WMATA

Metro Launches Warning Campaign Aimed at Deterring Fare Evasion

By Patrick Herron

The warning campaign will begin with notices displayed on digital signs throughout the system. After the digital signs run for two weeks, Metro Transit Police (MTPD) officers and other Metro personnel will start distributing physical fliers to fare evaders with the same warning information.

“As I mentioned previously, the region needs to decide what we want Metro to be, and fare policy should be part of the conversation,” said General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. “Many people have mentioned going to a fare-free model, but fare-free does not mean free. There are costs associated with running the community’s transit system and therefore the necessary revenues must exist to deliver the services the community needs.”

Go to Metro Launches Warning Campaign Aimed at Deterring Fare Evasion Read more
Bethesda

Bethesda and Rockville Rank in Top 9% of Small Cities in America, According to Study

By MCS Staff

With nearly half of the population saying that they’d prefer to live in a suburban area, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2022’s Best Small Cities in America and two “cities” in MoCo, Bethesda and Rockville, are in the top 9% of over 1,300 cities/areas.

“To help Americans put down roots in places offering good quality of life and affordability, WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across 43 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and school-system quality to restaurants per capita and the crime rate.” Below you’ll see some of the statistics for Bethesda (93rd percentile) and Rockville (91st percentile): 

Go to Bethesda and Rockville Rank in Top 9% of Small Cities in America, According to Study Read more
Events

Montgomery Parks Commemorates Brookside Nature Center’s 60th Anniversary on October 9, 2022

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks will celebrate 60 years of Brookside Nature Center with a slate of free programs and activities from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. Montgomery County’s first nature center has been a staple in the community, educating the public as well as introducing people to environmental stewardship.The lineup of free activities is listed below:

 Please note that parking at Brookside Nature Center is limited.

Go to Montgomery Parks Commemorates Brookside Nature Center’s 60th Anniversary on October 9, 2022 Read more
Wheaton

Montgomery County Police Investigating Attempted Abduction of Juvenile

By Patrick Herron

The juvenile victim was walking in the area when she observed a black 4-door sedan with tinted windows pull up behind her.  A male suspect got out of the vehicle and approached the victim, speaking in Spanish, and instructed her to get in the car. The suspect reached out and grabbed the juvenile victim’s arm. The victim refused, pulling her arm away and observed a second male in the car. The victim ran from the area, unharmed.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing all black clothing, with black gloves and a black ski mask covering his face. The other suspect remained in the sedan and is described as a Hispanic male wearing all black clothing.

Go to Montgomery County Police Investigating Attempted Abduction of Juvenile Read more
Maryland

Governor Hogan Announces New State and Local Directors of Cybersecurity

By Patrick Herron

Today’s appointments come as the state marks October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Earlier this year, the governor announced a new $102 million cyber readiness and workforce initiative to modernize, strengthen, and expand our cyber infrastructure and threat response activities; expand cybersecurity education; and provide universal and equitable access to Advanced Placement computer science classes.

“Maryland is the cyber capital of America, and these two extremely qualified individuals will help continue that leadership and build on the incredible progress we have made to protect our state’s critical infrastructure,” said Governor Hogan. “As we mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I want to continue to encourage Marylanders to remain vigilant about the security of their data and information at home and at work.”

Go to Governor Hogan Announces New State and Local Directors of Cybersecurity Read more
Damascus

“Leech Woods” Haunted Trail Opens in Damascus

By MCS Staff

Leech Woods, a brand new haunted trail, is now open at 11201 Bethesda Church Rd in Damascus. It’s described as “a thirty minute immersive haunted trail experience of dark terror” that promises a night of chain saws, clowns and dark corners.  Leech Woods also offers food and drink, four bonfires, axe throwing, a DJ booth, fortune telling, and other forms of entertainment each night.

Per Leech Woods: According to Montgomery County historical land records, the present site of Leech Woods was originally settled by Warwick and Jeanne Leech and their six children sometime in early 1790.  Having immigrated from Hungary, the family chose Damascus, Maryland based on its temperate climate and heavily wooded region which reminded them of their homeland.  The Leech family store thrived as the leading local merchant of hides, furs and hunting supplies.  During the disastrous Winter of 1804, the Leech family store was robbed and vandalized by unknown attackers and the body of John Leech, the youngest son, was found nailed to the back wall of the store.  The remaining bodies of the family members were later found bludgeoned and bound inside of the root cellar of their homestead.  No further information about the attackers or motives for the killings are known.

Go to “Leech Woods” Haunted Trail Opens in Damascus Read more
Rockville

Vehicle Driven into Home in Rockville Tuesday Morning; Driver Pronounced Dead at the Scene

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police have announced that one person is dead after a single vehicle collision that occurred Tuesday morning in the 100 block of Upton St. in Rockville.  According to MCPD, at approximately 6:33am, “officers from the 1st District, Rockville City Police Department and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a suspicious situation. A Ford Mustang GT was located on the lawn of a home in the 100 block of Upton St. For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the vehicle struck a home in the 100 block of Upton St. A man, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.

Go to Vehicle Driven into Home in Rockville Tuesday Morning; Driver Pronounced Dead at the Scene Read more
Rockville

Three 14-Year-Olds Charged in Connection With Attempted Armed Carjacking at Rockville Town Square

By Patrick Herron

At approximately 11:50 a.m., Montgomery County First District and Rockville City Police officers responded to the 20 block of Maryland Avenue for the report of an attempted armed carjacking that just occurred.

The investigation revealed that the victim was walking away from her parked 2019 Toyota Rav4, when three individuals, all wearing ski masks, quickly approached her. One of the teens ran up to the victim, pushing her, causing her to hit a concrete pillar and fall to ground. The teen than stood over her with a black gun and demanded the victim’s car keys.

Go to Three 14-Year-Olds Charged in Connection With Attempted Armed Carjacking at Rockville Town Square Read more
Health

Montgomery County Health Officials Urge Residents to Get a Flu Shot and Set Schedule of County-Operated Vaccination Clinics

By Patrick Herron

Seasonal flu vaccinations are available through private health providers, as well as at retail locations throughout the community. County-sponsored seasonal flu vaccination clinics will include clinics for adults and for children ages six months and older.  The County will offer flu shots only.  High-dose flu vaccine and FluMist will not be available.

Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are welcome.

Go to Montgomery County Health Officials Urge Residents to Get a Flu Shot and Set Schedule of County-Operated Vaccination Clinics Read more
MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Issues Reprimands for Planning Board Chair Anderson and Two Planning Board Commissioners for Inappropriate Workplace Conduct

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, Vice Chair Partap Verma and Planning Board Commissioner Carol Rubin have all been issued reprimands that will result in Chair Anderson losing four weeks of his salary and Vice Chair Verma and Commissioner Rubin each losing one day of their respective salaries. This stems from an investigation that revealed Anderson was operating an after-hours bar in his government office, according to a report by Kevin Lewis of ABC7. Anderson told Lewis last month, “I take full responsibility, I have removed the alcohol, and I apologize.”

On Tuesday, the Council released the following press release: Montgomery County Council President Gabe Albornoz released the following Council statement about issuing reprimands for inappropriate conduct in the workplace for Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, Vice Chair Partap Verma and Planning Board Commissioner Carol Rubin: “The Council is extremely disappointed in the violations of Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) policy by Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, as detailed in an advisory memorandum from M-NCPPC’s inspector general. The memorandum also found violations of Commission policy by Vice Chair Partap Verma and Planning Board Commissioner Carol Rubin.

Go to Montgomery County Council Issues Reprimands for Planning Board Chair Anderson and Two Planning Board Commissioners for Inappropriate Workplace Conduct Read more
MoCo Government

Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services Receives National Top Honor for Overall Best Practices from StateWays Magazine

By Patrick Herron

The Best Practices Awards program was launched in 2015 to recognize control state agencies that are leading the industry in innovation, education and enforcement. Any beverage control agency from the U.S. and Canada is eligible to enter the awards, which are presented in eight categories with one standout selected as the overall winner and serving as a model for other agencies to follow.

“ABS has acted nimbly and has remained steadfast in its commitment to customer service, even as it has faced rapidly changing conditions over the past couple of years,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I congratulate ABS and our hard-working employees on this well-deserved award.”

Go to Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services Receives National Top Honor for Overall Best Practices from StateWays Magazine Read more
View More Stories