Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today delivered the keynote address at the Maryland Minority Business Counts “Engage and Elevate” event at Coppin State University. The governor was joined by Comptroller Brooke Lierman; Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson; and Maryland Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry. Also in attendance was Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs Special Secretary Yolanda Maria Martinez; Greater Baltimore Urban League Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Majors; and Coppin State University President Dr. Anthony Jenkins, Ph.D.. Governor Moore spoke before hundreds of event attendees who gathered to promote state and municipal contracting opportunities and resources for minority owned businesses.

“One of my top priorities as governor is closing the racial wealth gap in the state of Maryland. Meeting our Minority Business Enterprise goals as a state and a nation isn’t just an opportunity, it’s an obligation,” said Gov. Moore. “To date, we’ve advanced over half a billion dollars in procurement awards to minority and women-owned businesses, and we’re just getting started. We don’t have to choose between an economy that is competitive and an economy that is equitable. We can, and we will, have both.”

The Maryland Minority Business Counts initiative is a coalition of advocacy, business, civic, and community leaders dedicated to supporting and encouraging existing and future Black business owners across the state. Participants in today’s event had the opportunity to directly engage with state government agencies and attend panel discussions pertinent about doing business with the state.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise Program. The Moore-Miller administration’s goal is to increase state government’s performance toward reaching its 29% minority business enterprise goal, as part of their efforts to close the racial wealth gap and promote access to work, wages, and wealth. To learn more about Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise program, visit gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov.

 

Following the Maryland Minority Business Counts event, Governor Moore toured Coppin State University’s new College of Business building. Coppin State’s College of Business is focused on teaching, research, and service within emerging fields such as data science, entrepreneurship, and e-sports. The state-of-the-art facility promotes a legacy of teaching, research, and service and is home to the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship, which develops three key pillars of economic development, education, and social and community innovation.

The Moore-Miller administration is committed to investing in entrepreneurship and business development in Maryland and is committed to using service and civic innovation to strengthen Maryland’s relationships with community partners. The administration also committed more than $420 million in state support for Maryland’s historically black colleges and universities.

Montgomery County Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Brian Hull is currently acting superintendent while Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight is out on medical leave. According to a report by MoCo360, Dr. McKnight has been absent from the office the past week and sent MCPS staff the following message, “I have been dealing with a medical condition that required hospitalization. I am home now, getting better every day, and looking forward to getting back to the office.” No timeframe has been announced for McKnight’s return.

Hull became Chief Operating Officer of MCPS in August 2022. The Chief Operating Officer oversees and supports all aspects of District Operations, Finance, and Human Resources and Development. According to MCPS, “The mission of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer is to provide the highest quality business operations and support services that are essential to the educational success of students through staff committed to fiscal and operational excellence and continuous improvement.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

Infant & Child Car Seat Safety

Montgomery County’s very own Noah Bratschi, a 2018 graduate of Churchill High School, has brought home the silver medal in Speed Climbing from the Pan American Games. Speed Climbing is a sport where athletes compete on identical routes with the goal of reaching the top of a 15m-high wall as quickly as possible.

Bratschi previously won the bronze medal at the 2021 International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Championship in Moscow, Russia to become the first American speed climber to win a World Championship medal in thirty years (since 1991). With that, he also became the first American to ever win a medal on the modern IFSC homologated speed climbing wall.

Sport climbing made its debut at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, with athletes competing in speed, bouldering and lead, with added scores at the end. The lowest scorer was the winner. The 2024 Olympics in Paris will offer two events; a combined competition of bouldering and lead events, as in Santiago, and the speed competition. Bratschi, who barely missed qualifying for the Olympics at the Pan American Games, will have another opportunity at the Olympic Qualifying Series next year.

The “Snow Road-eo” returned Oct. 24, a team-building event is geared towards snow removal preparedness.

The City’ of Gaithersburg’s “Snow Road-eo” returned to the Activity Center at Bohrer Park on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The team-building event is geared towards snow removal preparedness for the upcoming winter weather season.

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County’s Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), a program of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded 14 local programs a total of $1.5 million from its Healthy Communities Fund. The funding will be used to develop new and sustain existing culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services in behavioral health, senior wellness and health and social support services for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

AAPI communities account for about 15 percent of Montgomery County’s overall population and the County is one of the most diverse communities in the United States, with more than 49 percent of population comprised of minorities. The AAPI community can be further broken down into multiple communities, each characterized by a unique mix of language, culture, religion and social norms. Because of the growing diversity and wide range of languages, cultures and socioeconomic status within AAPI communities, providing community health education, services and programs to residents of AAPI descent is more complex and requires custom approaches to reach the at-need communities.

“These grant funds will help strengthen safety net services to achieve better health and wellness outcomes for residents in our AAPI communities,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich.  “We saw great success during our inaugural grant process last year and I congratulate the groups who received funding this year.  Serving diverse communities is best done by grassroots organizations that operate in the community and the Healthy Communities Fund will help these organizations build greater capacity to serve our AAPI communities.”

This is the second year that AAHI has administered the Healthy Communities Fund, which is implemented in partnership with the Primary Care Coalition (PCC). Through support from the County Executive, the County Council and local community advocates, funding available increased this year by $630,000.

In addition to funding programs and services for AAPI residents, the Healthy Communities Fund also aims to increase the capacity and sustainability of local AAPI-serving organizations and uses an equity framework to ensure equitable distribution of funds to diverse community organizations. A notable change to this year’s grant process was providing grant writing assistance to interested organizations through a partnership with Community Development Professionals, LLC. The consultations were added to this year’s process to ensure equity in the process and support community organizations in improving their grant application skills. This year’s process also made a distinction between organizations applying for less than $50,000. Organizations who submitted applications for less than $50,000 were evaluated against one another.  This change was made to support smaller organizations and offer them the opportunity to compete with organizations of similar size and stature.

A total of 23 proposals were submitted, requesting more than $2.2 million. After a competitive review process, 15 programs, including six new organizations, received funding to provide services from Sept. 11, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

The following organizations received funding:

American Diversity Group – $129,136

American Muslim Senior Society – $128,316

Asian American LEAD – $64,801

Chinese American Community Health Services – $131,351

Chinese American Parents Association of Maryland County Maryland – $42,900*

Chinese Culture and Community Service Center – $118,723

Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington DC – $140,820*

IMAAM Center – $112,683*

Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington – $144,761

Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association – $148,495

Older Adults Technology Services – $120,000 *

September House MAJ – $7,200*

The Senior Connection of Montgomery County – $75,043*

Vietnamese American Services – $149,998

* newly funded organizations

For more information about the Healthy Communities Fund, email [email protected].”

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a shooting that occurred on Monday, October 23, 2023. At approximately 10:57 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14300 block of Fairdale Rd., for the report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers located 22-year-old Rakiy Deinol Gardner, of an unknown address, outside of the residence, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Despite lifesaving attempts, Gardner was pronounced dead at the scene.

A black Mercedes CLA 250 sedan was observed leaving the scene, at a high rate of speed, and collided with an officer responding to the scene in a marked patrol car. The driver of the Mercedes and the officer were transported to area hospitals for evaluation. A second male victim, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, was located a short distance from the scene and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

While investigating the shooting on Fairdale Rd., the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received multiple calls for a suspicious person in the 14300 block of Bradshaw Dr. Officers responded to the location and located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

An individual was taken into custody and determined not to be a suspect at this time. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding suspect(s) or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477.  A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Tips may remain anonymous.

Update per Montgomery County Police: Rashawn Williams has been located safe and unharmed 

The Montgomery County Department of Police – Missing Person/Cold Case Unit continues to ask for the public’s assistance in locating Rashawn Williams, a 31-year-old non-verbal male. Williams was last seen boarding a bus at the intersection of Plum Orchard Drive and Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring.  He is 5′ 05,” 150lbs with black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing:

• Blue Long Sleeve Shirt
• Blue Denim Jeans
• Black Shoes

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

MCPD continues to ask for the public's assistance in locating Rashawn Williams, a 31-year-old non-verbal male. Williams was last seen boarding a bus at the intersection of Plum Orchard Dr. & Cherry Hill Rd.https://t.co/Q8fz70echv#MCPNews #MCPD #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/UiPBBDG6I3

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

Richard Montgomery (3-5) at Gaithersburg (7-1): Air vs Ground: A high-scoring showdown awaits as Richard Montgomery’s Anthony “Air Attack” goes head-to-head with Gaithersburg’s “Gideon Ground n’ Pound.” While a repeat of last week’s 64-50 spectacle may be a tall order, the stage is set for an epic clash. RM’s Dixon has been in sensational form all season, but don’t sleep on Gaithersburg’s underrated defense, led by ballhawk Michael Nwaogwugwu. With the Trojans boasting a more balanced offense and the ability to control time of possession, the ingredients seem to favor Gaithersburg as they aim to secure the 3 seed and their best record in 13 years. Prediction: Gaithersburg by 13

Sherwood (6-2) at Quince Orchard (8-0): Unexpected Showdown: While this matchup may have flown under the radar this season, don’t be too quick to dismiss Sherwood’s chances against an undefeated Quince Orchard on paper. After a closer-than-expected contest against Northwest, QO may have some adjustments to make. The teams haven’t faced each other for nine years, and that adds an element of intrigue. Sherwood could make things interesting early, but Quince Orchard is poised to take control as the game progresses. Prediction: Quince Orchard by 35

Paint Branch (4-4) at BCC (5-3): Rivalry Renewed: These teams are set to meet again in two weeks, and this game will determine who secures home field advantage in that rematch. After PB’s recent win over Blair and BCC’s close victory over the same opponent, it’s evident this will be a fiercely competitive matchup. Although this marks the first meeting in nine years, BCC, under Coach Minturn, has transformed into a more competitive force. With strong showings from both their offense and defense, BCC holds the edge in what promises to be a tight contest. Prediction: BCC by 8

Blake (8-0) at Blair (2-6): Making History: Blake has the opportunity to etch their names in the record books this week by pursuing their first undefeated season and a new school wins record. But don’t underestimate Blair’s determination to play spoiler. The Blazers, despite a challenging season, possess the talent to shake things up. However, with Blake’s exceptional form and focus, they should maintain their winning streak if they stay locked in. Prediction: Blake by 13

Einstein (5-3) at Northwest (6-2): Rise of a New Star: Get ready to remember the name Jayden Vongprachanh-Nelson (JVN). Making his first career start against Quince Orchard, he showcased an impressive performance alongside his supporting cast. With no word on David Davis’s return, JVN offers Northwest fans a glimmer of hope. Einstein’s strong defense could pose challenges, but the Jags will be eager to rebound and regain their winning ways with unyielding intensity. Prediction: Northwest by 10

Wootton (4-4) at Damascus (6-2): A Tough Assignment: While an upset here could alter the playoff landscape, Damascus appears far from vulnerable. The Hornets have been steadily improving week by week, and their defense looks poised for another standout performance. Wootton faces a daunting task as they take on a formidable Damascus squad. Prediction: Damascus by 28

Seneca Valley (3-5) at Magruder (5-3): Surprise Showdown: Magruder, under Coach Fowle’s guidance, has been on the rise, securing their third winning season in four years. Despite traditionally being placed above Magruder’s tier, Seneca Valley has had some offensive struggles recently. The Colonels might just have what it takes to hold Seneca Valley in check and potentially steal a low-scoring affair. However, SV’s resilience could ultimately see them through. Prediction: Seneca Valley by 6

Whitman (4-4) at Springbrook (2-6): Remarkable Turnaround: From a 23-game losing streak to a likely winning season, Coach Pierce and his players at Whitman deserve accolades. While Springbrook will put up a fight, Whitman holds the edge as the better team and will aim to secure this crucial win. Prediction: Whitman by 20

Northwood (0-8) at Rockville (2-6): Breaking the Streak: Despite their poor record, Rockville possesses the talent to outmatch Northwood, who are looking to avoid a winless season. Rockville is favored to extend Northwood’s losing streak. Prediction: Rockville by 30

Wheaton (1-7) at Kennedy (0-8): Battle for a Win: Kennedy’s struggles this season place them at the bottom of the county. Wheaton, with one win against winless Northwood, holds a slight advantage. While it’s a chance for the Cavaliers, Wheaton’s advantage should see them through in the end. Prediction: Wheaton by 14

Watkins Mill (1-7) at Poolesville (0-8): Last Chance for a Win: It’s now or never for Poolesville, who hope to avoid a winless season. Watkins Mill won’t go down without a fight, but Poolesville should have enough in the tank to secure a much-needed victory. Prediction: Poolesville by 16

Clarksburg (3-5) at Jefferson (6-2): Out-of-State Challenge: In a unique inter-state matchup, Clarksburg faces Jefferson, a West Virginia school not far from the region. While Jefferson has had strong showings this season, Clarksburg’s efforts to improve this year may not be enough to overcome the out-of-state challengers. Prediction: Jefferson by 21