MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council to Hold a Public Hearing on the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan on Sept. 27, 2023 at 7 p.m.

By Patrick Herron

The Council will receive testimony on the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan, which is an update to a portion of the 1997 Fairland Master Plan and will establish a clear vision for an equitable, just and prosperous future for the Fairland community, mirroring the County’s long-term priorities, which includes a vibrant economy, equity for all residents and a healthy environment.

The master plan boundary consists primarily of property and neighborhoods of Fairland and Briggs Chaney along the U.S. 29 Corridor near Paint Branch on the south toward Greencastle Road on the north. The update will examine and provide policies and recommendations on existing and future land uses and zoning, housing inventory and needs, transportation systems, historic preservation opportunities, area park facilities and the environment.

Go to Montgomery County Council to Hold a Public Hearing on the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan on Sept. 27, 2023 at 7 p.m. Read more
Gaithersburg

Update: Two Adults and Two Children Displaced After Gaithersburg House Fire

By Patrick Herron

Approximately 65 firefighters responded to an attic fire in the 7400 Blk of Rosewood Manor Lane in Gaithersburg on Thursday, August 24. According to Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Pete Piringer, two adults and two children have been displaced.  No civilians were injured and one firefighter was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

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Aspen Hill

Update: All Lanes of Layhill Rd Now Open at Bel Pre Rd Following Friday Morning Collision

By MCS Staff

Update 7:12pm: All lanes of Layhill Rd (MD 182) at Bel Pre Rd have cleared following emergency utility work.

At approximately 6:30am on Friday morning, Montgomery a county Police informed the public that Layhill Rd. is closed at Bel Pre Rd. as the result of a traffic collision. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route and significant delays are expected. A reader sent in a photo of the collision, which involves an SUV that was driven into a utility pole.

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Crime

Police: Wanted Murder Suspect Turns Himself In

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: The suspect wanted for a July 5 homicide is in custody.  20-year-old Lawrence Marcellus Marshall IV  was wanted in connection with the shooting death of 40-year-old Cedric Warner and turned himself in at the Montgomery County Department of Police 6th District Station in Gaithersburg on Thursday, August 24.

Marshall IV, of Montgomery Village, allegedly shot and killed Warner on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, in the 11500 block of Lockwood Drive in Silver Spring.   Officers arrived at the scene and located Warner inside an apartment, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Downtown Silver Spring

Uniqlo Grand Opening in Silver Spring Friday, August 25th at 10am

By MCS Staff

Uniqlo will hold its Grand Opening at 914 Ellsworth Dr in Silver Spring on Friday, August 25th at 10am. The Grand Opening will consist of exclusive, limited-time offers that are available only in-store. The event will also feature giveaways and access to new collections, according to the store website. Included in the new collections are locally-inspired ‘Maryland’ and ‘Silver Spring’ designs that have been created by artist Lauren Martin (photos below).

Uniqlo opened its first and only other MoCo location in September of 2018 in Pike & Rose. The Downtown Silver Spring location will be taking over the 10,058 SF space at 914 Ellsworth St that was formerly home to Ulta prior to the move to its current location in Downtown Silver Spring.

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MoCo

Sobriety Checkpoint to Take Place Friday, August 25th

By MCS Staff

Per Montgomery County Police: On Friday, August 25, 2023, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police and allied agencies will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint and will conduct focused enforcement on impaired driving laws. The exact location of the checkpoint will not be disclosed in advance:

What: Sobriety Checkpoint

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Entertainment

August 2023 Progress at Gaithersburg’s Pleasant View Park (Photos)

By MCS Staff

The City of Gaithersburg is in the process of developing a 9.54-acre park with parking, community gardens, a bicycle skills course (pump track), open space, pavilions, a playground, fitness pods, and a welcome plaza. Originally scheduled to be completed February 2023, there have been some delays. While a new completion date is not yet available, much of the work in the actual park has been completed. It looks like some clean-up is needed within the park and some work on the roads leading up to it is still necessary. It’s possible this park opens this fall.

A new parking lot will be constructed at the park’s west boundary. Vehicular access to the park will be through the drive that extends from Darnestown Road. Pedestrians will be able to access the site from Darnestown Road via a path that will be located parallel to the access drive into the park. Pedestrians will also be able to access the park from Marsh Lane. A Ride-On bus stop is located on Darnestown Road at the park entrance.

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Briggs Chaney

Mrs. Estelle Moore Begins Her 50th Year Teaching in MCPS

By MCS Staff

Mrs. Estelle Moore has been teaching for a total of 53 years; three years in Pennsylvania and the last 50 in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Having taught in MCPS since 1973, she has worked at Harmony Hills Elementary School, East Silver Spring Elementary School, Piney Branch Elementary School, Broad Acres Elementary School, Brooke Grove Elementary School, and Cloverly Elementary School. She has been at Greencastle in Silver Spring for 30 years, where she currently teaches 2nd grade.

During her illustrious teaching career, she spent a year teaching in Japan and four months in Ghana. Mrs. Moore was also named MCPS Teacher of the Year over 30 years ago while teaching at Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney. When asked what the biggest difference she has seen in her fifty years teaching in MCPS, Mrs. Moore said “The curriculum. It seems like every 3-5 years there has been a shift in the curriculum, but I feel in recent years it has come full circle in ways.” giving the example of phonemic awareness. When asked what’s still the same, she said “Students still need to know that you care. They need to hear their name in a positive way and to know that they matter.”

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MCPS

Students at 58 MCPS Schools to Receive Breakfast and Lunch at No Cost, Regardless of Household Income

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPS: New for the 2023–2024 School Year, 58 MCPS schools will operate under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Students enrolled at these CEP schools may receive breakfast and lunch at no cost, regardless of household income. A list of the participating schools can be found here.  The Department of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) encourages all families with students enrolled at non-CEP schools to complete a Free and Reduced-price Meals Application.

Visit the Division of Food and Nutrition Services web page for information on prices, how to add money to your child’s account and more. We look forward to opportunities for community and student feedback on new and current menu items this fall.

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Education

MCPS Statement Concerning the Court Decision Declining a Preliminary Injunction To Implement Opt Out of Inclusive Teaching Materials

By MCS Staff

Per MCPS: Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a decision declining the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would have required Montgomery County Public Schools to allow families to opt out of engagement with LGBTQ+ inclusive texts during English Language Arts instruction. The judge also denied the request for an injunction pending appeal.

The ruling states, “Public schools are not obliged to shield individual students from ideas which potentially are religiously offensive, particularly when the school imposes no requirement that the student violate his or her faith during classroom instruction.” (page 46) The decision comes after plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction in June and following a hearing on August 9 before District Judge Deborah L. Boardman.

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