Masking, Olympics, Business Openings: MOCO's Top News 2021

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — In 2021, Montgomery County Patch readers were curious about mask mandates, vaccinations, the status of schools, businesses and more.

Residents saw changes to laws, a Bethesda native won the first ever women's 1500-meter freestyle race in Olympic history, the return of some county services and more this year. Here are some of the most read and most important stories of 2021 in Montgomery County Patches.

Mask Mandate
The Montgomery County mask mandate was reinstated this summer when COVID-19 cases began to rise. It was lifted in October when the rate of transmission slowed to moderate, and when cases began to rise again the County Council voted to instate a new policy that would only return the mandate if transmission was substantial for seven consecutive days. The mandate was most recently reinstated on Nov. 20.

BioNTech, Pfizer Vaccine Partner, Opens Research Plant In MOCO
BioNTech announced it will research cell therapies for cancer at its new facility in Gaithersburg.

Johns Hopkins Helps MoCo Vaccinate MCPS Staff, Eligible Residents
In January 2021, the university announced it would help Montgomery County vaccinate residents who were eligible.

MOCO’s Schools
When Montgomery County Public Schools reopened for in-person instruction this fall, it required all students and staff to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

The Board of Education lost a longtime member when Pat O’Neill died suddenly in September. She had been serving on the board since 1998 and was heralded by her colleagues as a champion of children’s education.

The Board accepted applications for someone to fill her District Three seat and chose Scott Joftus, a father of two Walt Whitman students and the founder of a consulting firm that specializes in school and district improvement, out of the 18 people who applied.

Board of Education President Brenda Wolff and Vice President Karla Silvestre were elected to serve another term.

New Businesses In Town

Despite the challenges many businesses have faced since March 2020, Montgomery County has seen new restaurants and stores open in 2021.

Guy Fieri Opens Gaithersburg Ghost Kitchen Called Flavortown
The Flavortown Kitchen has shareables, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Taco Bamba Now Open In Rockville With 'Record-Setting' Turnout
A local taco chain saw great success when it opened a Rockville location in June.

Amazon To Open Chevy Chase Grocery Store As Expansion Continues
Amazon announced its new store locations and said it would hire 750 people in the DMV area by the end of the year, including at its Chevy Chase store.

Food Truck Stolen: Beltway Bistro Missing Weeks Before Opening
One business owner was close to opening his food truck when it was stolen from him. It was found vandalized and stripped, and James Turner had to delay his opening. When community members heard about the theft, they fundraised $11,000 in just two days.

Reopenings

Many county and town services closed or went online in 2020, and some saw a reopening in 2021. In Montgomery County, the adoption center reopened for potential pet owners, the libraries allowed browsers back in, senior centers resumed in-person programming, and the county’s Alcohol and Beverage Services stores resumed regular hours.

• A Ruff Year Turns Around At The Montgomery County Adoption Center
• All MOCO Libraries Now Reopened, With Final Six Debuting Tuesday
• Senior Centers Reopening in Montgomery County June 14
• ABS Stores Resume Normal Business Hours In Montgomery County

New Votes, Laws, And Regulations

The County Council had an active year, with several new laws and ordinances passed in MOCO.

5G Towers Approved: Council Allows Antennae Installations In MOCO
Under the new guidelines antennae are allowed on telephone poles that already exist or replace existing utility, streetlight, or parking lot lighting poles, some as close as 30 feet to homes. 5G is the "fifth generation" of wireless cell technology — the Federal Communications Commission says that 5G can deliver speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G technology.

Ezechiel’s Law Signed: Landlords Must Install Window Guards
Landlords and apartment building owners will now have to install window guards in apartments where children younger than 10 live. The law applies to any multi-family building in Montgomery County. Landlords will also be required to install window guards for any tenant who requests it in writing.

Eligibility For Income Tax Credit Expands In Montgomery County
The council's move will allow noncitizens who do not have a Social Security number — which is required to receive a federal income credit — to receive the county's supplement. The bill is in place for taxes from 2019 until Jan. 1, 2023.

Speed Limits Drop To 20MPH On Some Bethesda, Germantown Streets
This initiative is supposed to protect pedestrians. It was unveiled in Germantown, North Bethesda and Long Branch.

County Climate Action Plan Unveiled: Focused On 7 Key Areas
The plan has steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. There are 86 actionable items.

Community Corner

'Cicada Mania': Chocolate-Covered Bugs The Craze In Gaithersburg
When cicadas began to swarm in Maryland, one Montgomery County chocolatier saw an opportunity to make something both salty and sweet.

Ledecky Wins Gold In First 1,500 Meter Free In Olympic History
Bethesda’s famous swimmer had another impressive Olympic run, which included her earning the gold in the first ever women’s 1,500 meter freestyle.

'Chess At Light Speed': 3 MD Kids Make National Table Tennis Team
Stanley Hsu, 12; Ryan Lin, 11; and Mu Du, 13, all made it onto the National Table Tennis team this summer. They train at the Maryland Table Tennis Center in Gaithersburg.