Have you ever wondered how land gets developed in Montgomery County? The short video below the anrticle explains the process. More per Montgomery Planning:
”When new development is proposed in Montgomery County, it’s important that it not only works for the owner, but also adjacent neighborhood residents, local business owners, and the broader community.
It must meet the greater vision of the Thrive Montgomery 2050 and the community master plans. Montgomery Planning oversees both the master planning of communities, which establishes the vision for an area, and the development review process to implement that vision. The development review process is a continuation of the overall planning process and involves an interagency Development Review Committee (comprised of all government agencies that review development applications in the county) to ensure that potential development aligns with the community’s needs and with the master and functional plans that overlay the area. Existing plans are deeply community-informed and reflect intensive and increasingly diverse and equitable local input.
Reviewing developments ensures that every proposal aligns with community needs, legal requirements, the vision for the neighborhood’s future (as expressed through community-informed master and functional plans), and Montgomery County’s priorities.” More in the video below.
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County businesses looking to grow through partnerships with organizations overseas could be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 for qualified travel or marketing expenses through the Maryland Department of Commerce’s ExportMD program. Applications to receive grants must be submitted by Thursday, Sept. 7.
The grants would reimburse expenses for companies seeking customers, suppliers, manufacturers or academic partners to support the growth of their business. Montgomery County is organizing a delegation of business, academic and government leaders traveling to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengalaru, Saigon/HCMC and Hanoi in late October to November. Businesses interested in joining the delegation can apply for an ExportMD grant to support this travel.
ExportMD awards can reimburse expenses associated with an international marketing project. Traditionally, many companies have used grants to offset travel expenses related to international marketing. In addition, the funds can be applied for marketing initiatives ranging from website development to registration costs for virtual trade shows and missions. For more information about the grant program, go to Export MD Grant — MCEDC (thinkmoco.com)
RocktoberFest will take place at the Whelan Commons (19701 Fisher Avenue) in Poolesville on Saturday, October 21st. The event will consist of a day of fun fall activities for the whole family.
The events will include pumpkin painting, a costume parade, scarecrow making, smores stations, and bounce houses for kids. For adults there will be a beer and wine tent featuring Manor Hill, Landmade and Rockwell Breweries. There will also be an assortment of wines. The bandshell lineup includes No Stop Light from 2 – 3:30 and the Front Page Band from 4 – 6 pm. Additional information can be found on the Town of Poolesville website.
Per Shepherd’s Table: Forty years ago, a handful of faith-based organizations in downtown Silver Spring put their faith into action by cooking dinner for community members in need. “The first evening of service was a bit slow; I had to go out and encourage people to come in,” remembers Rev. Richard Leslie. “I’m amazed at the success and progress of this organization. I am so proud to have been there the first night.”
Today, Shepherd’s Table has served over two million meals. We serve multiple meals daily to an average of 150 people and have never missed a meal service in the last four decades. Through government shutdowns, pandemic chaos, and bad weather, our table has been set, and doors open for all who need a fresh hot meal. Our anniversary year began with a stark reminder that food insecurity is still prevalent, homelessness is on the rise, and access to daily necessities is more critical than ever; we have seen a 58% increase in meals served daily in the first seven months of 2023.
Inflation has continued to rise post-pandemic; the Washington Metropolitan area must have a reliable source for consistent free, hot, and healthy meals as many face food insecurity – some for the first time. This increased need comes at a crucial time, as many COVID-19 relief programs are ending. This includes the end of emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments that provide families with increased monthly food assistance. According to the USDA, “the average price of all grocery items rose 9% in 2023.”
“Our programming was designed to foster a safe community where individuals facing inequalities can pursue meaningful transformation in small steps or giant leaps,” said Executive Director Manny Hidalgo.
“We aim to address disparities in our community and care system by offering tangible support to individuals facing homelessness, health issues, lack of affordable housing, and food insecurity. Our work doesn’t stop with just food–we believe a hot and fresh meal can be the entry point to a larger journey of healing and empowerment.”
On October 18th at the Silver Spring Civic Center at 6:30 pm, Shepherd’s Table will be hosting Cornucopia, a celebration of 40 years of the power of community giving! We’ll enjoy music, great food from Lemon Slice Café, a live and silent auction, and a lively program honoring our founders, volunteers, and donors. This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the communities and individuals who have made our last impact possible and have a chance to be a part of our continued growth. To learn more about Shepherd’s Table, visit https://www.shepherdstable.org
The Montgomery County Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 6 pm for community input on the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment at the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission’s Wheaton Headquarters on the 2nd floor Auditorium. There will be a virtual option through the Planning Board’s website. The Public Hearing will also be livestreamed at the City of Takoma Park’s Community Center for the public to watch and provide testimony. Sign-up to testify at the Public Hearing.
In addition to testifying in person or via Microsoft Teams, residents may also email testimony to [email protected], fax testimony to the Planning Board Chair at 301-495-1320, or mail written testimony to: Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board, 2425 Reedie Drive, 14th Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902.
To be reviewed by the Planning Board and included in the official record of the hearing, your testimony MUST include your mailing address and the date of the Public Hearing (in this case Sept. 14, 2023). For more information visit the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan website.
A replacement for Pho Hung & Grill at 11225 New Hampshire Ave. has signed on at the White Oak Shipping Center. Pho Hung & Grill closed over a year ago at the shopping center after a run of approximately 15 years (it opened in 2007). Danny Rubin of WashUrban tells us that they have signed Valle De Sula, a Honduran restaurant specializing in Central American cuisine, to the shopping center.
Some of the dishes that will be available at Valle De Sula include, baleadas, carne asada, sopa de mariscos, desayunos, flautas, pupusas, enchiladas, tacos dorados, chuleta con tajadas, sopa modongo, yuca con chicharron, pastelitos, sopa de res, pescado con tajadas, and more. The restaurant is currently building out and hopes to open in the coming weeks.
Per the City of Rockville: The City of Rockville will mark the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and remember county residents who lost their lives with a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11 at Courthouse Square Park, at the corner of East Jefferson Street and Maryland Avenue in Rockville’s downtown. The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will include a presentation of colors and remarks by Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton.
The 9/11 memorial at Courthouse Square Park remembers the 11 Montgomery County residents who lost their lives on Sept. 11: William Edward Caswell, Dr. Gerald Paul Fisher, Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred, Michele M. Heidenberger, Angela Marie Houtz, Teddington Hamm Moy, Lt. Darin H. Pontell, Scott A. Powell, Todd Hayes Reuben, Patricia J. Statz and Ernest M. Willcher.
The memorial, commissioned by the Montgomery County Arts and Humanities Council and designed by artists Gene and Susan Flores, includes a grassy area circled by 11 benches – one dedicated to each victim, with an inscription related to that person’s character. It also includes a plaque, covered by two doors, bearing the victims’ names. The artists worked with astronomers to design the memorial so that on Sept. 11 the morning sun briefly illuminates each name.
At approximately 9:25, many in the Mid-Atlantic region witnessed a shooting star streak through the sky. The Capital Weather Gang’s Jason Samenow described it as a “vibrant fireball” streaking across the Mid-Atlantic sky. “It is probable that the meteor — or rock from space that entered Earth’s atmosphere — was a fireball, or particularly bright meteor.”
Many in Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York captured the bright shooting star on camera, including Instagram user @OfficiallyKingPhilly from right here in Montgomery County, MD (explicit language warning). His video and a collection of videos from meteorologist Justin Berk can be seen below:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwxOuLVuNsZ/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
💫 #Meteor/ Bolide (exploding) Videos (many) Sunday Night Sep 3 2023
🛰️ 🛰️ 🛰️ #Starlink deployment overhead was coincidental and the reason many had taken video.
🗺️ Collection of clips around central Maryland
⏰ 9:23 PM (average) with sound a few min later. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/6EGNEl4wJj— Justin Berk (@JustinWeather) September 4, 2023
Current and retired MCPS employees (and one guest) are admitted free into regular season contests hosted by MCPS schools, contingent upon proper identification and the availability of space. MCPS employees include teachers, administrators, coaches and support staff. Acceptable identification includes the following:
- School or central services issued photo identification card/badge.
- Printed copy of an ePaystub accompanied by photo ID.
- Retired employee card/badge accompanied by photo ID.
The season opens on Friday, Sept. 1. County Sports Zone is the official website for MCPS high school schedules. Opening day for middle schools is Sept. 26, and middle schools schedules are available here.
Information courtesy of MCPS
UPDATE: Sonia Carolina Marquez has been located safe and unharmed.
The Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District Investigative Section is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing Gaithersburg woman. Marquez was last seen on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at approximately 9 a.m., in the 19000 block of Stedwick Dr. in Montgomery Village. She was driving a black 2003 Toyota Tacoma MD- 6BW2282 Description. Marquez is 5’3″ tall, 150lb, olive skin, with long black hair hair.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Sonia Carolina Marquez is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
