MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Fire at Auto Body Shop Causes Approximately $400K in Damage

Published March 29, 2023 at 9:29AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call involving a fire at a body shop on Piney Branch Rd at Arliss St in Silver Spring at approximately 10:40pm on Tuesday night.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, approximately 60 firefighters were on the scene of the commercial building fire. The fire originated at a car parked outside and an outdoor trash can before spreading inside to the garage area of the body shop. The cause of the fire, which started at the front of the vehicle, is unknown at this time and still under investigation. Approximately $400k in damage was incurred. Photos courtesy of Pete Piringer.

Business

Quince Orchard Alumnus Brings ‘LavaBox’ to Shark Tank on Friday Night

By MCS Staff

Published March 29, 2023 at 8:27AM

Josh Thurmond, a 1994 graduate of Quince Orchard High School and Gaithersburg native, is the inventor of LavaBox Portable Campfire– a new style of portable fire pit that’s built in a military-style ammunition can and was “created to combat climate change and reduce wildfires.” LavaBox has made waves, or fires, since its inception in late 2020, and now Thurmond will take it into the Shark Tank on Friday, March 31st at 8pm.

In addition to being the inventor of LavaBox, Thurmond is also the “Chief Eruption Officer” and in charge of making sure every LavaBox gets out the door to you. Per the LavaBox website, “When he is not making LavaBoxes, he develops outdoor adventure programs for people with disabilities at the National Sports Center for the Disabled. He also volunteers for Team River Runner and sits on the Board for the Colorado Whitewater Association. Needless to say, if you are looking for him, he is probably surfing on his SUP or doing enders on a sweet eddyline.”

Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg City Clerk Doris Stokes Named Municipal Clerk of the Year

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 10:32PM

Per the City of Gaithersburg: The City announced today that City Clerk Doris Stokes was named the Maryland Municipal Clerks Association (MMCA) Clerk of the Year for 2023. With more than 28 years of service in municipal government, Stokes demonstrates the qualities, experience, and characteristics deserving of this recognition.

A long serving member of MMCA, Stokes held the role of vice president from 2018-2022 and was part of the Region II Conference Planning Committee in 2014, 2018, and 2023. She was instrumental in planning MMCA’s 2018 Region II Conference, which was held in Gaithersburg, Md. In addition to MMCA, Stokes has dedicated time to the Maryland Municipal League and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Association.

Education

Student Leaders Elected and Honored at Annual Maryland Association of Student Councils Convention

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 10:27PM

Per MCPS: Forty-eight student leaders from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) participated in the annual Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) annual Convention held in Ocean City, Maryland this year. More than 500 student leaders from across the state of Maryland attended the conference to participate in leadership workshops, vote on the MASC officers for next year, hear program updates from across the state, and more. Convention Highlights:

Wheaton

Defendant Sentenced to 40 Years in Near-Decapitation Murder Case

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 5:15PM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, Jose Lara-Chacon of Wheaton was sentenced on Friday to life in prison suspend all but 40 years and five years of supervised probation upon release. A jury convicted Lara-Chacon of first-degree murder in November for the death of 21-year-old Dimer Diaz Martinez.

This stems from an incident on January 22, 2021 in an apartment along the 12000 block of Viers Mill Rd. in Wheaton. The defendant called 911 requesting emergency response to the scene, stating he and the victim had been drinking alcohol and that he injured the victim. During an interview with detectives, the defendant stated he hit the victim with a baseball bat twice in the head and “finished off” the victim by stabbing him in the neck. The victim was nearly decapitated. The defendant stated after he stabbed the victim, he placed a knife in the victim’s hand and then called 911.

Bethesda

New Principal Appointed at Watkins Mill High School and Two Elementary Schools

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 5:00PM

Per Montgomery County Public Schools: The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

Robert Sinclair Jr., currently Principal, James Hubert Blake High School, as Consulting Principal, Department of Professional Growth Systems, Office of Human Resources and Development, Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Gaithersburg

Hybrid Public Meeting on the Washington Grove Connector Project in Washington Grove to be Held on Thursday, April 13

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 4:33PM

Per MCDOT: On Thursday, April 13, starting at 7 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a hybrid public meeting to discuss the latest progress on the Washington Grove Connector project within the historic Town of Washington Grove, located within Gaithersburg, MD. The public will have an opportunity to attend in person or virtually to ask questions and provide comments.

The Washington Grove Connector project will evaluate the feasibility of a master-planned bike trail connection and allow MCDOT to collect public feedback. The project will help connect the terminus of Crabbs Branch Way to the Town of Washington Grove and the City of Gaithersburg. The project will also improve connectivity to the Shady Grove Metro as well as retail and commercial areas south of MD-200 / I-370. Public input is encouraged and may influence the design of the project.

Beyond MoCo

FBI Offering $10,000 Reward for Information Leading to the Arrest of Ex-Chief of Staff to Former Gov. Hogan, Roy C. McGrath

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 3:59PM

Per the Federal Bureau of Investigation: The FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in locating fugitive Roy C. McGrath (photo below), age 53, of Naples, Florida, who is the ex-chief of staff to former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. An arrest warrant has been issued for McGrath after he failed to appear in Baltimore, Maryland, for trial on March 13, 2023. McGrath is now a fugitive and considered an international flight risk.

On October 5, 2021, McGrath was indicted in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for violations of 18 USC 1343 (wire fraud) and 18 USC 666 (theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds). During his October 2021 court appearance, McGrath entered a plea of not guilty on all charges and was released pre-trial on the condition that he appear at all scheduled court dates.

Beyond MoCo

Six-Year-Old Giraffe Dies Unexpectedly At The Maryland Zoo

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 2:30PM

A six-year-old giraffe named Willow has died at the Maryland Zoo, the zoo announced via social media on Tuesday afternoon. The giraffe, born at the zoo in 2017, had shown signs of illness for several days. Full statement by the Maryland Zoo below:

“It is difficult to put into words the impact Willow the giraffe has had since she was born here in 2017. If you’ve followed us for a while, you know. Our Zoo family is truly broken as we share with you that Willow has passed on. Several days ago, Willow’s care team noticed something was off when she didn’t eat her typical meals and showed other signs of illness. Since then, Zoo veterinarians and other team members have been working together, taking steps to treat the gastrointestinal issues Willow was experiencing. Last night, Willow’s condition significantly worsened, and after every effort was made to save her, the team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her.

Downtown Silver Spring

Gold’s Gym Looking to Open New Germantown Location in May

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 12:34PM

Coming soon signage went up at the upcoming Gold’s Gym location at 12922 Middlebrook Road in Germantown in late 2022, at the former location of DSW that closed earlier that year in the Germantown Commons shopping center next to Bed Bath & Beyond. We were told by a Gold’s Gym representative that the gym plans to open in mid-May.

In December we reported that Gold’s Gym closed its Layhill Center location in Silver Spring. We were told the decision was made to not renew the lease at 14348 Layhill Rd. A new Downtown Silver Spring location was announced last month. Gold’s Gym has other Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Olney, and two in Rockville (Rockville Town Square and Wintergreen Plaza). A new tenant has already been announced for the old Germantown Gold’s Gym space in the Fox Chapel shopping center.

Events

Montgomery Parks April Special Events and Programs

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 9:47AM

Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks is blooming with a full lineup of special events and programs in April. Including events catering to people 55 and older, hikes with (and without) dogs, our annual Petal and Paws event, outdoor Sunday brunches, and roller disco. Put on your hiking boots or roller skates and join us:

April events in Montgomery Parks include: