Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Montgomery County Council Approves County Executive’s Appointments of Scott Bruton as Director of Housing and Ben Stevenson as Director of Corrections

Published June 28, 2023 at 11:18AM

Per Montgomery County (6.27.23): The Montgomery County Council today approved County Executive Marc Elrich’s nominations of Scott Bruton to lead the County’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) and Ben Stevenson to lead the County’s Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DOCR).

Dr. Bruton originally came to the County six months ago. He served as deputy director and acting director of DHCA before being confirmed today. Dr. Bruton brings a lot of real-world experience to his new role as director. Dr. Bruton spent the last seven years working for the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development in Washington, D.C., where he was senior vice president for housing policy, research and development.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Holiday Schedule for Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4

By Patrick Herron

Published June 28, 2023 at 11:15AM

· Montgomery Parks—Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org for complete information.

Wheaton

Wheaton TGIF Concert Series, Starting July 7 with the Brass of ‘Black Masala,’ Will Celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

By Patrick Herron

Published June 28, 2023 at 11:11AM

Per Montgomery County: The Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District has teamed up with the iconic Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center for this year’s TGIF Summer Concert Series, offering after-work celebrations on Friday evenings. The weekly series, which will start July 7, will feature bands ranging from Black Masala to Jah Works, live artist demonstrations and beverages from Twin Valley Distillers.

The concerts will be at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station.

MCDOT

‘Courtesy Stop’ Program of Ride On and Metrobus Will Allow Late Night Bus Riders to Request Drop-Offs Between Stops for Safer Travels After Dark

By Patrick Herron

Published June 28, 2023 at 11:03AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Ride On bus riders and Metrobus riders on most Montgomery County routes will be able to request to be dropped off between stops when traveling late at night starting Sunday, July 2. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Ride On buses and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrobuses will begin offering the “Courtesy Stop” program to allow bus riders more options to get to their destination safely and easily when traveling after dark.

Available after 9 p.m., the Courtesy Stop program will let riders request to be dropped off at any point along the regular bus route, in addition to designated bus stops.

Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks Special Events and Programs Will Include Foodie Friday, Never Grow Up and Shakespeare

By Patrick Herron

Published June 28, 2023 at 11:01AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery Parks will help celebrate July as Park and Recreation Month with a wide variety of programs that will include Foodie Friday, Never Grow Up and Shakespeare.

The July special events schedule for Montgomery Parks will include:

North Bethesda

Pike District Partnership Hires Eugene Cornelius as its First Executive Director

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 10:28PM

The Pike District Partnership was launched in 2022 to continue the mission of both former community advocacy organizations- the Friends of White Flint and the White Flint Development Advisory Committee- to support North Bethesda while also bringing together the business, entertainment, and residential components of a dynamic mixed-use urban submarket. Located just outside Washington, DC in Montgomery County, MD, the Pike District is the core of North Bethesda. With the successful Pike & Rose at the center and the recent roadway improvements, this area is quickly becoming a sustainable and walkable community with a mix of local and regional businesses and a variety of housing and transportation options with entertainment, recreation, shopping, and dining amenities.

The PDP received funding from the Montgomery County’s Emerging Business District grant program to use in executing on a vigorous marketing plan that includes business promotions, community events and placemaking and continue to focus on important issues that impact the community such as pedestrian safety and smart development, ensuring that the 2010 White Flint Sector plan stays true to its vision.

Maryland

Governor Moore Announces More Than $267 Million in Federal Funding to Expand High-Speed Internet Access in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 10:21PM

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Office of Statewide Broadband is developing a plan for how the funding will be deployed through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Office of Statewide Broadband held four webinars and four outreach conferences this past spring to solicit feedback on what Marylanders and jurisdictions would like to see incorporated into the plan.

“Every Marylander should have access to high-speed Internet, which plays a pivotal role in shaping economic outcomes and is to equitable development today what water and sewer systems have been for the past 150 years,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The Office of Statewide Broadband is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and addressing disparities for residents across the state.”

Beyond MoCo

Former Laurel Police Chief Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Murder in Connection to Twelve Acts of Arson in Maryland, Including Clarksburg

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 2:46PM | Updated June 27, 2023 at 6:13PM

Additional details on Crawford’s conviction below per the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office: David Crawford, age 71, was found guilty of eight counts of attempted 1st-degree murder, three counts of 1st-degree arson and one count of 1st-degree malicious burning by a Howard County jury today in a serial arson investigation spanning multiple counties in Maryland. Crawford was arrested in March of 2021 in connection to 12 arsons that occurred in Howard, Frederick, Charles, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s County from 2011 to 2020. Investigators had surveillance video in many cases where Crawford displayed a similar pattern of starting the fires with gasoline. Investigators linked multiple cases following a 2020 fire when they discovered Crawford had previous disagreements with multiple victims. In January 2021, a search of Crawford’s residence found several pieces of evidence, including a list of targets that were known victims.

Crawford is a former Police Chief for the City of Laurel, where he last served from 2006 until his resignation in 2010. Prior to that, Crawford was Chief of the District Heights Police Department and served as a Major for the Prince George’s County Police Department. Investigators say none of the civilian victims of the fires were connected to Crawford through his law enforcement career.

Crime

Detectives Investigate Shed Burglary; Photos of Suspect Released

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 2:31PM | Updated June 28, 2023 at 4:26PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 4th District Investigative Section are investing a shed burglary that occurred on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in the 12300 block of Atherton Dr. in Silver Spring. Detectives have released photos of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

At approximately 6:25 p.m., 4th District officers responded to the location for the report of a burglary that just occurred. The investigation by detectives determined that the unknown male suspect went into the victim’s shed and placed stolen tools in a black backpack. As the suspect was walking away from the scene, the adult male victim confronted him and pulled on the backpack, causing the stolen tools to fall. The suspect walked away from the scene without any stolen property.

Beyond MoCo

Montgomery Village Resident Wins $107,801

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 1:46PM | Updated June 27, 2023 at 8:53PM

A Montgomery Village resident is $107,801 richer after purchasing a winning lottery ticket in Prince George’s County. Full story, courtesy of MD Lottery: A lucky 32-year-old Montgomery Village lady found a six-figure Lottery win was in the cards when she bought a FAST PLAY World Championship Poker ticket. She won a $107,801 progressive jackpot prize!

On June 26, the winner briefly stopped by Maryland Lottery headquarters to claim her prize. The Montgomery County woman is still pondering what to do with the windfall and quickly left to celebrate her Lottery luck with loved ones. Kenilworth Liquors at 5401 Kenilworth Avenue in Riverdale Park shares in her good fortune, receiving a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a progressive jackpot-winning FAST PLAY ticket on June 22. The World Championship Poker game went on sale Sept. 6, 2021 and has eight progressive jackpots remaining. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

Germantown

Concern for Missing 15-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 1:31PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Beatrice Cole, a missing 15-year-old from Germantown.

Beatrice was last seen on Friday, June 23, 2023, at approximately 12 a.m., leaving her residence in the 19700 block of Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. Beatrice is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.