Aspen Hill

On Monday, July 25, at approximately 10:08 a.m., 4th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the area of Norbeck Rd. and Baltimore Rd. for the report of a traffic collision involving two vehicles.

The preliminary investigation has determined that a grey 2016 Nissan Sentra was attempting to turn left from westbound Norbeck Rd. onto Baltimore Rd. when she was struck by a grey 2015 Volkswagen Jetta that was traveling eastbound.


Dickerson

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources – Wildlife and Heritage Service plants sunflowers each spring on the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The primary purpose for planting sunflowers on wildlife management areas is to provide a food source for mourning doves, as well as other wildlife species, after the plants mature and dry. Mourning doves are hunted at these fields during hunting seasons that traditionally begin on September 1 and continue through early January. In recent years, the sunflower fields have become a popular destination for planned and impromptu photo shoots. According to photos sent in to us from across the county, the sunflowers are currently looking great, but it may not last long (featured photo courtesy of JoMatt Mendoza.

From the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: A number of fields are planted each year, although two fields are designated as Dove Management Fields. The Dove Management Area fields have restricted times and days when hunting can occur during the month of September. In addition to mourning doves, sunflowers and sunflower seeds are a favorite food source for a host of other songbirds, mammals and pollinators. Sunflowers require pollination by insects, usually bees, to produce a seed crop. In turn, honey bees and many species of native bees, benefit from the abundant nectar and pollen that sunflowers produce.


Silver Spring

At approximately 1:13 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of an armed robbery.

The investigation by detectives has determined that two unknown Black male suspects entered the Sunoco and used the lottery machine. After a few minutes, they requested assistance from the employee, requiring him to leave the secured cashier area and enter the main store. When the employee opened the door, the suspects forced their way into the secured cashier area and displayed a handgun. The suspects tied the employee’s hands and then stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the registers before fleeing the scene on foot.


MoCo Government

Five days worth of Mail-in ballots have been counted in the Democratic primary for Montgomery County Executive, and in the latest update by the Maryland State Board of Elections (7:51pm, 7/27), David Blair (44,722) leads incumbent Marc Elrich (44,577) by 145 votes.

David Blair led by 1,191 votes when early voting and Election Day votes were tallied. Elrich took the lead early on during the canvassing of mail-in votes, but Blair closed the gap and eventually reclaimed the lead. Overall, Blair has received 15,368 mail-in/provisional ballot votes compared to 16,549 for Marc Elrich. Marc Elrich defeated David Blair by just 77 votes in the 2018 Democratic Primary.


Montgomery Planning

The Montgomery County Planning Department will present the findings of the Access Management Study to the Montgomery County Planning Board at their meeting on July 28. Work on this study began in October 2021 with focused involvement from partner agencies and is intended to provide a review of existing access management practices and high-level recommendations on access management regulations, standards, and practices as they are practiced on the Montgomery County roadway network.

Access management is the coordinated planning, regulation, and design of access between roadways, and land development. Its purpose is to provide a systematic way to improve the safety and efficiency of moving people and goods while reducing conflicts between all modes using and crossing the roadway, including cars, heavy vehicles, transit vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.


Montgomery Planning

Registration is open for the Makeover Montgomery 5 conference scheduled for September 22 through 24; featuring keynote speaker Angela D. Brooks,President Elect of the American Planning Association, and past chair of the APA Diversity Task Force

The Montgomery County Planning Department in partnership with the University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth, has announced the opening of online registration for the Makeover Montgomery 5 Conference (MM5). The three-day conference will be held from September 22 through September 24, 2022, in College Park and Wheaton and will focus on all aspects of planning for resilience in the areas of the economy, neighborhoods, infrastructure, and the environment. The cost of the conference is $40 through August 23 and $55 after that date. Attending the keynote address by Angela D. Brooks on September 22 is free to the public and does not require conference registration.


Montgomery Planning

The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department have announced their August 2022 calendar of events and meetings. All persons attending Planning Board meetings in person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902) must be vaccinated, must sign up in advance, and may be required to show proof of vaccination. Those who participate are expected to observe general rules of decorum and address only the issues relevant to the decision before the Planning Board.

Residents can continue to participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying virtually and watching the meetings on the Planning Board’s live stream. Community members may sign up to testify and provide comments in person, through Microsoft Teams, or over the phone to the Planning Board during the meeting on specific agenda items. Written testimony must be submitted in advance of the meeting. Contact us for accessibility accommodations.


Poolesville

One family (5 adults, 1 child) are displaced after a fire at a 2-story home on the 16000 block of Edward’s Ferry Rd in Poolesville that occurred early Wednesday afternoon.  Around 70 MCFRS firefighters responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation but is believed to have started in the kitchen where there were multiple competent ignition sources, including an air fryer, stove top, and electrical wiring.


MoCo Government

At the celebration, County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Gabe Albornoz issued a joint proclamation recognizing the commission’s accomplishments in advancing and protecting women’s rights since its establishment in 1972.

In addition to County Executive Elrich and Council President Albornoz, among those at the celebration were CFW Chair Donna Rojas, County Councilmember Nancy Navarro, founding commissioner and former Congresswoman Connie Morella, CFW Executive Director Jodi Finkelstein and Sandy Spring Museum Board of Directors President Naomi Yadin-Mendick.


Clarksburg

Montgomery County’s commitment to combatting climate change includes trying to inspire residents and businesses to purchase electric vehicles. To make that plan viable, accessibility to EV charging stations is a necessity. The commitment to that aspect of the County’s Climate Action Plan continued on July 23 as six new EV charging stations were dedicated at the Clarksburg Condominium II.

Clarksburg Condominium II is located at 12824 Clarksburg Square Road in Clarksburg. The condominium association website states that residents who register in advance will receive reduced rates for charging their vehicles at the new charging stations.