MoCo Pride

Montgomery County Announces a Call to Artists to Design the Official 2023 County Pride Decal

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: In preparation for Pride Month in June, the County’s Department of  Health and Human Services and the Office of Community Partnerships have announced a community-wide call to artists and designers to create the County’s official 2023 Montgomery County Pride decal. The winning design will be printed and distributed for use by businesses, nonprofit organizations, County Government and others to show their public support for LGBTQ+ communities in Montgomery County. The winning design from the youth/young adult category will be printed for use specifically at youth-serving establishments and schools.

All submissions are due by Wednesday, June 1 and should be submitted electronically on the MontgomeryCountyPride.org website. The County’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board will choose up to five final designs to be displayed at County Pride Month events and on social media for public voting.

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MCPD

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 13-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Angie was last seen on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in the 11500 block of Lockwood Drive. Angie is approximately 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black sweatpants and black Crocs. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Angie Granados-Sorto is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

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Kensington

Einstein High School Community Pushes Back Against Plan to Replace School’s Tennis Courts With Classroom Portables

By MCS Staff

A plan to replace the Einstein High School tennis courts with classroom portables does not seem to be a popular one for the Einstein community, as a petition against the plan, created two days ago, has already gained 600 signatures. The official Einstein High School football team twitter account has also asked MCPS about this move, “Day 1: Hey @MCPS why are you taking away facilities from our school and community for more portables? Putting portables on tennis courts? Please provide and explanation and cite your evidence as to how this is equitable to our students” The petition states the following:

“Plans are being made to replace the Einstein Tennis Courts with classroom portables. This would take away 3 courts and leave the Tennis Program to practice on just the 4 courts that belong to Newport Mill Middle School. This would leave 2 courts per team which would create cramped and unproductive practices. We also need all 7 courts for our games, and leaving the team with 4 would make our games last significantly longer.

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MoCo Government

Council President Evan Glass’ Statement on the FY24 Operating Budget and Amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass made the following statement about the Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget and the Amended Fiscal Year 2023-2028 Capital Improvements Program. The Council’s final vote on the capital and operating budgets for Montgomery County is scheduled for May 25. Below is Council President Glass’ full statement:

“When I was first elected to serve as president, I promised to work collectively with this elected body – and to bring greater transparency. As an at-large councilmember, it has been my mission to uplift the needs of residents from every corner of our community. I believe we must build on our accomplishments to make Montgomery County a more fair and equitable place, where everyone can afford to work, live, raise a family, get the best education and age in place.

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Germantown

Arrest Made After Shots Fired in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

One person has been arrested after multiple shots were fired just after midnight on Thursday, May 18 in Germantown. According to police, “At approximately 12 a.m., MCPD responded to the 20100 block of Club Hill Drive for the report of shots fired. Preliminary investigation has determined that a building was struck by a round. No injuries have been reported. Suspect information was obtained. 5th District officers observed the vehicle. A brief pursuit ensued. An adult female suspect has been taken into custody. This is an ongoing investigation.”

We will post an update if additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

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DMV

Hillary Howard to Part Ways With WTOP on June 2

By MCS Staff

Hillary Howard, a longtime DC-area reporter and news anchor, has announced that she’ll be leaving WTOP on June 2nd after what she referred to as a decision by management. Howard currently co-anchors afternoons from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. She started her career as a reporter and weather person in New York before coming to DC and WTTG/FOX5 for a decade. Howard also worked for WUSA9 and WJLA/ABC7 before coming to WTOP. She also hosts “It’s Academic”, the world’s longest running TV quiz show on NBC Washington. The letter she shared with her colleagues can be seen below:

“Colleagues and Friends,

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County Joins ‘Capital Area Solar Switch’ 

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County is again joining the “Capital Area Solar Switch,” an innovative program that leverages the power of groups to help residents and businesses throughout the Washington metropolitan area learn about and install rooftop solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicle charging stations. This is the third year that Montgomery County has joined forces with Solar United Neighbors and other jurisdictions to create the opportunity for people living in and around the D.C. area. In addition to competitive pricing on solar panels, members of Capital Area Solar Switch receive a direct line to ask questions about the process and access to a team that vets qualified installers to compete for the group’s business.

The program will conduct a reverse auction with qualified installers on June 21 to secure a competitively priced solar package. After the auction, personal recommendations will be prepared and sent to all registered residents by July 25. Capital Area Solar Switch’s auction is expected to save residents an average of $4,000 on a standard-sized system. The IRA Federal solar tax credit could further reduce costs by an additional 30 percent.

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Health

Montgomery County Offers Tick Protection Tips as Weather Heats Up

By Patrick Herron

Lyme disease is the most reported tickborne disease in Maryland. In 2021, more than 900 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Maryland. Symptoms of Lyme disease include:

If left untreated, the disease may spread to the joints and nervous system. Contact your health care provider if any of these symptoms develop after a known tick bite or after spending time in a tick habitat. Most cases can be cured with antibiotics.

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MoCo Pride

Montgomery County Partners with LGBTQ+-Led Arts and Culture Group to Sponsor Third Annual ‘Pride in the Plaza’ on Sunday, June 25, in Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: In honor of Pride Month, Montgomery County will partner with Live in Your Truth Programs, a local LGBTQ+ arts and culture organization, to host its third annual “Pride in the Plaza” event from noon-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. Pride in the Plaza is an outdoor LGBTQ+ pride festival at Downtown Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza.

Pride in the Plaza will feature an LGBTQ+ focused resource and vendor fair, a bilingual Drag Story Hour and the championship finale of “Live in Your Truth Program’s Drag Duels” series. The day will conclude with the third annual Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball, a free voguing competition with cash prizes.  The mini-ball competition, sponsored in partnership with the Capitol Ballroom Council, will begin at 5 p.m.

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MCPS

Beall Elementary Fourth Grader to Be Rockville’s ‘Mayor for a Day’

By MCS Staff

If she were mayor, Joyce Tian would uplift, honor and celebrate Rockville through the city’s special events and farmers market. Joyce, a fourth grader in Laurel Czajkowski’s class at Beall Elementary School in Rockville, will get to see what it’s like to be mayor when she serves as the city’s honorary “Mayor for a Day” on Thursday, May 25.

She earned the honor for writing a winning essay in the “If I Were Mayor, I Would …” essay contest sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League and the Maryland Mayors Association. Joyce’s essay, one of 11 winning essays selected statewide to represent each MML district, was selected best of District 5, which comprises Montgomery and Howard counties.

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Events

MoCo’s Second Annual AAPI Heritage Month Celebration Takes Place in Germantown on Sunday, May 21

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County is hosting its second annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21 at Seneca Valley High School. The day will include cultural performances, a health fair, crafts and games for kids, a cultural and community bazaar, food vendors, henna, face painting and more.

This event is being hosted by Montgomery County Government’s Asian American Health Initiative and the Office of Community Partnerships. Seneca Valley is located at 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. More information can be found here. The event will feature:

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