MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Monday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m. to review Bill 17-23, Taxation – Recordation Tax Rates – Amendments. In addition, the committee will review the Recommended FY24 Operating Budgets for the Department of Finance, Risk Management NDA, Debt Service, the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The members of the GO Committee include Chair Kate Stewart, Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Sidney Katz.

The joint Education and Culture (EC) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to review the Recommended FY24 Operating Budgets for programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) related to early care and education, Linkages to Learning, High School Wellness Centers, High School Cluster Projects and private partnerships. In addition, the Committee will review an $850,000 FY23 supplemental appropriation for School-Based Health and Linkages to Learning Centers.


MCFRS

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a collision with rollover on Friday afternoon in Rockville. According to the Rockville Police Department, the collision occurred at Southbound Frederick Rd and Redland Rd. Three people have been transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Drivers should expect delays. We will post an update if additional information is available.

Traffic Alert – 4/21/23 at 3:00 p.m. Southbound Frederick Rd at Redland due to rollover collision. 3 people transported to hospital w/non-life threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/2bczeDvwTw


Chevy Chase

An auto theft suspect is in custody this morning after a FOX 5 helicopter alerted Montgomery County Police of the suspect’s location.  According to MCPD, “At approximately 5:55 a.m., 2nd District officers were dispatched to Rolling Road in Chevy Chase. Neighbors witnessed suspicious vehicles and people checking (pulling on the handle of) car doors.

A 2D officer observed three suspicious vehicles on Leland and Woodbine Streets, and as the officer followed, all three vehicles drove off.  The vehicles, a black Kia, Toyota Highlander and silver Range/Land Rover stopped at Beach and East West Highway. A brief pursuit was initiated, and during that pursuit, the black Kia drove over a median, causing the tires to blow out.


Germantown

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old from Silver Spring.

Harmonee Sykes was last seen on Monday, April 17, 2023, at approximately 7 a.m., leaving her residence in the 19600 block of Scenery Drive in Germantown. Harmonee is approximately 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. She has dark brown eyes and dark brown hair. She was last seen wearing a green sweater, blue jeans and black shoes.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


Event

Beautiful venue; great art, gifts and hand-crafted items; refreshments; and meet the award-winning painters, photographers, mixed media artists, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more – some 40 artists in all. It’s an extraordinary array of framed wall works, 3-d media including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber pieces, and unframed prints.

Among them, you’ll see:


Fairland

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating a shooting that occurred on April 13, 2023, in the 14300 block of Fairdale Road. At approximately 10:13 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location and located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

The preliminary investigation has determined that unknown suspects fired multiple shots into a residence, striking the victim in the residence in the abdomen. The victim was transported to an area hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives have determined that a blue Tesla was observed leaving the scene shortly after the shooting.


Silver Spring

James is approximately 6-feet tall and weighs 190 pounds. He has dark colored eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and brown shorts.  Police and family are concerned for his welfare.

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


Arts

Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) has announced that their production of “Pride@Prejudice” by Daniel Elihu Kramer was selected Outstanding Production at ESTA (Eastern States Theatre Association) on Sat., April 15 at the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware. Participating states included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland). “Pride@Prejudice” received several other accolades as well:

– Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Acting – Niranjali Amerasinghe, Lena Winter, Meghan Williams Elkins, Ian Swank and Joseph Coracle


Bethesda

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire on Lynbrook Dr in Bethesda on Friday, April 21, around 6am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, a neighbor across the street called 9-1-1 after seeing a fire on the porch of the two-story brick house. The lone occupant of the home was alerted by smoke alarm and self evacuated. Approximately 45 MCFRS firefighters responded to the scene and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Piringer reports there was “extensive clutter throughout house” and that the fire likely started on the porch. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – Lynbrook Dr, Bethesda, 2sty brick house, neighbor across street called 911, fire likely originated on front porch, otherwise large volumes of furnishings & other combustible materials throughout the home, occupant self-evacuated, no injuries, ~45 @mcfrs  FFs responded”


Takoma Park

Many celebrities, journalists, and other notable people or businesses have recently found themselves without the “blue checkmark” that previously signified verified accounts on Twitter. New owner Elon Musk has now made the check mark verification system a paid add-on ($8-$11) for social networking site that is otherwise free. While many notable people have made public comments, Takoma Park Police is one of the first local organizations to comment publicly:

Blue check marks: @elonmusk You should provide the blue checkmark to police departments for free so we can distinguish ourselves as legitimate & giving out correct information to our communities. It would be the appropriate thing to do to support law enforcement. Thank you.


MoCo Police

Montgomery County Police are asking the public’s assistances in identifying a non-verbal man that walked into a hospital on April 20.  Per MCPD: “Montgomery County Department of Police is asking for assistance in identifying and locating guardians or family members for a male that walked into a Montgomery County hospital Thursday, April 20 at approximately 8:30 p.m. He is approximately 5-feet 8-inches to 5-feet 9-inches tall, with short black hair and all black clothing. He is non-verbal.

Anyone with information regarding guardians or family is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).”