MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

RespectFest to Take Place This April Discussing Dating Violence & Prevention, Healthy Relationships, and Consent

Published March 12, 2023 at 9:51AM

Choose Respect Montgomery’s annual event, RespectFest, will host a week of virtual activities, culminating in an in-person event from 1–4 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. Students aged 12–18 and their parents are invited to learn about dating violence and prevention, healthy relationships and consent. The virtual week runs from April 10–14. There will be workshops and activities for middle and high school students, parents and youth-service providers. Students can earn up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for participating.

The in-person festival will include activities to learn about dating violence, consent, how to help a friend and warning signs of an abusive relationship. There will also be performances, yoga and self-defense demonstrations and a resource fair with community organizations. Students can earn up to three SSL hours by participating in the education activities. The Wheaton Community Recreation Center is located at 11701 Georgia Avenue. RespectFest

Education

Maryland State Report Card Shows 92% of MCPS Schools Score 3 or Higher on Star Rating; Schools Receiving 5 Stars Rise By 42%

By MCS Staff

Published March 12, 2023 at 9:23AM

On Thursday, March 9, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released its accountability report card—the Maryland Report Card—for every school in the state of Maryland, designed to measure the success of schools and identify areas for improvement. The Maryland Report Card was last released in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MCPS STAR Ratings for 2022

DMV

Metro Debuting Cherry Blossom Themed Trains and Buses

By MCS Staff

Published March 12, 2023 at 9:08AM

Cherry Blossom Season is calling, and to celebrate the famous blooms Metro will have a specially designed cherry blossom train and buses to get you there. We’ve also cleared any maintenance and track work on Metrorail until late-night, including weekends, so that you can go see the blossoms without any scheduled disruptions.

Look for Metro’s cherry blossom train and buses debuting today. On Metrorail, our fully wrapped six-car cherry blossom train will be on the tracks, running on different lines throughout cherry blossom season. The pink and white train is decorated inside and out, covered in pink blooms. Keep an eye on the roads too. The two 40-foot Metrobuses are hard to miss with branches of cherry blossoms flowering on a white background and the words “The Blossoms are calling.”

Crime

Police Respond to Armed Robbery/Auto Theft in Rockville Saturday Night

By MCS Staff

Published March 12, 2023 at 1:00AM

Rockville Police responded to a call for armed robbery/auto theft on the 1300 block of Piccard Drive at approximately 9:30pm. According to police, an unknown male approached and pointed a handgun at the victim, taking the victim’s keys, and fleeing in a blue 2017 Hyundai Sonata, MD Tag 2DB6897. The suspect is described as a black male, early teens, 5’7, skinny build wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. The victim was not injured. Anyone who sees the stolen vehicle or has information is asked to call 911, by Rockville Police.

https://www.facebook.com/RockvilleCityPolice/posts/pfbid025hA4hQ62C7s8z1eoN77ARXpb25z33pEFudU7PfPJrwvgAJJkUTLS7BgyGeZBxF8Vl

Gaithersburg

The Ancient Ruins of Chi-Chi’s in Lakeforest Mall

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 11:55PM | Updated March 12, 2023 at 1:05AM

With Lakeforest closing in just a couple weeks, we felt it was time to bring back an old favorite here at The MoCoShow. Our founder, Mr. MoCo (Alex T.) has previously stated that some of his fondest MoCo memories took place at Chi-Chi’s (photos of the Lakeforest location below). Growing up in Gaithersburg, he and his family would frequently go to the Lakeforest location for dinner– it was the restaurant that introduced him to fried ice cream.

Chi-Chi’s also had a Rockville location in Wintergreen Plaza that later became Broadway/Ted’s 355 Diner and is currently Habit Burger and Jersey Mike’s. Tough the restaurant chain left town approximately two decades ago, Lakeforest never replaced it (located across from the old Lakeforest Silver Diner). The vacant location was closed off, but a few years backthe window covers were temporarily removed and MoCo resident Jeff Melia was able to take a few photos through the window. Inside were the ruins of days past.

MCFRS

Body Found on Blake High School Grounds Early Saturday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 6:05PM

James Hubert Blake High School principal Robert Sinclair Jr. sent out a message informing the Blake community of a body found on school grounds early Saturday morning. According to the message, a jogger who was using the school track found an unresponsive individual on school grounds and attempted to revive the individual unsuccessfully. Emergency personnel were also unable to revive the individual. Additional information can be found in the full letter to the community, seen below:

“Dear Blake High School Families, Students and Staff

Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg’s State of the City Address to Take Place Thursday, March 30

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 2:59PM

Mayor Jud Ashman and members of the City Council will host the annual State of the City Address on Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rosborough Cultural Arts Center on the grounds of Asbury Methodist Village. In addition to the Mayor’s annual address, the event also includes the presentation of awards for the Distinguished Resident, Outstanding Organization and Distinguished Friend of Gaithersburg, and serves as the final official event for Junior Mayor Loriele Nix.

Stacey Simon, City volunteer & Educational Enrichment Committee Chair, will be presented with the 2023 Distinguished Resident Award. The Outstanding Organization Award is being presented to Seneca Creek Community Church in recognition of its contributions to the Gaithersburg community. The Distinguished Friend Award will be presented to Jessie Chew, owner of Subway in Olde Towne, for supporting Gaithersburg Community and Homeless Services.

Crime

Montgomery County Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Gun And Drug Conspiracy Charges

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 2:58PM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Darryl Colton Frazer, age 34, of Silver Spring, Maryland, yesterday to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for gun and drug conspiracy charges and for violation of supervised release. Frazer was convicted of those charges on November 3, 2022, after a three-day trial.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on July 25, 2019, MCPD officers approached Frazer and co-defendant Shamire Moore after noting that Moore appeared to match the description of an individual involved a recent shooting. When Frazer and Moore saw the officers, they ran into a nearby residential area. Officers followed them and found Frazer in a nearby apartment building’s open stairwell attempting to enter an apartment.

Boyds

Detectives Seek Assistance in Locating Missing 16 Year Old

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 2:13PM | Updated March 13, 2023 at 8:41AM

Herrera is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has brown eyes and dark brown hair. She was last seen wearing a grey zip-up hoodie with the number ‘23’ on the back. Police and family are concerned for her welfare. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Brianna Herrera is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.

MoCo Police

MCPD Responds to Shooting Near Wheaton Mall

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 1:27PM

Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting in the 11160 block of Veirs Mill Rd. at approximately 11am on Saturday morning.

According to police, “A victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A suspect is in custody. The scene is secure and there is no current threat to the community.” Public safety reporter Cordell Pugh reports that one suspect is in custody after the victim was shot in the face and transported to the hospital.

Brookeville

Happy Ending For MoCo Native Scott Van Pelt and His Dog, Redd

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 11:42AM | Updated March 11, 2023 at 6:09PM

Almost 1 million people have seen the original tweet by MoCo native and ESPN SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt, asking for help after his dog, Redd, got out of a doggy daycare on Friday afternoon in Rockville/North Bethesda. “Heads up to anyone in Rockville, Md. area: Redd somehow got out of the Dogtopia on Wyaconda Rd. Rhodesian Ridgeback, about 65 pounds. He’s chipped. White front left paw and white markings on chest Please keep an eye out or an ear if you hear of anyone who might have found a puppy”

At 10:37pm, after hundreds of retweets and his tweet being seen by hundreds of thousands of people, Van Pelt announced that Redd was found. “Oh my goodness, they found him!!!! An army of people apparently on the case. I can’t even begin to connect the dots. I’m sitting here in tears on a plane headed home and Redd is gonna be there to greet me. I can’t believe it & I can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness.”