Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs is honoring many “Fallen Hometown Heroes” with County connections dating back to World War I with detailed tributes displayed on a special website created by the commission. The tribute is especially notable as the County prepares to commemorate Memorial Day on Monday, May 29.
To learn more about the Montgomery Commission on Veterans Affairs, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cva.
Per Montgomery County: Warm weather is settling in and Wheaton is ready to welcome it. From noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, the Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Downtown Wheaton will turn into a ”Spring Fling” free community picnic scene with music, food and drinks from local merchants, lawn games and arts and crafts. Marian Fryer Town Plaza is located at 2424 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton. It is close to the Wheaton Metro Station and there is significant nearby parking.
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) will hold a fee-waived adoption event for all dogs starting Thursday, May 18, and running through Sunday, May 28. The “Love is Blooming” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA).
Through adoptions, education and outreach, MCASAC serves as a critical community resource to promote and advocate for responsible pet care. Animal Services officers are available seven days a week, 24 hours each day, to investigate complaints and respond to animal emergencies.
Per Montgomery County: The Gaithersburg Book Festival, which since its inception in 2010 has evolved into one of the nation’s premier book festivals, will offer the opportunity to hear more than 135 authors for free from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. Among this year’s feature authors will be humorist Dave Barry.
Among this year’s featured guests at the festival’s numerous pavilions will be the author of dozens of best-seller humor books Dave Barry (4:15 p.m.); poet Fran Abrams (4:15 p.m.); romantic comedy author Sarah Adler (11:15 a.m.); children’s authors M.T. Anderson (10:15 a.m.), Tom Angleberger (10:15 a.m.) and John David Anderson (11:15 a.m.); thrillers author E.A. Aymar (2:15 p.m.); mystery writers Andrea Bartz (1:15 p.m.) and Julia Bartz (4:15 p.m.); and fiction writer Louis Bayard (12:15 p.m.).
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now accepting mattresses and box springs at the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center in Derwood. The new recycling program provides an opportunity for community members to responsibly dispose of old mattresses and box springs and will greatly reduce waste.
Acceptable items in the new recycling program include mattresses and box springs such as, but not limited to:
Earlier today, we reported that the Walnut Hill shopping center in Gaithersburg (16529 S Frederick Ave) is “at lease” with a new grocer to take over the 21,000 SF spot that has previously been home to Weis, Bottom Dollar, and Food Lion. We can now confirm that both Aldi and Sheetz have finalized deals to come to the shopping center.
Granite Canyon Partners, a local real estate investment group, is partnering with Standard Properties, the original/current owners of Walnut Hill, with the redevelopment of the shopping center. Granite Canyon tells us that bringing a grocery store back to the shopping center was their number one priority and that the redeveloped Walnut Hill will have a modernized look and feel that includes a large mural facing 355 and nine electric vehicle charging stations.
Per MCPD: A Silver Spring man is in custody, one year after a home invasion and shooting of a 58-year-old woman. 27-year-old Saatehu Mesutmen has been charged with home invasion and first-degree attempted murder for allegedly shooting the victim inside of her home in the 13200 block of Stravinsky Terrace in Silver Spring on Monday, April 11, 2022.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that the suspect, Mesutmen, fired multiple shots through the sliding glass door in the back of the house and entered the residence, where he located the victim and shot her. The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition where she was treated in the Intensive Care Unit and later released. Mesutmen had no connection to the victim.
Westfield Wheaton Mall offers a wide variety of retail and dining options and play areas for children. In conjunction with the event, AMC Wheaton Mall 9 will showcase the latest, live-action rendition of Disney’s classic tale, which is set to be released in theaters on May 26. Movie goers are encouraged to purchase their tickets here.
This version of The Little Mermaid features a Black actress, singer Halle Bailey, in the iconic role of Ariel. The official trailer for the movie went viral last fall and now surpasses 15 million views. The decision to cast Bailey and release of the trailer sparked a worldwide response, with parents of young Black girls sharing their children’s enthusiastic reactions across social media. “We can’t wait to see the smiles on everyone’s faces as they meet real mermaids and lay their eyes on the elaborate decorations and experiences we’ve been planning for months. It feels great to welcome back The Little Mermaid to the big screen,” says Michael Lado, Director of Marketing at Westfield Wheaton Mall. “I know our mall patrons will be thrilled with everything Westfield Wheaton has done to bring this film to life, and make it part of their world.”
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested and charged 20-year-old Jose Roberto Hernandez-Penal of Hyattsville with first-degree rape, kidnapping and armed robbery. Detectives have released a photo of Hernandez-Penal and are urging anyone who may be a victim of a sexual assault by Hernandez-Penal to come forward.
On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 3rd District officers responded to the Northwest Branch Trail in the 10700 block of Columbia Pike in Silver Spring for the report of a rape and an armed robbery. The investigation by detectives has revealed that at approximately 2:40 p.m., Hernandez-Penal approached two adult females on the Northwest Brach Trail, displayed a machete, stole their property and sexually assaulted one of the victims. Hernandez-Penal then left the scene. Upon leaving the scene, Hernandez-Penal assaulted an adult male victim in the 1100 block of Devere Drive.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Emily Velasquez, a missing 15-year-old from Gaithersburg.
Emily was last seen on Monday, May 15, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., in the 19300 block of Pointsetta Court in Gaithersburg. Emily is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 150. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.
After her father was diagnosed with stage four thyroid cancer in 2019, Emily Bhatnagar began For Love and Buttercup, a pediatric book drive for children with cancer. Bhatnagar, a 2022 graduate of Quince Orchard High School, purchases books by using the tips she earns from working at her parents’ small bread shop, Monsoon Kitchen in Gaithersburg. A large portion also come from donations made through her Amazon Wishlist.
If you would like donate, visit the For Love and Buttercup Amazon Wishlist or send a direct message to @forloveandbuttercup on Instagram.