Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Fire in Ice Returns to Frederick

By Patrick Herron
Courtesy Downtown Frederick Partnership

“Fire in Ice” returns to Downtown Frederick on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4. The event features live ice carving demonstrations, food trucks, scavenger hunts, and “pyrophoric fire performances”.  According to the Downtown Frederick Partnership, “Each February First Saturday, Downtown Frederick is transformed into a winter wonderland! This year, visitors can explore more than 120 unique ice sculptures, which will be on display all over downtown from 11AM-9PM.”

Per Frederick County Police: Thousands of spectators are expected for the annual Fire in Ice event next weekend. The event hosted by the Downtown Frederick Partnership will be held Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4. The Frederick Police Department would like to remind residents, commuters and visitors to prepare for traffic changes in the area. The following traffic changes were made as increased safety measures for pedestrians and to reduce the number of vehicles downtown during event hours and will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4 only:

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Maryland

Governor Moore Highlights Legislative Agenda to Support Veterans, National Guard Members, and their Families

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland (1/26/2023): Today, Governor Wes Moore hosted nearly 100 veterans at the State House to reaffirm his legislative agenda to improve the lives of Maryland veterans, National Guard members, and their families — which includes $30 million to support his proposed Keep Our Heroes Home Act, and $5 million to provide healthcare services for National Guard members through his proposed Healthcare for Heroes Act. Governor Moore was joined at the veteran’s roundtable by Acting Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs Tony Woods and members of the general assembly.

​“These investments show our administration’s commitment to supporting the lives of those who have made countless sacrifices to protect our nation,” said Governor Moore. “It was my honor to hear our veteran’s perspectives on their needs and how we can help them. I am proud to lead the charge in providing legislation and funding that will ensure my fellow veterans and National Guard members are taken care of, here at home.”

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Arts

Wootton’s Myles Frost to Present at This Year’s GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony

By MCS Staff

Myles Frost graduated from Wootton High School in Rockville in 2017. In December of 2021, he took over the role of Michael Jackson on Broadway’s MJ and this past summer won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Now, the GRAMMY Awards have announced that Myles will be included as one of the nominees who will also be presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the day at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony– the pre-show a few hours prior to the GRAMMY Awards.

Frost is nominated for Best Musical Theater Album (MJ The Musical). Other current nominees who will also be presenting include Babyface, DOMi & JD BECK, Arturo O’Farrill, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and five-time GRAMMY winner and former Recording Academy Board of Trustees Chair Jimmy Jam. Recording Academy Chair of the Board of Trustees Tammy Hurt will provide opening remarks. Additional talent and co-host to be announced in the coming days.

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Takoma Park

Community Message From Takoma Park Police Chief on the Death of Tyre Nichols

By MCS Staff

I am deeply disturbed by the actions of the five Memphis police officers in the murder of Tyre Nichols. Watching the video of the beating death of Mr. Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers was extremely difficult and brought me to tears.  The actions taken by the involved officers were merciless, heinous, and incredibly disturbing and went against the basic law enforcement principle of preserving life. The lack of compassion, abuse of power, and use of excessive force were inhumane and inexcusable. I am glad to see swift action was taken, and the five police officers involved in the murder of Tyre Nichols and the two firemen who failed to render proper medical care to Mr. Nichols have been fired. I am also glad to see the five police officers charged with murder and other criminal charges.

We can no longer sit back and allow these incidents to happen. Real change must happen. The fact that both Mr. Nichols and the five officers involved were African-American was not lost on me.  As your police chief, I am acknowledging the role traditional police culture plays in many of these horrific incidents. The fact that the officers who murdered Mr. Nichols were assigned to a unit called the “Scorpions” speaks volumes about the mission of the unit and the mentality of the officers in the unit.

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Montgomery Parks

Montgomery County Planning Board members donate $2,300 to the Marye Wells-Harley Dream Camp Scholarship

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, announces a donation of $2,300 by Montgomery County Planning Board members to the Marye Wells-Harley Dream Camp Scholarship fund to help send kids to Montgomery Parks’ summer camps. The Marye Wells-Harley Dream Camp Scholarship is administered by the Montgomery Parks Foundation and provides summer camp scholarships for kids and teens (ages 3 – 18 years old), based on financial need.

“We appreciate the generosity of the Montgomery County Planning Board members and their help to send kids to camp,” said Katie Rictor, executive director of the Montgomery Parks Foundation. “Camp is a special place where kids come together to learn, discover, and explore while making new friends. What a great way for the commissioners to support the community. We encourage everyone to follow their lead.”

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Boyds

Public Hearing Scheduled for an Amendment to the Master Plan of Historic Preservation for Two Sites on February 23

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Planning Board will consider the Edward U. Taylor School and Weller’s Dry Cleaning sites for historic designation at the Planning Board meeting on February 23, 2023. The public is invited to offer testimony during the public hearing either in person or virtually. At the meeting, the Planning Board will make a recommendation for or against designation which will be sent to the Montgomery County Council for their final decision. The last amendment to the Master Plan of Historic Preservation was the historic designation of the Potomac Overlook District in 2022. View the public hearing draft of the amendment.

“We are so pleased to bring two important Montgomery County sites to the Planning Board for their consideration for historic preservation,” said Montgomery County Planning Department Historic Preservation Office supervisor Rebeccah Ballo. “Historic preservation is an integral part of planning, economic development and what makes our community special.”

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Montgomery Planning

Montgomery County Planning Board and Planning Department announce February 2023 Calendar of Events

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department have announced their February 2023 calendar of events and meetings. Residents can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, and by watching the meetings on the Planning Board’s live stream. Community members may also testify by sending in written comments to the Planning Board. Information about submitting written testimony and testifying in front of the Planning Board can be found below. Contact us for accessibility accommodations.

For more details, review the list of events below and visit www.montgomeryplanning.org. These events are subject to change. To sign up to testify for Planning Board meetings, please go to the sign up to testify page and view individual agendas. Agendas are usually made public 10 days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Development Review Committee (DRC) and Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) websites for their  agenda information.

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Colesville

Detectives Conduct Death Investigation at Upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park

By Patrick Herron

According to Montgomery County Police, “On Saturday, January 28, 2023, at approximately 2:01 p.m., officers responded to Upper Paint Branch Park, in the area of Hobbs Dr. and Somerset Ln. and located a body.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore will conduct an autopsy to officially determine the cause and manner of death.  At this time, detectives do not believe there is a threat to the community.

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Silver Spring

Detectives From Special Investigations Unit are Asking For Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing 16-Year Old

By Patrick Herron

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Maria Eduarda Soares Tavira is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.

 

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Crime

Police Investigate Second Armed Robbery in Two Weeks at Same Food Truck

By MCS Staff

On January 27, at approximately 4:00 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 6500 block of New Hampshire Avenue (Pupuseria Luisa food truck) for the report of a strong arm robbery that occurred earlier. This is the second armed robbery reported by the food truck in two weeks.

According to Takoma Park Police, at approximately 2:47 pm, two suspects entered the food truck through a side service window.  After stealing property, the suspects exited through the rear hatch of the truck and fled on foot towards Ray Road. The suspects are described as (1) Hispanic male, unknown race, last seen wearing a black face mask, white hoodie and khaki pants; (2) Hispanic male, unknown race, last seen wearing a black face mask and all black clothing.

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Rockville

Rockville’s Generosity Lights Up Holidays for Community

By MCS Staff

Rockville’s community warmth and holiday spirit were on display during the 2022 Holiday Drive, with 223 donors donating $40,829 in cash to families and people in need throughout November and December. This was the first year the Holiday Drive returned to food and toy donations since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In-kind, or non-monetary, donations totaled $42,500. More than 700 hours were poured into supporting the drive by 300-plus volunteers. Hundreds of families were helped during the two-month campaign. In November, 616 families and seniors, a total of 2,119 people, were helped with the Holiday Drive’s distribution of food. Families and seniors in need were provided with $15 grocery store gift card, a box of nonperishable food, a bag of produce, a baguette and a pie, via an in-person drive-thru pickup at Elwood Smith Community Center or home delivery.

In December, 1,102 children from 441 families were served through the Holiday Drive Toy Shop. Each child aged up to 11 received toys and books, as well as a board game for the family. Each teenager aged 12-17 received a $25 Target gift card and books. To find out more about Rockville’s annual Holiday Drive and make tax-deductible donations year-round, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/holidaydrive.

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