Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Accepting Holiday Trees for Recycling

Published January 4, 2023 at 2:07PM

“Increasing sustainable practices and habits in our daily life is a great New Year’s resolution,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Recycling Christmas trees and wreaths is much better for environment than simply throwing them away. I appreciate our Department of Environmental Protection for offering this service to our residents and I encourage everyone discarding live trees and wreaths to recycle them.”

Collected trees are taken to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station, where they are shredded and chipped for mulch. The facility is located at 16105 Frederick Rd. in Derwood. Residents also can take their trees to the Transfer Station and drop them off for recycling. Live trees with root balls, or that have their roots intact, cannot be collected as yard trim.

Gaithersburg

City of Gaithersburg Celebrates Financial Wellness Month

By Patrick Herron

Published January 4, 2023 at 2:04PM

Per the City of Gaithersburg: The City celebrates Financial Wellness Month in January with educational programs that help increase the financial stability & well-being of City residents. In recognition of this month, the Financial Empowerment Center presents a virtual Financial Education Workshop series featuring experts from leading financial institutions & members of the Gaithersburg Financial Wellness Coalition. Workshops are available in both English & Spanish. All sessions will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. To register, e-mail [email protected] with your name, e-mail address & what session(s) you would like to sign up for. A Zoom link will be sent to participants before each session.

With a proclamation at their meeting on January 3, the Mayor & City Council officially proclaimed January as Financial Wellness Month in the City. View the meeting presentation here.

MoCo Police

MCPD Holiday Alcohol Task Force Arrest 40 People for DUI During Week 8 of Enforcement

By Patrick Herron

Published January 4, 2023 at 1:56PM

Montgomery County Police have announced that the Alcohol Holiday Task Force arrested 40 people for DUI during the week of December 28, 29, 30 and 31. Per MCPD: Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Holiday Alcohol Task Force have been devoting their full time and attention to detecting alcohol-related offenses this holiday season to save lives and reduce impaired driving violations in our roadways.

This task force typically starts the week before thanksgiving and ends the first week of January. Montgomery County Police officers and officers from allied agencies (Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Rockville City Police, Takoma Park Police, Gaithersburg Police, Maryland State Police and Maryland National Capital Park Police) volunteer to work the task force.

MoCo Government

Senator Chris Van Hollen Sworn In for Second Term

By Patrick Herron

Published January 4, 2023 at 11:13AM

“Last Congress – through the united efforts of President Biden in the White House and Democratic majorities in the House and Senate – we led one of the most productive legislative sessions in history – from critical legislation to confront the climate crisis and lower costs for American families to vital investments to modernize our infrastructure to common-sense, bipartisan first steps on gun safety, election integrity, marriage equality, and veterans’ health care.

“This session, it’s essential that we build on this progress by overseeing the effective implementation of these initiatives as we continue to build a more inclusive economy with greater shared prosperity. For Maryland, I’ll be working to invest federal resources in key initiatives across our entire state to support our schools, our workforce, our seniors and our communities, including removing the Highway to Nowhere so we can reunite divided neighborhoods in West Baltimore. And I’ll be fighting to build on the progress we’ve made to preserve and clean up the Chesapeake Bay by moving forward on our proposed Chesapeake National Recreation Area.

Gaithersburg

MCPD: Two Men Arrested for Gaithersburg Carjacking

By Patrick Herron

Published January 4, 2023 at 10:36AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested and charged 38-year-old Darrell Amos Barnes Jr., of Rockville, and 35-year-old Marcus Antonio Umanzor, of Gaithersburg, for a strong-arm carjacking that occurred on Monday, December 19, 2022.

On December 19, at approximately 6:45 p.m., Gaithersburg Police and 6th District officers responded to the 200 block of N. Frederick Ave. for the report of a carjacking that just occurred. The investigation by detectives determined that the victim was sitting in the front passenger seat of a 2012 Honda Insight, when one suspect knocked on the window and told the victim to get out. The second suspect opened the driver’s side door and told the victim to get out. The victim exited the vehicle out of fear. Then, the second suspect drove away in the Honda and the first suspect walked away.

Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Frederick Police Arrest Two for New Years Eve Homicide

By Patrick Herron

Published January 4, 2023 at 12:21AM

Per the Frederick Police Department: The Frederick Police Department has arrested two individuals in relation to an early morning homicide that occurred on New Years Eve.

On December 31, 2022, at approximately 4:47 AM, officers of the Frederick Police Department were dispatched to the Frederick Health Hospital, located at 400 W Seventh Street, in Frederick City, for an adult female who had been stabbed. Lifesaving efforts were provided to the female, but she was later pronounced dead. The victim was identified as Mary Alice Seward, 41.

Rockville

New Planet Fitness Location in Rockville Opens

By Patrick Herron

Published January 3, 2023 at 11:42PM

Planet Fitness is now open in the Montrose Shopping Center at 5520 Randolph Rd. in Rockville. The new gym is double in size of that of its previous location at 1776 E Jefferson St. The Planet Fitness locations in Gaithersburg and Germantown also recently completed renovations. Per Planet Fitness: “We’re thrilled our Rockville club is moving to a new location that will double the size of the current location and include more fitness equipment, better parking and easy access to the Capital Beltway,” said C. Victor Brick, co-owner of PF Growth Partners (PFGP), a franchise division of Planet Fitness. “The new space will provide a bigger and better option for current members and the community of Rockville.”

Offering a hassle-free environment, the future Planet Fitness Rockville will feature new Matrix cardio machines, a new functional training area, new Matrix training cycles, and new rowers and Sci fit, as well as a 30-Minute Express Circuit, fully equipped locker rooms and numerous flat screen televisions.

Bethesda

Founder of Big Planet Comics in Bethesda Retires After 36 Years; Store to Remain Open

By Patrick Herron

Published January 3, 2023 at 9:46PM

Joel Pollack, owner of Big Planet Comics at 7939 Norfolk Ave. in Bethesda, has retired. Pollack tells us his love of the comics medium was a driving force in Big Planet’s creation, but it was the wonderful people he met through his business that sustained him all of these years. The comic shop has been purchased by longtime employee and partner, Nick Liappis, and will remain in business.

According to Pollack, “The business started on the second-floor of 4865 Cordell Ave. In 1991, we moved to 4908 Fairmont Ave. When the wrecking ball came for the Fairmont store in 2012, we high-tailed it to 4849 Cordell where we spent eight glorious years until Covid struck. We were forced to seek radically lower rent which we did by moving to a second-floor location at 7939 Norfolk. So I started on a second-floor and finished on a second floor. Funny, the same family owns both of those buildings.”

Rockville

Woman Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder for 2020 Death of Yousuf Rasmussen

By Patrick Herron

Published January 3, 2023 at 7:56PM

Per the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office: Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Terrence McGann, a jury found defendant, Sophia Negroponte, 29, of Washington, D.C., guilty of Second-Degree Murder for the death of 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen. Negroponte faces up to 40 years in prison and is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on March 31, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Fenton and Robert Hill prosecuted this case. They joined State’s Attorney John McCarthy for a news conference following the verdict today, along with Dr. Zeba Rasmussen who is the mother of the victim. Dr. Rasmussen read a statement from the family. The video of the news conference can be viewed here: https://fb.watch/hQqqnV19Ck/

We are grateful for the dedication and professionalism of Maryland and Montgomery County officials, notably in the Circuit Court, the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Victim Assistance program. Above all, we wish to thank the many police and emergency medical technicians who rushed to the scene and tried to save Yousuf’s precious life.

Maryland

Anthony G. Brown Sworn in as Maryland’s 47th Attorney General

By Patrick Herron

Published January 3, 2023 at 6:15PM

Attorney General Brown also announced he will seek additional funding to attract and retain attorneys, ensure attorney salaries are competitive, and to provide the necessary resources for investigations, enforcement, training, and support.

The Office of the Attorney General provides counsel to the Governor of Maryland and all state agencies, the Maryland General Assembly, and the judicial branch. Its major functions also include consumer protection, criminal appeals, criminal investigations, and civil litigation.

MDLottery

$50,000 Lottery Ticket Sold in MoCo on December 27 Remains Unclaimed

By Patrick Herron

Published January 3, 2023 at 6:00PM

A $50,000 winning Bonus Match 5 lottery ticket sold on December 27 at the Fenton Citgo (8333 Fenton Street) in Silver Spring remains unclaimed as of January 3. Other recent MoCo winners of note include a $10,000 winning Powerball ticket sold on December 27 at the 7-Eleven at 1301 University Boulevard in Takoma Park and a $20,000 winning Lady Luck scracth-off sold at the 7-Eleven at 29 Olney-Sandy Spring Road in Ashton. Additional information on winners across the state of Maryland below, courtesy of MD Lottery:

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Claims Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.

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