MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Committee briefings on the County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan and tutoring interventions in public schools; review of FY23-28 CIP amendments for economic development, digital equity, technology services and County offices and FY23 Supplemental Appropriations and FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program Amendments for lactation rooms in County buildings, parking lot resurfacing, HVAC and electrical equipment replacement; and review of legislation related to the Board of Investment Trustees membership and a declaration of no further need in Burtonsville

The Economic Development (ECON) Committee will meet on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 9:30 a.m. to receive a briefing from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) on the implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan. The committee will also review FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) amendments for Economic Development and for Digital Equity – Montgomery Connects.


Education

The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence, the NAACP Parents’ Council and Identity, Inc. are hosting a virtual conversation with MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The event will take place via Zoom from 6:30–8 p.m.

The event will provide an opportunity for families to ask questions on topics, including how well students are doing in school; the anti-racist audit and equity, and student well-being. RSVP and ask a question here. Spanish interpretation will be available. Feb. 22 Virtual Conversation with Dr. McKnight.


Frederick

Ekoue Gbadoe, 33, of Germantown, was pronounced dead at the scene following a single vehicle collision on Wednesday morning in Frederick County, near Urbana. Additional information below courtesy of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office: “At approximately 11 a.m., today, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputies and Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services responders answered a call for service of a single vehicle crash with serious injury on Park Mills Road near Worthington Manor Place.


Events

In partnership with Montgomery Goes Purple, MCPS is hosting a second Family Forum on Fentanyl from 9:30–11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, in the Northwood High School auditorium.

Panelists, including representatives from the county health department and the police department, will share information on the dangers and prevalence of illegally made fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment. There will be Narcan training and distribution of Narcan kits to help reverse an overdose, breakout discussions for students and parents/caregivers (in English and Spanish) and a resource fair. The Community Opioid Prevention & Education (C.O.P.E.) trailer (a mock teen bedroom) will be available for tours to learn signs of substance use. Students can earn two Student Service Learning hours for attending.


Event

Join Us for StoryBox Comics Fair, a two-day festival celebrating local and independent comics authors!

Day 1 – Saturday, June 27th, 11-5pm @ DwightMess compound (805 Silver Spring Ave): Events are open to the public, admission is FREE. Featuring Special Guest Artists, gallery exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, a modeling session (suggested donation) and exhibitors, you can dig in to indie comics and also tour the compound, which features an extensive comics collection, a rare video collection, Risograph and screenprinting studios.


Education

The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking nominations from the public for its 26th Annual Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education. The awards are sponsored by the Board to recognize and show appreciation to individuals, groups and organizations that have made exemplary contributions to public education in Montgomery County. Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:

“Individual Pioneer” award nominees are individuals who, although they may not be currently active, have made extraordinary contributions in the past. The nominee’s contributions must have had a profound effect on the school system over a sustained period of time. Nominations in other categories must be of individuals (including MCPS students), groups or organizations that have, within the past three years, provided service, support and commitment to public education as demonstrated by:


MCFRS

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a crash on College Parkway, near Princeton Place in Rockville, at approximately 6am on Thursday morning. The collision caused the vehicle to overturn, trapping the driver inside. College Parkway is currently closed between Nelson Street and Princeton Place. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

HAPPENING NOW: A rollover has closed all lanes of College Parkway between Nelson Street and Princeton Place in Rockville, officials said.


Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a collision with rollover that occurred shortly before 1:30pm on Midcounty Highway and Woodfield Rd in Gaithersburg on Wednesday afternoon.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, a total of three people were trapped inside the two vehicles involved in the collision upon arrival onto the scene. All patients were extricated and were transported to the hospital after suffering non-life threatening injuries. The crash temporarily blocked multiple lanes, but has since been cleared.


Derwood

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) is holding a fee-waived adoption event for dogs over 40 pounds starting Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, and running through Friday, Feb. 24. The “More to Love” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA). While small dogs get adopted quickly, often within an hour of being made available for adoption, it is not uncommon for dogs over 40 pounds to wait a month or more for their new homes.

“Some people have misconceptions that bigger dogs are harder to train, require more exercise or need more space,” said Adoption Supervisor Faith Koleszar. “That all really depends on the personality of the dog. Some are hiking buddies and some are couch potatoes. Believe it or not, a big dog can be a great apartment dog—as long as they are getting the care and attention they need. If you come to the adoption center with an open mind, we can find you a great match.”


MoCo Government

The Food Council is an independent nonprofit organization that connects businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and concerned residents to create a robust, sustainable and equitable local food system. In addition to the Food and Beverage Guide, the MoCo Made Program includes efforts to increase networking opportunities for farmers, wholesale and retail buyers and producers; provides educational resources for existing and aspiring food and beverage business owners on how to scale a business; connects small businesses to tools and resources; and provides overall facilitation and connections of small businesses to customers, capital and infrastructure.

For more information on the Food and Beverage Guide, go to


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Marylanders either needing or just contemplating replacing appliances could be motivated to shop from Feb. 18-20 when they can save on paying State sales tax on eligible Energy Star-rated appliances during “Shop Maryland Energy Weekend.”

During Presidents’ Day weekend, appliances bearing the Energy Star label, whether purchased in-store or online, will be exempt from the State’s six percent sales tax. Eligible appliances could include air conditioners, washers, dryers, standard-size refrigerators, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers and programmable thermostats. Solar water heaters are tax-exempt year-round.


MDLottery

“At first, I couldn’t figure out what or where Talbott’s was, what I was doing there. I’d assumed the ticket was from one of my regular locations. If not for that errand, this never would have happened,” he said.

On Sunday morning, when he discovered that his quick-pick Powerball numbers had matched enough numbers to win big, he let out a shout that brought his wife running. “I told her that I thought we’d just won $50,000. We studied the ticket and the results together to make sure it was real.”