Montgomery County native and New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jordan Hawkins, making a start in place of CJ McCollum, scored a career-high 31 points on Monday night in a 116-134 loss to the defending World Champion Denver Nuggets. Hawkins’ coach Willie Green referred to him as fearless, saying, “When he’s open he’s going to shoot it. He’s aggressive and the beauty of it is Brandon, Z, all of his teammates are looking for him.”
The young man from Gaithersburg was drafted 14th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2023 NBA Draft. He is averaging 12.6 and 4.7 rebounds per game coming off of the bench, but earning significant minutes, for the Pelicans this year. Including the seven he hit on Monday night, Hawkins has made 20 three pointers in seven games this season. He has made 11 in his last two, showing that he is the outside-shooter he was drafted to be in the NBA.
Hawkins is a Montgomery County native who attended Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Germantown and Gaithersburg High School for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to DeMatha. Last year he led UCONN to a national championship.
Jordan Hawkins is on FIRE 🔥
The No. 14 pick has a career-high 29 PTS, 7 3PM in Denver!
Watch DEN/NOP LIVE on the NBA App: https://t.co/1wqRX7Uwkw pic.twitter.com/C8K2lMUKJa
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2023
Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog that “sets standards for excellence in patient care.” Leapfrog assigns an A, B, C, D, E, or F grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
“We are truly honored to be recognized by The Leapfrog Group for the second consecutive time as one of the safest hospitals in Maryland,” said Anthony Stahl, president, White Oak Medical Center. “The ‘A’ safety grade reflects our deep and ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our patients.”
Per the press release: The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program exclusively based on hospital prevention of medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day nationally. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually in the fall and spring.
“Earning an ‘A’ Grade means White Oak Medical Center made a true commitment to put patients first,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate the leadership, Board, clinicians, staff and volunteers that all had a role to play in this achievement.”
“Fewer than 30% of hospitals in the U.S. receive this distinguished recognition,” said James Rost, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer, White Oak Medical Center. “Our entire team continually works together to identify opportunities to improve and sustain our culture of safety, review and update policies and practices related to quality and safety, and incorporate best practices into our focus on being a high-reliability organization.”
To see White Oak Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently reporthospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter.
Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center is a state-of-the-art acute care hospital located in Silver Spring, Md., and part of Montgomery County-based Adventist HealthCare. White Oak Medical Center offers a full range of health services including a comprehensive and nationally recognized heart program, cancer care, maternity care, surgical and emergency care. White Oak Medical Center is a neighbor and research partner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and at the center of the emerging White Oak Science Gateway in Montgomery County, Md.
MoCo High School Sports Scores for Nov 06, 2023 (powered by www.MoCoAI.com)
Volleyball Girls Varsity, Game MPSSAA Class 2A Regional Tournament of round Round 2
| Poolesville High School (Home) | 3 |
| Wilde Lake High School (Away) | 1 |
Volleyball Girls Varsity, Game MPSSAA Class 3A Regional Tournament of round Round 2
| Wootton High School (Home) | 3 |
| Damascus High School (Away) | 0 |
| Magruder High School (Away) | 0 |
| Sherwood High School (Away) | 3 |
Volleyball Girls Varsity, Game MPSSAA Class 4A Regional Tournament of round Round 2
| High Point High School (Home) | 0 |
| Blair High School (Away) | 3 |
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (Home) | 2 |
| Quince Orchard High School (Away) | 3 |
| Paint Branch High School (Home) | 3 |
| Kennedy High School (Away) | 0 |
| Clarksburg High School (Home) | 3 |
| Governor Thomas Johnson High School (Away) | 0 |
| Urbana High School (Home) | 3 |
| Northwest High School (Away) | 0 |
| Churchill High School (Home) | 4 |
| Walter Johnson High School (Away) | 1 |
| Richard Montgomery High School (Home) | 3 |
| Springbrook High School (Away) | 0 |
Let us know in the comments for any missing scores.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) have responded to the scene of a crash involving several vehicles on southbound I-270, between exits 6 (W Montgomery Avenue) and 4 (Montrose Rd.) on Monday night.
According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the Express/Main lanes are blocked as of 9:21pm and at least two patients have been evaluated/transported to the hospital. We’ll provide an update if additional information becomes available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps
Montgomery College has received a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grant under Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services. The College will provide at least 500 lawful permanent residents with citizenship preparation classes, activities to support integration into American civic life, and naturalization application services.
USCIS announced $22 million in FY2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program awards to 65 public and private non-profit organizations across the country that prepare lawful permanent residents (LPRs) for naturalization. Montgomery College, Maryland, was awarded $450,000 over two years to serve 500 learners.
Per Montgomery College: Learners will have beginning to intermediate levels of English proficiency and will come from 80 different countries including, but not limited to, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Iran, India, and Ethiopia.
The College’s Citizenship Preparation Program uses the Enhanced Integration Tasks (EIT) model to help learners integrate into the receiving community. The program also works with local libraries and community-based organizations to enhance LPRs knowledge of available naturalization services.
Montgomery College will continue to partner with Immigration Legal Services (ILS) of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. ILS will provide naturalization application assistance to approximately 500 LPRs and will help at least 240 LPRs apply for naturalization over the next two years.
“We are grateful that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services continues to support the Montgomery College Citizenship Preparation Program,” said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, president of Montgomery College. “Since 2010, Montgomery College has served more than 3,300 learners through this grant-funded program, helping individuals increase their knowledge of English, as well as U.S. history and civics in preparation for becoming U.S. citizens. The College is proud to support these immigrants, who enrich the culture and communities of Montgomery County.”
The Washington, D.C. area is fourth in the nation of immigration destinations for LPRs, ranked only behind New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Maryland’s foreign-born population of 922,441 represents 15.3% of the total population of Maryland. Montgomery County is home to 346,586 foreign-born of these residents.
Since 2009, the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has awarded approximately $155 million through 644 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 41 states and the District of Columbia. The program has helped more than 300,000 lawful permanent residents (LPRs) prepare for U.S. citizenship.
The Citizenship Preparation Program is part of Montgomery College’s Workforce Development & Continuing Education unit. For more information, please contact Dean of Instruction Dr. Donna Kinerney at [email protected].
Doug Kammerer of NBC4 has released his winter outlook, which is currently only available on NBC4 newscasts. In the outlook he projects as much as 38-52 inches for places like Frederick and Hagerstown, 30-40 inches for places like Gaithersburg, Leesburg, and Rockville, and 22-30 inches for Bethesda, DC, and Prince George’s County.
Kammerer had some of the lowest snow totals projected for last winter, and provided one of the most accurate outlooks for the 2022-2023 winter. This year, he’s going the other way. In a Facebook Live following a 6:50 presentation of the 2023-2024 Winter Outlook, he stated that “if this sets up correctly, we can see more than predicted.”
Kammerer explained that the El Niño pattern fits for “big east coast snow storms.” When asked about the first snow, he stated that he expects it to come in December but that he isn’t quite sold on December, explaining that late January into February lines up. Because the El Niño pattern brings above average temperatures, many storms will be rain, but Kammerer says that when the cold air makes its way down from Canada and locks in, we will see storms that start as snow and end as snow as opposed to the changeovers we are used to.
When asked about snow days, he says he can see 5-7 for areas like Loudoun County and Frederick County and 4-5 in the city. We’ll provide a more detailed analysis’ once the outlook is available online at www.NBCwashington.com
Featured photo per Doug Kammerer’s Facebook Live
A driver struck a pedestrian at approximately 5:30pm on River Rd. at Newbridge Drive in Potomac on Monday evening, according to our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services PIO Pete Piringer tweeted the following at 5:37pm, “River Road and Newbridge Drive, collision, involves pedestrian”.
According to Pugh, the pedestrian has been “transported to an area Trauma Center with serious injuries. Scene being held with River Road closed.” Alert Montgomery sent out the following Severe Traffic Alert at 6:32pm: “Collision reconstruction investigation closes both directions of River Rd (MD 190) at Newbridge Dr. This may be an extended incident. Expect significant delays. Seek an alternate route.” Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.
SERIOUS INJURY PEDESTRIAN STRUCK: MD-190 River Road at Newbridge Drive in Potomac. (Montgomery County, MD). ~5:30PM Wednesday, pedestrian struck, transported to an area Trauma Center with serious injuries. Scene being held with River Road closed. #MDTraffic H/T @AlanHenney
— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) November 6, 2023
Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 1:15 p.m. The meeting will begin with a proclamation presentation recognizing Remembrance and Reconciliation Month, led by Council Vice President Andrew Friedson, Councilmembers Will Jawando and Laurie-Anne Sayles and the County Executive. At 3:05 p.m., there will be an Art on the Walls presentation celebrating Montgomery College student artists, led by Councilmember Jawando, Council President Evan Glass and Council Vice President Friedson.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Public Hearings
Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
- OPT/SLT Bargaining Units – Pension Multipliers – Corrections for Group E and J Members
- Supplemental Appropriation #24-25 to the FY24 Operating Budget Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation Bill 11-23, Motor Vehicles and Traffic – Traffic Signals, Devices, And Automated Enforcement Plan (The Safe Streets Act of 2023), $1,606,000
- Special Appropriation #24-14 to the FY24 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Rent Stabilization Bill 15-23, $1,374,470
- Special Appropriation #24-24 to the FY24 Operating Budget Montgomery County Government Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions Federal Grant, $22,784,400
- Supplemental Appropriation #24-35 to the FY24 Operating Budget Montgomery County Government Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Nonprofit Security Grant Program, $100,000
- Supplemental Appropriation #24-34 to the FY24 Operating Budget Montgomery County Government Department of Health and Human Services Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program – Consolidated Local Implementation Grant, $242,556
District Council Session
Zoning Text Amendment 23-08, Transferable Development Rights – Cemetery
Introduction: Lead sponsor Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe will introduce Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 23-08, Transferable Development Rights – Cemetery, which would allow a property owner in the Agricultural Reserve (AR) zone to expand a cemetery onto land that currently has a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). Under the current zoning ordinance, a cemetery is prohibited if the lot or parcel on which the cemetery would be located is in the AR zone and is encumbered by a recorded TDR easement. ZTA 23-08 would allow a property owner in the AR zone to expand a cemetery onto land that currently has a TDR.
A TDR is a voluntary, incentive-based program that allows landowners to sell development rights from their land to a developer or other interested party who then can use these rights to increase the density of development at another designated location. While the seller of development rights still owns the land and can continue using it, an easement is placed on the property that prevents further development.
Introduction and vote expected: The Council will introduce and is expected to vote on a resolution to extend the public hearing date for ZTA 23-08, Transferable Development Rights – Cemetery. Under the zoning ordinance, the Council must advertise a public hearing on a ZTA no less than 30 days before the hearing is conducted and hold a public hearing no more than 60 days after introduction, unless an extension is introduced and approved by the Council. This resolution would extend the public hearing deadline on ZTA 23-08 until the close of business on Jan. 30, 2024, with the public hearing tentatively scheduled for Jan. 16.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 23-09, Farming – Incidental Outdoor Stays
Introduction: Lead sponsor Councilmember Natali Fani-González will introduce ZTA 23-09, which would allow overnight stays on farms in the AR zone that also have accessory agricultural education and tourism activities conducted as a part of the farm’s regular operations. Council President Glass and Council Vice President Friedson are cosponsors.
Under the current zoning ordinance, accessory agricultural education and tourism activities may be conducted as a part of a farm’s regular operations, as an accessory use to farming. Accessory agricultural education and tourism activities currently include corn mazes, hayrides, educational tours, classes and workshops. ZTA 23-09 would add incidental outdoor stays to the list of accessory agricultural education and tourism activities. Incidental outdoor stays will be allowed in separate structures from the primary residence, with certain limits on the number of persons, days and facilities.
Introduction and vote expected: The Council will introduce and is expected to vote on a resolution to extend the public hearing date for ZTA 23-09, Farming – Incidental Outdoor Stays. Under the zoning ordinance, the Council must advertise a public hearing on a ZTA no less than 30 days before the hearing is conducted and hold a public hearing no more than 60 days after introduction, unless an extension is introduced and approved by the Council. This resolution would extend the public hearing deadline for ZTA 23-09 until the close of business on Jan. 30, 2024, with the public hearing tentatively scheduled for Jan. 16.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on a $350,000 supplemental appropriation to the FY24 Operating Budget for the Drone as First Responder Pilot Program within the Montgomery County Police Department. The department is evaluating the use of drone technology to prevent and respond to crime in a more efficient manner. The pilot program is needed to better understand its potential impact on public safety. This one-time appropriation would fund an unmanned aircraft system pilot program in the Silver Spring and Wheaton police districts.
The Council held a public hearing on this appropriation on Oct. 17. The joint Public Safety (PS) and Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends approval of the appropriation as amended.
Legislative Session
Bill 40-23, Tree Canopy and Roadside Tree Requirements – Fee Revisions
Introduction: Lead sponsors Council Vice-President Friedson and Council President Glass will introduce Bill 40-23, Tree Canopy and Roadside Tree Requirements – Fee Revisions, which would update the laws regarding the tree canopy and roadside tree work to encourage the conservation of trees in Montgomery County. This bill would adjust the fees payable to the Tree Canopy Conservation Account and the Street Tree Planting Fund.
Under the County’s roadside tree law, a permittee who removes a tree in the County’s right of way generally must pay a fee to the Street Tree Planting Fund maintained by the Department of Transportation. Similarly, under the County’s sediment control laws, an applicant for a sediment control permit must pay a fee into the Tree Canopy Conservation Account.
The bill is needed because the current structure for each of the fees has been insufficient to reflect actual costs of tree replacement, and it does not increase with inflation. The purpose of the bill is to promote tree preservation across Montgomery County and provide for a fee structure that is commensurate with costs.
Bill 40-23 would set the fee payable to the Street Tree Planting Fund at $450 per tree, with a biannual increase based upon inflation. The bill would set the fee payable to the Tree Canopy Conservation Account at $470 per tree, with a biannual increase based upon inflation.
A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 28, 2023.
Bill 22-23, Transient Lodging Facilities – Short-Term Residential Rental
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 22-23, Transient Lodging Facilities – Short-Term Residential Rental. Bill 22-23, Transient Lodging – Short-Term Rental License, in conjunction with ZTA 23-04, would amend the provisions for short-term residential rentals. Bill 22-23 will reassign enforcement responsibility to the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), increase the maximum penalty, amend the application process, and clarify the processes for challenges, suspensions, revocations and appeals.
The lead sponsor is Council President Glass at the request of the County Executive. The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP), Health and Human Services (HHS) and Economic Development (ECON) Committees recommend enactment with amendments.
Consent Calendar
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 7, which is available on the Council website.
$89,997,763.79 of cannabis was sold in the state of Maryland during the month of October, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration. These totals include both medical and recreational marijuana sales. Maryland sold $90,977,416 of cannabis in September.
Recreational cannabis sales became legal in the state on the July 1, 2023. Any resident over the age of 21 with a valid government ID is now legally allowed to purchase and possess cannabis products from registered dispensaries in Maryland. A complete list of cannabis dispensaries in Montgomery County below can be found below.
Bethesda:
- Health for Life – Bethesda Medical Cannabis Dispensary
4909 Fairmont Ave - RISE Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bethesda
10401 Old Georgetown Rd #210
Burtonsville:
- Herbiculture Dispensary
4009 Sandy Spring Rd
Chevy Chase:
- Columbia Care Dispensary Chevy Chase
4609 Willow Ln
Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village:
- Curaleaf MD Gaithersburg Montgomery Village
10011 Stedwick Rd - Green Care Medical
106 N Frederick Ave
Germantown:
- Bloom Medicinals Germantown Cannabis Dispensary
11530 Middlebrook Road - Zen Leaf Germantown
13007 Wisteria Dr unit 28-29
Olney:
- Sweetspot Cannabis Dispensary Olney
18070 Georgia Ave
Rockville:
- Ethos Rockville Cannabis Dispensary
4007 Norbeck Rd suite A - gLeaf Rockville
808 Hungerford Dr - Liberty Cannabis
12001 Nebel St - Peake ReLeaf
2001 Chapman Ave - Potomac Holistics Cannabis Dispensary
14808 Physicians Ln Suite 211 - Trulieve Medical Cannabis Dispensary Rockville
12200 Rockville Pike
Silver Spring:
- HerbaFi
8413 Ramsey Ave - Peninsula Alternative Health
12355 Georgia Ave - RISE Medical Marijuana Dispensary Silver Spring
7900 Fenton St
