Arts

Sherwood High School’s Rock ‘n Roll Revival just had its 52nd annual show– the tradition has been going strong since 1971, with 2020 being the only year a live show wasn’t produced due to Covid (a virtual show was produced that year). It all began when Sherwood students were inspired by a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Since then, students audition for the show and rehearse for a couple months, working with staff members to put together a show that is routinely seen by thousands of people each year.

Per Dan Gross of MCPS Communications, “performers work on four to five songs a day. Other cast members who rehearse separately accompany the larger group little by little until all 40 songs have been rehearsed en masse. Shortly before opening night, dancers join in when rehearsals move to the theater. In the weeks before opening night, the stage is built and painted, while the tech crew finalizes sound and lighting.” Gross writes that this year’s show involved 250 student performers and crew members and was seen by over 6,000 people over six performances this year. See the full MCPS photo story here.


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is asking residents to participate in a survey on how the County could expand and improve charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). As part of the initiative, DEP will hold webinars on Thursday, April 13, and Friday, April 14, to share details about the planning process and collect more input. Beginning in 2023, significant funding will be available from Maryland and the Federal government for local governments and private property owners to install EV charging. To take advantage of this opportunity and accelerate the transition to EV ownership, DEP is developing a plan to expand the availability of EV charging throughout the community.

EVs charged in Montgomery County on Pepco’s electric grid reduce emissions by 70-75 percent, demonstrating that switching to an EV is one of the biggest ways to reduce the County’s carbon footprint. The market for electric vehicles is growing rapidly, with plug-in vehicles making up more than 12 percent of newly registered vehicles in 2022. There are currently about 600 EV charging plugs in the County, including 100 “Fast Charging” plugs. However, more charging infrastructure is needed to meet the current demand and allow more residents to feel confident making the transition to electric vehicles. To overcome “range anxiety”—a fear of running out of battery—drivers need to know that they can easily charge their vehicle nearby to where they live, work and visit regularly.


Silver Spring

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women have named 32 women who were selected for the 2023 “Women Making History Awards.” They will be recognized at the Women Making History Celebration and panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. on March 16 at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The awards are given in recognition of outstanding women in Montgomery County who are making significant contributions to their vocations and to the community. Recipients and their accomplishments will be featured each day in March on the social media platforms of the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women.

This year’s recipients are:


Bethesda

Walter Johnson High School has announced the new varsity football head coach, Aaron Fiddler, a couple weeks after previous coach Larry  Hurd made the decision to step down as coach to become the Athletic Coordinator (position previously known as Athletic Director) at the school. Walter Johnson Athletics announced the following:

The Walter Johnson Community would like to extend a warm welcome and congratulations to Coach Aaron Fiddler as our new Head Football Coach.  Coach Fiddler brings incredible knowledge, experience, passion, success, and an ability to develop long lasting relationships with all his students/athletes.  Coach Fiddler will be meeting with his team for the first time on Friday Morning at 7:30 am in the Weight Room at Walter Johnson High School!


Colesville

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a brush fire at 300 Scott Drive, near Vierling Drive, in Colesville on Wednesday evening. According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, approximately 30 firefighters, four fire engines, three brush trucks, one aerial tower, and several utility trucks worked to contain the wind-driven brush fire.

The fire occurred in a relatively remote area along the Northwest Branch/Anacostia River. It was contained  and extinguished, but roughly two acres were burned, according to Piringer. There were no injuries, but “possibly some squirrels, woodchucks, deer, raccoons, maybe a snake or two are displaced.”


Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to scene of a pedestrian who was struck by a MARC train on Thursday morning. The incident occurred on the CSX railroad tracks in the area of Watkins Mill Rd, north of Metropolitan Grove Station, and between Quince Orchard Road and Game Preserve Road.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the pedestrian was declared deceased on arrival and was not transported to the hospital. Rail traffic has been stopped in both directions and the police department is currently on the scene investigating. Approximately 70 train/rail passengers are onboard, all are uninjured. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Education

Third graders at Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park got a chance to hear from NASA Flight Director Diana Trujillo of the Johnson Space Center in Texas. She spoke to students about her career with NASA and work on the Artemis mission.

According to MCPS, Trujillo most recently served as the Integrated Planning and Sequencing for Surface Missions Group Supervisor at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. She supported mission operations for NASA’s ongoing exploration missions on the surface of Mars, and the planned Mars Sample Return mission. Trujillo was born and raised in Colombia, and earned a bachelor’s of science in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.


Education

More than 150 guest speakers visited Albert Einstein High School for the school’s first school-wide Career Day. 1,800 students participated in the event earlier this month.

Speakers included Board of Education members Lynne Harris, Grace Rivera-Oven and Julie Yang, and former NFL player Josh Morgan. Other career fields represented included: novelist, lawyer, hair and makeup artist, statistician, computer programmer, TV news production assistant, entrepreneur, EMT/paramedic, chef, realtor, certified public accountant, circuit court administrator, social worker, professors, dentist, and police officer.


Takoma Park

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 6900blk of Cherry Ave., near Sligo Creek Parkway, in Takoma Park on Wednesday afternoon after a large tree fell on a house and caused roof and structural damage. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer,  the tree collapsed on the house and crashed through to where a dog was located in a crate, which protected/saved the dog from being injured.  No humans were home at time and the house has been posted unsafe to occupy.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – Cherry Av., TP, large tree fell on house causing roof & structural damage (flat roof), posted unsafe to occupy, tree collapsed on house & crashed through to where dog was located in a crate which actually protected/saved the dog from being injured, no humans home at time”


MoCo Government

“Reviewing and approving the budget is one of the most critical responsibilities of the Council. Every budget brings its own set of challenges and opportunities, and it’s the Council’s obligation to ensure that this budget positions the County for long-term success and economic prosperity.

“As we undertake this important task, the Council will provide thorough oversight to ensure taxpayer investments are used prudently. We must balance the needs of today with those of tomorrow, which include supporting our schools, our teachers, our first responders, our healthcare professionals and other frontline workers.