Author: MCS Staff

Bethesda

Under Armour Names Marriott’s Stephanie Linnartz New President and CEO

By MCS Staff

Under Armour, founded by MoCo native Kevin Plank, announced that Marriott’s Stephanie Linnartz will join the company as President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of its Board of Directors, effective February 27, 2023. Her appointment follows a thorough and deliberate search led by a committee of independent members of Under Armour’s Board of Directors. Linnartz currently serves as the president of Bethesda-based Marriott International, Inc., the world’s largest hospitality company, with a portfolio of nearly 8,200 properties across 138 countries and territories and 30 brands, including The Ritz-Carlton®, St. Regis®, Marriott Hotels®, W® Hotels, and Westin® as well as the industry’s most extensive customer-loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy®, which has 173 million members.

Per the press release: “As a 25-year veteran of one of the world’s most respected global companies, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the brand,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour Executive Chair and Brand Chief. “She is a proven growth leader with a distinguished track record of brand strategy, omnichannel execution, talent acquisition and development, and passion for driving best-in-class consumer connectivity, experience, and brand loyalty.”

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Crime

Statement of Charges For Torrey Moore; Man Accused of Killing Shell Station Employee and 8-Month Pregnant Woman in White Oak

By MCS Staff

Statement of Charges, per the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: “On 12/8/22 at 3:00 PM, Montgomery County Police responded to a convenience store at the Shell Gas station located at 11150 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found the victim, Ayalew Wondimu, a black male with date of birth of 11/6/61, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigation revealed the victim was working inside the store, behind the register when he was shot. Wondimu was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Your affiant (Detective Dimitry Ruvin) reviewed surveillance video from inside and outside the store. The video showed the suspect entering the store at 2:58PM. The suspect selected a soft drink and then approached the victim, who was standing behind the cash register. The suspect appeared to have a conversation with the victim and then picked up several items from on top of the counter and threw them at the victim. The victim picked up a pole and attempted to strike the suspect. The suspect then backed up and produced a handgun and fired at the victim.

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Potomac

Potomac Businessman and Former Harvard Fencing Coach Acquitted of Bribery Charges

By MCS Staff

A former Harvard fencing coach (Peter Brand, 67) , and a Potomac businessman (Jie “Jack” Zhao, 61) were found not guilty of conspiracy and bribery in a scheme the government claimed involved $1.5 million in payments to the coach in order to get Zhao’s two sons into Harvard.

Prosecutors alleged that Zhao made $1.5 million in payments to Brand. They alleged Zhao paid for Brand’s car, made college tuition payments for Brand’s son, paid the mortgage on Brand’s Needham residence, and later purchased the residence for well above its market value, thus allowing Brand to purchase a more expensive residence in Cambridge that Zhao then paid to renovate. The defense argued that Zhao’s sons didn’t need any help getting into Harvard, and that the payments were loans that Zhao made to Brand because they were close friends. Jurors were shown checks supporting the defense’s claim that Brand repaid the loans with an inheritance he received after his mother’s death last year. 

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DC Sports

Forbes Reports The Commanders Are Expected to Sell For “Well North” Of $7 Billion; Bids To Purchase The Team Are Due Today

By MCS Staff

When Jay Glazer reported last month that the Washington Commanders were expected to sell for $7 billion, many thought it wouldn’t be possible for embattled owner to get bids that high. Forbes had previously valued the Commanders at $5.6 billion in August (excluding real estate), which put Washington as the sixth most valuable NFL franchise. With bids for the team due today, Forbes now reports that that Snyder has received bids “well north” of $7 billion, which would be a big return on the $800 million the team went for when Snyder bought the franchise in 1999.

Yesterday, JP Finlay of NBC Sports reported that “At least 5 and possibly as many as 7 bidders expected for the Commanders, per multiple sources. Bids due tomorrow 12/23. Price tag was believed to be at least $6 billion but after Suns sale that’s gone up. Market is brisk. Commanders have no comment.” When commenting on the Forbes report of bids “well north” of $7 billion, Al Galdi of the Al Galdi Show wrote, “…speaks to how much the team is viewed as a sleeping giant. …indicates selling only a minority stake isn’t much of an option. …is further reason to believe Dan is on his way out.” According to various reports, many feel the team will sell for the asking price and the Commanders will be under new ownership for the 2023 NFL season.

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MCDOT

Decorated ‘Flash’ Buses Are Still on the Move in the County

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Bus Rapid Transit buses, known as Flash, are all decked out for the holidays. Residents will see them throughout December running along Colesville Road and Columbia Pike (US 29) on the route from the Silver Spring Transit Center to Briggs Chaney and Burtonsville, with stops along the way. 

Flash is a fast bus service that is currently planned for four additional corridors in Montgomery County. The projects will transform mobility options by offering high-frequency bus services along predetermined corridors. The projects also will bring bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the corridors to make it easier to get to Flash stations. Where possible, Flash buses will run in dedicated lanes to bypass existing traffic congestion.

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Events

‘Home for the Holidays:’ Montgomery County’s Animal Services and Adoption Center and FMCA Extends Fee-Waived Adoption Event for All Animals Through December 31

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) is extending the “Home for the Holidays” fee-waived adoption event for all animals through Dec. 31. The adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA).

“Thank you to everyone who has shared our plea, visited the adoption center, and adopted since the beginning of the holiday promotion,” said Adoption Supervisor Faith Koleszar. “We asked for help and our call was answered. We are so grateful for the support we received. Because of our community, we have doubled the number of people coming in through the doors every day and over 100 animals have been adopted. In thanks and celebration, I am so happy FMCA offered to extend this promotion and do more good before the new year.”

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MCFRS

Driver Struck By Passing Car After Exiting Vehicle Following Collision

By MCS Staff

A driver of a vehicle involved in a collision got out of their vehicle and was struck by a passing vehicle on the 11500 block of Veirs Mill Rd on Thursday evening, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The collision occurred at approximately 5:30pm on Veirs Mill Rd near Newport Mill Rd in Wheaton-Glenmont. The driver that was struck by the passing vehicle has been transported to  the hospital with priority 1 trauma (life threatening injuries). Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

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MoCoSnow

Wind Chill Advisory in Effect Starting 6pm Friday; Cold Emergency Alert Starting 12pm Friday

By MCS Staff

A wind chill advisory is in effect for all of Montgomery County from 6pm Friday until 10am Saturday. According to the National Weather Service, “very cold wind chills, as low as 10 below zero, are expected. The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken. A strong cold front will move through Friday bringing a very sharp drop in temperatures with strong southerly winds shifting to strong westerly. By Friday evening, this combination of wind and cold will result in wind chills dropping below zero with wind chills as low as 10 below expected overnight Friday night into early Saturday. Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.”

Rain is likely and a little snow is possible early Friday with a rapid freeze later in the day, but there won’t be too much precipitation. A Cold Emergency Alert has also been issued for Montgomery County for 12:00 PM Friday, December 23 – 11:59 PM Saturday, December 24. “Residents should be prepared for wind chill values to be below zero degrees. These dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin within 30 minutes and/or hypothermia. Stay indoors if possible.” More info: https://bit.ly/2JdmQ3C

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Events

Things To Do Dec. 23 – Jan. 2 (Montgomery Parks)

By MCS Staff

Happy holidays! How are you going to keep the kids busy during their winter break? We have these suggestions for activities around Montgomery Parks in this special edition of Parks’ Picks for Friday, December 23, 2022, through Monday, January 2, 2023.

Per Montgomery Parks: Get the children outdoors. Burn off some energy at the playground. We have 276 playgrounds, so there is no shortage of something new to explore. Bring a ball and play a game of soccer, football, or basketball. Pack a lunch and snacks and go hiking! Montgomery Parks has 280 miles of both paved and natural surface trails.

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