Author: Patrick Herron

Rockville

Rockville Awarded State Grant for Energy-Efficient Streetlights

By Patrick Herron

The city plans to use the funds as part of the first phase of the LED Streetlight Conversion Capital Improvements Program, under which about 1,800 city-owned and maintained streetlights will be converted. The lights included in Phase 1 are of the more common, less decorative types on metal poles, allowing the city to maximize the benefits of conversion from the start. They are located throughout the city but are predominantly on the city’s west side.

The SOLE Pilot Grant program stemmed from “LED Streetlight Conversions in Maryland & Virginia: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies in 2020,” a study and report funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant and conducted with partners that included Clean Energy Solutions Inc., the National Association of State Energy Officials, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

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Rockville

City of Rockville to Hold Ceremony on Friday, September 9 to Honor and Remember County Residents Who Lost Their Lives on 9/11

By Patrick Herron

The 9/11 memorial at Courthouse Square Park remembers the 11 Montgomery County residents who lost their lives on Sept. 11: William Edward Caswell, Dr. Gerald Paul Fisher, Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred, Michele M. Heidenberger, Angela Marie Houtz, Teddington Hamm Moy, Lt. Darin H. Pontell, Scott A. Powell, Todd Hayes Reuben, Patricia J. Statz and Ernest M. Willcher.

The memorial, commissioned by the Montgomery County Arts and Humanities Council and designed by artists Gene and Susan Flores, includes a grassy area circled by 11 benches – one dedicated to each victim, with an inscription related to that person’s character. It also includes a plaque, covered by two doors, bearing the victims’ names. The artists worked with astronomers to design the memorial so that on Sept. 11 the morning sun briefly illuminates each name.

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Damascus

Retired Postal Service Worker Wins $50,000 Lottery Prize

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County man has favored 12345 as his Pick 5 number of choice ever since the digits hit on a significant date in February. “Jumper” missed a win on his birthday when he got a haircut instead of placing a $1 straight bet on 12345. His other favorite number is 8, which leads him to buy Lottery games with 8 in the name as well as 888 in Pick 3 and 8888 on Pick 4.

“I like 8s, period,” he said. The $50,000 Pick 5 prize that the married father just won in the Aug. 19 drawing is his biggest prize to date, well exceeding a $15,000 prize won over a decade ago.

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Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Governor Hogan Provides Update on Multi-Agency Efforts to Protect Drinking Water and Public Health in Baltimore City

By Patrick Herron

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today provided an update on state efforts across multiple state agencies to assist Baltimore City in addressing elevated bacteria levels in a portion of the city’s drinking water system.

“Our agencies are working around the clock to assist city officials and help ensure access to clean water,” said Governor Hogan. “Residents in the affected areas should follow the boil water advisory until it is lifted. We will continue to provide coordination and technical assistance, and make available what resources and personnel are needed as the situation warrants.”

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Bethesda

Classes for Adults to Learn Basic Bicycle Skills and Training Will Be Available in September, October and November

By Patrick Herron

Each class begins at 10 a.m. and lasts for three hours. The classes are open to residents 18-and-over who have never previously ridden a bike or who have not done so in a long time.

Advance registration is required to participate in the “Learn to Ride and Basic Skills Training Bike Classes.” The cost of each class is $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for WABA or Capital Bikeshare members. Classes are limited to 25 people and often fill up quickly.

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Silver Spring

Concern for Missing 17-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD For Immediate Release Wednesday, September 7, 2022: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 17-year-old from Silver Spring.

Jamillah Haynes was last seen on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, leaving Northwood High School in the 12600 block of Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. Haynes is approximately 4-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 100 lbs. She has black and burgundy hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, a black skirt and black sandals. She may be carrying a white Calvin Klien purse.

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MoCo Government

Asian American Health Initiative Launches ‘Healthy Communities Fund’ to Support Local Organizations

By Patrick Herron

The $830,000 Healthy Communities Fund was part of County Executive Marc Elrich’s recommended Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget for DHHS and was part of the budget adopted by the County Council.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for, and the complexity of services provided to, minority communities, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,” said County Executive Elrich.  “We have one of the most diverse communities in the U.S. and the Healthy Communities Fund will provide financial help to organizations who work every day providing needed services to our residents.  The COVID-19 Relief Fund used in Fiscal Year 2022 was successful.  I am glad we can continue providing financial help.”

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MoCo Police

How Montgomery County Police Closed a Fifty-One-Year-Old Cold Case

By Patrick Herron

On Saturday, October 23, 1971, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Montgomery County Police officers were called to the Manor Country Club in the 14900 block of Carrolton Rd. in Rockville, MD, after witnesses reported a man lying face down in the southeast parking lot. Officers arrived at the scene and located Captain Hall suffering from a gunshot wound. Hall was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on October 26, 1971. Investigators believe that Hall interrupted a residential burglary in progress.

In October of 2021, the 50th anniversary of Captain Hall’s homicide, detectives from the Cold Case Unit decided to review the case with a fresh set of eyes. For almost a year, Detective K. Leggett and Corporal L. Killen of the Cold Case Unit, combed through case files, recordings, and interviewed witnesses. Through the course of their investigation, Leggett and Killen narrowed in on one person, Larry David Becker. In 1973 Becker was interviewed by investigators but had not been labeled a suspect.

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Germantown

Concern for Missing 13-Year-Old from Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old from Germantown.

Katherine Yasmin Cruz was last seen on September 6, 2022 at approximately 5:40 p.m., in the 20000 block of Appledowre Circle.

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Health

Montgomery County to Host Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Monkeypox on Monday, Sept. 12, With Focus on Latino Community

By Patrick Herron

Panelists in the town hall will include the Latino Health Initiative’s Luis Aguirre, Proyecto Salud’s Executive Director Cesar Palacios, Acting County Health Officer James Bridgers and the County Department of Health and Human Services’ Director Raymond Crowel.  The panel discussion will be moderated by Lorna Virgilí, the County’s Hispanic public information officer.

The panelists will provide an update on the current monkeypox situation in Montgomery County and Maryland.  They will provide information on the County’s monkeypox vaccine program and answer questions about prevention and treatment.

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MDLottery

$50,000 Winning Scratch Off Sold at Rodmans

By Patrick Herron

A “Diamond Bingo” scratch off with a prize of $50,000 was sold this past week at Rodmans (4301 Randolph Road), according to the Maryland Lottery.  Other recent winners include a $530,000 Multi-Match Jackpot lottery ticket that was sold on September 1 at the State Line Market (7817 Eastern Ave) in Silver Spring and a $51,422.50 ticket sold Sept. 4 at Hillendale Beer and Wine (10117 New Hampshire Ave), the latter of which has yet to be claimed as of September 6.

Meanwhile, another eight players won amounts ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 in Adelphi, Annapolis, Bel Air, Brentwood, Cockeysville, Laurel, Millersville and Silver Spring.

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