Halloween is less than a week away.  Time for all the little witches, ghosts, and goblins to go out in search of treats. It is an exciting time for children of all ages, but Takoma Park Police wants to make sure everyone understands how to keep themselves safe, whether they are with their parents or out with friends. Tips below:

• Make sure your child’s costume is bright and reflective since it will become dark outside during their trick-or-treating. If it’s not, consider putting reflective tape or stripping on their costumes. Make sure their shoes fit well and their costumes are short enough that they don’t find themselves tripping.

• Put your child’s name, address, and phone number somewhere on them, especially for little ones, in case they get separated from you.

• Review with your child “Stop-Drop-Roll” in case their costume does come in contact with fire.

When trick-or-treating, remind your child(ren):

• By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.

• Stay in a group, walk slowly, and communicate where you are going.

• Only trick-or-treat in well-known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.

•Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.

• Never cut across yards or use alleys.

• Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.

• Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.

• Always walk. Never run across a street.

• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks.

• Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway, or alley.

• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will.

• Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.

• No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an adult at home.

In February 2023, a petition was submitted to the Montgomery County Board of Education requesting that the Board consider renaming Col. Zadok Magruder High School, based on Col. Magruder being an enslaver (additional information here, per Montgomery History). According to a flyer put out by MCPS, The Board of Education accepted the petition and authorized further community engagement to determine the community interest in renaming the school.

Per the flyer, “The Magruder school community – students, families, staff, and alumni – are invited to participate in community dialogues to discuss the meaning the school name holds for them and how the school name affirms the school’s educational mission and values.” In-person and virtual sessions have already begun, with a list of all of them available (and additional info on the flyer) below:

IN-PERSON SESSIONS:

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., Shady Grove MS

Thursday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m., Flower Hill ES

VIRTUAL SESSIONS:  Zoom Friday, October 27, 12pm-1pm

Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

Police are currently on the scene of a shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Gaithersburg. According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, the shooting occurred at Stewartown Local Park on Goshen Rd. The victim was found shot at least twice near the park pavilion. Montgomery County 6th District Officers aided the victim prior to EMS arrival. Park Police are handling the investigation.

We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

Afternoon Park Shooting: Stewartown Local Park on Goshen Rd (Montgomery County, MD). Victim found shot at least twice near the park pavilion. @MCPnews 6th District Officers aided victim (tourniquet/#StopTheBleed) prior to 🚑 arrival; @ParkPolice also on scene. H/T @MoCoPGnews

— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) October 25, 2023

Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA has announced that it will end year-round operations. The amusement parked had added weekends in January, February, and March this year.  The company released the following statement to WIRC,
“In 2024, we are returning to our traditional seasonal operating calendar, opening on Saturday, March 23. This change was driven by many factors and enables us to maintain our commitment to delivering outstanding experiences for our guests. We constantly seek fresh ways to provide our guests with unforgettable experiences and lasting memories. Our dedication to ongoing improvement frequently involves experimenting with new concepts and schedules. We use these lessons to enhance the quality of our products and guest experiences. We look forward to welcoming our guests for the 2024 season on opening day, Saturday March 23.”

About Kings Dominion:
Kings Dominion, a 400-acre amusement park located in Doswell, VA off I-95, is home to more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, including 12 world-class roller coasters and Soak City, a top-rated 20-acre waterpark. Kings Dominion is a property of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world. Featured photo courtesy of Kings Dominion on Facebook.

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery Parks wants to hear from the community about future improvements to the Capital Crescent trail. The two upcoming meetings, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 2, and Wednesday, Nov. 8, will provide an opportunity for trail users to share ideas for renovations to the 3.5-mile portion of the trail in Montgomery County from Downtown Bethesda south to the District of Columbia line.

The Capital Crescent Trail 2.0 project will reimagine the trail by evaluating features such as width, signage, access, trail connectivity and amenities. Parks planners will consider public input and best practices in trail design to produce a long-term vision for the trail.

The meetings, one in-person and one online, will be listening sessions where parks staff describe the intent of the project and collect ideas and information from the public about the future trail renovations. The content of both meetings will be the same. The in-person session will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 2, at Somerset Elementary School, which is located at 5811 Warwick Place in Chevy Chase.

The session from noon-1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8, will be virtual. To join the meeting via Zoom, go to mocoparks.org/CCTZoom. Registration for the meetings is optional, but encouraged, so attendees can receive updates on future developments in the project. Register by filling out this form.

“These listening sessions are just the beginning of this project,” said Montgomery Parks Trails Planner Kyle Lukacs. “They are a great opportunity for the thousands of people who use this portion of the trail every year to weigh in with their preferences for the trail design. Once we hear from them, we will develop concepts and go back for more input.”

The Capital Crescent Trail follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way and extends 11 miles from Georgetown in Washington to Silver Spring. Approximately 3.5 miles of the trail in Montgomery County. That portion is managed by Montgomery Parks. It is the most popular and heavily used paved trail in Montgomery County with 650,000 users each year.
The portion of the trail between Downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring is currently closed and detoured due to the construction of the Purple Line light rail system. That portion of the trail is managed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. It is expected to reopen in 2027.”

Update: Chimereze Onuzulike has been found safe and unharmed. 

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Chimereze Onuzulike, a missing 14-year-old from Silver Spring. Onuzulike was last seen on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at approximately 12 p.m., in the 8800 block of Flower Avenue in Silver Spring. He is 5’8, 140 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Chimereze Onuzulike is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

Concern for Missing Fourteen-Year-Oldhttps://t.co/4PYMzndeJs…#mcpd #mcpnews #missing #missingperson pic.twitter.com/PBzBWJ3xSD

— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) October 25, 2023

Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is connecting people in the County who have a bike to donate with people who need one. On Friday, Oct. 20, MCDOT collected 290 bicycles at its annual one-day bike collection event in Rockville.

MCDOT sponsored the collection of child and adult bikes in partnership with Rockville Bike Hub and Bikes for the World. Volunteers from the organizations will refurbish the bikes and place them with children and adults in need through Bikes for the World, the MCDOT Bike Match Program and the Rockville Terrific Kids program.

This was the fifth year that MCDOT sponsored a bike drive (no events were held during two years of the COVID-19 health crisis). In those five years, the drives have resulted in the collection of more than 1,050 bikes. MCDOT operates a bike match program year-round through the BikeMatchMoCo program. Bikes donated through BikeMatchMoCo must be in ready-to-ride condition and should be cleaned and sanitized before drop-off.

Residents who wish to donate or receive a bike can do so by filling out the online form on MCDOT’s BikeMatchMoCo website. Once a donated bike has been matched to a recipient, a MCDOT representative will facilitate the donation and pickup. The bike donation deliveries are conducted separately, and all information is confidential.”

Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will have schedule and program changes for Veterans Day Weekend, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11. Veterans Day ceremonies throughout the County will take place on Saturday, Nov. 11. However, the County Government will observe the holiday on Friday, Nov. 10.

County offices—Closed on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11.

• MC 311—Closed on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11.
• State offices and courts—Closed on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11.
• State Motor Vehicle Administration offices and Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program stations—Closed Friday, Nov. 10. Open regular hours on Saturday, Nov. 11.
• Libraries— Closed on Friday, Nov. 10. Branches open regular hours on Nov. 11
• Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS)—All stores open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11.
• Department of Permitting Services—All offices, including the customer service lobby, will be closed Nov. 10 and 11.
• Ride On, Ride On extRa and Flex bus services—Will operate on a Holiday schedule on Friday, Nov. 10. Ride On will operate on a Saturday schedule on Saturday, Nov. 11. Ride On extRa and Flex will not be in service on Saturday, Nov. 11.
• Ride On Flash—The Orange Route will operate on a Weekends & Holidays schedule. The Blue Route (typically, weekday only) will not be in service on Friday, Nov. 10. The Orange Route will operate on a Weekends & Holidays schedule on Saturday, Nov. 11. The Blue Route (typically, weekdays only) will not be in service on Saturday.
• MARC Train—On Friday, Nov. 10, will operate on “R” schedule on all three lines. Penn Line Trains 453 (9:35 p.m. departure from Penn Station) and 452 (10:55. p.m. departure from Washington). There will be no connecting bus service for West Virginia Stations from Brunswick Line Train 875 due to US 340 closure/detour.
• TRiPS Silver Spring commuter store—Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10.
• TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store—Closed on Friday, Nov. 10.
• Metrobus—Will operate on a Saturday Supplemental schedule on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11. This is a reduced schedule of service compared to a regular weekday schedule, but offers customers some more options beyond a traditional weekend schedule. More details at https://www.wmata.com/service/bus/metrobus-saturday-supplemental.cfm
• Metrorail—On Friday, Nov. 10, trains will operate on a Saturday schedule, with trains running from 5 a.m. to a time TBD. On Saturday, Nov. 11, trains will run from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. More details at https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/index.cfm
• Public Parking Garages, Lots, Curbside Meters—Free Nov. 10 and Nov. 11.
• County-provided trash and recycling collections—No changes in collection schedules.
• Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center—Entire facility closed on Saturday, Nov. 11.
• Aquatic Centers— Normal operating hours Nov. 10 and Nov. 11.
• Community Recreation Centers— Normal operating hours Nov. 10 and Nov. 11.
• Senior Centers—Closed Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11.
• For Montgomery Parks information, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.  ”

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has improved its “Residential Fast Track” program and its “Apply Online” portal, creating changes that could lead to permits on some eligible projects being approved in days instead of weeks. The changes continue DPS initiatives that are making its building permit programs and services faster and easier to use for residents and businesses.

DPS has reenergized its Residential Fast Track program to ensure building permits are issued in one to two days for eligible projects, such as single-level decks and fences. The program previously was offered in-person as a walk-thru service, but was discontinued during the COVID-19 health crisis. It is now available online, and in some cases, permits for eligible projects that took weeks for approvals may now be completed in a few days as long as submitted applications have complete information. To make this happen, Residential Fast Track applications are tracked by a dedicated permit technician to ensure they are expedited.

For customers who are applying for deck, driveway apron, dumpster and fence permits, the revised Apply Online portal on the DPS website makes it more intuitive. Those permits are now listed as stand-alone permit types in the initial dropdown menu, simplifying the permitting process from the start.

“Streamlining the permitting process and providing excellent customer service are top priorities of my administration,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “These improvements reduce the number of steps in the application process and highlight our commitment and dedication to speeding up the permitting process. When we can make changes that literally turn the process for getting a permit into a few days rather than a few weeks, we are making improvements that our residents need.”

The projects eligible for Residential Fast Track include:

• Fences.
• Single-level decks.
• Finishing basements and attics without structural changes and with a floor area of 400 square feet or less.
• Installing sheds, gazebos and other detached non-habitable accessory structures that are 200 square feet or less.
• Alterations not exceeding 400 square feet and not involving a load-bearing wall
• Remodeling bathrooms or kitchens less than 400 square feet.
• Accessory ramps.

A project must not be served by well or private septic system to be eligible for the Fast Track program.

A complete list of eligible projects for the Residential Fast Track program is available on the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps. If a residential project qualifies for Fast Track, customers should visit the DPS website to use the Apply Online queue.

DPS Deputy Director Ehsan Motazedi said the changes to the Apply Online portal and Residential Fast Track programs make the process more efficient and effective, following the department’s continuing efforts to improve its services.

“We issue hundreds of deck, driveway and fence permits each year so these applicants will see a difference,” said Deputy Director Motazedi. “The Residential Fast Track program makes a difference because standard residential building applications can take up to four weeks compared to a few days for the Fast Track program. We continue to look for ways to improve and innovate our processes as we strive to become a world-class permitting department.”

DPS customers can apply and pay for permits, submit construction plans, request records, file property complaints, and schedule inspections online at any time. Customers who have permitting questions or need more information about the application process, should call MC 311 or 240-777-0311 or stop by DPS offices. No appointment is necessary to get in-person assistance. The customer service lobby, located at 2425 Reedie Drive (7th floor) in Wheaton, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

For more information about the permitting process, visit the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps.”

1:58 Update: Springbrook High School has been cleared. Students, teachers and staff are returning to school.

According to police, “Springbrook High School is evacuating, following the report of a bomb threat. MCPD is investigating the validity of the threat. More information will be released as it becomes available.” This is the second high school that has evacuated today (Wednesday, October 25th), as Albert Einstein High School in Kensington evacuated this morning and was given clearance to return a couple hours later.

We will update with additional information as it becomes available.

Springbrook High School is evacuating, following the report of a bomb threat.

MCPD is investigating the validity of the threat.

More information will be released as it becomes available. #MCPNews #MCPD pic.twitter.com/5XCSszalHn

— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) October 25, 2023