Gaithersburg

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the school bus was turning left from East Village Avenue onto Plum Creek Drive when it was struck by a BMW traveling on East Village Avenue.  The driver and passenger of the BMW were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.  

There were six occupants on the school bus. Some occupants on the bus sustained minor injuries but none were transported to area hospitals.  


Montgomery Parks

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival organizer LaTisha Gasaway-Paul discusses the struggles and triumphs of the county’s original African American settlements: Montgomery Parks is hosting its May Speaker Series on Montgomery County’s first African American owned community and the upcoming Juneteenth federal holiday.

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival Chairperson LaTisha Gasaway-Paul will discuss the triumphs of this historic community, the challenges residents face in the present, and their hopes for the future. Gasaway Paul, is a fifth-generation resident of Scotland, a Potomac neighborhood that is the first community where African Americans owned land in Montgomery County.  


Gaithersburg

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the school bus was turning left from Plum Creek Road onto East Village Avenue when it was struck by a BMW traveling on East Village Avenue.  The driver and passenger of the BMW were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.  

RT @mcfrsPIO7 East Village at Plum Creek, serious collision. Road closure, motorists should avoid the area. @MCFRSNews @mcfrsPIO @DavidPazos15 https://t.co/tGmhRibxtQ pic.twitter.com/TgBatVRh6m


MCFRS

Update: Train service has been restored between Twinbrook & Shady Grove following earlier fire dept. activity outside Rockville. Expect delays.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) units are currently at the at Rockville Metro (1001 Rockville Pike) for a small fire in the roadway, according to Assistant Chief with MCFRS David Pazos. The station is currently being bypassed while MCFRS extinguishes the fire. There are no injuries reported.


Event

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.


Education

More than 279 students, the largest number in the state, were honored in a dual-enrollment recognition ceremony earlier this week at the Universities at Shady Grove. These students are dually enrolled at MCPS and Montgomery College. The majority of the students will receive associate degrees from Montgomery College (full list of students recognized below).

Dual Enrollment opportunities allow MCPS college-ready high school students to take college courses during the academic school year.  High school students who enroll and take a college course at any Maryland public college or university are able to do so at a reduced cost. If students select to take courses at MC, and meet qualifications for and separately apply for the MC High School Grant, they may be able to take college courses at no tuition cost.  Students are able to take college courses offered on the high school campus (at select high schools), on a college campus, or online during the fall, winter and spring college terms of their junior and/or senior year.  All college courses on approved list that are successfully completed will receive dual credit by counting toward college and high school credit.  The courses will appear on the high school transcript unless requested that it not during the enrollment process.


Education

1. MCPS Implements New Regulation Allowing Students to Carry Narcan at School: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced new guidance for responding to medical emergencies in schools for suspected opioid overdoses.

The new regulation includes detailed guidance on naloxone (also known by its brand name, Narcan), its use and access in MCPS schools. Narcan is a potentially life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. The new guidance allows students to carry Narcan in schools and during school-sponsored activities without fear of disciplinary action. Students should continue to seek assistance from school or health room staff in the event of a medical emergency on campus.


MCPD

Montgomery County Police has released additional information regarding Thursday’s shooting at the Wheaton Metro station. According to MCPD, “The victim in yesterday’s Metro station shooting has died. This is now being investigated as a homicide.

At approximately 5:53 p.m., Montgomery County Department of Police – 4th District officers were called to the Wheaton Metro station on Georgia Avenue, for a shooting that just occurred.  Preliminarily, there was an altercation between individuals on the escalator inside of the station. The dispute escalated and an 18-year-old male was shot on the train platform.


DMV

The new Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station opens Friday at 5 a.m., connecting one of Alexandria’s fastest growing communities to the region. Less than 15 minutes to the nation’s capital, Potomac Yard-VT, on the Blue and Yellow lines, is the 98th station in the Metrorail system. 

Per the press release: Metro and the City of Alexandria first announced the opening date last month, following more than three years of construction. A team of Metro staff will be on hand throughout the day to welcome customers to Potomac Yard -VT Station for the first time and will be giving away commemorative opening day pennants while supplies last. The station’s fare vending machines will also be stocked with limited-edition Potomac Yard SmarTrip cards in honor or Metro’s newest station.


Gaithersburg

As part of the Retool Gaithersburg effort, the City is hosting two virtual public forums on the Zoning Diagnostic Report, which analyzes the current zoning code and evaluates how it helps to achieve or impede the stated objectives and goals of the City and the community’s vision. This comprehensive analysis report was developed by the City’s consultant, ZoneCo. Read the draft report here.

The virtual public forums take place on June 1 from noon to 1 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. The meetings will include English and Spanish real-time closed captioning options. ZoneCo will discuss the contents of its comprehensive analysis report and, time permitting, will answer questions from attendees. Both meetings will include the same information. No registration is required. Join the meetings using the links below.


Olney

The wait is almost over as the highly anticipated Salt & Vine has let us know that the restaurant will officially be open for reservations starting Friday, May 26th. Salt & Vine has taken over the Olney House, which was previously the home of Ricciuti’s at 3308 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd. Initially, things didn’t move as quickly as anticipated due to Covid delays. Then the permitting process moved at a slower pace due to the historical significance of the building, but the restaurant is now ready to open.

Owner and head chef Thomas Zippelli is a Howard County native, having grown up in the county during his childhood and attending River Hill High School. He is passionately sharing his message “EAT LOCAL!” Since his return to the area, Thomas has worked on building his relationships with the local farmers and farmer markets. His morning wouldn’t be complete without taking his truck around to pick up some local produce to add to the menu each night. Zippelli has worked at some of the most notable restaurants in the country, including Michelin three-star restaurants Eleven Madison Park in New York and The French Laundry in California.


Education

Powerful monied interests spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to block a tax that would have fully funded the MCPS budget. Their efforts have largely paid off. Although thousands of students participated in two separate walk-outs, over ten thousand community members signed a petition sent to the county council, and countless others made phone calls advocating for a fully funded budget, most of the council ignored their pleas. Today, the county council showed that they care more about their political future and donations from developers than they do about doing

We are dismayed by the county council’s decision today to turn their backs on the students and communities they serve. If they hold fast to this decision in their final vote on May 251, MCEA members will remember their votes the next time candidates seek our endorsement. While the final responsibility for funding our negotiated agreements lies with MCPS, our members will not forget the role the county council played in bringing us to this point.