreams Live/ Donde Viven los Sueños,” the dynamic artwork is in the Brookside Gardens Underlook, adjacent to the Aquatic Garden. The mural is a memorial to the late Betsy Thomas, past president of the Friends of Brookside Gardens.  

Go to Celebration of New Mural at Brookside Gardens Takes Place Sunday, September 10 Read more
Rockville

Citywide Streetlight Replacement to Begin This Fall in Rockville

By Patrick Herron

Per the City of Rockville: Rockville will begin work this fall on the first phase of a citywide project to replace streetlights owned and maintained by the city with energy-efficient light-emitting diode fixtures. The project’s first phase includes replacing approximately 2,000 fixtures of the more common types, including colonial, contemporary and cobra-head fixtures. The city will replace other decorative fixtures as a later phase of the project. Streetlights that are owned and maintained by the city are located on metal or fiberglass poles and are fed by underground power. Streetlights owned and maintained by Pepco are located on wooden utility poles and are fed by overhead power.

Go to Citywide Streetlight Replacement to Begin This Fall in Rockville Read more
Wheaton

‘The Nighthawks’ Will Headline Wheaton TGIF Encore Free Friday Fall Concert Series on Sept. 8

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The Nighthawks, the legendary blues and roots band now in its fifth decade, will headline the Wheaton TGIF Friday Encore fall concert series on Friday, Sept. 8, at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station.

The event will feature live artist demonstrations and beverages from Twin Valley Distillers. The TGIF party will begin on the plaza at 5 p.m. with a DJ set followed by a live concert at 6 p.m. The after-party will rotate to nearby local bars from 8-9 p.m. Parking is available in the building at 2425 Reedie Dr.

Go to ‘The Nighthawks’ Will Headline Wheaton TGIF Encore Free Friday Fall Concert Series on Sept. 8 Read more
View More Stories