Lightning struck a Potomac neighborhood during Monday evening’s severe thunderstorms, causing power surges and burning out electrical meters at two homes, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) officials.

According to MCFRS spokesperson David Pazos, crews were dispatched at around 5:30 p.m. to a home in the 10800 block of Nantucket Terrace off Falls Road for a report of smoke in the basement of a house.

Upon arrival, crews found an electrical meter malfunctioning and sparks and smoke emanating from the panel, Pazos said. No fire was found.

MCFRS crews called Pepco to “expedite having the power shut off” to the home, and while the crews were waiting outside another neighbor arrived and reported electrical issues in their home, Pazos said.

“This was right after storms had passed, so they’re likely tying it into the storm event,” Pazos said.

He added that MCFRS crews were unable to determine the origin of the lightning strike and were unsure if lightning had hit the homes or someplace else.

To fix the issues, Pepco turned off power to the neighborhood and then isolated power supplied to the two homes, Pazos said. After the homes had isolated power, Pepco returned electrical service to the rest of the neighborhood.

When crews left the scene, Pazos said Pepco was working with the residents of the two homes about what repairs may be needed.

No injuries to people or pets were reported and the residents of the two homes were not displaced, he said.

The post Lightning strikes Potomac neighborhood during Monday night thunderstorms appeared first on MoCo360.

Two piglets who jumped off a pork farm transport truck in North Carolina last year, have found freedom at Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary in Potomac. Michelle Waldman, the founder of the sanctuary, said when the two piglets arrived at the farm they were “wearing little sweaters.”

Now 1-year-old pigs, Dani and Sunshine live in peace with about 45 other animals including goats, horses, cows, sheep and hens. [NBC 4]

State launches new online hate crimes reporting portal

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced Tuesday that the state has a new online portal for residents to report hate crimes and hate bias incidents at nohomeforhate.md.gov.

“For too long, hate crimes have been underreported and underestimated, but victims don’t have to suffer in silence. I am listening,” Brown said in a press release. “This new portal is a safe place to speak up. It will help us all understand how widespread these incidents are, so we can better address them.”

Information submitted to the new portal will be used to track hate crimes and incidents, identify trends and help the state develop ways of improving the state’s response. [Montgomery Community Media]

Gaithersburg to hold annual dog walk and festival in mid-June

The annual “Paws in the Park” dog walk and festival will take place next Saturday on June 15 in Gaithersburg. County residents will get to enjoy a large pack walk, a K9 agility course and competition, contests for dogs and people, music and food vendors. Register for the event at this link. Online registration is $20 per person and $25 at the event. [The MoCo Show]

Today’s weather:

Cloudy with a high

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The post Piglets who escaped pork truck now live in Potomac animal sanctuary appeared first on MoCo360.

Efforts to rebuild the historic Scotland AME Zion Church in Potomac after damage from a 2019 flood received a major boost Wednesday from a $1 million donation from the family behind Bethesda’s Marriott International Inc.

Bethesda resident and Marriott board Chairman David Marriott and his wife, Carrie, met with members of the congregation at the church site on Seven Locks Road to surprise them with a gift from his family’s foundation, the Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, according to a press release from the church.

“This is a major investment in community, not just for Scotland AME Zion Church, but for Montgomery County and this country,” the Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins said in the release. “As the pastor of this historic church, I want to express our thanks to the Marriott family and Foundation on behalf of the local congregation and the AME Zion Church worldwide.”

Scotland AME Zion Church was built by hand and opened in 1924 for Black congregants in Potomac. The site is registered as a state historic site by the Maryland Historical Trust and is the only historic building to survive in the Scotland community.

In 2019, a major flood caused substantial damage to the church, causing a collapsed basement and damage to the structure’s foundation. The original wood-frame structure of the church was also nearly destroyed by the flood and the congregation has been left without a place of worship for nearly five years, according to the release.

After the flood, the church embarked on a rebuilding effort dubbed the “2nd Century Project” to raise funds to restore the historic structure and add mitigation for future flooding events. In July 2022, the church held a groundbreaking that highlighted the three-year campaign and was attended by County Executive Marc Elrich and a team of leaders in faith, business, government and philanthropy across the region.

The donation from the Marriott Foundation brings the church to $8.2 million in funds raised towards the project’s $10 million goal. The church also hopes to raise an additional $1 million for the project on GoFundMe. At the time of publication, the fund had raised $63,882.

The project is a three-phase plan to rescue the building, according to the church’s website:

• Phase one includes rebuilding the historic structure to serve as a community service center;
• Phase two is focused on re-grading the landscape around the church to reduce the risk of future flooding; and
• Phase three involves the construction of a new state-of-the-art church to expand space for worship.

“The other trustees and I are thrilled to support this effort and to be a small part of your rebuilding effort,” Marriott told congregation members and construction crews after announcing the gift, according to the release.

Marriott said that before making the donation, he learned of his own family’s connection to the community of Scotland. According to the release, he learned that his grandparents’ landscaper was a Scotland resident and that his grandfather had advocated for housing support in the Scotland community in Congress in the 1960s.

After attending a worship service for Scotland last fall, Marriott decided to bring the 2nd Century Project to the attention of the family foundation, the release said.

According to the release, if the remaining fundraising and construction milestones are met by the end of 2024, the expanded church is expected to host its first faith services in December.

The post Marriott family foundation donates $1 million to historic Black church in Potomac appeared first on MoCo360.

Community members across the county have come together to support Cheriss Crawford of Potomac as she embarks on a project to restore the Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery. Located in Potomac, the cemetery is estimated to be the site of around 100 graves of formerly enslaved people and freed Black residents.

The Montgomery County government auctioned the land in 1975 for $162, not knowing that there was a cemetery there, and it has since become a dumping ground for trash, old tires and fallen trees. [WUSA 9]

County offering free Chromebooks to residents

Montgomery County is handing out free Chromebooks to county residents who do not have access to a computer through its Montgomery Connects program. Those interested in receiving a laptop must register for an appointment on Eventbrite. More information about eligibility for a computer can be found at this link. [DC News Now]

Montgomery Blair High School alum wins second place on Jeopardy

Ivvone Zhou of Bethesda came in second place on Monday night’s Jeopardy episode, against three-time champion Gregg Meller. Zhou, who graduated from Montgomery Blair High School’s science, math, and computer science magnet program in 2020, took home a $3,000 second-place prize. [Montgomery Community Media]

Today’s weather: Sunny with a high of 87 degrees

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The post Community joins together to restore Potomac cemetery of former enslaved people appeared first on MoCo360.

Potomac’s Scotland African American Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church was honored with the 2024 Legacy Award for Civic Engagement and Community Impact. The church was selected for the award by the International Salute to the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the community’s efforts to restore its building after a flood in 2019.

The historic church was built by hand and opened in 1924 by Black congregants in Potomac and is registered as a state historic site by the Maryland Historical trust. The church and its members will be honored on Jan. 14 at the Williard Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“The Scotland AME Zion Church represents a beacon of hope and perseverance and serves as a model for all people whose determination and faith can impact the community and the world,” said Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins, the church’s pastor. [Montgomery Community Media]

Maryland first lady sponsors USNS Bethesda medical ship

On Monday, Maryland first lady Dawn Moore was named the sponsor of a new U.S. Navy medical ship called the USNS Bethesda. The ship will deliver medical aid to Navy and Marine Corps servicemembers around the world.

“This is so exciting,” said Moore. “This is a world class facility on the water. They can do anything a hospital can do. And it really is like a floating hospital with world class therapies and treatments. It’s a state-of-the-art facility. And so when we think about what this ship is going to be able to do, we think about the lives that it is going to be able to save. We think about the hope that it is going to be able to provide.”

As a sponsor, Moore will maintain a lifelong relationship with the ship and crews by sending words of encouragement or care packages to crew members. [WUSA9]

Barcelona-based Mango clothing line to open in Montgomery Mall

Westfield Montgomery mall will be welcoming a new clothing store, Mango, later this year, according to a report from the company. The store will exclusively sell its women’s line of clothing and will be located on Level 1 of the mall.

Mango is one of the main fashion groups in Europe and was founded in Barcelona in 1984. The opening in Montgomery Mall is part of the company’s United States expansion plan, which includes opening four stores in the Washington, D.C. region. [Patch.com]

Today’s weather:

Partly sunny, with a high of 47 degrees. Breezy with gusts of wind from 16 mph to as high as 39 mph.

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The post Scotland Church in Potomac is honored with MLK Legacy Award appeared first on MoCo360.

Hundreds of residents of the Avenel community in Potomac rallied Monday night to fight the decision by Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, or WSSC Water, to close the area’s equestrian center.

The Avenel Equestrian Center is located on the 1,018-acre Avenel farm, which was developed into a residential community, golf course and equestrian facility, according to its website.

In 1988, a deal was finalized for WSSC Water to purchase over 500 acres of land in Avenel to acquire and hold for use as an advanced wastewater treatment plant, according to the community’s website.

WSSC Water wants to close the equestrian center because it’s on the land they own, and since it is deteriorated, they said it is a safety issue and liability for them.

This meeting comes after a petition was posted online on Oct. 11 to fight the closing of the equestrian center. It received more than 2,000 signatures.

After that petition gained widespread attention, Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1), whose district includes Avenel, along with state representatives submitted a letter to WSSC on Nov. 3. The letter stated, “we request that WSSC Water pause the planned termination of the lease and notice to vacate in order to allow time for WSSC Water to hold the agreed upon public meeting.”

Friedson was slated to speak at Tuesday’s event but was unable to due to a COVID-19 diagnosis. In an email statement on Tuesday, Friedson said he regrets not being able to attend and that he is passionate about this community issue.

“Upon learning of WSSC’s plans to terminate the lease of the Avenel Equestrian Center on December 1, 2023, I immediately engaged the community and WSSC to learn about the events that led to the announcement,” Friedson said in the email. “It quickly became clear that the requisite community engagement process before such a decision is made had not occurred, so I met with GM/CEO Kishia Powell and her leadership team and urged her to hold a public meeting to hear from the community at a location conveniently located in the community.”

At the community meeting, Powell shared why the company decided to shut down the center.

“The team came to me and shared the safety concerns that exists with the equestrian center, and so, we’ve made a decision to close those facilities,” Powell said.

Powell, along with WSSC Water Real Estate Development Administrator Tina Benjamin, gave a presentation, showing photos of how much the equestrian center’s barn has degraded and how severe the damage is at this point.

“It is leaning, it’s tilting and it is definitely moving. These pictures show that the walls aren’t straight,” Benjamin said. “There are structural gaps and again, when we went to open up the barn itself recently, we found more and more things that were out of place.”

Powell said that WSSC Water’s next step in the coming months will bring in an outside consulting engineering firm to do a thorough structural and environmental analysis of the barn. She said this would help the community and WSSC Water understand the condition of the facility.

Powell denied accusations from community members that WSSC Water made the decision to close the facility because they wanted to build infrastructure, such as a treatment facility.

“None of these actions are being taken because we’re building something,” Powell said.

Some residents said that WSSC Water could have prevented the deterioration of the barn.

Lisa Wilson, who boarded horses at Avenel for more than 30 years and said that both her mother and daughter have loved the equestrian center, said that WSSC Water had not been maintaining the barn over the years.

“While WSSC came out and did repairs, it was obvious there were other repairs that needed to be done,” Wilson said. “The reason that the barn is in such disrepair is because they let it go.”

Wilson’s remarks were followed by a round of applause from the other attendees.

Neil Gillen, a member of the Potomac Community who was actively involved in the original agreement securing the preservation of the Equestrian Center, discussed that point as well.

“The WSSC staff’s successors were apparently unaware of the history of the facility and lacked the original fervor to sustain it, bringing us to where we are today,” Gillen said.

Friedson also shared this sentiment in his email statement.

“I am concerned about the lack of adequate facility planning at WSSC, which predates the current GM/CEO yet has left WSSC without a clear understanding of its facility needs,” Friedson said. “This further complicates the future of the equestrian center and leaves the community with more questions than answers.”

In the meeting, Powell provided her perspective on this issue.

“I understand the frustration and the sense that WSSC let the barn go,” Powell said.

She went on to say that maintaining the barn has “likely not been a priority” for WSSC in the past because “the funding has not been there” and due to “rising costs.”

Tom Natelli, the CEO of Natelli Communities, which developed the Avenel community, said at the meeting that he understands people’s frustrations about WSSC Water not maintaining the facility, but that it is a conversation for another day. He said for now, the most important priority is keeping the facility from closing.

“I think today, what we need to do as a community is come together with WSSC and figure out the plan for how we move forward, so this facility is put back into a condition where it can serve the community for the purposes that were originally intended,” Natelli said.

The post Hundreds attend meeting to protest WSSC closing Avenel Equestrian Center appeared first on MoCo360.

A Potomac-based law firm Shulman Rogers, along with the owner of a Howard County apartment complex have been named in a class-action lawsuit that was filed in federal court last week. The suit accuses the law firm and property owner of illegally collecting rent from tenants at a property that had not been licensed since August 2021.

According to the complaint, the rental license was not renewed until June and the complex did not comply with Howard County law that requires landlords to acquire a rental housing license. The suit alleges that the law firm and property owners violated the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act and the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act. [The Daily Record]

Adoption fees at MoCo animal shelter waived until further notice

MoCo residents can adopt any animal from the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) without fees until further notice. According to the MCASAC website, the shelter – located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood – is currently facing a “population crisis.” The center is also looking for large dog fosters.

At various periods since August, the county animal shelter has offered fee-less adoptions due to the shelter reaching “dangerous capacity.” Those looking to adopt a furry friend can check out pets that are available for adoption in person or online, and can fill out an online questionnaire or email documents to the shelter. [My MCM]

Photographer and Springbrook HS graduate and listed on Forbes ‘30 under 30’

Jacob Webster, 25, a self-taught photographer who attended Springbrook High School in Silver Spring was named to Forbes magazine’s 2024 ’30 under 30’ list in the Arts & Style category. Webster has photographed celebrities such as Doja Cat, Keke Palmer and Michael B. Jordan and has more 100,000 followers on Instagram.

As a sophomore in high school, another student wrote an article about how he turned his childhood hobby into a job for the student newspaper The Blueprint. “It’s important to pursue your [interests] because you never know what they will turn into or how much you will enjoy them until you start. There is something for everyone,” he said. [The MoCo Show]

Today’s weather:

Sunny with a low of 23 degrees and a high of 39 degrees.

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The post MoCo law firm sued for collecting rent from unlicensed property appeared first on MoCo360.

Breast Cancer for Washington and the non-profit organization Nueva Vida have partnered to provide services to Hispanic women who need mammograms.

The “Mammovan” is a van that is on the road throughout Maryland, including Montgomery County, to provide free 3D mammography exams. The professional team performs 25 to 30 mammograms daily, according to Montgomery Community Media.

Nueva Vida reported that approximately 1 in 3 Hispanic men and 1 in 3 Hispanic women may be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is the leading cause of death among Latinos, accounting for 22 percent of deaths in 2012.

In the past two years, approximately 82 percent of Latina women in Maryland have been screened [Montgomery Community Media].

This weekend is anticipated to offer the best fall colors

Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources noted that some parts of the State will be on the cusp of peak leaf change on Saturday and Sunday. The mountains of Maryland will see bold shades of amber, crimson and gold. This weekend’s weather promises to bring warmer-than-average temperatures.

Here are three of the best places to admire the scenery:

1. In the picturesque Catoctin Mountains, Cunningham Falls is an ideal spot for viewing fall’s bounty of colors.
2. Potomac-Garrett State Forest, located in southwestern Garrett County in Western Maryland, is the birthplace of forestry conservation in Maryland.
3. Kilgore Falls are Maryland’s second-highest vertical drop waterfalls. Take a leisurely walk along a serene, scenic half-mile trail to get to the 17-foot-high falls.

Two window washers got stuck after a mechanical issue outside a building in Bethesda

According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, earlier this week, two window washers were working when they got stuck on scaffolding after a mechanical issue with a cable. The two workers weren’t injured. Emergency personnel arrived at the Marriott Headquarters located at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue.

The workers were removed safely by an aerial fire truck. As a precaution, Pepco took down power to a nearby pole during the removal [WUSA9].

Today’s weather:

Partly cloudy with a high of 79 degrees.

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The post Free 3D Mammography Service for Hundreds of Hispanic Women in MoCo appeared first on MoCo360.

The Potomac name brings to mind a few things. Television’s “Real Housewives,” for one. Perhaps horse country, for those who’ve lived here awhile. There are also the opulent mansions populated by the likes of Wonder Woman (actress Lynda Carter has lived in Potomac for decades). But whatever you associate this area with, count on one thing: The topography is beautiful. Potomac straddles the banks of the river it’s named after, and the origin of that name is derived from the Algonquin word Patowmack, referring to the region as a “great trading center” by the tribal nations who hunted its shoreline. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was built along the Potomac River to transport goods from Cumberland to Georgetown. Potomac’s natural wonders include a lengthy stretch of the C&O Canal Towpath and the wildflower meadows of the Glenstone museum. The community also caters to the sporting life, with equestrian farms and three golf courses. Potomac has been home to a king (Hussein of Jordan), champion boxers, the Marriotts and the Kennedys. You’ll see that the community’s trading heritage remains alive and well today in Potomac Village, with an array of dining options and retailers. 

Browse

Some longtime residents describe Strosniders Hardware as magical. That’s because the family-owned shop has been a staple in Potomac for 30 years (the original location in Bethesda opened in 1953). Hardware is only a portion of what’s crammed onto the shelves of this retro shop, which stocks goods ranging from gardening tools to designer paint, and seasonal decor to pet toys. 10110 River Road; strosniders.com

Dine

Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar in Potomac Village pays homage to the historic lockhouses just a few miles away. Owner and chef Robert Wiedmaier (who operates Marcel’s in D.C.) established this cozy dining room and clubby bar to serve up a mid-Atlantic-inspired menu. Wiedmaier, who grew up in Belgium, does mussels and frites with equal verve as crabcakes and steak. 10128 River Road; lock72.com

Carry

When the last thing you want to do is think about making dinner, turn to the glass cases at The Market at River Falls. They sell a wide array of droolworthy housemade dishes, but are especially known for their chicken noodle soup, beef kebabs and creamy mac and cheese. Offerings are rotated seasonally; in the fall, find root vegetables prepared every which way. 10124 River Road; marketriverfalls.com

Feast

The hot, savory pies at Potomac Pizza have been a neighborhood staple since 1978. And just because it’s old school doesn’t mean the restaurant hasn’t kept pace with more adventurous toppings. Sure, you can order pepperoni, but don’t miss the broccoli or spinach ricotta, and the gluten-free crust receives raves. 9812 Falls Road; potomacpizza.com

Discover

It may seem unlikely that a world-class art museum is nestled into the forests and hills of Potomac, but Glenstone is all that and more. Whether you’re into exhibits by the likes of Ellsworth Kelly or Faith Ringgold, or looking for a romantic stroll among installations by Andy Goldsworthy and Jeff Koons on the bucolic grounds, Glenstone is a must-see. 12100 Glen Road; glenstone.com

Marvel

The Indigenous people of the region were the first to walk trails that made hiking in Potomac a modern phenomenon. Begin your trek at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center and head to Olmsted Island to behold the extraordinary power of water as it crests over boulders in the Potomac River. Boardwalks over the rapids lead to the mightiest of these cascades, Great Falls, with a spectacular 76-foot drop over less than a mile. The sound of the water crashing over the jagged rocks resembles a freight train. 11710 MacArthur Blvd.; nps.gov/grfa

Commune

The babbling fountains and rustic stone walls of Old Angler’s Inn provide ambience for what has been a Potomac institution since 1860. While it’s currently only a restaurant, the historic inn predates the Civil War. Today, people walk up from the towpath to grab a post-hike meal, meet for brews in the beer garden, and settle at indoor tables beside a crackling fireplace. While Old Angler’s spent decades serving classic Continental fare, the menu has modernized with the likes of beef harvest bowls and shredded Brussels sprouts salad. 10801 MacArthur Blvd.; oldanglersinn.com

Coming Up

C&O Canal Trust Park After Dark is an annual fundraiser to support the C&O Canal Historical Park. Located at historic Great Falls Tavern, the celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 17 includes live music, food vendors and s’mores around the campfire. canaltrust.org

The annual Potomac Day at Potomac Village, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21, kicks off with a parade featuring local equestrians and a float contest. Afterward, the children’s fair opens with rides, games and food vendors. potomacchamber.org

This story appears in the September/October issue of Bethesda Magazine. 

The post Where to eat, hike and shop in Potomac appeared first on MoCo360.

Community members and local leaders gathered to commemorate the raising of Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church, a historic Black church in Potomac, after a flood in 2019 wiped out its foundation. This is the latest milestone in the project to restore the church and build a new place of worship.

According to Brian Gafney, an architect with Antunovich Associates, crews used hydraulics to move the 100-year-old two and half feet above Seven Locks Road to protect it from future flooding.

Former Montgomery County Executive Ike Legget attended the celebration and said, “Let me explain something to you, this is African American history.” [NBC4]

White Oak Duckpin Lanes reopen after two-year closure

White Oak Duckpin Lanes – which opened in 1959 – has been closed since September 2021 due to flooding that damaged the bowling lanes and a dispute with the building’s landlord. On Saturday the bowling alley, at 11207 New Hampshire Ave., held a grand reopening.

Watch the promotional video hyping up the reopening of White Oak Duckpin Lanes and check out photos documenting the process of redoing the lanes on their Instagram page. In the video an employee of the bowling alley put it simply, “White Oak’s back!” [The MoCo Show]

Police to bring back free catalytic converter etching program

Montgomery County Police are partnering with local auto-body shops and vehicle service centers to bring back their free catalytic converter etching program, “Etch and Catch.” The program aims to deter thefts of converters and help with the recovery of ones that have been stolen.

At the auto body shops and service center, technicians will etch a serial number onto the vehicle’s catalytic converter. The serial number is entered into a database to trace the part if it is stolen.

Residents can schedule an appointment by calling 240-773-5881 or by signing up online. [My MCM]

Today’s weather:

Sunny with a high of 81 degrees.

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The post Historic Black church in Potomac is raised after damage from flood appeared first on MoCo360.