Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

County Executive Elrich Will Lead Tribute to Latin Leaders and Salsa of ‘Verny Varela’ Will Be Featured at Wheaton TGIF Encore Concert on Friday, Oct. 13

Published October 12, 2023 at 5:26PM

Per Montgomery County: The salsa of Verny Varela will headline the closing concert of the Wheaton TGIF Friday Encore fall series and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will lead tributes to Latin leaders and employees on Friday, Oct. 13. The performance is part of a month of concerts that join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month The final event in the series, “Que Bonita Bandera,” invites community members to wear the colors representing the diversity of the County.

Marian Fryer Town Plaza is adjacent to the Wheaton Metro Station. The TGIF party will begin on the plaza at 5 p.m. with a special set by El Zol Radio. Verny Varela will play at 6 p.m. Parking is available in the building at 2425 Reedie Dr.

Beyond MoCo

Governor Wes Moore Joins U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at Prince George’s Community College in Support of Job Opportunity Expansion Funding Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 5:22PM

Prince George’s Community College

Per the State of Maryland (10.12.23): Today, Governor Wes Moore joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at Prince George’s Community College to announce funding for the Commercial Driver’s License program, highlighting President Joseph R. Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s job opportunity expansion. Governor Moore and Secretary Buttigieg were joined by former United States Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Prince George’s Community College External Affairs, Communications, and Advancement Vice President Dr. Sherrie A. Johnson to highlight investments in the future of the trucking industry in Maryland and across the country.

“Our administration is committed to investing in community colleges because our community colleges open new avenues for success for all, not just for some,” said Gov. Moore. “Today, we celebrate the important investment of the Prince George’s Community College Commercial Driver’s License program and we celebrate an economy that offers on-ramps to success and opportunity.”

MDLottery

$50,000 Winning Lottery Ticket Sold at MoCo Safeway

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 5:12PM | Updated October 12, 2023 at 5:33PM

Education

Statement From Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, Chair of the Education and Culture Committee, Regarding the Board of Education’s Redacted Release of the Jackson Lewis Report on MCPS Investigation

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 4:17PM

“I applaud the Board of Education for taking this important step forward in accountability and transparency for the families, students and staff within the school system. It has been two months since the allegations of employee misconduct by an MCPS principal were revealed through the press. At the EC Committee session held on Sept. 28, I called for the full release of a redacted report and my colleagues echoed that sentiment. It is only through transparency that we are able to have effective accountability and facilitate improvement in processes that protect our school community.

The release of the redacted report does not impact the ongoing investigations. The investigation through the Montgomery County Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues. Once the OIG releases its investigation findings, I will work with my colleagues to schedule a public meeting to discuss the findings and any recommended actions.”

Crime

Serial Hardware Store Thief Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 2:55PM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “This week, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Michael McAuliffe sentenced defendant, Terry Tompkins, 42, of Temple Hills, to 15 years in prison suspend all but four years to serve and five years of probation upon release. Tompkins pleaded guilty on December 19^th, 2022, to one count of robbery and three counts of theft stemming from four incidents at hardware stores in June and July of 2022. The sentencing hearing was held on Wednesday, October 10^th.

In one of the incidents, on July 30^th, 2022, Tompkins exited the Ace Hardware store in the 800 block of Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring, with a cart full of copper wire and other electric cable products without paying for the items. He then attacked a store employee who attempted to film him on a cell phone. Tomkins stole the phone as he fled.

Education

MCPS Deputy Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy No Longer Employed by the School District; Two Office of School Support and Well Being Staff Members On Leave

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 12:27PM | Updated October 12, 2023 at 12:48PM

Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight sent a message to MCPS staff on Wednesday, October 11, announcing that deputy superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy was no longer employed by the district. The message, provided to us by MCPS Communications Director Chris Cram, also states that two members of the MCPS Office of School Support and Well-Being (OSSWB), Dr. Donna Redmond Jones and Dr. Eugenia (Jeanie) Dawson are currently on leave.

Dr. Patrick Murphy was appointed as the MCPS deputy superintendent in 2022, a position previously held by Dr. McKnight. He was recently superintendent of Berkeley County Schools in West Virginia until 2022 and previously superintendent of Arlington Public Schools and in various instructional leadership positions in Fairfax County Public Schools. The message sent to staff can be seen below (note: We have been told by several MCPS staff members that they have not received this message):

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Announces $22.7 Million in New Computer Funding for Low-Income Residents

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 12:09PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has transmitted a request to the Montgomery County Council to approve a supplemental budget appropriation for $22,784,400 to purchase 60,000 Dell Chromebook laptops for residents who do not have a computer. The budget request is funded by a Federal Communications Commission Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) grant secured by the County Department of Technology & Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) and Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), with the support of Congressman David Trone. The new computer distribution program requires Council action to proceed, but could launch as early as next month.

“We are closing the digital divide in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Elrich. “Over the last year, our County has been spearheading efforts to get more computers into the hands of children and adults who need them. While the need continues to be out there, our computer distribution efforts are having an impact. As a result, most low-income families in our County will have digital access for homework, for remote work or to find a job. It is a way of helping end the poverty cycle and it doesn’t require anything but a library card. Computer and internet access are key equity issues. I appreciate the Montgomery County Libraries and TEBS for securing this grant and am grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation for this funding.”

Gaithersburg

Concern for Missing 73-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 12:03PM

Gaithersburg Police tweeted the following on Wednesday, October 11: “Missing Person 🚨 Asking for the public’s assistance in locating, Asoke Mukherjee, a missing 73-year-old from Gaithersburg. Please call (301) 279-8000 […]

Bethesda

MoCo Restaurants Dominate 2023 Yelp MD Burb’s “Top 25 Places to Eat” List

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 10:56AM | Updated October 12, 2023 at 12:00PM

Yelp’s “Yelp MD Burbs” released its list of “Top 25 Places to Eat in MD Burbs” and 18 of the 25 restaurants on the list are in Montgomery County, including four of the top five. Yelp is a popular company that publishes crowd-sourced reviews about businesses with a major focus on restaurants. According to Yelp, “The MD Burbs knows how to eat, and these locally-loved spots are proof of that! We’re excited to announce the MD Burbs’ Top 25 Places to Eat (2023), backed by Yelp data and approved by taste buds everywhere!”

https://www.facebook.com/tastemoco/posts/pfbid0GEXYRbUvfamiJfACVenm1maeQ87vw5UkPVRPWQxurXvabFqqQVYfnRwKNoaSn4pFl

MCPD

Suspect in Custody After Stabbing Custodian at Silver Spring Metro

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 9:51AM

According to a report by ABC 7, 38-year-old Daniyom Tesfaye was arrested by Montgomery County Police and charged with assault in connection with a stabbing that occurred Wednesday, October 11 in Silver Spring. Around 5:20pm a Metro contractor was stabbed in front of the Silver Spring Metro Station. Metro Transit Police reported that the victim was stabbed in the arm and sustained serious injuries. According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, “Montgomery County 3rd District Officers radioed that the victim had experienced “significant” blood loss and the Officers were able to further control the bleeding when they applied one of their tourniquets.” A suspect is not in custody at this time.

We will provide an update when additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

Clarksburg

Four $50,000 Winning Powerball Tickets Sold in Maryland; $1.765 Billion Winning Ticket Sold in California

By Patrick Herron

Published October 12, 2023 at 8:44AM

Last night’s drawing was the 2nd largest in lottery history. Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. Additional details below courtesy of MD Lottery:

Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.